Episode 6: Buffalo Undefeated Recap

Emily

Hey everyone, welcome back to This Week in Blue & White! I'm Emily, and today I’m with the one and only PT—our equipment and athletic manager extraordinaire. So, PT, not to put any pressure on, but I feel like Buffalo might've been our best weekend yet. Undefeated, four games—what's your first thought looking back?

PT

Honestly Emily, this group just—well, they just keep impressing me. Right outta the gate, the boys had that slow start against St. Louis, looked maybe a bit shaky, but then they just snapped in. You saw Jake Mancino, right? He basically said, “Nah, we’re not starting slow today.” Two goals and an assist for him in that opener, and Callum Ryan—can't talk enough about that kid—three assists from the blue line, just moving the puck like a pro.

Emily

What blew me away was how quickly the team turned that first game around. They had that stretch in the second period, four goals—some of the best forechecking I’ve seen all year. And the defense? Callum and Zettas, honestly, as we talked about last episode, they just set the tempo. Lynkin Heath too, made a couple saves early that kept things from getting messy.

PT

Yeah, and you see it when the second line gets rolling. Game two, Chicago Mission, always a tough test—Mancino stays hot, Challenger and Thompson were all over the ice, Leung, George, Hutchinson, I mean this was truly depth scoring. Every single line chipped in, and that’s kinda how you set a tournament tone, right? If you got all four lines and your goalie clicking in, oh boy, you’re tough to beat.

Emily

That’s what stood out for me too. Not to get ahead of myself but, like, the way the Ryan-Zettas pairing shut down Chicago’s top guys—it was classic, responsible defense. You can say what you want about flashy plays, but those two anchor things, just like we mentioned in our ‘blue line wall’ episode.

PT

I'll just say, when you get that kinda depth, plus Lynkin making big stops, that’s the recipe. Everyone bought in—again. Didn’t matter who was on the ice, you felt the buy-in. That’s championship stuff.

Emily

Alright, let’s get a little dramatic—because game three? That was just chaos. Philly runs up, goes up quick, and suddenly we're down 3-1. But not a single panic button, I swear. How do you even coach that kind of composure, PT?

PT

You kind of just... you bank on their structure. We were talking after the first period, like, “Guys, keep doing your jobs, don’t get cute.” They stuck with it, and boom—Challenger with two clutch goals, Longo and Hanson both getting a goal and an assist. 73 shots! I'm not making that up, right? I always mix up the numbers, but seriously, 73.

Emily

No, you’re right! Not a typo, seventy-three shots, which is a joke. All those mini battles, second efforts, everyone getting a piece. It felt like everybody in the lineup—Leung, Duke, Heine, Nadeau—had a hand, and that’s how you claw your way back. It reminded me—okay, tangent incoming—my U15 team did the same thing once, way back when. We were down three, stuck to our game plan, and won, and honestly, I remember the bus ride home more than anything. Those games make the best stories later on.

PT

Totally. Sometimes the comeback is sweeter than a blowout. And then the Pittsburgh game—you want overtime drama? Challenger tosses in four, and then you get Hanson with that winner. You could hear the bench lose it. I mean, not to get all cliché, but those are the moments you live for as a coach.

Emily

And it’s not just scoring—Birch, Leung, Nadeau, with AK hurt, those guys stepped up for key minutes. The whole squad just kinda tightened up in the third. Even being outshot, they played smart, disciplined, made the big plays at the end. That’s the kind of grit that keeps runs like this alive. Lucas Young was a wall in the net for the entire game !

PT

Yeah, and honestly, that’s what this weekend was about—finding a way, sticking to what you know, trusting teammates when it gets dicey. That’s a group learning how to win, together.

Emily

Okay, so big hockey moments—check. But can we talk off-ice for a sec? Because that Blue Jays watch party at the Hampton Inn, might’ve just been the highlight. Seeing everyone piled into the lounge, screaming for the Jays—so much fun.

PT

Yeah, and those are the memories that stick, right? It’s the hotel nights, goofy group photos, everyone in their sweats yelling at the TV together. I think, you can’t plan that kind of bonding, it just has to happen. That’s what we try to build all year. And when they come away tighter as friends, then they play tighter as a team.

Emily

It totally shows—game days just feel different when everyone’s all-in like that, and, honestly, I’ve noticed that with other teams too. Like, I’ve seen youth squads who crush it on the ice, but the ones that hang out, do the weird little rituals—pizza after wins, or whatever—those are the ones that keep coming back when it matters.

PT

Definitely. I mean, even if you’re tired from a day at the rink, you need that time together. For us, it’s been a big thing we try to keep—bus rides, dinners, TV hangouts, just anything off the ice. Builds trust, makes the grind fun.

Emily

So, four wins, wild hockey, Blue Jays fever, and those little hotel rituals that mean everything. Honestly, that’s youth sports in a nutshell. PT, thanks for reliving it with me. And shoutout to the Marlboros for another unforgettable weekend. Any final words?

PT

Just proud of the boys, proud of the staff, and can’t wait to see what’s next. And, Em, these chats are always a highlight for me—looking forward to the next one!

Emily

Right back at you. Alright folks, that’s a wrap for this episode of This Week in Blue & White! We’ll see you next time. Bye PT!

PT

See ya, Emily! Bye everyone!