Episode 5: Building a Blue Line Wall

Emily

Alright PT, let’s kick things off with the blue line—because honestly, few teams in the GTHL can match what the Marlboros roll out defensively. This week, we’ve got to start with Callum Ryan. Number 11. The guy just oozes confidence out there! He told us he models his game after Cale Makar, and it’s so obvious in the way he moves—smooth, creative, a little bit daring. I mean, his shot, his vision, the breakout passes… they’re already elite especially for this age. Off the ice though, he’s got this super chill energy. Did you know his warm-up song is “8 AM in Charlotte” by Drake? Makes sense, right?

PT

Yeah, and what stands out to me with Callum… I see him before games, he’s just laser focused—never fazed or rattled, but at the same time, he keeps it loose. He’s got that leadership spark too, you can see it when he calms his teammates, especially when things get a bit chippy. I’ll say this: he takes a lot of pride in making the game easier for his partner and for our goalies, and honestly, that’s a huge part of why this blue line is so tough to play against.

Emily

Absolutely. Okay, now switching gears—Charlie Birch. He’s kind of the yin to Ryan’s yang for me. Charlie plays so much bigger than he is. The way he patterns his game off Cameron Reid, you see bits of that in the physicality and compete level every single shift. Like—can we talk about that hit in last week’s practice? I swear, the new guys were stunned! And what cracks me up, he said if he had a superpower he’d choose flight, just so he could take off to the Caribbean anytime. Meanwhile, on the ice, he’s flying in a different way—right through traffic, staying fearless under pressure.

PT

He’s got the perfect blend of grit and leadership, for sure. And just like you’re saying, Charlie’s not afraid to mix it up, but he’s also the one who’ll block the big shot or settle everyone down before a penalty kill. He brings that edge you need in a championship group—reminds me a little of teams we talked about last episode, when we looked at guys like Caden Duke and Andrew Hanson but now it’s those defensemen leading. I mean, we got a blue line that isn’t just skilled—they show their personality, and it’s contagious.

Emily

Couldn’t have said it better. And I gotta throw this in—Callum’s creative side shows up all over, even in practice. Like, one time, he pulled off this fake behind-the-back pass—nobody saw it coming, especially not the goalies. Everyone just stopped for a second, like, “Who is this kid?” That’s the kind of spark that makes a team remember why defense can be fun. Anyway, with both these guys contributing to the blue line, I don’t think there’s a team in the league that looks forward to facing the Marlies’ D-corps right now.

PT

Speaking of not looking forward to it—let’s talk about that 7-0 win against the Reps. I gotta tell you Emily, that was about as complete a performance as you can hope for in youth hockey. From puck drop, it felt like the Reps barely touched the puck—what was it, 71 shot attempts for the Marlboros? That’s relentless. But not just quantity—46 of those were from high-danger areas, which shows how well every line moved the puck and attacked the net. Total team buy-in.

Emily

It was wild! And what impressed me most is that the scoring was balanced from top to bottom. Yeah, Challenger led with two goals and two assists, but you also had—let’s see—Mancino with a goal and eight shots, Hanson just peppering the net with 12 shots, and Longo and Thompson contributing on both sides of the puck. Then you had Nadeau and Leung with those solid plus-minuses on the back end, and Zettas just quietly putting up a +3 with two assists. Everyone had a hand in it.

PT

Let’s not forget special teams. I might be biased as “equipment guy,” but those penalty kills… chef’s kiss. Four for four on the PK and a shorthanded goal to boot. That takes structure, and everybody trusting the system—it kinda reminded me—maybe I’m going off on a tangent—but it brought back memories of a championship game I managed years ago. The feeling of everyone locked-in, no heroes—just believing in the plan. And getting Lucas Young back in net after that injury? Talk about a lift. The defense made his night pretty comfortable, but he still stepped up when it counted.

Emily

Yeah, and it wasn’t just Lucas—every defense pair seemed to have chemistry. I always mix these up—was it Zettas and Birch anchoring that really tough second period? I think so. And Leung stepped up in every big moment, and Callum Ryan was just steady and smart. I mean, there’s a reason these guys feel like a true championship group right now. Not just the D either—every single player seemed to play their role, and the bench energy was so positive. Total buy-in, like you said. That’s why they’re building real momentum heading into November.

PT

Yeah, and hey, as we’ve said before—structured play and depth, that’s what carries teams deep. This game was a masterclass on that front. Every line, every shift had purpose. That’s the Marlboros brand of hockey.

Emily

So, PT, now that we’ve broken down what happened on the ice, I wanna shift gears and give fans a peek behind the curtain—because none of this happens without the work off the ice, right? You know this better than anybody. Let’s talk about what it’s really like running the show as Athletic Trainer & Equipment Manager. People see you sprinting around with sticks and gear, but it’s a whole operation… What’s a typical game day look like for you?

PT

Well, to be honest, it starts way before puck drop. I’m usually at the rink five hours early—setting up the dressing room, organizing every last piece of gear, double checking socks, prepping sticks—the whole bit. The goal is, when the boys walk in, all they gotta think about is playing hockey. That’s it. Everything else? Taken care of.

Emily

Honestly, fans have no idea how detailed it gets. Who’s the pickiest when it comes to their gear? There’s gotta be a couple who notice if their skates are even half a millimeter off, right?

PT

(Laughs) Oh yeah. Hanson and Heine, for sure. Those two… they’ll know right away if their skate edges are even a little bit different. It’s funny, but it’s part of what sets players at this level apart. That attention to detail—they wanna feel perfect, and that carries over to the team’s standard for everything, even how they look walking into the rink. Clean team gear, matching everything—it sends the right message and builds culture.

Emily

That’s such an underrated part—the Marlboros really do look sharp. But there’s so much more behind the scenes, right? You’re not just sharpening skates; you’re organizing travel, managing inventory for road trips, making sure nothing’s missing before a tournament…

PT

Yeah, and honestly, a lot of what we do goes unnoticed if we’re doing it right. It’s about removing distractions so players and coaches can just focus on hockey. But that’s what I love about this job—watching these kids grow up, seeing them become more professional every season. It makes those early mornings worth it, you know?

Emily

Totally, and I think fans are starting to appreciate just how much goes into making a team look and play like the Marlboros do. PT, thanks for taking us through it—and for all you do making sure this team runs like clockwork. Can’t wait to see what stories come out of the next stretch of the season. That’s it from us this week—thanks for listening to This Week in Blue & White, and we’ll catch you next time. PT, see ya soon!

PT

Always a pleasure, Emily. Go Marlies!