Episode 8: Detroit Recap & Get to Know Coach Wayne

Emily

Hey everyone, welcome back to This Week in Blue & White! I'm Emily, and today, we're recapping a wild weekend for the U15 Marlboros down in Detroit—but today I'm here with Assistant Coach Wayne Primeau as PT is still on the injured list. Wayne, this team came flying out of the gate against the LA Jr Kings. 10-2! It felt like, I don't know, they hit turbo right off the opening draw.

Coach Wayne

Yeah, Emily, I mean, honestly, it’s tough to overstate just how strong that start was. The boys were attacking the middle like we talked about all season—right between the dots, driving the net, and honestly, it felt like every line was contributing. It was balanced scoring up and down the lineup, which, for me, is such a good sign about our depth right now. The puck was moving cleanly, everyone was supporting each other, and our D were jumping in at the right times too.

Emily

And then rolling right into Game 2—a 6-3 win over the Reapers—it felt almost like a continuation, but with more structure defensively. The forecheck really stood out to me; Chicago just seemed kind of rattled for long stretches in their own end.

Coach Wayne

Absolutely. The forecheck’s where you see a team’s hunger, right? Our guys were really forcing turnovers, and we capitalized off the rush more than once. I thought special teams were solid, but what I really loved was, when Chicago pushed back a bit, we answered. Thompson and some of our so-called “depth players”—you know, the guys who maybe don't always get the spotlight, like Birch or Longo—were kind of setting the tone early. Thompson especially... I keep coming back to how his leadership showed up. He wasn’t just putting points on the board; he was driving play, being vocal, pushing the group to keep the pedal down.

Emily

Yeah, I noticed that, too. And honestly, it felt like even when the lines shuffled or we got into some penalty kills, there wasn’t any drop-off. One line after another, same pace, same focus. Building on what we talked about last week with depth—this was maybe the best example so far of everyone pulling the same direction.

Coach Wayne

Exactly. And, you know, when you’re on the bench and see every guy itching for that next shift, that’s a good thing. It means the whole group’s got confidence. Everyone’s pushing the pace, and it’s contagious.

Emily

So—it definitely wasn’t all celebration. The true test really hit with those back-to-back showdowns against the Mission and Little Caesars. Let’s start with Chicago Mission. I mean, 53 shots?! It’s wild to think you can outshoot someone by that much and still come up short, 5-4.

Coach Wayne

No doubt. That’s one I might lose some sleep over! But honestly, sometimes hockey’s just unforgiving—we played some of our best hockey against a top team, and pucks just didn’t bounce our way. And, you know, guys like Zettas were just firing on all cylinders—he had, what, six shot attempts, found the back of the net. You look at Longo, too; he was unreal in the dot, almost sixty percent faceoff wins. Hanson's game got a little more physical, which was what we needed as it got gritty. Across the board, the boys showed resilience. It reminded me—back in the Sabres days, you play those relentless teams... You leave it all out there, but sometimes, it’s just not enough on the scoreboard.

Emily

That’s one of those moments, right, where the stats tell half the story. Even Mancino chipping in, Leung with two assists, and the team kept driving play. That’s what impressed me—the losses stung, but the group bounced right back. Then against Little Caesars, the start was rough but, uh, there was a lot more structure as it went on.

Coach Wayne

Yeah, Caesars jumped on us quick, but if you look at the progression over that game, we got better as it went. I’ve gotta give a shout to Challenger—ten shot attempts, four on goal, that’s just sticking with it. Longo again dominating faceoffs—over sixty percent—and Hanson brought that edge, leading the team in hits. As a coach, you’re kind of looking for that pushback even when it looks rough. It’s about growth, you know?

Emily

Well, I think building on what we discussed after the Vaughan Kings loss in a previous episode, that “never-quit” effort is for real with this group. Painful, but you almost want some adversity now, right? Better to see how the boys respond in November than, you know, in March.

Coach Wayne

Yeah, adversity is what really reveals your group’s identity. And the way the guys wrapped up the tournament—with a tough, defensive-minded win—shows how quickly they learned and adjusted. That’s not easy, especially at this age.

Emily

Speaking of identity, I loved our interview this weekend, Wayne. You talked a lot about compete level and the habits you see in this Marlboros squad. I mean, you’ve been everywhere—OHL, AHL, nearly 900 NHL games—does this group remind you of any of those teams?

Coach Wayne

Honestly? It takes me back a bit. The way these kids compete at this age—not just skill, but their willingness to take a hit, get to tough areas, stay connected to each other—I see a lot of what made those pro teams special. It’s not every year you get that kind of unity. And, Emily, details matter. We harp on angling, stick pressure, puck support—those were the exact things that carried me from junior to the AHL, and all the way to the show. I’m always kind of hammering on it, probably to the point of annoyance, but those details really are the difference maker, right?

Emily

Oh, for sure! Like, during games, you can actually see it—guys cutting plays off, working together, keeping tight support up the boards. It feels, um, like a real foundation. I guess I’m curious, was there some “aha” moment in your own career when you realized those details just... stick with you for life?

Coach Wayne

Yeah, good question. My first NHL game—lining up across from Martin Brodeur, talk about intimidating. I realized, if I didn’t lean on those fundamentals, I’d be exposed. And now, I tell these boys—just keep growing, keep asking questions, keep showing up hungry. There’s no magic recipe, really. I bounced around leagues—junior, AHL, NHL—but it was effort, curiosity, and consistency that got me there. This group? They’ve got a similar bond. You saw it, especially how they pulled together after the tough losses in Detroit. That’s what carries you—it’s not always the most talented team that wins, it’s the team that trusts and competes for each other.

Emily

That’s so cool—and I know PT will appreciate you stepping in here for him. We always say, team isn’t just the roster—it’s the whole staff, the whole vibe. Anyway, Wayne, thanks for the insights and, as always, for keeping things honest!

Coach Wayne

My pleasure, Emily. And hey, PT—take your time, get healthy, and we’ll see you back soon.

Emily

Alright, that’s it for this week’s episode of This Week in Blue & White. If you liked what you heard, stick around—there’s plenty more to come as the Marlboros keep pushing for that GTHL championship. Wayne, thanks again, and see you soon!

Coach Wayne

Anytime, Emily. Take care!

Emily

Bye everyone!