Beginner's Puck

Hosted by Erika Ensign and Deborah Stanish

A podcast for hockey fans, both new and old. Join Deb and Erika as we deep dive into what makes hockey the greatest sport in the world. Learn the lingo, explore hockey history, and listen to commentary on the most exciting, frustrating, and heart-stopping moments of the week. We love hockey and think you will too! #HockeyIsForEveryone

Our catchy theme tune is “Ephemeral” by Sunspot. Get the whole song here!

Talk hockey with us!
Twitter: @BeginnersPuck
Email: beginnerspuck@gmail.com

Latest Episode: January 9, 2023 — NHL Accountability and World Juniors

49 Here’s How We’re Going to Do It

Are our favorite teams still saddled with Problematic Players? You bet. Are we tired of these things keeping us from the game we love? One Hundred Percent!

In this episode we work our way through and beyond the messiness and get back to the joy of the sport. We catch up on our teams, make a (very) small case for Torts being the right coach for Philly and how World Juniors hit a bit different in Canada this year. We give props to Boston for their “man, we really screwed up and we have a plan to fix that” after the Mitchell Miller Debacle. (And yes, our fingers are crossed it’s not just performative.)

In short, hockey is still a beautiful game and we miss talking about it so here’s how we’re going to do it…by finding our hockey joy wherever we can. We hope you join us!

New to Hockey? We are here for you. Drop us a tweet or email us at beginnerspuck@gmail.com and we’ll help you navigate this wild, fantastic landscape!

Previous Episodes

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    May 20, 2022 Movie Review - Goon
    48 Goon

    As a special treat for Incomparable membership month, Deb and Erika bring you a taste of the fun members get — by sharing their very first members-only special from 2017!

    Deb and Erika are joined by Lisa Schmeiser as they discuss “Goon”, the 2011 sports comedy about bros, fighting, and what it means to be part of a team. Loosely based on the life of enforcer Doug Smith, the Beginner’s Puck crew breaks down the hockey stereotypes, hockey truths, and how this bro-iest of bro movies is weirdly enlightened.

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    May 6, 2022 How the NHL Broke Our Hearts
    47 We’re Back! (Kinda)

    We’re back! Kinda? Sorta? It’s been a while because, honestly, this year has been ROUGH. What happens when the thing you love doesn’t love you back? Deb and Erika talk about the heartache of hockey, and we don’t mean the stuff that happens on the ice. But like any heartache, you grow and move on, a little tougher, a little wiser, and a whole lot sassier.

    We can’t wait to see you next season!

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    September 27, 2021 Catching Up & COVID (Attendance) Protocols
    46 Off-season Moves and Bagging on Bags

    It’s all happening now. Teams are shaking it up and shaking it down, skates are on ice, and we’re weeks away from the official start of the 2021-2022 season. Deb and Erika work through our varying degrees of excitement both at what’s happened over a very active summer and what we’re (sorta) looking forward to this season. Of course we’ll all be going in empty handed thanks to the new NHL bag policy but hey…it’s like they say: Hockey is for Everyone…Who Has Pockets.

    In this episode’s “What the Puck” we discuss the NHL COVID policy and how that could affect teams with unvaccinated players. Finally, Erika announces a project that will help newbie fans work through our back catalog.

    New to Hockey? We are here for you. Drop us a tweet or email us at beginnerspuck@gmail.com and we’ll help you navigate this wild, fantastic landscape!

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    May 17, 2021 Stanley Cup
    45 Playoffs? Playoffs!

    Much like the Tampa Bay Lightning Deb and Erika are taking advantage of circumstances and letting it roll. In our case, dropping an unplanned and unscripted podcast to celebrate the official kick off of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sorta.

    This ep is all about conflict: ours, Tom Wilson’s, John Tortorella’s…. But we also touch on good social media, anticipated battles, the upcoming expansion draft and our excitement of watching the Kraken in their new arena in 2022. We believe.

    New to Hockey? We are here for you. Drop us a tweet or email us at beginnerspuck@gmail.com and we’ll help you navigate this wild, fantastic landscape!

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    February 21, 2021 COVID Hockey
    44 Hockey’s Still Happening

    Hockey, yay? Deb and Erika end their long hiatus to discuss the current state of the NHL including COVID COVID everywhere, trades that make you go “yoinks!”, outdoor games, and Crosby’s big 1000. There may also be a little bit of Tony D’Angelo schadenfreude. I mean, c’mon, we’re only human!

    In this ep’s “What the Puck?” we delve into the who, what and why’s of The Taxi Squad and, finally, Deb ties it all up in a neat hockey tidbit bow by remembering the 2008 Winter Classic

    New to Hockey? We are here for you. Drop us a tweet or email us at beginnerspuck@gmail.com and we’ll help you navigate this wild, fantastic landscape!

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    August 15, 2020 Tukka Rask leaves bubble and crosschecking
    43 No Cross Check, Please!

    So far, so good, right? The bubble appears to be holding, but but that doesn’t mean it’s all champagne and roses, especially if you’re a Bruins fan. Deb and Erika talk about today’s biggest story (Tukka Rask), last week’s biggest story (that 6+ hour game), and the final slotting of the draft lottery. (Remember that?)

    We also touch on the sassiness of the Jumbotron operators; the heroes and villains of the playoffs; and, of course, The Refs (See also: heroes and villains).

    In this episode’s “What the Puck” we are all about the checks: body, hip and cross as well as a few that were new to us.

    And, finally, Erika has been sprinkling the internet with her hockey tidbits over at @HollyGoGarkly on Twitter.

    New to Hockey? We are here for you. Drop us a tweet or email us at beginnerspuck@gmail.com and we’ll help you navigate this wild, fantastic landscape!

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    July 25, 2020
    42 Hockey Gets Kraken

    So much has happened since we last chatted in May: there’s Kraken and bubbles and some shady Byng-ing going on. Deb and Erika reach waaaaay back and talks about the Draft Lottery, how the US couldn’t keep their #%@^ masks on and lost a hub, as well as the NHL awards that will be awarded who knows when. What even in time?! throws hands

    Erika gives us some perspective on what we can expect in a hub city given that she, you know, lives in one. We also talk about our conflict over how excited we are that hockey is back and just how stupid it is that hockey is back. Look, we are complex people and can hold multiple, simultaneous opinions, okay?

    Finally, in our delightful little hockey tidbit, Deb introduces you all to Gritty’s 1/4 hour of power. It’s good, clean, dumb fun and who doesn’t need that?

    Have a hockey question, comment or observation? Hit us up on Twitter @Beginnerspuck or drop us an email at beginnerspuck@gmail.com.

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    May 27, 2020 NHL’s Return to Play Plan
    41 Return to (Press) Play

    The NHL has risen from the ashes and so has Beginner’s Puck! Join Deb and Erika as we decipher Garry Bettman’s presser, figure out who is going where and why and, more importantly, discuss whether they should. I mean, let’s face it, everyone out there is sporting masks and practising responsible social/physical distancing, right? Right?!

    We throw our segments out the window as work through our conflicting emotions of joy, trepidation, and despair at hockey culture’s “warrior” mentality. It’s a rollercoaster, kids.

    NHL’s Return to Play Plan: https://media.nhl.com/public/news/13995

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    February 19, 2020 Anaheim, California Carcast
    40 Carcast! Anaheim Edition

    It’s another special Beginner’s Puck/Hockey Feels crossover Carcast — this time with a special guest who is relatively new to hockey fandom, Chip Sudderth! When you attend a Doctor Who convention in Los Angeles, what better way to start the weekend than by braving rush-hour traffic and trekking to Anaheim to check out the Flames vs the Ducks at the Honda Center? (Turns out there may be lots of better ways…)

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    September 27, 2019 Preseason and Scouts
    39 Scouts’ Honor

    The countdown to opening day continues. Deb and Erika discuss the real v. emotional toll of preseason, debate the merits of the NHL opening the season with European games (gotta grow that game! In Switzerland!). And touch on the those pesky RFA’s and who got that bread. Or that bridge. There’s a lot of b’s in the preseason. Of course we talk about Matthews. Both the ugly and the plain stupid, but pull ourselves out of spiral and end on a Cammi Granato note.

    In this eps “What the Puck?” we discuss the difference between amateur and pro scouts and how Deb really wants to be a hockey ninja spy.

    Finally we close with a “Behind the Glass” tidbit.

    Have a hockey question, comment or observation? Hit us up on Twitter @Beginnerspuck or drop us an email at beginnerspuck@gmail.com.

See All Episodes…