2 Mutts Hockey Podcast

The Heart Behind #84 Jhay Birdsall of the Detroit Jr Red Wings.

Some players chase the spotlight. Others quietly become the heart of a team.

Detroit Jr. Red Wings forward #84 Jhay Birdsall is one of those players.

Jhay’s game isn’t always measured by goals and assists. His greatest strengths are the little things making the extra pass, creating opportunities for teammates, playing a dependable 200-foot game, and doing whatever it takes to help his team win. Every coach who has worked with him says the same thing: you can put Jhay in any situation, on any line, and he’ll give you exactly what the team needs.

What makes his story even more meaningful is the number he wears. #84 is a tribute to his late brother, who continues to inspire him every time he steps onto the ice. Every shift is played with love, purpose, and remembrance.

After moving from California to Michigan just one year before his Brick season, many thought his opportunity had passed. Instead, through perseverance and dedication, he earned a place with the Detroit Jr. Red Wings.

Proud of his Filipino heritage, Jhay represents far more than himself. He represents family, resilience, and the belief that hockey is about more than statistics.

Sometimes the most valuable player isn’t the one leading the scoresheet.

Every coach Jhay has played for has said the same thing: he is dependable. Put him on any line, in any situation, and he’ll do exactly what’s needed. Whether it’s driving the offense, protecting a lead, or helping elevate the players around him, Jhay embraces every role without asking for recognition.

Sometimes it’s measured by the teammate everyone trusts.

By the son who honors his brother every single game.

By the player who chooses the extra pass instead of the spotlight.

By the young man whose greatest victory is helping those around him succeed.

Jhay Birdsall is proof that hockey isn’t just about the names on the scoresheet.

Sometimes it’s the one making everyone around him better. ❤️🏒



J Bird | 2016 Hockey Player Jr Red Wings 2016

📸 Kru Flicks 📸

A Message along with a Reminder About Respect in Hockey and Hockey is for Everyone.

Over the past week, we’ve received several messages telling me to stop covering The Brick Hockey Invitational Tournament because we are “not affiliated” with the tournament. We’ve even been called names for simply sharing stories about the players, families, fans, and teams.

I won’t be sharing names or directing negativity toward anyone as it wouldn’t solve anything.

What we do hope is that this serves as a reminder that there’s a real person behind every account. Whether you’re a parent, volunteer, organizer, writer, or fan, nobody deserves to be insulted for celebrating young athletes.

We’ve never claimed to represent the tournament, we were actually shined a light on how great this tournament is and was for kids, coaches, families, friends, fans and The City of Edmonton and the Province of Alberta.

We all need to come together and celebrate the game of hockey as one.

We are simply someone who loves the game of hockey and believes these kids deserve to have their moments recognized. Every story we write is intended to encourage, inspire, and shine a light on players who have worked their entire lives for opportunities like this.

Our 2 Mutts Minor Hockey Foundation for Kids in Alberta has always been passionate about youth sports in Alberta.

The amount of NHL players that support us over the years and the time they take out of their lives to send in a special video message or come meet players in person is truly incredible for the game of hockey.

On Monday morning we woke up to some of the players and their families sharing the stories and photos on their personal accounts and that all started by other parents doing the same, if you played in the NHL or not it was just so amazing to see the care, compassion, respect, kindness, support and love shown by all of you for supporting what is a passion of ours and our friends over at Kru Flicks.

The great moments were captured by Kru Flicks out of a passion for the love of the game and what it has done for them over the years.
Now they’ve been able to pass on these lifetime memories that they will have forever.

If our posts can put a smile on a child’s face, give a parent something to remember forever, or help a young player feel proud of their hard work, then I’ll continue doing what we do.

Mental health awareness is important to all of us these days and by sharing positive feedback into our universe it helps us all come together so our  society can be a better place for everyone involved.

Instead of saying how are you? Maybe we can talk about who we helped today.

By helping one another out by adding smiles to the world we can all learn from our care for each person we uplift together.

Hockey is built on respect, teamwork, and community. Let’s make sure our conversations reflect those same values.

To everyone who has supported the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast throughout this tournament, thank you. Your encouragement means far more than the negativity ever will.

Let’s continue celebrating the game and, most importantly, the kids who make it so special. ❤️🏒

Have a great summer, enjoy the beautiful weather, family time and the laughs we get to have on a daily basis.

God bless you all and we love ya all. ❤️🙏🏼🥅🏒

Signed the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast.

Hello to all of the parents that had one of their kids playing in The Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament this past week, we are looking at doing some cool and fun interviews with you and the kids on your experience on our podcast.

We got a few booked so far and we are looking to adding more.

If you’d like to do an interview with us please send us a DM on here or Instagram.

A Family Story Bigger Than Hockey

Some moments at The Brick Invitational Tournament are measured by goals and assists. Others are measured by memories that will last a lifetime.

For former NHL player and Detroit Jr. Red Wings head coach Nathan G***e, this tournament wasn’t just about coaching. It was about sharing the game he loves with the two people who matter most his sons, Lennox and Rylan.

Lennox turned heads all week, finishing with 6 goals and 3 assists in 9 games. Every shift showed his skill, determination, and ability to rise in big moments. He wasn’t simply putting up points he was helping lead one of the tournament’s most competitive teams.

Then there was Rylan.

At just 7 years old, he stepped onto the ice against players who were mostly 9 and 10 years old. It would have been easy for him to blend into the background. Instead, he did the opposite. He competed fearlessly, battled for every puck, and never looked overwhelmed. Every game he proved that hockey isn’t about size or age it’s about heart.

But perhaps the most remarkable story belonged behind the bench.

Nathan wasn’t just teaching systems or drawing up line combinations. He was creating memories with his sons that neither of them will ever forget. Every shift, every conversation on the bench, every smile after a big play became part of a story their family will carry forever.

That impact spread throughout the Detroit Jr. Red Wings.

The players weren’t simply being coached by someone who reached the NHL they were watching a father lead with humility, patience, and love for the game. They saw a family united by hockey, and that kind of example builds culture. It reminds every player that while championships are celebrated, relationships are what endure.

Years from now, people may remember Lennox’s goals or Rylan fearlessly competing against older players.

The G***es didn’t just leave their mark on the scoresheet at the tournament.

They reminded an entire Detroit Jr. Red Wings organization that the greatest victories in hockey aren’t always the ones shown on the scoreboard—they’re the ones shared with family.
Jr Red Wings 2016 Nathan G***e

📸 Kru Flicks 📸

#23 Barrett Gardner of the BC Jr Canucks

Barrett Gardner: The Player Every Coach Loves to Have

Some players stand out because of the goals they score. Others stand out because of the way they play every shift. Barrett Gardner does both.

With 5 goals and 2 assists in 8 games, including 3 power-play goals, Barrett proved to be one of the most reliable offensive threats for the BC Jr. Canucks at the Brick Invitational Tournament. When his team needed a big goal or someone willing to battle in the hard areas of the ice, he answered the call.

But Barrett’s impact goes far beyond the scoresheet.

What makes his game so inspiring is his commitment to playing the right way. Whether it’s in the offensive zone creating chances, through the neutral zone making smart decisions with the puck, or in the defensive end supporting his teammates, Barrett plays with maturity that is well beyond his age.

He’s the kind of player every coach dreams of having. He listens, competes, and can be trusted in every situation. There are no shortcuts in his game—just consistent effort, smart positioning, and an unwavering commitment to helping his team win.

The power-play goals highlight his offensive instincts, but it’s his complete 200-foot game that earns the respect of coaches, teammates, and opponents alike. Players like Barrett make everyone around them better because they lead through their actions every single shift.

The Brick Invitational Tournament is filled with talented young hockey players, but Barrett Gardner showed that true success isn’t just about producing points. It’s about playing with purpose, earning trust, and competing in all three zones.

Those qualities don’t just make great tournament players they build great hockey players for years to come. Barrett Gardner’s tournament was a reminder that the complete game will always be one of the most valuable assets a player can bring to the ice.

He reminds us of Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers and a BC boy as well.



Caylin Gardner Barrett Gardner BC Jr Canucks - Team BC

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#3 Nathaniel Noble for Team Brick Alberta.

At first glance, 2 assists in 6 games may not jump off the scoresheet. But anyone who watched Team Brick Alberta knows that #3 Nathaniel Noble was far more impactful than the statistics suggest.

Nathaniel generated scoring chances every game. His release is one of the best on the team the puck explodes off his stick, and he was never afraid to attack. Sometimes in hockey, you do everything right and the puck just refuses to go in. That’s part of the game, and every great goal scorer has gone through stretches like that.

What impressed people most was that Nathaniel never let his offensive luck affect the rest of his game. He stayed committed defensively, won battles, made smart plays, and earned the trust of his coaches in every situation. He proved he could be counted on at both ends of the ice.

The Brick Invitational Tournament is about more than goals. It’s about learning to compete against the best young players in the world, growing through adversity, and becoming a better teammate. Nathaniel did exactly that.

The goals will come. Players with his skating ability, confidence, and shot don’t stay off the scoresheet forever. What can’t be taught is the work ethic and determination he showed every shift.

Nathaniel, keep your head up. You played a much bigger role than the stats can ever show. Be proud of what you accomplished at The Brick. The people who understand hockey noticed the little things you did, and those little things often become the biggest reasons players succeed as they continue their journey.

This tournament was another step forward not the finish line. Your best hockey is still ahead of you. Keep shooting, keep competing, and keep believing. The goals will come, but the character you showed this week is something no scoresheet can measure. 🏒❤️

I had the opportunity to spend some time talking with Nathaniel Noble’s father, Tyson, and it’s one of those conversations I’ll remember for a long time. I walked into it expecting to talk hockey, but I walked away feeling better than when I arrived.


Tyson Noble Lindsay Noble

📸 Kru Flicks 📸

Just Dad & just a positive hockey coach for every kid that played.

Some moments at The Brick Invitational Tournament are measured in goals, assists, or championships.

Others are measured in memories that will last a lifetime.

Watching Anže Kopitar quietly stand behind the Western Selects bench wasn’t about a Stanley Cup champion or one of the greatest two-way players of his generation. It wasn’t about over 1,000 NHL games, Olympic appearances, or the countless accomplishments that have defined an incredible career.

It was about a father.

A father who made sure he was there for his son, Jakob.

Every tap on the shoulder as Jakob stepped onto the ice, every smile after a shift, every word of encouragement on the bench… those are the moments that matter most. Those are the memories that stay with a child forever.

But what made this week even more special is that Anže wasn’t just there for Jakob.

He was there for every player wearing a Western Selects jersey.

He celebrated every goal, encouraged every player, and treated each young athlete with the same kindness, patience, and respect. In a tournament filled with future stars, he reminded everyone that the greatest role models aren’t defined by what they’ve accomplished—they’re defined by how they make others feel.

Years from now, these young players may not remember every score or every statistic from this tournament.

But they’ll remember that one of hockey’s greatest players took the time to believe in them.

They’ll remember the fist bumps, the words of encouragement, and the example he set not as an NHL legend, but as someone who showed humility, class, and genuine love for the game.

For Jakob, these are priceless moments with his dad.

For his teammates, these are memories they’ll carry for the rest of their lives.

That’s the true beauty of The Brick Invitational Tournament. It brings together families, creates lifelong friendships, and reminds us that hockey is about so much more than winning.

Thank you, Anže Kopitar, for showing every young player what greatness truly looks like.
ws_brick2026 Western Selects Hockey Anze Kopitar Ines Kopitar

📸 Kru Flicks 📸

Some players fill the scoresheet. Others shape the game. Braxton Skinner did the latter.

At first glance, the stat line says zero points. But anyone who watched Team Brick Alberta closely knows Braxton Skinner’s tournament can’t be measured by goals and assists alone.

Wearing #10, Skinner brought a relentless pace every time he stepped onto the ice. He played with speed, pressured defenders into mistakes, won races to loose pucks, and helped drive the tempo for his team. Every shift was played with purpose.

What stood out most, however, was his commitment away from the puck. Time and again, Skinner was trusted with one of hockey’s toughest jobs matching up against the opposition’s best players. He embraced the challenge, using his skating, hockey IQ, and determination to limit their time and space while sacrificing his own offensive opportunities for the good of the team.

Those are the players coaches rely on. The ones who earn trust in the biggest moments because they understand that winning hockey is about far more than individual statistics.

The Brick Invitational Tournament is filled with elite talent, and every successful team needs players willing to do the little things that often go unnoticed. Braxton Skinner was one of those players for Team Brick Alberta.

His tournament was a reminder that some of the most valuable performances never appear on the scoresheet. They show up in key defensive stops, relentless backchecking, smart decisions, and the confidence a coaching staff has when the game’s biggest moments arrive.

Braxton Skinner proved that impact isn’t always measured in points. Sometimes it’s measured in trust, effort, and the quiet confidence of knowing you’ve helped your team every time your skates touched the ice.



Brittany Naeth Skinner Brandon Skinner Braxton Skinner Team Brick Alberta

📸 Kru Flicks 📸

Some players make headlines because of the goals they score. Others earn the respect of everyone in the rink because of when they score and the way they compete every shift.

At the 2026 Brick Invitational Tournament, #16 Levi Akeson of Toronto Pro Hockey was one of those players.

His stat line of 4 goals and 3 assists in 7 games tells part of the story, but it doesn’t tell you everything. Levi had a knack for delivering in big moments, scoring timely goals, creating opportunities for his teammates, and helping Toronto maintain momentum throughout the tournament. Several of his goals came at critical times, including game-winning and momentum-changing tallies that helped drive Toronto’s success.

What stands out most is his relentless competitiveness. Every shift was played with purpose. He hunted pucks, battled for every inch of ice, and never looked satisfied with simply being on the scoresheet. His commitment away from the puck created offensive chances just as often as his skill with it.

The photo captures exactly who Levi is as a hockey player. Dropping to one knee in celebration isn’t just about scoring a goal it’s the emotion that comes from hard work paying off. It’s the joy of helping your teammates, embracing the moment, and playing the game with passion.

Championship teams are built around players who rise when their team needs them most. Levi Akeson proved throughout the Brick Invitational that he is one of those players. His numbers were impressive, but his impact reached far beyond the scoresheet.

At just 10 years old, he’s already showing the qualities that coaches love, teammates trust, and fans remember. If this tournament is any indication, Levi Akeson is a young player with a very bright hockey future ahead.



Tyler Akeson Brooke Akeson 2016 Pro Hockey Brick Team

📸 Kru Flicks 📸

#41 Colton Stewart of Team Minnesota just made history at The Brick Invitational Tournament with 19 goals and 32 points!

It was a performance that has never been seen before as he helped his team win The Brick Invitational Tournament in Edmonton.

Colton Stewart didn’t do it alone, the support from his teammates was impressive and tremendous as they all played together as a team and everyone had a role to fill.

It took an entire team effort and Colton lead the way with his great leadership abilities.

When everyone feels apart of it you start to see the excitement from all your teammates and they want to do this for you even more.

The Championship performance was there from start to finish.

Everyone we ran into that knows the Stewart family said so many great things about them and how humble they are.

Colton is a great hockey player but he’s also a great young person too that will make a difference in the lives of everyone that gets to play with him and coach him along the way.

It was a pleasure watching you show us all why hockey is so fun.



📸 Kru Flicks 📸