Heart. Grit. Perseverance. And playing every game like it could be your last. On Episode 30 of The Mask & The Mic, Guy Hebert and Kent French welcome NHL veteran and former Anaheim Duck Sam Carrick for a conversation about what it truly takes to build—and sustain—a career in professional hockey. Drafted in the fifth round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010, Sam reflects on the unforgettable experience of being selected by the team he grew up cheering for. But as his career progressed, he came to an important realization: if he wanted longevity in the NHL, he couldn't take a single day for granted. He had to approach every practice, every shift, and every opportunity like it might be his last. That mentality would come to define his career. Sam looks back on joining the Anaheim Ducks organization in 2017 and spending parts of eight seasons battling between the NHL and AHL with the Ducks and San Diego Gulls. He discusses the perseverance required to keep earning opportunities, his breakthrough 2021-22 season, and why signing a new two-year contract didn't mean he could finally take his foot off the gas. He also reflects on the influence of Dallas Eakins, who coached Sam at multiple stops throughout his career and played an important role in his development as both a player and professional. The conversation then turns to Sam's 2024 trade to the Edmonton Oilers, where he experienced the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time—and rode that opportunity all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Sam shares what playoff hockey feels like from inside the locker room and what it's like playing alongside one of the greatest players in the game, Connor McDavid. But an NHL career isn't lived by the player alone. Sam opens up about moving from city to city with his wife and three young boys, the sacrifices a hockey family makes behind the scenes, and the mentality required to remain an NHL player through trades, roster battles, and constant uncertainty. After 14 years of professional hockey and nearly 400 NHL games, Sam is beginning his latest chapter with the Buffalo Sabres following a trade from the New York Rangers in March 2026. Now settled in Buffalo, he's balancing preparation for his first full season with the Sabres with another important role—hockey dad. And finally, we head off the ice and into the Canadian woods. Sam shares the story behind Carrick Brothers Maple, the family maple syrup business he operates with his three brothers. What began as a childhood tradition of tapping trees with their grandfather has grown into a thriving operation in South Algonquin, Ontario, with more than 46,000 taps producing maple syrup, maple water, maple cream, granulated maple sugar, and more. From NHL locker rooms and the Stanley Cup Final to family, fatherhood, and the maple farm, Sam Carrick's story is ultimately about something much bigger than hockey: Showing up. Doing the work. And earning your opportunity every single day. 🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube. 🎙️ Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 🔔 Subscribe to The Mask & The Mic for conversations with the athletes, coaches, broadcasters, and personalities behind the games we love. Subscribe to TheMaskTheMic YouTube Channel
