On The Ice and Behind the Benches Podcast (Maple Leafs Penguins, Rangers)

Thomas McGregor
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Hockey

Let's get ready to hit the Ice and learn about our favourite hockey franchises such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers Join me Thomas McGregor for conversations with fans of each of these hockey teams. Every week on this podcast!

  1. Sep 21 ·  Bonus

    Ottawa Charge 2025-2026 Season Review: Playoff Magic Comes Up Short

    Thomas reviews the Ottawa Charge’s 2025-2026 PWHL season, from preseason struggles and an overtime-heavy regular-season run to a playoff appearance. Ottawa eliminated Boston in four games before falling to Montreal in the Walter Cup Final, ending a memorable season just short of a championship. In this episode: The Ottawa Charge’s motto, “High voltage, hockey powers forward,” and the fan energy that helped set attendance records, including 8,318 fans at the team’s first game and 13,736 at a neutral-site contest.Ottawa’s 2025-2026 roster, included captain Brianne Jenner, Gabby Hughes, Emily Clark, and goaltenders Gwyneth Philips, Kendra Woodland, Caitlin Ross, and Sanni Ahola.Coaching and management changes involving Carla MacLeod, acting head coach Haley Irwin, and general manager Mike Hirshfeld.A difficult preseason featuring a 3-2 overtime loss to Toronto and a 3-0 regulation loss to the Sceptres.Ottawa’s regular-season record: 9 regulation wins, 12 regulation losses, 8 overtime wins, and 1 overtime loss.Ottawa secured a playoff spot despite being close to elimination late in the regular season.The Charge’s first-round playoff series against Boston, which Ottawa won 3-1 after taking Game 4 by a 4-3 double-overtime score.The Walter Cup Final against the Montreal Victoire, where Ottawa lost the first two games in overtime, won Game 3, and was shut out 4-0 in Game 4.How Ottawa’s two Walter Cup appearances compare with the team’s previous playoff run against Montreal and Minnesota.Thomas names Gabby Hughes as his Ottawa Charge player of the season after her 5-goal, 11-assist, 16-point regular season.Timestamps00:00 - Introducing the Ottawa Charge season review01:24 - Ottawa’s team identity and inaugural fan support03:11 - Attendance records and the energy at TD Place05:53 - Ottawa’s 2025-2026 roster08:18 - Coaching, management, and goaltending changes10:13 - Plans for covering the expanded 12-team PWHL14:21 - Ottawa’s place in the growing PWHL17:10 - Preseason results against Toronto19:04 - Comparing Ottawa’s preseason performances21:24 - How Ottawa reached the postseason22:12 - Ottawa’s 9-8-1-12 regular-season record23:29 - Early-season results and the loss-heavy start26:34 - Overtime wins against Minnesota and Toronto28:32 - Previewing the postseason and player of the season31:46 - Breaking down Ottawa’s complete regular-season record33:39 - January wins over Minnesota and Vancouver35:22 - Montreal, New York, and Seattle in January38:10 - Ottawa’s final regular-season stretch41:39 - Moving from the regular season to the playoffs44:37 - Closing the regular season against Toronto, Montreal, and Seattle48:19 - Ottawa opens the playoffs against Boston49:35 - The best-of-five playoff format50:04 - Ottawa eliminates Boston in double overtime51:26 - The all-Canadian Walter Cup Final begins52:20 - Montreal takes the first two games in overtime53:16 - Ottawa wins Game 3 to stay alive54:42 - Montreal wins the Walter Cup with a 4-0 shutout57:03 - Comparing Ottawa’s two Walter Cup appearances60:23 - Choosing Ottawa’s player of the season61:20 - Why Gabby Hughes earns the honor62:44 - Michelle Cava and other honorable mentions64:35 - Looking ahead to the expanded 2026-2027 PWHL season66:31 - Final thoughts for Ottawa Charge fans Music: https://www.purple-planet.com/home

  2. Sep 21 ·  Bonus

    How Montreal Survived Minnesota & Ottawa to Become PWHL Champions (PWHL Review) "Victoire"

    Thomas recaps the Montreal Victoire’s championship season, from an undefeated preseason and a 30-game regular season to a dramatic playoff run against the Minnesota Frost and Ottawa Charge. The Victoire became the first Canadian PWHL franchise to win the Walter Cup, with Marie-Philip Poulin selected as the team’s player of the season.In this episode: ​Montreal opened the preseason with two wins over the Boston Fleet, including a 3-2 overtime victory and a 3-2 regulation win.​The Victoire finished the regular season with a 16-6-2-6 record, including 16 regulation wins, six overtime wins, six regulation losses, and two overtime losses.​Key regular-season results included wins over Toronto, Minnesota, Ottawa, Vancouver, Seattle, Boston, and the New York Sirens.​Montreal’s postseason began with a 5-4 loss to Minnesota before Anne-Renée Desbiens recorded a shutout in the 1-0 series-evening victory.​The Victoire defeated Minnesota 2-1 in the deciding game of their semifinal series, ending the Frost’s bid for a third consecutive Walter Cup.​Montreal faced Ottawa in the first all-Canadian Walter Cup Final in PWHL history.​The Victoire won the first two championship games, 3-2 in overtime and 2-1, before Ottawa forced a fourth game with a 2-1 victory.​Montreal closed out the series with a 4-0 shutout on May 20, becoming the first Canadian PWHL team to win the Walter Cup.​Marie-Philip Poulin was named Montreal’s player of the season for her leadership and contribution to the championship run.​Thomas previews the offseason, including discussion of the 2026-2027 draft, roster moves, coaching changes, and the league’s expected expansion to 12 teams.Timestamps:00:00 - Introducing Montreal’s championship season recap01:11 - The Victoire win the Walter Cup02:07 - Montreal reaches the postseason for a third consecutive time05:14 - Meet the general manager, coaching staff, and goaltenders06:38 - Montreal’s preseason roster08:15 - The origins of the Montreal Victoire name and the city’s hockey legacy09:12 - Record attendance at the Bell Centre13:59 - Reviewing Montreal’s preseason against Boston16:24 - Montreal’s 30-game regular-season record17:27 - A shaky start against Boston and a response against New York18:30 - Montreal’s early-season dominance over Toronto19:14 - Wins against Vancouver and the Toronto season series23:59 - Minnesota stands between Montreal and the Walter Cup25:24 - January wins over Minnesota, Ottawa, and Toronto28:52 - Montreal returns from the Olympic break30:21 - A late-season overtime loss to Boston32:16 - April shutouts and the end of the regular season36:30 - Montreal enters the playoffs with a 16-6-2-6 record37:22 - Minnesota takes Game 1 of the semifinal38:21 - Desbiens shuts out Minnesota in triple overtime39:19 - Montreal takes a 2-1 series lead40:26 - The semifinal reaches a deciding fifth game42:12 - Montreal advances to its first Walter Cup Final43:44 - Montreal wins Game 1 against Ottawa in overtime44:14 - The Victoire move within one win of the championship45:11 - Ottawa extends the final with a 2-1 victory46:17 - Montreal wins the Walter Cup with a 4-0 shutout49:39 - The significance of Montreal’s historic championship51:27 - Marie-Philip Poulin named Victoire player of the season52:18 - Looking back at Montreal’s memorable playoff run53:47 - Closing thoughts and offseason preview Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like the On The Ice & Behind The Benches Facebook page: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thomassportsHockey2023/⁠

  3. Jun 20 ·  Bonus

    PWHL Season and review “inaugural season” Vancouver Golden Eyes

    Episode Description: The inaugural season of the Vancouver Goldeneyes has officially come to an end. So how did they do? Thomas breaks it all down on this first edition of PWHL seasons in review for the 2025-2026 PWHL season. First up on the 2025-2026 PWHL seasons in review the Vancouver Goldeneyes and stay tuned to the end of the show to find out which team is gonna be next! Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like the On The Ice & Behind The Benches Facebook page: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thomassportsHockey2023/⁠

  4. Mar 24

    The Maple Leaf Show edition + FIFA World Cup news breaking

    Episode description: while the Maple leafs continue to well figure out their identity with no Auston Matthews for possibly the rest of the year this season in soccer news the FIFA World cup inches closer to it start date for FIFA World Cup 2026 in the summer of June. This week on the show, we dive into some breaking news regarding FIFA World Cup 2026+ we break down the matchup between the Maple leafs and the Wild on Sunday, March 15, 2026 as the Maple leafs geared up for a showdown with the New York Islanders in Toronto. This ought to be fun! Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like the On The Ice & Behind The Benches Facebook page: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thomassportsHockey2023/⁠

  5. Mar 21 ·  Bonus

    Emergency pod the Leafs captain to be re-evaluated in two weeks and Anaheim Ducks news.

    This is a emergency pod for the show as we dive into the latest news surrounding the latest match between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Anaheim Ducks as the actions of both players to be discussed in this episode find themselves in the midst of either a suspension or being done for the regular season. What do you think is going to happen when it comes to Austin Matthews next evaluation after two weeks have passed us by? Do you think the NHL Players Association department deserves to give the player that injured Austin more than what was given to him or is the number of games given in the suspension enough to allow the player back onto the ice. Find out the answers on this emergency podcast episode. Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like the On The Ice & Behind The Benches Facebook page: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thomassportsHockey2023/⁠

  6. Mar 16 ·  Bonus

    The Maple Leaf Show "Red Wings clear the season series against the with a 2-1 Overtime Victory over the Leafs in Toronto" (Leafs vs. Red Wings)

    It's a original six matchup for the history books as the Maple Leafs try to avoid being swept by the Red Wings for the first time since the 1995-96 NHL season thirty-one years ago. Toronto is coming off a 6-3 loss to Minnesota on Monday night meanwhile Detroit is hoping to increase their winning streak of 2 games. As they come to Toronto for the final time this season. Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like the On The Ice & Behind The Benches Facebook page: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thomassportsHockey2023/⁠

  7. Mar 16 ·  Bonus

    The Maple Leaf Show "Road Trip Recap" ahead of Olympic break and more

    The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their first midway half of 2025/2026 regular season with a record of 27-21-9 coming into the olympic break with their hockey season sort of in question despite a terrible of 5 home games. Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like the On The Ice & Behind The Benches Facebook page: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thomassportsHockey2023/⁠⁠

  8. Mar 16

    The Maple Leaf Show "Ramus collects a hat-trick and Sabres take a 2-1 season series lead in Toronto" (Sabres @ Maple Leafs)

    Episode Description: on this addition of the Maple leaf show, we discuss the differences between spending time in the box versus scoring goals as the Maple leafs clash with the Sabres in Toronto how did it go down? Let’s find out! Music: https://www.purple-planet.com/ Connect with On ice & behind the benches on Facebook Notice this addition of the Mapleleaf show showcases of recap of the game between the Maple leafs and the Sabres on (January 27, 2026)

See All (300)

Trailers

About

Let's get ready to hit the Ice and learn about our favourite hockey franchises such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers Join me Thomas McGregor for conversations with fans of each of these hockey teams. Every week on this podcast!

Information