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Ever wondered what really happened in those big moments in Cardiff Devils history, both on and off the ice? Ever wonder if that Rumor you read on the forum was actually true? Every Episode Gareth Huish and John Donovan will sit down with Neil Francis, a man who has done it all as Cardiff Devils coach, be it as a player, Coach or ambassador. Find out the real stories behind your favorite Cardiff Devils players, Games, moments. This is Behind the Bench with Neil Francis.
Episodes
Friday Apr 17, 2020
Behind the Bench Episode 15 - Here's Wally!
Friday Apr 17, 2020
Friday Apr 17, 2020
Fresh off the Heels of our fantastic first guest, we invite another colorful character from Devils history to join us behind the bench, this week it is Brent Walton!
Brent Joined us from his home in Canada for our very first live video chat, and as you can imagine, had a tonne of great stories and memories from his playing career. In this first part:
- Getting up close and personal with Chris Frank
- Fat camp with Bible Frans
- Gooning it up in the AHL.
-And...... An Erotic Photo shoot......
All this and so much more in this awesome first part. Get listening and downloading now!
Thursday Apr 02, 2020
Behind The Bench Episode 14 - The Birbraer Odyssey - Part 2
Thursday Apr 02, 2020
Thursday Apr 02, 2020
So we come to the next exciting chapter of our Birbraer Odyssey, after learning all about Max unique journey to Pro hockey in North America we now turn attention to the life and times in Cardiff.
all of the ups and downs of life in a Devils shirt, giving us the low down on Team mates, crucial matches and his personal life away from the rink.
In this Episode!.....
- When did Max learn he had no rink to play out of when he first arrived in Cardiff?
- Why didn't Mark Smith light up the league the second time around?
- Memories of the Record Breakers.
And so so much more. We hope this Episode brings you a little bit of a distraction and some smiles while we stay indoors right now.
Most of all, we hope all of our listeners are currently staying safe. We hope to see you all soon.
Sunday Mar 15, 2020
Behind The Bench Episode 14 - The Birbraer Odyssey - Part 1
Sunday Mar 15, 2020
Sunday Mar 15, 2020
Very few players have had the impact on the Cardiff Devils that Max Birbraer had, from scoring goals, making hits, and being one of the most popular team mates and fan favorites of all time, his legacy will live on through all of Devils history.
We were lucky enough to sit down with Max and in this first part, we will learn all about the truly unique story about how a young Kid from Khazakstan ended up getting drafted to the NHL.
In this episode:
- How to get an Israeli passport in the 1990's
- language barriers in Junior hockey
- Army Jail with a spiritual intervention (it may have been one punch we aren't sure yet)
- Life with Mike Danton
And a whole lot more!
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Behind the Bench Episode 13 - Part 2 - Forwards
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Monday Feb 24, 2020
So we come to the end of our deliberation for the Cardiff Devils team of the decade, and it is the turn of the forwards.
The guys all throw in their ideas and then decide who makes the prestigious final Line!
Also in this episode
- Max talk
- Chris Blight right place wrong time?
- and we definitely definitely don't pick an entire second line because we felt guilty about leaving players out......
Wednesday Feb 05, 2020
Behind the Bench Episode 13 part 1 - Line of the Decade (goalies and D Men)
Wednesday Feb 05, 2020
Wednesday Feb 05, 2020
The Cardiff Devil have been blessed with some fantastic players in the last decade (and Franny signed most of them!) but with only 5 spots open, the guys who is going to make the Cut? we start with the guys who look after the House, the Goaltenders and the D men, who will Franny, Gaz and John choose?
also in this episode!
- JD spills the beans about Hothams Hatred
- Gaz can't remember the guy from Coventry!
- and we even sneak some current season chatter in there!
Who are your Goalie and D men of the decade? tell us on Twitter via @Btbfranny
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Behind the Bench Episode 12 - Christmas Cheer
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Monday Dec 23, 2019
It's been a whole year of podcasts from Gaz, John and Franny, a year full of laughs and stories and memories.
so the guys got together to just have a chat about the past year, and some topics that they wouldn't ordinarily get to talk about. Some of the things to look forward to in this episode:
- John Donovan Bingo is completed in record time
- We discuss who was the best draftee, Hand or Kirk?
- Franny's Face Time addiction.
- Where did the idea come from for Wally night?
- and what is the structure of a hockey player at Christmas time?
This and a whole lot more. Thank you so much for your support of the podcast over the past 12 months, here's to many more episodes to come.
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
Behind the Bench Episode 11 - Rowe-ling back the years
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
Thursday Oct 24, 2019
With John Donovan unfortunately able to Join the episode this week, a search was on for a replacement, who better to step in than one of the Best Cyclists in the world and HUGE (Credit: Aled Lloyd) Cardiff Devils Fan Luke Rowe!
Luke talks about how he has found the Devils and when his first game was, his fondest memories of the Big Blue Tent, some of his favorite players, and just some damn fine general hockey chat.
In this Episode!
- Luke Rowe owes the Devils money - Find out why!
- Luke Talks up why the Big Blue Tent is one of his most favorite ever sporting venue!
- We uncover Streatham Redskins and Fife Flyers legend Vincent Lukac!
- And we take a tour around Luke Rowe's hockey man cave.
- And listeners it's over to you, just who's stick does Luke have? We need to find the owner of this mystery piece of hockey memorabilia.
So what are you waiting for? Get listening to one of the best sportsman in the world, talk about one of the best sports in the world.
P.S the title of this episode was all Neil Francis idea!
Saturday Oct 12, 2019
Behind the Bench Episode 10 - Part 2 - The Superleague year
Saturday Oct 12, 2019
Saturday Oct 12, 2019
In this episode we breakdown the run down of the inaugural Superleague title race that the Devils would eventually win (spoiler!)
along the way of course, there are some diversions! mainly silly stories, so in this episode you can expect
- WNIR Stock check
- The Japanese hockey sensation 'Cannonball'
- Paul Heavey vs a Bin
-Bob Phillips serial blinder....
and many many more. Give us a listen!
Saturday Sep 21, 2019
Behind the Bench Episode 10 - Part 1 - The Superleague year
Saturday Sep 21, 2019
Saturday Sep 21, 2019
British Ice Hockey went through it's biggest ever change in the summer of 1996, 8 clubs broke away from the British Ice Hockey Association to form the Superleague, a new league that had an unlimited cap on Imports and Expenditure.
It heralded the highest level of hockey Britain had ever seen, and the Cardiff Devils and the Sheffield Steelers went head to head to try and win it.
In Part 1:
- Franny talks about his adventure to Graz
- We give the background on the 8 clubs who broke away
- Scott Dobben takes us off his Christmas Card list
- and we find out who scored the second ever Superleague goal.
Sunday Aug 25, 2019
Behind the Bench Episode 9 part 2 - Pre season special
Sunday Aug 25, 2019
Sunday Aug 25, 2019
We roll into part 2 of the pre season special and we are looking at things a bit closer to home..... Relive the madness that was Andrew Conboy's debut..... as Gaz, John and Franny take you back through some of the most memorable Pre season incidents.
In this Episode:
- What happens when a game ends with a Devils player headbutting an opponent and that's not even the most weird thing to happen?
- What film does John deem appropriate to show a bunch of hockey players from Denmark on a bus trip from Heathrow?
- Deeds, Danton and the birth of Twitter in the EIHL.
- Coventry pre season Memories
- and what on earth are Sneaky Saturdays?
and a whole lot more! Download and Subscribe now!