It was a cold winter afternoon early 2017 and the phone rings. A friend of mine (who works in audio/video production) calling to see if I wanted to jump on the radio/television to do color for a local North American Hockey League game. I would be working with a college broadcasting student who would be doing the play by play. I thought well, I have never been on radio, or television, I have never done color, but I like talking hockey. How hard can this be? Well, that is where I met Blake Friars. He was the college guy doing the play-by-play, working on his Broadcasting Degree at Minot State University (ND). The game went well, and I went on to do the rest of that season’s games with him. It was a learning experience for both of us, but a ton of fun.
As the broadcasts continued, the debate about hockey topics continued. Blake and I have a lot in common. We both love hockey, and both think we are never wrong (Not such a good trait). After some post game discussion and many nights of thinking on my part, THE DEBATE Hockey Podcast was born.
On October 22, 2017, we recorded Episode 1 of the show. It was considerably shorter than episodes today, but it was the start. After 1000+ debates and 225+ episodes we roll into season seven of the show.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMNET
Dear Viewers and Listeners
With great disappointment we are announcing that THE DEBATE Hockey Podcast will discontinue weekly podcast episodes. Sometimes life puts you in situations where you must make hard decisions, and please, believe me when I say that it was not an easy decision to call it quits to one of the longest running National Hockey League podcasts.
Since our inception, our goal has been to provide insightful commentary, analysis, and entertaining discussions about the NHL. It has been a privilege to share our passion for the sport with each one of you. From thrilling victories to heartbreaking losses, Covid shutdowns, we have experienced the rollercoaster of NHL seasons and experiences together.
After an amazing 245 episodes and seven seasons, countless debates, numerous horrible predictions and yes, a few dead-on predictions, lots of laughs and numerous hours of great hockey talk the time has come to move on.
However, as we reflect on our journey, we have made the difficult decision to bring this chapter to a close. This decision was not made lightly, but we believe it is the right time for us to explore new opportunities and ventures.
I would like to wish co-host Blake Friars the best in his radio ventures and most importantly life. He has been co-hosting since day one. I regret that we never got to talk about our favorite teams hoisting the cup in the seven seasons of recording, but numerous fun memories were had.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to our dedicated listeners who have tuned in week after week. Your support has been the driving force behind our podcast’s success, and for that, we are truly thankful.
Although this marks the end of the podcast, we hope that the memories, discussions, and insights shared throughout the years will continue to resonate with you. The camaraderie and passion of the NHL community are unmatched, and we are grateful to have been a part of it.
While we say goodbye to this podcast, I am excited about what the future holds. I am exploring new avenues to continue sharing our love for hockey and engaging with fans like you.
Thank you once again for being a part of our podcasting journey. We will cherish the memories and the friendships we’ve made along the way. Please stay connected with us on our social media channels for updates on our future endeavors, and who knows maybe a relaunch……
Wishing you all the best,
Brad Burud
Inside Edge Hockey Media Group
HOSTS
Brad Burud brings the rock-solid old-school approach to the show. The Minot, North Dakota native grew up playing hockey, and spends his summers on the links. The diehard hockey fan watches tons of hockey and is full of comments and opinions. The Calgary Flames are his favorite team, and he is often accused of having a Western Conference bias. He is also the host of Flames Unfiltered. Brad brings the conservative, old school approach to the show. He is opinionated and hates losing a debate. Blake Friars brings the Canadian approach to the show. The Bienfait, Saskatchewan native grew up playing hockey for 16 years. The goalie is also a long time Roberto Luongo fan and claims the Vancouver Canucks as his favorite team. Rumors and a few photos have him in Oilers jerseys and cheering for the Habs. He denies it but, tends to jump on bandwagons quickly. Blake brings the millennial approach to the show. He is candid in his approach and creates numerous laughs and bad predictions.
The debates continue to pack the intensity that they always have but, the friendship and the working relationship we have has continues to grow. We are proud to be one of the few hockey podcasts to stand the test of time. We both love talking hockey and are very proud to produce THE DEBATE Hockey Podcast weekly for our listeners…the hockey fans!
Thank you and enjoy
Brad Burud and Blake Friars
