In this episode of the Fingertirable podcast, Colin recounts his hockey career, starting with junior hockey in Canada where he played for teams like the Langley Trappers, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners, and Nepean Raiders, eventually becoming an assistant captain. He then played four years at UMass Dartmouth before pursuing professional hockey overseas. Despite being told by an agent he had “no value,” Colin secured a spot in Finland’s third pro league (Suomi-sarja). He describes the cultural shock of arriving in Finland, including a language barrier with his head coach and the surprise that all bottled water is sparkling. Colin adapted to the larger European ice surface, which required more cardio and allowed him to explore new aspects of his game. He lived with teammates from America, Russia, and Latvia, learning about their cultures. His practice schedule was intense, often including multiple ice sessions and conditioning. Next, Colin will play for the Deeside Dragons in Wales, England, and is excited to coach a youth camp there with his father. Looking ahead, he plans to play as long as possible and pursue stand-up comedy after hockey, having already performed open mics and shows. Colin emphasizes persistence and not giving up, as he believes the only way to lose is to quit.
What's up everybody, welcome to another episode of the Fingertirable podcast as usual, I'm Fingertirable. Today we're really lucky via the most difficult app to be downloaded in all of Apple. We have Colin from me with me, what's up from me? Hi, how are you? I'm good, I'm good. Real quick, I just want to let everyone know how I came up with Colin. He does, works with a great camp that myself and a couple other parents took our kids to called Simply Defense, was where we were at, and Colin plays, Oki-o over the place, I'm not going to try and give you all the details of that Colin explained where he plays, but Colin, we start talking about your background and where you've played. Take a minute to tell me a little about the Simply Defense or the Simply, you know, because you guys do simply shooting as well. Yeah, so that was actually my first time doing that camp. My friend, Meccanigan, brought me in to join, but from what I saw, they focused on the basics and they want to focus on the kids' foundation before they get into all the harder skills that the kids have to learn as they're growing out playing Oki. We enjoyed it. I thought they worked on, especially for 6 to 10, 6 to 8, basically 8U. I think they did a great job of focusing on the little thing, the details. We really enjoyed it, and that's where I ran into you. Your story is really interesting because you have a very interesting aspect of where you've played and what you've done. So please give everybody a little bit of an idea of all the places you've been. Like starting from juniors or just like recently. Start there. We got time. Well, junior hockey for anyone listening or the kids that it's a battle. And the only way you lose juniors is if you give up on yourself. And I'm helping kids right now, like who had a tough rookie year, their first year just pushed through. So my first year I was in Langley, BC with the Langley trappers. And it was junior B at the time, now it's junior A. And it was a good starting point. And then my second year was very difficult. I was trying to make the jump to the BCHL in junior A. So I started in the NIMO in the BCHL, played like two exhibitions, got caught, went to the Alberto League, got two exhibitions, got caught, went to the Manitoba League, the coach that brought me in, actually quit a day after I got there. So I ended up making that team, but the GM told me he was like, hey, you're the 13th floor. We wouldn't be offended if you left. And I didn't think that that was a great way to start the season. So I ended up going to Kirkland Lake, the gold miners in the Norge and I had a great time. I met a lot of great guys. And that was my second year and my third year. I went to the Nipian Raiders in the CCHL. And I worked my way to assistant captain and it was a great way to finish my last year juniors. And from there, I got a commitment to go play at UMass Dartmouth for four years. So I knew you. Yeah. When I saw you, you had just gotten back from overseas. Yeah, so this is from the beginning. So then I did UMass Dartmouth for four years, graduated and then, waded by the phone all the last summer, calling every team and then I finally got a team in Finland 3. And I left, I was in Finland from August 14th to February 29th. And I was in the third pro league in Finland called the Swami Sada. Well, what was that like? What was, because I mean, for again, we do do a lot of hockey. We have a lot of hockey going on in our podcast and all our stuff. But for the people that don't know, like, the main thing I would know is like, you're talking about a completely different ring. Yeah. So funny stories, right? When I get there, I fly in. It's an eight hour flight. I get there and the border was already giving me trouble. And one of the finish guys was picking me up and he was, he was a little irritated because I think it took me like, like two hours, maybe like an hour and a half to get through the finish border. And then we get in the car and finish people are very, they hate small talk and Americans are the opposite. So I get in the car and he's very like, just to himself and I'm trying to like break through his barrier. I was telling him the finish words that I learned and I was, I broke through eventually because it was an hour and a half car ride. And then I got to the office and my head coach doesn't speak English. So I was sitting in the office and I bought a bottle of water and I didn't know that all of the water in Finland is sparkling. So I'm sitting there in the office with a head coach that doesn't speak English, waiting for the translator and I open the water and explodes all over the room and all over me. And I just, all the only thing I could say in Finnish was, hi, my name is Colin. So after that happened, I kind of just said like, boy, me knew I need money on Colin and then he kind of laughed. So I just like waited until the translator came and then it was all good. That's nuts. So I mean, now when you had to Finland, are you staying with, like you guys have a dorm or are you staying, are you building like what's the status with that? So it's different per team, but from what I heard most teams, they put you up in apartment. The apartment is very nice. I was at like a middle house for the first two weeks until they were figuring out what apartment to put me in. And then I did have, I did have roommate or one roommate, but I had three different roommates throughout the year because guys, it's professional hockey guys come in and out of the team like a revolving door sometimes. I had three different roommates throughout the year. One was American, one was Russian and one was Latvian. So that's, I mean, that's just that collection of, of dudes, like that's gotta be off. Like it was awesome or like was it tough? Like, no, it was, it was definitely the American, the American kid funny enough is actually from Chicago suburbs and we had a lot of mutual friends, which was kind of insane that we both ended up in Finland and we're 20 minutes apart in Illinois. The Russian kid was like really good at hockey, but completely different culture and everything I was learning a lot about like the Russian culture. He told me that Putin likes to go bird watching, which I definitely didn't know. And then the kid from Latvia was great too. Yeah, it's all different cultures. They all, everyone in Finland, all the guys, the younger guys, they all speak English, the Latvian kids spoke perfect English. I think the worst was the Russians, but he ended up leaving to go to the first league in Slovakia. So I was only with him for about a month. He was a pretty good hockey player. His English was very broken, so I'd have to like help him out. But he didn't speak Finnish. He just spoke Russian. Any breakdown in the different cultures, not the cultures, but the different areas based on play, I know the Russians don't fuck around. You think about the Russians that have been on the NHL, you think about the Russians you've heard of. Obviously for the lay person, for the person who's not a huge hockey fan, you're thinking miracle. That's where you're average. With the different types of, you know, the different countries, do you see a difference in play? Yeah, with the Russians. Well, the Finnish culture is very hardworking. The ranks completely bigger than the American ranks, so it's harder to catch guys and hit them. So there is less hitting for sure. But our practice is full physicality with the Finnish guys, Russian guys, myself. But yeah, definitely the Russian guys had a shorter fuse to them. And if somebody did something behind the play, they remembered it the whole shift and were gone after them, or they were grabbing them after the whistle. And Finland, if you drop your gloves, you get one game suspension, but if you fight with your gloves on and just like start swinging, it's just a two minute penalty. So most of the Russian kids would just like, just do that. That's the way to go. Yeah, because I mean, I think in the back of a documentary, there's a great documentary called the Ice Guardian. And they talk about how like there's realistically, there's less fighting in the European game. But again, it's bigger. It's almost kind of harder to get it. It's harder to catch them and put a hit on them. Yeah, it is for sure. I actually enjoy the bigger ice. You definitely need a little more cardio for it. But like in school, at UMass Army, that was a third line PK, like, sharper in your face. So it was nice for me to experience the other aspects of my game that I can explore. And I had a little more confidence because my coach didn't speak English. So I didn't really get yelled at. Or I probably got yelled at, but like, I didn't really know.
know is going on too much. But it was nice to get my confidence back and get to explore my role and that allowed me to get more points than I usually did when I was in college. That's good. Yeah, no, I mean, because that's the thing that a lot of people understand that the ring so much bigger and like it does, it changes the game. You know, it can probably kill some people, but it also probably takes people to other other people's games to own trouble. Because like you said, the cardio, the open ice, the speed, the way you play the game. So that's something that maybe some people don't know, but like it's just at your age at a younger age, like that me being old as shit, like you've got so many cool stories. Like you've gotten a travel play this game. You love like, you know, I met you just working with young kids, but like you really, you've got these really great stories and you're about to leave again, right? Yeah, I'm excited. I'm actually, so I'm playing next year for the D-side Dragons in Wales, England. It's the third pro league in England. I'm still learning everything, but me and my dad are going to coach with my coach that I'll be playing with and endover sports. A guy Mike Pion, who's helped me throughout my whole hockey career with Juniors College and this England opportunity is he's running a kids camp out there and then he asked me and my dad if we wanted to go coach. And I thought that was a great way to see the area because it's at my rank. So I then I get to meet my coach. I can figure out the bank accounts. I can figure out where I'm going to live. I can do everything. So when I get there in August, I'm ready to go. That's so cool, man. Like one of the reasons I definitely wanted to keep in touch and finally figure out a way to do this podcast is as you travel, like our dream, like some of the guys here in Epping Curable, like we would love to document a road trip to come watch you play a game, like because we love to do that. Like obviously anyone who follows our podcast or our social media anywhere just got really lucky where we were able to sponsor the showcase for the Black OX where we got to meet a bunch of young kids that are now traveling in all over the country to go different places. And we plan on following them. But that would be a dream to shoot out there and take in a game out there and wails and check something like that out. So when it comes down to stuff like that, like traveling overseas and stuff like that. And when you open that door, like when you start talking about that, when you're younger, when the first time it came up, like is that for you, was it tough? Like was it tough to be like, I'm going to do this? Like I'm in for it. Or was it like a no brainer? Like I'm going overseas to play some hockey next part. I mean throughout any kids, any guys hockey career, there's always ups and downs and you get frustrated. And then you're like, oh, I'm done after college or I'm done after whatever. And then you kind of just have to take the night or maybe go have some fun with the boys and then you wake up the next day and you're like, I can't give it up. It's, it, for me, it was a gut feeling at my senior year. I was still figuring out because I came in during COVID. So I had to make a decision if I wanted to do my fifth year at college or pursue overseas. And it was just a gut no brainer feeling. Like I was like, I'm doing this. I don't care how hard it's going to be. I'll find a team. And it was difficult. I probably got rejected by countless teams. Like I was looking at Germany, France, Italy, England. I had an agent tell me that I, that I was, had no value. And I was not going to go to Finland 3. And so that kind of like, fuel the fire in me. I was like, I don't like this guy at all. I'm going to prove him wrong. And then at the end of the day I did. So what's that guy's name? I don't know if I want to, I'm not saying that. I don't want to throw anyone under the bus. Sorry. Oh, sorry. I lost you a bit. No, I lost, I lost the hearing a bit. [silence] [silence] [silence] [silence] [silence] All right, we're back. All right, yeah, I can hear you now. We're going to be doing some editing on this one everybody. Please don't judge me. So we left off talking about the agent that told you you weren't going to make it in Finland. I know I get why you want the name, but fuck that guy. Yeah, yeah, I'm definitely not going to say a name, but at the end of the day I'd feel the fire in me. That I already, that I just like amplified it because I already was like, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this. And then the rejections, like, it piles up after, but it's definitely difficult, but you just got the only way, at the end of the day I said to myself, the only way I'd lose is if I quit. So I just kept going, found a team literally during their training camp.
August. I think I flew out August 14th. I'm pretty sure. And then I got there like two weeks into their six week training camp. Training camp was also crazy but So all right, so I get that you're a little bit you don't want to name because of what you said about the agent. But now coming for me, nah, ha, really. My background, I was in the military and I got to travel. I was all over Europe. I did a bunch of stuff. What is it like being your age? Like, because at the time you were how old? Infigrant. So it was this year. It said 25. I just turned 26 last week. There's 25. Yeah, I'll do something. Inland, playing hockey, you run around hockey. What are you guys getting into it tonight? No, we our practice schedule was so crazy. Sometimes we wouldn't do anything. We had a lot of Sunday games. But there was like a there was like a local bar club called status that like all the boys would go to and they actually used to sponsor the team like it was on our jersey. It said like status. And then I I'm not fully sure what happened why the sponsorship stopped. But there was so there was that club and it was open to like four finished people go out at like midnight. So like they earn midnight or one. They're like in the apartment having beers, pre-gaming and then they'll go out like late. Like Americans are like completely different than that. But then there was a little Irish dive bar in Finland that I like to go to. It was it was tiny. But I would always go back and forth with the bartender and practice my finish. Finishes is a very hard language, but I would like come in and I would say like how well my friend in in finish and then he'd be like, oh it's getting better and like it was just a good back and forth to have. Oh, because I was ready for it. Because in my mind, I'm thinking hockey players all from all over the world in the prime of their life, it's got to be rockets. Like it's got to be out of control. Like I hang out with hockey players that are adults now and they're out of their minds. Yeah, I think it's different per team that you're on and where you're at. There was like it was a smaller Finland town. And like I said, we had a lot of Sunday games and our practice schedule was morning ice, a gym workout, then we got a little break, then we had running or bike sprints, then we had an afternoon skate and then we had more running or something after the ice. This went on for basically the whole year. They cut some running out when the winter hit, but like guys are pretty tired after constantly doing that throughout the day. And then we'd play two games a week, a lot of them were on Sundays. I would do some Sunday fun days with one guy because like you need that balance, especially when you're when you're grinding all week. It's definitely good to have a beer at the end of the week with one of the guys. Oh yeah, you got to have a little bit. So I guess like I guess my next question, which I mean we don't try and get too hard hitting, but like what's your end game? Like what do you what do you want to be like where do you want this to all take you? Well, I was talking this with one of my dad's friends actually yesterday. My goal was England. Like that was my goal. Like to start and play in England. I've just always for some reason been attracted to England, drawn to England. And now I'm doing that. So the end goal for me is to play as long as I can. I mean, you can work your whole life. I can't play hockey my whole life. So I'm just working to go into England and try to climb the ladder as high as I can get up there. Well, do you see like I mean obviously like there is you know you have a love for this sport like I love for this. And I mean the thing is is like we just not too long ago did a podcast where we sat with some guys at a beer league. And like you know how that goes like you got guys that are 65 and guys that are 20 and they're at the ring till 2 a.m. playing hockey. Yeah, working the morning because they love it so fucking much. But like when that day comes when that day does come like when you're not able to you know compete at a high level and travel to play like is coaching something you want to do because I mean you got to work with you know what on a first hand level like I got to watch you work with my son and another like when we came to your tournament or you're I'm sorry you're your camp like we brought you know three of our kids that are just hockey dummies like they just love it. They can't get enough of it. And like to watch you guys work with them like you know is that something you want to do or are you just getting like when you're done playing like I don't want to coach I want to play beer league and just be glad to be what it is. No, I'm definitely I've definitely thought about it. Like I talked to you briefly about I do stand-up comedy. So I think after I'm done playing I'm definitely going to really pursue stand-up hard because I only do it right now like in the offseason and when I'm like half the time. But as I get older I I will probably end up coaching and doing stand-up but I'll probably depending on what age group I have off to to watch the stand-up comments so the kids don't find anything that I'm all the jokes I'm saying. Oh dude you know I got to worry about that you know what it's like even at a state you locker room that things like it's like a bunch of sailors just ripping it up like you'll be good you could you could drop whatever you need to drop in there. So we're because like where are you doing a stand-up like when you're off like because we'll have to make sure you keep with us you put it out on your website we'll come out and check you out do that too because like I mean a hockey player doing stand-up I want it like I'm here for it. Yeah so I started so I went to UMass Dartmouth and I only did a few open my or I think I did one open mic in Chicago before I went to school and then I was just looking for open mics you know trying to get experience and just get up there and they were going pretty well and I had a good support system my friends they didn't care as an open mic I had a good turnout of friends that would show up and I got a phone call from the comedy factory in Rhode Island shout out to John Prada and his stand-up because he is the one that gave me the chance to do shows I haven't done that many I probably did let me say like eight with him while is it school in Providence and then uh so now I'm I'm back home so I'm trying to break into the Chicago scene you gotta meet people to get on shows and you gotta just go to open mics and it's the same thing like with hockey I'm just I'm trying out I'm putting in the practice right now and then opportunities will come to me as I progress through the stand-up scene absolutely yeah I mean from someone who used to like we used to live down in the city and we used to be in the you know the bar industry and like yeah there's a lot of like you gotta work your way through and find your friends and find the people that are gonna get your foot in the door but that I mean obviously do like it's clear you know you're not taking no from answering listen to that dickhead agent who told you know when you just said you broke it off and that guy's asked so yeah yeah that guy pissed me off I wanted to I wanted to rip I wanted to send him a text and he like hey do you see you see where I signed but my dad's big on not burning bridges uh my dad's big in the hockey coaching world too um he was uh he's in Illinois hockey hall fam for coaching he coaching the UHL back before it was uh back in the day it was NHL NHL UHL ECHO so he got a year in the UHL um and he's just his resume is very impressive so I'm very blessed to be able to learn from him growing up through now and all the struggles I had I've definitely been lucky to to have him as a mentor well I'll be honest with you I I should probably take a page out of your dad's book but it's already proof that he's doing a good job saying it's how you're not burning bridges or dropping dimes on anybody out of podcast but uh I would keep doing your dad's probably a hundred percent right so as we finish up stuff as uh like we wanted to get into a couple of things one of the things that we like to do whenever we do a podcast with somebody uh I want to ask you again the name of our our our company is Fing terrible sports and what we like to do and we've done before if you go back into our history and our podcasts as we love to talk about our things that are just fucking terrible all right so I need one normal every day to day thing all right and then one hockey that's just you're like oh god that's fucking terror I hate when that happens like for example for me the hockey one is whenever a referee stops a goalie fight I can't stand it why are you breaking up a goal you let everybody else go at it why are you stopping a goalie fight and then a normal day to day one is uh the water that comes out of the fucking ketchup bottle before you sprint the ketchup on your outdog like that's terror how have we now I mean I could watch a whole episode of I mean I could watch the entire season of sports on my phone but we can't get rid of the liquid in the beginning of the fucking sucks my outdog but I hate that shit so those are some like ideas so tell me your hockey terrible and your just day to day two uh I don't the day to day one there's definitely like a few I just can't
think of the first one that came my head. I don't know why it bugs me so much. I hate when couples call each other babe and baby. Like you're a grown-ass person. Why are you calling them baby? Like I can't stand it. Maybe I'm too cynical or something but I just I've never been able to wrap my head around like a grown person calling their significant other babe or baby. It just always rubs me the wrong way. I'm a PK guy through and through. So flamingoing. Do you know that term? Do you know I'm talking about this one? I think I felt like I was good but that one's brand new to me. Okay. When you go to block a shot and you come up to get in the lane and you pull your light your one leg back because you're half scared. So you have one leg on the ice and you have one up. So you're like a flamingo? Can stand when guys like go out to like fake block a shot. Makes total sense. The flamingo that now I can I absolutely make sense to me. I will definitely be using it as we go forward. So that one being said now that you kind of open the door to it. What? Because we again we we talk about this all the time. What is your absolute favorite hockey slang or turf or something like something like a hockey slang that you absolutely love? Because I'm gonna say right now. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. In Canada. So a rookie in Canada like in engineers it was called you called them a schmel. And I still call people schmel. So I just like my friends at the bar and I just always thought that word was hilarious and I still use it. Schmel. I like that. That's definitely got t-shirt capability. Yeah. So is it just rookies or is it people who play like they don't know what they're doing? It's mainly the younger guys. It's mainly the rookies but yeah you can call anyone in Canada. They would give it back to me too and I was a 20 year old and they were like 17, 18 and then they'd be like oh you're a fucking schmel and I'd be like yeah whatever. So now that again you know we're gonna throw this on our brand new YouTube page which if you're watching this either a clip on any one of our social media like TikTok or Instagram go over to the full interview with Colin on our YouTube page or head over to our podcast and you'll be able to listen to it there too but for the people that are listening and they're like oh I don't want to just check in and see what that dude's doing like what what what whales was like. Is there any way they can follow you and then also you got to understand like if you don't have one you're talking about being a comedian you're talking about playing hockey like you got some that people can follow you on. Yeah yeah I have a regular account that I probably post more hockey stuff Colin with 1L underscore cromi crom. That one's more I that one I have on private but that's just like for the safety measures I guess but then I have in the link or in my bio of that profile I have my stand-up account so it's cromedy underscore CROMEDY and I'm actually wearing the shirt for it as well that I made these yeah so those are the two socials that I have and then I have a TikTok I also stand up sorry you said hold on well what the clock is done well done oh yeah and there's a back to it too I drew uh I don't know if you can see it it says it is what it is but I just drew it with my finger on on can't on canvas nice that was actually funny I couldn't figure out how to type it on the shirt so I got frustrated and I was like you know I'm just gonna like draw on the back and then I was like oh wait I can just write it out and then so the frustration turned into something decent it's good marketing I like the name but yeah so again anyone that's listening we will who didn't jot it down will make sure that we have the link for the cromedy in the bio for us and and then the notes for this for this the all these both these episodes or the episodes on whatever site on our Instagram or TikTok we'll have it on all of them but dude so I guess from your excellent like from where you're at and like all the things that you've done you know from juniors to Finland to now England to comedy like if you could take the next and if when I say if you could because you can and you will and then that's what will be how we'll finish up if you're gonna you're gonna take the next few minutes to speak to I mean not even just kids because the bottom line is you're not a kid like but just people who are maybe listened to that fucking jackass agent and gave up like if you wanted to spout some words of wisdom and some advice like what if you had just two minutes to talk to 30 something 40 thousand people what would you say oh man um that was uh it was it was months of me just not quitting and getting rejected and me just uh just trying to keep my head on straight and just not let it get the best of me I read a quote at the beginning I started looking for teams in May I went to a showcase in Montreal and I nothing came out of it um and about I was just getting constantly phone call phone calls emailing just getting rejected and then I just it's just non-stop believing in yourself and if you just know that you can do it no matter what anyone says like they're not they're not you they don't they don't know anything about you they don't know what you're capable of only you do so the only way you lose is if you quit so that's what I'm trying to tell these junior kids right now that had tough first year like you don't want to regret it 10 10 years down the line because you didn't go for it because you let one person steer you away from your dream you let one person um getting your head and change your life path honestly like you don't want to have any regrets you want to chase your dreams as much as you can chase your goals and uh yeah just I'm a big believer in the only way I'm gonna lose is if I quit so that I think that is my advice I guess where you lose is if you quit I like it I agree and uh the other thing that you said that I couldn't agree with more is that you're going to work the rest of your life like you are and like God willing I mean hopefully whatever you end up doing with the rest of your life never feels like a terrible like burden like you get to do something you enjoy it's that old saying you know if you love what you do you don't go never have to worry about going you know if you're not worth it's not work if you love what you do or however that saying is with the bottom line is you're a hundred percent right you're gonna work for the rest of your life you get an opportunity to play hockey and Finland you get a hot opportunity to play hockey and and whales like you get an opportunity to educate young kids in the sport you love snag that shit don't ever let it and something stupid or minuscule stop you because like I said the kids that we brought up there are three kids loved it like and now you know you have no idea you have no idea which one of those kids ends up being the next best player in the NHL I mean the thing is is you know yeah I get it you're like oh what are the odds but what are the odds maybe they are no no no I don't like the one or the odds it's why not why not me or why not why can't it happen I don't I never I've never been an odds guy like if you're thinking about the odds and you're already I think you already are losing you know like if you go oh what are the odds I can or can't do this like now you just have to think I'm going to do this I yeah I've never been yeah I jumped on that pretty quick because I don't I don't like the oh what are the odds I can or can't do this like just go do it if you want to do it I agree man it's it's great like uh your story is super fun like not it's it's a great story for everybody not only just like what you're getting to do right now and how great it is but also just I mean the aspect of what you told me like a guy you know people telling you no no way man it ain't going to happen and then you break it off and like no it is going to I'm going to make it and that's great and I do mean it me like I said I want you to like we'll have you on multiple multiple more times we'll get these uh I'm gonna say right now it's probably not the smartest idea to say it on on a live podcast but this Riverside app is blowing dick lately it's just absolute dog shit for me uh it we get to actually pull you into like bring you out to like maybe we can meet one of the middle bars and we can do a live stream at a pub and give some stuff away and catch up about all the things like are you're gonna be back from England when do you get back I'll be back June 2nd to meet my dad or there 11 days um two so yeah 11 days two of them are travel days but like 11 total days this is what this goes right into what we like to call uh segue uh because we'll finish it up here I want to remind everybody that uh June 29th at Midwest training and ice and dire in the Anna we will be having the having terrible St. Baldurx where we will be shaving heads for childhood uh cancer research uh lots of giveaways live music drinking it's a Sunday June 29th from noon to four come in register on our website if you go on to our website
Any of our social or if you go to St. Baldricks and type in Midwest you'll find our our headshaving event Maybe we might be able to talk you in a coming out having a couple beers and sit down and do on a live stream with us But if not You know, we will find a time to do that and then also continuing to segway in July We will also be out. I think it's gonna be in plain field. I'll have all the official details But we will be also effing terrible will be doing the running commentary and the play-by-play at the Chicago wounded warriors Red and blue game. I believe it's the I'm sorry red and white thing So we'll have all the details going out for that Maybe we can bring out for that to check it out to sit down, but dude from the bottom of my heart I think your story is epic. I think It's awesome that you keep to keep playing in all these places. You wouldn't be going to these places if you weren't a great hockey player And people wouldn't be inviting you to impart your wisdom on children if you weren't doing a great job So thank you for everything that you do and I wish you the best of luck, dude And let's keep in touch and make sure we get that cronely out everybody. Yeah, I appreciate that I definitely I'm definitely interested in the live stream and a bar or a pub. I'm a little Irish boy So I definitely like to have some beers the old Irish boys. So yeah, I can we can definitely make that happen So all right everybody. Thanks for tuning in. Do we'll talk again soon. All right. Thank you
Podcast Summary
Key Points:
Colin shares his journey from junior hockey in Canada, through NCAA Division III at UMass Dartmouth, to professional hockey in Finland’s third league.
He faced numerous rejections and challenges, including a discouraging agent, but persisted by finding a team late in training camp.
Colin adapted to Finnish culture, larger ice surfaces, and a demanding practice schedule, while also learning about teammates from different countries.
He is set to play next season for the Deeside Dragons in Wales, England, and will coach a youth camp there beforehand.
Beyond hockey, Colin pursues stand-up comedy and sees it as a potential post-playing career, alongside coaching.
Summary:
In this episode of the Fingertirable podcast, Colin recounts his hockey career, starting with junior hockey in Canada where he played for teams like the Langley Trappers, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners, and Nepean Raiders, eventually becoming an assistant captain. He then played four years at UMass Dartmouth before pursuing professional hockey overseas. Despite being told by an agent he had “no value,” Colin secured a spot in Finland’s third pro league (Suomi-sarja).
He describes the cultural shock of arriving in Finland, including a language barrier with his head coach and the surprise that all bottled water is sparkling. Colin adapted to the larger European ice surface, which required more cardio and allowed him to explore new aspects of his game. He lived with teammates from America, Russia, and Latvia, learning about their cultures.
His practice schedule was intense, often including multiple ice sessions and conditioning. Next, Colin will play for the Deeside Dragons in Wales, England, and is excited to coach a youth camp there with his father. Looking ahead, he plans to play as long as possible and pursue stand-up comedy after hockey, having already performed open mics and shows.
Colin emphasizes persistence and not giving up, as he believes the only way to lose is to quit.
FAQs
The camp focuses on teaching kids the basics and building a strong foundation before moving to harder skills, especially for ages 6 to 10, like 8U.
Colin played for the Langley Trappers in BC, then Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in the NOJHL, and the Nipissing Raiders in the CCHL, where he became assistant captain.
He played in the third pro league in Finland, the Suomi Sarja, on larger ice rinks with less hitting, and he enjoyed exploring his game and gaining confidence.
He faced many rejections from teams and agents, but stayed motivated by telling himself the only way to lose is to quit, eventually finding a team in Finland during training camp.
He is playing for the Deeside Dragons in Wales, England, in the third pro league, and will coach a kids camp there with his dad and coach Mike Pion.
He plans to pursue stand-up comedy seriously and likely coach, but he will keep his comedy clean for younger audiences he coaches.
Chat with AI
Loading...
Pro features
Go deeper with this episode
Unlock creator-grade tools that turn any transcript into show notes and subtitle files.