Rock the Roar Podcast

After a little time away, we’re officially back behind the mic and there’s a lot to catch up on. In this episode, we dive headfirst into everything happening across the NHL and AHL, from late-season chaos to the storylines you may have missed while we were gone. We’re especially locked in on the Hershey Bears as they gear up for another playoff run. Can they keep the magic going? Of course, it wouldn’t be a return episode without some bold takes. We’re laying out our official Stanley Cup predictions, calling our shots, and probably setting ourselves up to be wildly wrong (as tradition dictates). Plus, we’re catching up, sharing what’s been going on behind the scenes, and bringing the same energy you’ve missed, maybe even a little more unhinged than before. Hit play and let’s get back into it.

Episode 22 is pure, unfiltered vibes. No rundown, no agenda, no adult supervision, just us letting the hockey universe take the wheel. We bounce from draft chatter to trade season chaos, spiral into classic league-wide overreactions, and (naturally) take a moment to appreciate why Ivar Stenberg is Number 1 draft pick material. It’s part analysis, part nonsense, and fully on-brand for us when we decide “planning is overrated.” If you like your hockey talk a little unhinged, a little passionate, and powered entirely by vibes… this one’s for you.

The World Juniors have wrapped and we’re breaking down the outcomes, the moments that made us proud, the ones that made us scream, and the players who absolutely raised their stock on the international stage. From gold medal glory to heartbreak hockey, we’ve got thoughts and yes, we’re sharing all of them. But don’t worry… after being responsible for a bit, we return to our roots. We finally get back to a silly, goofy topic and ask the important question: what would hockey players be doing if hockey didn’t exist? The answers spiral quickly from motivational cult leaders to aggressive construction site foremen, and several jobs that absolutely require a hard hat and unchecked confidence. It’s part hockey analysis, part unhinged speculation, and fully the chaos you’ve come to expect. Welcome back to our favorite version of ourselves.

We kick off 2026 by looking back at a little bit of everything that made 2025… well, 2025 from the Minnesota Wild to the Washington Capitals and our beloved Hershey Bears. Some highs, some lows, and plenty of opinions we definitely didn’t keep to ourselves. Kristina immediately throws the script out the window to share her early World Juniors hot takes, including a Canadian Christopher Walken-esque commentator we can’t stop thinking about and the shocking realization that it is, in fact, possible to find refs worse than the ones in Hershey. We wrap things up with a scorching hot take that we already know is going to spark some debate so stick around to the end and be sure to send us your two cents. We’re ready to hear it.

November was busy, chaotic, and very on-brand for both the Washington Capitals and the Hershey Bears and naturally, we have thoughts. In Episode 19, we break down the highs, the head-scratchers, and the storylines that defined November for the Caps and the Bears. From standout performances to trends we loved (and a few that tested our patience), we’re covering it all because if we didn’t talk about it, did it even happen? Quick disclaimer: this episode was recorded in early December, so some things may have aged faster than a bad line change but one thing that still has us absolutely buzzing is Logan Thompson earning his spot on Team Canada. We were anxious then, we’re excited now, and yes… we may have said “we told you so.” As always, expect passionate takes, a little chaos, and plenty of love for hockey at every level. Puck it, let’s talk. 🏒🔥

It’s a big day in the Rock the Roar podcast room because for the first time ever… we have a special guest! We’re joined by the brilliant, unbothered, and dangerously insightful Sydney Cristall, Columbia University Sports Management grad student and certified women’s sports super fan! Sydney takes on our toughest questions, from how the PWHL became that girl, to what the NHL should be writing down (don’t worry, Candace brought the notepad… the league can copy her homework later). We get into visibility, marketing, fan culture, and why the women’s game is thriving in ways the men’s side should probably stop ignoring. And in a shocking twist that absolutely ruins Candace’s day, Sydney joins Kristina in the “Canadian national anthem is elite” camp. So yes, Candace is now officially outnumbered. Karma? Justice? We don’t label things here. Come for the women’s hockey deep dive, stay for Sydney taking us all to school in the gentlest but smartest way possible.   Follow Sydney on TikTok and Instagram at @SydneyCristall

The Hershey Bears kicked off the season with pure vibes, elite chaos, and enough storylines to keep us screaming into November. Speaking of chaos, we made a friend! Yes, we met a random stranger on the internet, and plot twist: she’s actually so nice that we immediately dragged her into the full Fenicci’s initiation. (And yes, we’re still livid they took the Dark Side of the Moon cake off the menu. Justice for chocolate!) In this episode, we dive into the Bears’ October roll and early November shenanigans, from the highlight moments to the “please audit the referees in Hershey” energy. We break down who’s buzzing, who’s surprising us, and who owes us compensation for emotional damage. And obviously… Sam. Freaking. Bitten. Our newly acquired menace wasted zero time making a statement in his first game in Hershey. We talk about his arrival, the vibes he brings, and why we’ve already decided he’s an instant fan favorite. Plus: side quests, lineup thoughts, chocolate cravings, and whatever else we spiraled into along the way. Tune in! The Bears are rolling, our new friend survived our chaos, and we want our cake back!!

It’s our first monthly Washington Capitals recap, and shocker we couldn’t stop at just October. We had to sneak in that first November game too because, honestly, we just love to chitty chat too much. We’re diving into the first 12 games of the Caps season, highlighting who’s leading in points and goals, and giving full credit where it’s due to Logan Thompson’s incredible start. (Kristina’s still convinced he won’t make the Olympic roster, and she’s still absolutely wrong.) Plus, we’re a little concerned the Caps might’ve run out of Ovi Flakes these past few games. Somebody please restock the supply before it’s too late! It’s a full month of highs, lows, and classic chaos as we relive all the best (and most baffling - looking at you refs and “goalie interference”) moments of October hockey. Hockey’s rolling, the vibes are strong, and we’re so back.

Kristina is still learning how to use the NHL app (progress is… questionable), we’re still struggling to stay on topic (sorry, Barb), and we couldn’t be happier because hockey season is officially back! We’re breaking down the opening games across the league, sharing our first impressions, early hot takes, and a few questionable predictions. Kristina also announces her dream interview with Logan Thompson’s parents because if she ever got to talk to the big man himself, she’d probably just sit there in stunned silence. The energy is high, the chaos is real, and the obsession is back in full force. Let’s dive in because it’s hockey season again!       

This week on Rock The Roar, we’re diving into final rosters and all the chaos brewing in the Metropolitan Division. It’s officially Kristina’s turn to absolutely butcher players’ names, while Candace begs her to stop calling Brock Faber “Nerd Alert” before legal action becomes a real possibility. Plus, Kristina might be a little too thrilled about her new phrase “NHL Debuties.” Hockey season is finally here! It’s October, the games are on, and we’re ready to roar. Disclaimer: Kristina knows how to pronounce Jonathan Toews’ last name, but she just refuses to, because it’s dumb.

This week on Rock the Roar, Kristina and Candace take a deep dive into the world of Nepo Babies in Hockey, the last names that just keep popping up, the Hughes brother dynasty that’s poised to take over the league, and our tips to keep track of which sibling is which on the ice. We also recap the first half of the Washington Capitals preseason, complete with hot takes, emotional whiplash, and  our “dinner” with Clay… where we definitely didn’t overreact. (Okay, maybe just a smidge and Kristina might've literally thrown her phone at one point.) It’s chaos, laughter, and no seriousness whatsoever ever, but that’s just another week at Rock the Roar! Disclaimer: No brothers, phones, or Clays were harmed in the making of this episode. Listener discretion is advised if you’ve ever sat next to a very famous hockey goalie in an empty dinning room and tried not to lose your shit. 

This week we cover some fresh hockey news before diving into Kristina’s deeply depressing hot take on what she thinks the final Capitals roster will look like (spoiler: it’s bleak, y’all). From there, we spin the wheel of delusion and ask: what does every NHL team actually need to win the Stanley Cup? Spoiler: for some it’s simple, for others… it’s divine intervention.  Oh, and a teaser for next week’s episode: instead of responsibly staying home to watch Caps vs Flyers from the couch, we impulsively road-tripped to Hershey, PA and watched from the glass. Episode 13 will be full of chocolate, chaos, and way too much yelling. Disclaimer: This episode was recorded before Aleksander Barkov’s unfortunate training camp injury. We wish him a safe and speedy recovery—he’ll be deeply missed on the ice this year. As for our original take on what the Florida Panthers need to three-peat the Cup? We’d like to officially amend that answer to: Jesus, Buddha, and a rabbit’s foot.

This week we dive headfirst into rookie training camp, where the energy is high, and the competition is fierce. We break down which fresh faces stood out, who’s likely to crack an NHL roster, and which rookies might need to brush up on their cardio. Then we shift gears into the big “C” conversation: NHL captains. Every team’s got one (well, except when they don’t). We debate who actually deserves the letter, which teams need a shake-up in leadership, and Candace absolutely refuses to let Kristina nominate Andrew Cristall as the captain of every franchise. And a surprising turn of events, we predict J.T. Millers naming of captain before it was announced this week!  It’s part camp report, part captaincy chaos and 100% us being unhinged.

Chaos level: maximum. With no supervision from our production staff (a.k.a. nobody is stopping us), Kristina and Candace dive straight into the wild world of NHL fashion policies. We kick things off by unpacking the latest changes to the game day fit rules, who’s about to elevate the tunnel runway, who’s destined to flop, and who might surprise us all. From there, the conversation somehow spirals into figuring out which player will become the Adam Sandler of the league, and why Jeremy Swayman is our top candidate to commit fully to early-2000s emo energy—think eyeliner, My Chemical Romance blasting, and a very dramatic stride down the tunnel. The episode wraps with a hockey-themed round of Would You Rather, where Candace does everything in her power to force Kristina into picking between two equally cursed hockey scenarios. No rules, no filters, and absolutely no adults in the room, just Rock the Roar unhinged, exactly the way it shouldn’t be.

Hockey might be on break, but that doesn’t mean we’ve run out of chaos. George the skeleton is officially part of the crew (he’s not much of a talker, but his vibes are immaculate). We tiptoe around the terrifying possibility of Toronto finally winning a Stanley Cup. Candace tries not to say it, then immediately says it out loud. The bulk of our nonsense? A deep dive into hockey mascots: the cute, the cuddly, and the ones that haunt our dreams. Come for the hockey banter, stay for the giggles and the questionable mascot hot takes.

The stars have aligned and apparently, most NHL head coaches are Virgos. This week, we get a little cosmic as we break down the astrological signs of NHL coaches, and Kristina gets extra passionate about why she’s not exactly on board with Rod Brind’Amour (spoiler: it’s a Leo thing). The giggles are at an all-time high, partly thanks to our newest “special guest” in the studio, George the Skeleton, who may or may not become a permanent third mic. We also take a step back and go over some hockey basics for listeners who want a crash course before we dive headfirst into the season. It’s hockey, it’s astrology, it’s skeleton sidekicks! What more could you want?

In Episode 7, we dive headfirst into the icy waters of hockey history, complete with Canada’s eternal claim that they “own” the sport. Spoiler: we’re not entirely buying it. We also take a future-gazing detour into what the Washington Capitals might look like when Ovi eventually hands over the “C,” and let’s just say the crystal ball is blurry but fun. Things really heat up, though, when Candace and Kristina square off in a full-on verbal battle royale over who carries more blame when a team implodes: the GMs or the head coaches. (Bring popcorn.) Fake Disclaimer: The views expressed in this episode are 50% fact, 50% speculation, and 100% unserious. No GMs, coaches, Canadians, or future Caps captains were harmed in the making of this podcast.

This week on Rock the Roar, we dive headfirst into Olympic roster dreams (and nightmares). We break down who we hope makes it, who shouldn’t, and why poor Logan Thompson is getting straight-up ghosted by Team Canada. Kristina has some choice words for Canada’s coaching staff—don’t worry, no ill will to Peter DeBoer or Bruce Cassidy… we’re just dying to know what kind of epic prank LT pulled to get himself blacklisted. Oh, and Kristina almost forgets to mention Andrew Cristall (gasp!), but don’t panic—he makes it in (barely). Plus, stick around for some bloopers, including questionable singing clips from the hosts. Rock the Roar EP dropping soon… just kidding (maybe). Fake Disclaimer: No goalies were harmed in the making of this episode. Any slander against Team Canada’s coaching staff is purely out of love, sarcasm, and mild chaos. Listening may cause side effects such as uncontrollable laughter, eye rolling, or shouting “JUST PICK LOGAN” at your phone.   In the spirit of Rock the Roar bloopers, here are some titles that almost made the cut!  Puck It, Let's Talk: Kristina v. Team Canada (Filed in Hockey Court)  Puck It, Let's Talk: Canada vs. Common Sense: The LT Story

This week's episode is crowded, not just with hockey headlines, but with all the elephants in the room we've been politely ignoring...until now. We tackle recent news, break down development camp (including which prospects have a grudge against Candace) and yes, Kristina and Candace cannot stop talking about Jeremy Swayman being, well, an absolute freak (in the most endearing, chaotic, goalie-gremlin way possible).  It's part hockey talk, part vent session, and entirely too many pachyderms for one studio.  Disclaimer: All takes are based on science...if science was just vibes.

Welcome back to Rock the Roar, where the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is in the books, free agency is a mess, and Candace has officially reached her limit. In this episode, she finally delivers her long-awaited rant about what the Capitals are (or more accurately, aren't) doing and it's part meltdown, part therapy session.   Kristina, meanwhile, continues her campaign to make Andrew Cristall the face of the franchise, casually inserting his name into every topic like it's part of her contract.  We're breaking down the tallest players drafted, the most shocking signings, and asking important questions like, "Do the Washington Capitals know free agency started?" Disclaimer: The views expressed by Candace during her rant are entirely her own and possibly influenced by caffeine, rage, and offseason heartbreak. Listener discretion (and emotional support) advised. 

In this epsiode of Rock the Roar, we're diving headfirst into the latest buzz from around the NHL! From breaking hockey headlines to a breakdown of the Stanley Cup Final (yes, Candace has some thoughts), we're covering it all - with absolutely no filter.  We also take a look at the biggest award winners (and a few snubs) from the NHL Awards -- who deserved it, who got robbed, and why you shouldn't take our opinions seriously (seriously...DO NOT SUE US).  Whether you're riding high from a Cup win or salty about the awards (like Kristina), grab your iced coffee and get ready for some chaotic, passionate, and very unofficial hockey talk.  Hot takes, cold facts, and a warning: do not quote us. Just vibe.    Also shout out to @thegiacobra and her "thank your goalposts" shirt! 

Strap in as we unwrap the chocolatey choas of the Hershey Bears' season and why there are so many 6 foot 4 NHL players. Whether you are here for the stats, the goofs, or just to hear us say "without a doubt" 17 times, this epsidoe delivers. 

The Washington Capitals franchise turned 50 this year and we're throwing the ultimate birthday bash-minus the cake, plus the chaos. We're talking Caps Fest, some statistics, and Ovechkin chasing greatness and the top goal spot. Oh, and our hot takes? Unapologetic and definitely correct. Lace up and Rock the Roar- this one is for you :)