Welcome to ON THE RECORD! With Dave Hodge. Tonight's guest is controversial and loud-mouthed Hartford Dropkicks GM Chris Kordyback. Welcome to the show, Chris! Thank you, Dave it's a pleasure Now, you took over from a bad management group. What made you decide to move the team to Hartford? Well, the whole Fort Saskatchewan hockey market is glued to the minor-league (IHL) Traders, and Hartford is actually a great hockey city , so seeing as Boston had a team, Hartford was my next choice. Have the crowds been as large and receptive as you would have liked? It's very surprising how in to the games they've been... pre season as well as the start of the regular season was tough for the team and the fans...but through it all they've been amazing. Well your team is hot lately. As we are talking after your recent 4-2 win over the struggling Chiefs, how about your thoughts on the game...and your recent success. We've been hot lately... there's no doubt about that. The teams we've been playing and beating are going through some tough times themselves...like the Chiefs for example, but we really are starting to gel as a team after a whole lot of big trades. Your team is now 2nd in your division. Do you think you can stay there? or go to #1? We can stay there and will stay there. The only way to go for this squad is up and there is a possibility to do even better, but the Krushers are a great team, as much as I hate to admit it. We'd never expect that. You two teams have built quite a rivalry lately. Lots of press... Can you remember what started it all? Well as every WHL fan is aware, Jes Golbez can be...well...let's just say he provokes people into controversy. We'd just beat them at home which was unheard of and still is a rarity, and he took exception to it. I told him that it was no fluke and that the Dropkicks were for real and whatnot, and it all took off from there. Yes, my producer tells me that the Krushers have still only lost that one time at home this season. He did beat your team 6-0 in your last meeting. Do you look forward to the next matchup? Definitely! The Krushers are our first and only real rival here and it's more than just two GMs taking potshots at each other...#1 in the Norris is ultimately at stake. Our fans all bring signs to our games that depict Golbez in a dress... that makes all our guys laugh. Now is it true that you offered one of your players for access to Golbez's Black Book? That is a load of BS. I wouldn't trade a water bottle for his black book. However, many GM's in the league have been concerned that you haven't had a date..yes? Well I'm engaged and I haven't been playing the field since I got engaged so for the concerned GMs…please don't worry about me and try to help Saints GM Denny McEwen. I worry A lot and I mean a lot about him Really? How come? and congratulations on the engagement! Thanks Dave. As for Denny? Poor Denny spends an awful long time on adult web sites as many GMs know. In fact, he also is customer of the month at Lenny's Peep Show in Seattle. I know this is surprising but Dave, its a serious problem and if I can help in any way, I will! How about his brother (Vikings GM Lee McEwen)? What does he think? Well, Dave I can tell you that Lee has called me late at night sobbing about Denny. "Denny racked up $600 at Source Adult Video" just disturbing stuff like that. I've probably said too much about poor Denny though. Would it be rude to ask to move on with another subject? 600$ wow!! Ok, let's go back to your beginnings with Hartford. You took over a bad team, but with a lot of draft picks. What was your vision for the team's future? It was to make the playoffs THIS YEAR! It was a joke to most teams at first, and I had serious doubts myself, but I did have a great many picks and I think that the picks that I was left with were great ones. I can't wait for Legwand to develop, and Tom Poti is a big surprise. I just want this team to do all it can, and I think that that means making it to the post season. Poti was a surprise pick at the high position you took him...especially above others like Brad Stuart, Bryan Allen, and Derek Morris? What made you decide to pick Poti so high? From all accounts Poti was going to be a Leetch-like defenseman, and I was more excited about drafting somebody with that reputation than somebody who would likely be a good player in two to three years. I'm not saying that it was a sure thing with Tom, but I had a hunch and went with it. Well he could be Rookie of the Year...but do you worry about his many defensive lapses? Tom's a young guy still and you roll with those lapses. His performance so far has been outstanding, hell, he scored an important goal tonight in our win so, provided our defensive stars do their thing, Tom will be invaluable. How are your new acquisitions? Are Zamuner, Mironov, and Varada fitting in with your club? Zamuner has added more than his typical defensive wizardry... he's scored a bunch of important goals already. Mironov has been consistent and is expected to improve as his defensive partner Poti improves. Varada is playing well despite limited playing time but nobody expects him to take the league by storm just yet. So did you expect a record just above .500 at this time of the season.It sure didn't look like you could buy a game early on.? Did this trade ignite the team? I really think it did, Dave. We've told the players "you have a bunch of guys here that can win...now do your individual part." I'd be a dirty liar if I told you that we expected to be in this position at this juncture. But after a few deals were made the groundwork was laid for a competitive team. It just came sooner than expected. Ok now OTR is interactive and we have a phone call from one of your players: goaltender Sean Burke! Seany! Hello Sean, do you have a question for Kordyback? YEAH I DO DAVE!!! YOU KNOW!!! I'M REALLY FED UP!! JEFF HACKETT HAS PLAYED ALL 30 GAMES THIS SEASON!! IM NOT BEING PAID 2 MILLION A YEAR TO GET A FAT ASS LIKE KORDYBACK!! WHEN AM I GONNA GET TO PLAY? Dave...Sean... well I really don't expect this... uh... Ok, Burke, I'll ignore that last comment and I'll tell you what. Even though Jeff Hackett has the second best save percentage right now, I'll make you a deal. You win next game vs. the J-Naughts or you're gone!! I have stood back and listened to your bitching all year and I'm tired of dealing with a frigging over the hill baby! Win next game or I'll no longer require your services, Sean. GOOD!!! ILL BEAT THOSE CHEAP JUGGERNAUGHTS LIKE A RENTED MULE! Dave... HAH THEY LOST 9-2 TO THE KRUSHERS TONIGHT. THEY SUCK. OH AND DAVE!! KORDYBACK IS **BLEEP** JEALOUS OF GOLBEZ. Dave...please!!! YEAH HE WALKS AROUND ALL DAY TALKING LIKE GOLBEZ AND HITTING ON ALL THE GIRLS WHO WORK AT THE ARENA **CLICK** Ok folks we had to cut off the call right there...wow...he's not a happy camper. Burke... Dave, whoever screens your calls deserves a **BLEEP** pink slip! Sean Burke will play his last game as a Dropkick win or lose vs. the J-Nots. Regardless of win or lose... I just hope he has the decency to play hard. Maybe I'll trade him to the Krushers for his black book!!!! Golbez's black book! Hmm...and the Krushers have been rumored to be looking for a backup goalie! But..lets move on to another email question. Well there's a scoop then! I can't believe this garbage Dave Kevin Nash of Atlanta writes: Where did you get the name 'Dropkicks' from? You a big rasslin fan or something? Well, there's this great band from Boston called "Dropkick Murphys", and I love them, so instinctively I named the team "Dropkicks". I do love wrestling though. Again, we apologize for the Burke incident...Ahem...now do you see your team developing any rivalry with the Boston Agents? Perhaps being in opposite conferences hurts this? You are absolutely right! I think that playing in Boston is such a bore these days anyways. I was thinking of moving the club there, but in Boston if you're not the best, you're nothing. No offence to the Agents, but if that owner is smart, he'll move to somewhere that appreciates great hockey. But he has been trade crazy..his team looks better. Do you think the crowds will come back? Unless Rick Middleton, Terry O' Riley, and Bobby Orr suit up, I think its over in Boston. But Hartford is different? Dave, Hartford is a lot like Edmonton these days. We've got a new breed of fans...young, enthusiastic, and ready to go nuts. These people paint their bodies and throw beer cans at security guards... not that we endorse violence... Oh of course..ahem..now let's discuss the league in general. Who do you see as the real contender and pretenders in the West, and the East? I think that the Strangers, the Voodoo, and the ...sorry to 'Kicks fans...Krushers all have a good shot. The Vikes still may be a good bet, in fact they are a good bet, but I think it will take a few trades with them. I think that the Lunatics could win, but I'm less concerned about them...another team to watch is the Corinthians. Marc Hebert is working really hard to make them a great club. How about the Sparrows, Steelcats, and in your division...the Freeze? The Freeze aren't much of a scare to many teams. Sparrows beat us twice out of ...two so they might be up there as far as frontrunners. The Steelcats seem to have their ear to the ground constantly and I believe that Larry's team will be better as the year goes on. I can't honestly say that I'd pick any of those teams as top contenders just yet. Do you think your team fits in the 2nd tier like the Freeze or Steelcats? or lower or higher? Higher than the Freeze and Steelcats. I'm not sure that I want to make a bunch of lofty claims as compared to other WHL clubs... the Dropkicks are going to upset a lot of teams this year and make major waves in the playoffs. That's all I'll say about that right now. Now with the All-Star game approaching, did you make a bid to host the game? We're not ready to host this year. Next year perhaps but as long as Marc "Shenanigans" Hebert doesn't get the game, I'm happy. "Shenanigans?" Can you elaborate? Dave, in Hartford, if someone is trying to get away with something sneaky or crooked, we call "shenanigans". I'm surprised that you were unaware of this but as a matter of fact I think that a bunch of cities have this tradition as well. If shenanigans are called, that unfortunate person is likely to receive several blows to the head and body by a mob carrying brooms...that's basically shenanigans in a nutshell. So Marc Hebert was trying to get away with something sneaky? Look. It wasn't me who called it, but yeah, I think his bid is a little shady. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Marc is a little bit crooked in general. Everybody thinks that though. Hmm!! OK now as we are nearing the end of our show. Let's talk about your team's future. Now that Sean Burke has..ahem...spoken out. What are your thoughts on your next game vs. the Juggernaughts? Dave, I wish Sean would have talked to me, not the whole country. As I said, Sean will be playing his farewell game and will be traded. I'm tired of his whiny antics and this just pushed the situation over the top. Hack has played outstanding so how do you justify keeping him on the bench? Sean is the one guy that isn't particularly happy about our winning ways, and that will change...and we are far better off than I thought we would be at this point. Besides Burke, do you see any other changes you need to make? Uh, I think that we could use another Right-winger or possibly a defensive defenseman but we're pretty pleased right now. I guess if any GM wants to make a pitch, have at er' cause I'll always give a response. Well thank you Chris, it was a pleasure. Thanks Dave, everybody have a happy Holiday Season and Denny, lay off the porn.