sans restriction | ep 533 (11:15)

how are the kids there ?

V : they are clowns. honestly it's like if i was back to college, they're like freshmen in college, they're always messing with you. at some point Toff's like "hey Vin can you help me i'm done with those guys".

Toff's like the dad of the gang.

V : Toff's the dad, i'm like the uncle like come here i'll show you [he uses an expression "mononcle" which apparently is someone old-fashioned like alluding to physical punishment but its all sacarsm ofc]. sometimes i'm sat down not reacting and i'll say "Smitty if you try again i swear" and he's like "Mack, Mack" he goes and gets Mack because they always gotta be together, and they try again so i stand up and they start running away, like kids, literally. they mess with you then run away giggling. but that's why it's a good vibe, always smiling, always saying dumb stuff. and when you get on the ice it's business. i think we've seen Mack he's everywhere, he did Worlds championship, he did Olympics.

he had fifty goals? no hundred points ?

V : hundred yeah something like hundred eighteen points

he was nineteen?

V : he was nineteen this year. at the Olympics he was the guy with the most toi

no at the Olympics he was the best player on the ice period i dont want any discussion

If you could compile the ultimate line to play with, in chel, including yourself on it— who's on the line?

Robyn always says the drive was already there. Mack was the kid begging to be driven to the rink before sunrise, the one who couldn’t stop thinking about hockey. Rick didn’t put that fire in him. But he did everything he could to make sure it never went out.

Every practice mattered. Every rep mattered. Every mistake became a lesson. Rick raised him to believe that discipline would carry him farther than talent ever could. Little by little, hockey stopped being something Mack simply loved. It became who he is.

Rick looks at his son sometimes and sees a machine. Relentless, disciplined, unbelievably good. The kind of player everyone dreams of coaching. He was always preparing for the next skate, the next game, the next season. Always chasing something. But he also wonders if he taught Mack to be an athlete first before he ever learned how to simply be a boy.

Then Will came along.

And for the first time in years, Rick noticed something changing.

Mack laughed more. He lingered after practice with Will instead of rushing to the next workout. He started to talk about movies and cafes and stupid inside jokes instead of faceoff percentages and edge work. Sometimes when the Celebrinis are together, he can hear Mack in his room at night talking to somebody, laughing so hard he snorts. He looked lighter.

Maybe because Will reminded Mack that there is always supposed to be a life outside of hockey. That he can watch rom-coms, drink espresso martinis, wander around cities with no plans, go to cafes and people-watch, make dumb jokes, be imperfect, be twenty, and none of it makes him any less of a hockey player… that hockey didn’t have to be the only thing worth living for.

sans restriction | ep 533 (16:10)

just to come back to mack and will. some ppl dont see how good smitty is, because this kid's incredible

V: you know, he smells blood, sometimes you're like he's not doing anything today, then bam he scores you're like where was he today didn't see him. not the guy you'll see during all the game, not same style as mack at all. honestly, can't compare but reminds me of sid/geno, not comparing geno, his skills set is unique. but smitty is similar, smitty smells blood. when you play against him you gotta protect the ice because he'll shoot one in

the game i came to see you against mtl when mack decided to score the goal *speechless pause* it was wild i was sat and i was like EH EH EH EH OH! then everyone in the bell center sat down

V: did you see he turned around and was looked at crowd like hey

it was a silence we were shocked like what did the kid just do in front of everyone