The Desert Sun's Fire & Ice Podcast - A Visit with Logan Morrison (March 10, 2026)

With the 'Birds' regular season flying toward a pivotal final stretch, lace-up this visit with CV's leading scorer, centerman Logan Morrison. And ready the holsters for a "Desert Shootout" segment with Shad Powers, Sports & Leisure Editor for The Desert Sun.   

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Its origins hatched in silence for. The mythical firebird journey westward has only enhanced its evermore. Finding sanctuary amid stands both, timeless and perpetual, the allure of the birds to matrian, eyes hypnotic, talents just, and sound enchanting prove a presence magical for those who respect its powers, and a harbinger door for those who seek to change its flight. In Tales of Your Tiles by God, the Firebird protects its nest, the hear of its brilliant feathers, a guiding blow of belief, of renewal, of light, of hope. A narrative rooted in me. Such powers, such imaginations are today realized with a tale of light and free. For the Firebird and those who embrace the journey, it is a tale of seasons reborn. A fable actualized by their forge of steelblade and wooden implement. A legend which grows viral and score. It is a story of fire and ice.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

Greetings, friends and firebirds fans, and welcome to the Desert Sonics, Fire and Ice podcast presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort. Coming to you from Desert California, here Edward Chalais are away from Birds Home Ice Aperture. I'm your host, Just Spicer Fourth Street of Hotella Valley Fire. The Fire and Ice Podcast.com or just go out and buy a physical newspaper. People still do that, you know? People still get a physical newspaper, by the way, or subscribe to the newspaper. Nonetheless, support the local news, support the Desert Sun. Shad Powers, by the way, sports and leisure editor for the Desert Sun. Going to be joining me at the uh end of this episode, epilogue of this episode for the regular Desert Shootout QA rapid fire segment. Desert Willow Golf Resort, presenting sponsor of the Desert Sun's Fire and Ice podcast. Home to the Mountain View and Fire Cliff courses, respectively. Get those tea times online. Get them while they're hot. We're in the peak of the peak season. Desert Willow.com. That's your home hub for getting those tea times and also checking out the excellent and on-site Palm Desert Golf Academy for all your swing, lesson, tutelage needs courses. I wanted to say course, course is in excellent shape right now. It's just out there about three days ago. Little father-son dual nine-hole on the Firecliffe course. Yeah, they are seriously prime. And you know, I love the good putt-to-puck segue. Goate up over at DW. Skate it right on down to Aquish Arena, just 1.5 miles away. You play at Desert Willow in the day, you go watch a Firebirds game at night. Love the good segue. Love the great desert day. All right, friends. Speaking of skating, let's skate it on over to the Firebirds freeze frame segment. Of course, got a new sponsor this year for the Firebirds Freeze Frame segment. So proud to have both the Ground Squirrel and 29 Palms Beer Company because you know, dudes, ice action isn't limited to acrochure alone. Hockey fans seeking some pregame drinks, post-game toasts. They only need to look up to the high desert where our Firebirds friends have both 29 Palms Beer Company and the Ground Squirrel. That's G-R-N-D SQRL. They're serving up some awesome meats and incredible beers in downtown 29 Palms. Ground Squirrel, of course, explore an awesome gaster pub style scratch made menu and match that with a rotating list of craft beers. For those seeking a potent power play up yonder 29, you skate it right on down the street to the 29 Palms Beer Company, where they're brewing their own phenomenal beers right on site. And I have this italicized, they're televising every Firebirds game, whether it be home or away. Got a lot of folks in the desert these couple of weeks, people from all over the world attending an alternate sporting event. I need not mention it by name because they're not a sponsor, probably not even a supporter of this podcast, by the way. But it is a big sporting event going on in the desert right now. So we got a lot of folks that are uh desert guests right now, but for locals or those desert guests, you're seeking a new scene or you're up there exploring Joshua Tree, maybe Pioneer Town, perhaps you're celebrating a birds win or drowning your sorrows after a tough loss. You lace up the hospitality in 29 Palms, where both the ground squirrel and the 29 Palms Beer Company are proving your high desert hockey homes. All right, friends, before we get to this visit with Logan Morrison, let's talk a little bit more about Logan Morrison. And the birds, of course. 55 games down, a mere 17 to go in this fourth season of C V Firebirds hockey. Before we get to that schedule and how it lays out a little bit, record of 30, 20, and 5, currently fifth place in the Pacific Division. If the playoffs started today, yeah, when you go on AHL.com, they now have that daily playoff primer ready for you. I like the alliteration. Playoff started today. We would uh face four seed Bakersfield in the first round in a best of three. And we don't want that. That's not necessarily what the Firebirds want to see in the first round. Bakersfield tough team, and they've given the birds a tough time. Nonetheless, CV come on off a very solid weekend, a back-to-back at home double dip of wins versus our old friends, the Calgary Wranglers. Calgary not doing great this year, but not a terrible team despite being a sub-500. But birds needed those wins. Kind of fortify that fifth place spot as the Pacific Division is showing some degree of separation between the top-level teams and those battling out for that seventh and final playoff spot in the pack division. Birds doing some nice things. They had some great goaltending and some really improved defense in that series. Birds continue to score 184 goals, I should mention. Currently tied for eighth in the entire American Hockey League. Nonetheless, a little dichotomy there. We've gone 10 straight. I'm gonna talk with Logan Morrison about this. 10 straight games without a power play goal, something that decidedly needs to be corrected and probably needs to be corrected soon. I mentioned those 17 uh games to go. 11 of those games, friends, are against teams that are above the Firebirds in the Pacific Division standings, including the next five games against teams all above us in the PAC division. That strength of schedule, I should add, for the 17 remaining games.607. And yeah, that's high. Not only the toughest remaining schedule as it stands today in the entire Pacific Division, but the fourth toughest remaining schedule in the entire AHL. Per that upcoming schedule, more specifically, birds get back at it this Friday night in Palm Desert at Acurochure Arena against the first place I-10 rival Ontario Rain. That's a 7 p.m. puck drop. And oh, bring some birdseed or bring some worms or whatever, because it is Fuego's birthday. Again, this Friday night, 7 o'clock at uh Aqui Shure Arena, pardon me. Birds then hit the road for four straight. And they're gonna be some tough and testy ones. Right back at it. Flip it around this Saturday night, March the 14th at Ontario. Not a far drive down the I-10, of course. That is a 6 p.m. start versus the rain on the road. Birds then back at it next Wednesday, March 18th at San Jose. And this is fun. This is funky. I don't know what to call this. I had to do not merely a double, but rather a triple take on the scheduling. Next Wednesday, the 18th at San Jose. It's a 10:30 a.m. start. Again, had to look that up. Why? Why is it 10:30 in the morning at San Jose? Is it a is it a holiday? No. St. Patrick's Day is the day preceding. Looking up that then March 18th to see if it was something unusual or a holiday or I don't know. All I came up with on March 18th is that it's National Biodiesel Day. I don't think that's reason or cause to have a 1030 a.m. start. It's National Sloppy Joe Day, National Awkward Moments Day. Let's hope it's not one for the Firebirds. National Oatmeal Cookie Day. I don't know. I also checked the Barracuda schedule and they have the same thing. So I guess it's not a misprint. Nonetheless, spent plenty of time on that. Birds remain on the road, head into next weekend that is March 21st. They go to Colorado, that is at the Eagles, a 6.05. They like that 05 in Colorado again, something. I don't know why. That is a mountain time start. Back-to-back games next Sunday, March 22nd. Remain at the Colorado Eagles for a 3. Yes, 05 mountain time start. Per the players. Logan Morrison, this episode's guest, he continues to just absolutely crush it this season, leads the Birds with 53 points, including a team high 26 goals paired with 27 assists. Both that point total and that goal total concurrently tied for fifth best in the entire American Hockey League. Just a tick behind of the Red Rocket, Jagger Ferkis, 52 points thus far in the year, 20 goals and a team high 32 assists. That is tied for eighth in the entire American league. Rookie Tyson Jugdown, 35 points on the year, seven points paired with 28 assists. Oscar Molgard, our Olympian, 26 points. That is eight goals and 18 assists. And then a trio of Birds with 25 points. Messrs Nyman, pardon me, Yanni Newman. How many times have I screwed that up? Yanni Newman, Leighton Road, and defender Ty Nelson, all with 25 points apiece. Yanni Newman, his 25 points done in a mere 27 games for CV that includes 17 goals along with eight assists thus far into the year. Per the Netliners, Nike Koko back in action for a couple weeks now. Record of 13, 8, and 2 on the year. Goals against improving, now down to 3.21 save percentage, also improving. It has pressed at the 9 mark, 0.901. Victor Oswald, great performance. This Sunday passed versus the Calgary Wranglers. Victor the Swede, now 1312-3 on the year. Goals against 2.84 save percentage of 0.905. Thanks again to our friends at both the Ground Squirrel and the 29 Palms Beer Company up in 29 Palms, California. High Desert Hockey Holmes Firebird Hockey for sponsoring that Firebird's freeze faith segment. Alright, dudes, all that offered, all that prefaced. Let's get to this episode's visit with Centerman Logan Morse. As prefaced my guest on this episode, 23-year-old native of Wealth, Ontario. Now in his third season with the Firebirds, crushing it, totally crushing it, as mentioned earlier in the show. Not just the Birds leading scorer, but fifth in the entire American League in both points and goals. Coming back to the Fire and Nice podcast for the first time in almost exactly two years since his podcast debut on this program. Welcome back, Centerman Logan Morrison to the show. Hello, Logan.

SPEAKER_04 12:53

Hey, thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_01 12:55

Good to be back. Yeah, good to have you back. Let's start with this. We're gonna jump around a little bit. I think the last time I had you on, I butchered Guelph. I think I called it Guelph. Like a lot, I think a lot of people probably call it Guelph.

SPEAKER_04 13:08

Yeah, no, you got it right now for sure.

SPEAKER_01 13:10

There's like an unseen W in there.

SPEAKER_04 13:13

There is, yeah, it's Guelph. Yeah, there is, it kind of does have a W sound to it.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

Okay. When you look up Guelph, if I didn't just butcher it for a second time, one of the things that uh that pops up is if you don't play hockey, you may well be a veterinarian. Really? I didn't I didn't even know that. Not not you're not privy to the uh Ontario Veterinary College.

SPEAKER_04 13:38

Uh I'm not. I guess I should guess I should know more about my hometown, but um yeah, I guess I was just focused more on the hockey part.

SPEAKER_01 13:47

All right, it's supposed to be the biggest and best, not just in your province, but uh in the entire nation of Canada. I know it is the oldest veterinary school, but it is marketed and advertised as the number one uh veterinary college in all of Canada. So just saying there's there's options for folks hockey players.

SPEAKER_04 14:09

Learn something new every day, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 14:10

You're a young guy. Did you ever think that there was something else? Obviously, not veterinary medicine, but was there something else in your in your melon that like if I don't play hockey, I want to do this?

SPEAKER_04 14:23

Honestly, no, to be honest. Like, I ever since I was a kid, it's just been kind of hockey, hockey, hockey, and then growing up, and then you get drafted to OHL, and then you're it's just more hockey, hockey, hockey, and then you never really know where it's gonna take you, and then luckily it took me to pro. So um, no, like I never went to university, obviously, with OHL and that kind of stuff. So it was kind of always been the plan, and um, yeah, just trying to make it work out, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 14:52

Yeah, and it is working out. And speaking of luckily, we're lucky to have you here at the desert, not just for a couple, but now three seasons. Speaking of which, that this is kind of the threshold, Logan. When people get about three years, and I know that you're not here once the summer the summer sizzle hits in full, but about three years, that's when people kind of start calling you a desert rat. Get used to the sun and the sand and the scenery and the mountain setting. Anyone called you a desert rat?

SPEAKER_04 15:21

No, I've never heard that, but okay. I do feel like I am kind of starting to almost take it for granted. Like it's just kind of where I am now, just waking up every day and um the beautiful weather, always sunny. And um, yeah, I feel like it's just just another day now and it shouldn't be. I know uh how lucky I am to be here for sure.

SPEAKER_01 15:39

Yeah, you're not alone. I think we all take it for granted sometimes, especially a day like today when you and I are speaking, and we both could be taking a hike, we both could be on a golf course, we both be doing some other outdoor activity, and this is peak of the peak, man. This is the time to do it. Run around the day, knock a ball around, and then go watch the birds at night. Do you have friends? And this has come up more than a few times, whether it be on this program over the years or occasionally still intimated in our post-game pressers. But do you personally have friends across the American League that play for other teams?

SPEAKER_04 16:18

Yes, I do.

SPEAKER_01 16:19

And are they envious of where you live and play?

SPEAKER_04 16:22

Yeah, they are for sure. They're um most of them are in the east, so um, yeah, it's definitely I hear that it's a lot different over there. And uh yeah, they're definitely jealous of where I am for sure.

SPEAKER_01 16:34

Do you like to rub it in? I used to do that when I first moved here, like in the middle of February. I'd send my Minnesota friends photos of you know a golf course or the snowy mountain backdrop or wearing flip-flops, but then I felt bad after a handful of years of doing that. I stopped. But do you do that?

SPEAKER_04 16:52

Yeah, I definitely have definitely sent some pictures in um December or when the snow is coming down there and I'm on the golf course, I'll send a picture and just throw it in a bit. But um, yeah, not too much, but definitely a little bit here and there.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

Yeah. Um I know that as you mentioned before, your life hockey, hockey, hockey. The season is very demanding. When you're not playing, you might be practicing. When you're not practicing, you might be traveling. When you're not traveling, you might be studying video, studying tape, whatever you want to call it. But do you watch NHL hockey?

SPEAKER_02 17:30

I do, yes.

SPEAKER_01 17:31

You do. Do you like to watch any team in particular? You like to follow the Kraken, your hometown team, or what do you watch?

SPEAKER_04 17:39

Yeah, I I'll definitely watch the Kraken when they're on. Obviously, I have a lot of buddies on the team from the past few years, and um definitely like watching Edmonton too. I love watching McDavid and um Dry's title there. So um, those are probably the two main teams, but honestly, if most nights, if any game's on, I'm probably watching it. I love watching it.

SPEAKER_01 17:59

When you you love watching it, okay. So that kind of fills in a little bit my follow-up question.

unknown 18:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:05

Provided your time here, provided all the success that you're having here, when you watch NHL hockey, is it more spite or is it more study for you?

SPEAKER_04 18:16

Yeah, no, it's definitely not spite. It's yeah, it's more study and just um just appreciating how obviously how good the guys are up there. And uh but yeah, it's just watching certain guys and watching what they do and um trying to take things from their game and put it into yours.

SPEAKER_01 18:30

Yeah, well, you've put a lot of things into your game this year, mentioned some of the stats, a few things didn't mention. Um not just the scoring, the plus-minus also uh leads the team. A gaudy 25, obviously on the plus side. That is also top ten in the American League. Um, and I know that hockey players, not all athletes, can be superstitious, but that also comes those stats by virtue of not just playing every game to date thus far in this season, but also playing every game last season. Um is that something on which you you pride yourself, Logan?

SPEAKER_04 19:07

Um yeah, I mean, I don't know if necessarily pride myself. I think it's just I've been lucky and fortunate to remain healthy this the last couple years and obviously knock on wood, but um, yeah, obviously if if there's not something that's seriously stopping me from playing, I'm gonna play. So um yeah, I've just kind of been fortunate to stay healthy and um yeah, knock on wood for sure.

SPEAKER_01 19:31

Yeah, I mean for 76 different reasons. Uh there are uh yeah, there are ways that guys don't play every single game, you know? You could uh bang your knee. I mean, you could get traded, you could get called up, there could be who knows, man, all manner of things. But uh across these last two years, have you ever thought there's a night, ooh, I I want to sit one out?

SPEAKER_04 19:56

Um no, not really, honestly. Like obviously there's nights where you're maybe feeling a little something, but um nothing nothing enough to to keep me out for sure. So um no, yeah, as a hockey player, if you're if you're a true hockey player, you want to play every game. So um that's kind of my my mindset.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

Yeah. Last year, uh Logan Morrison, solid year, 42 points, had 14 goals matched with if I can read my own writing, 28 assists. I think that math works out. This year, uh, I've already usurped those numbers by a lot, and we've got 17 games to go. Mentioned the 53 points and the 26 goals already a dozen more than you scored last year. Are you just that much better than you were last year, or are you have you just grown, I guess, uh as a professional that much to have these kind of results?

SPEAKER_04 20:48

Yeah, I think a bit of both. I think definitely put in a lot of work in the summer on specifically my shot too. So um that definitely helped and um feel like I got a lot stronger over the summer too. And I just feel like my my confidence is has been at another level this year than it was last year, and um just able to make plays that I know I can make. And um, yeah, obviously, my been with the same line for for a while too, and we have good chemistry there too. So um a lot of credit to them. But yeah, there's a lot of a lot of little things that go into it, I think.

SPEAKER_01 21:19

Yeah, before we get to the success of that line that you mentioned, delve a little bit more specifically, if you don't mind, into working on that shot and working on that strength. What are some things that you did to really improve both of those things?

SPEAKER_04 21:34

Yeah, well, specifically, like I would in the summer, I would take one day out of every week and just do an hour hour straight of on ice shooting different scenarios and um just really focus on it. Um, I feel like it was something that I could have really improved on from last year and um was an area of focus that I wanted to work on. So did that. And then obviously just in the gym five, six times a week, just just my overall strength and is a big thing for me too. So Um I feel like those those two things really help me.

SPEAKER_01 22:03

Yeah. When you're working on your shot, are you doing it by yourself? Do you got a workout buddy? You got a go out in the summer?

SPEAKER_04 22:10

Yeah, I had actually had my my older brother came out just kind of passing mepox and um put me in certain situations that are game like. So um yeah, that was nice.

SPEAKER_01 22:21

You mentioned the success of this top line, obviously yourself, Jagger Ferkis, uh Yanni Newman. You guys have become a uh a wrecking crew and a big reason why the birds are top ten, specifically tied for eighth in the entire American League with 184 goals. Derek Laxdall on the past Saturdays at a press conference, he did say these guys are all uh having amazing seasons for us. But then he kind of referenced it like, are we a one-line team? Um you know, the the depth um has got to be there a little bit more as we creep toward the end of March, and that eventually the playoffs. Do you see that as well? Would you agree with coaches' assessment that we need eventually to see a little more consistency in scoring from the other three lines?

SPEAKER_04 23:11

Um, I don't know. I mean, I see these guys every day and how hard they work and how much they want to help us. So I don't think it's an issue. And um, I know when when we need them, they're gonna be there. We have tons of great players, tons of great forwards on our team. So um obviously me, Yanni, and Jayer expect to provide offense every night. That's uh just kind of what we expect out of ourselves. And um, we know that um obviously depth is huge when it comes to playoff time, and um, we know those guys will will come up first for sure. They're they all work so hard, and um, we definitely trust them.

SPEAKER_01 23:42

Yeah, and trustworthy, they've earned that. I mean, we had Edward Chalet had a couple goals uh in a game over the weekend. We had uh maybe more than a month ago, month and change, Carson Recoff. I mean, he had a hat trick. So we've seen these flashes where the other lines are coming up with more scoring. I just I I I wonder before we get to the end of this regular season, if it's something that we're gonna see a little bit more of a game to game, and if you think it's something that's needed to eventually have success in the playoffs.

SPEAKER_04 24:16

Yeah, obviously you do need depth scoring for sure in the playoffs. It's huge and um can change the momentum of games. And um, like I said before, I I have full confidence that that we're gonna get it.

SPEAKER_01 24:29

Um friends, we are visiting with Logan Morrison here on the Desert Suns Fire and Ice podcast presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort. The uh rapport between uh yourself, Jagger, and uh Yani Newman. What is making that such a great fit, man? What what specifically is working out there on the ice to see you guys pupping all these points on what is basically a game-to-game basis?

SPEAKER_04 24:55

Yeah, I think there's a lot of different things that go into it. I think just all three of us um just want the puck out there. Like we want we want the puck on our stick and we want to be able to want the ones to make plays. And um I think there's just a lot of a lot of different skill sets with the three of us that kind of blend and and mix well. Obviously, Yanni has an unbelievable shot. So um we know if we get him in the scoring areas, he'll Puck's probably going in the net. Um he's also great around the net, being in the goalie's eyes. And um, I think me and Jagger kind of see the ice similar ways. We we like to make plays and hold on to Pucks, and um, he has a great shot too, and definitely a skilled player. And um, yeah, I think there's just a lot of a lot of different skill sets into one line that kind of just uh blend well together.

SPEAKER_01 25:38

Yeah, throwing a lot of positives at you, and they're all deserve it. I'm gonna toss one negative at you. I want you to help me figure this out, Logan. Ten straight games with a power play goal. That seems funky to me. What's going on there, man?

SPEAKER_04 25:52

Yeah, I wish I wish I had the answer to be honest with you. Um we're just I don't know, the chances have been there too. The last few games for sure. I feel like it's been better, but um, yeah, it's it's in a slump right now, and obviously the the top players on the team expect ourselves to get out of it. So um, we've been working at it, and um, yeah, like you said, 10 games, it's not good enough from the players, and we know that. And um, yeah, we're we're working to get out of it for sure.

SPEAKER_01 26:20

See some of these other teams, and we're discussing your Pacific division opponents right now because it basically accounts for 98% of your games. I think 68 of the 72 games are against the division as the schedule lined up this year. But we see some of these guys that have been kicking around the uh American League for a long time, cups of coffee in the NHL. I'm talking guys like Matthew Phillips, I'm talking guys like TJ Tynan, some guys that uh have been on the Firebirds, maybe Andrew Potorowski, maybe Ben Myers. When we see guys like this and their experience that they bring, that distribution experience, that little bit of extra calm on the power play, it really seems to make such a huge difference with that unit, does it not?

SPEAKER_04 27:03

Yeah, I mean, obviously, yeah, that if you have that kind of that veteran presence, it helps for sure. But um, we're obviously a younger, a younger power play group, but um we don't expect any less out of ourselves. There's no we're definitely not in there blaming that as an excuse. Um, so yeah, like you said, it definitely would it definitely helps to kind of have that common veteran. But I mean we're all confident and capable of doing that, so um, I don't think that's an excuse.

SPEAKER_01 27:30

Yeah. Um got a couple guys with the A, the respective A's, on their sweaters. It's been a couple, well, almost two years now, since we've had a guy on the ice with a C on his sweater. It's always been designated for uh Max McCormick in the past. Why don't we have a C? When are we gonna get a return of a captain on the Firebirds?

SPEAKER_04 27:53

Yeah, I don't know. That's that's not a question I know the answer to, to be honest with you. Um, I think we just still respect Max so much that um he's been just the best over to me the past three years. So um yeah, I I don't have an answer to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_01 28:09

Okay, nor do I. That's why I'm searching for one here. There's another answer I'm searching for, and it's a question I've been meaning to ask you, Logan, for nearly uh uh uh these two years, I guess. Uh pretty much same time window since I've wondered about the captain, but the postgame presser is never the appropriate time to ask it. How many times during the game? I don't know, man, if you are changing your gloves or what's going on with your gloves during the game, but I started noticing this last year that between you and I think Sean Thorns, the equipment manager, there's a lot of glove exchanges going on between shifts.

SPEAKER_04 28:45

Yeah, yeah, it is. Um I'm really picky with my gloves. I hate I hate when they get wet. Um, so like halfway through every period, I'll I have two pairs of gloves, so halfway through every period I'll just exchange them, and then the ones I was wearing Thorning will put on the dryer. Um, and then it just kind of rotates every period. So just kind of a thing that I just hate playing with wet gloves, so it just kind of helps that.

SPEAKER_01 29:09

Does it help you? I mean, it seems to be helping this year for sure.

SPEAKER_04 29:13

Yeah, I mean, I I feel like when my gloves are wet, I I don't have as good um grip on my stick, and there's just a lot of little things that go into it. So um just prefer them, kind of just a personal preference, prefer them dryer.

SPEAKER_01 29:25

The gloves are in the dryer or the gloves are on the dryer?

SPEAKER_04 29:29

On the dryer, yeah. They have glove dryers.

SPEAKER_01 29:33

There are there are specific there's a specific machine for that?

SPEAKER_04 29:35

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 29:37

But you're the only one that uses the glove dryer, at least during the game.

SPEAKER_04 29:40

Uh no, there's actually a few of us that do, but like after um, like every intermission, like 90% of guys will put their gloves on the dryer. I just do it mid mid-period, too.

SPEAKER_01 29:51

Okay. Uh speaking of the post-game pressers, and I got a few more today for Logan Morrison here on The Desert Suns Fire and Ice Podcast, presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort. Tried a few times in the post-game pressers and talk about the all-star game, which uh I've said many times on this program. Total snub for you, man. But you you shook it off. You didn't want to talk about it. I tried this weekend past to talk about some benchmarks that you have either achieved or are nearing achievement in Coachella Valley Firebirds history. You said that you didn't know about these things, so we need we have more time here to revisit. Uh, I'm not saying that you were being uh disingenuous with me in any way, but I told you that uh you had tied Cole Lind, all-time list for Coachella Valley Firebirds assist. You now have 80 in your career. Uh you are second to the aforementioned Max McCormick in both goals and points, catching up to him, especially with the points. You're just four behind. But you were not aware of any of this, you said.

SPEAKER_04 30:51

Yeah, no, I uh I wasn't lying to you there. That was the first time hearing about it. That was when you said it. So uh yeah, it's pretty cool. But yeah, that was uh wasn't lying to you.

SPEAKER_01 31:01

Okay. Does that mean to stuff to you? I mean, is that a point of pride? Is it something that you would chase or pursue, or is it just uh you're happy with the accomplishments and to be on the list with guys like that?

SPEAKER_04 31:13

Yeah, kind of more the what the end at the end, what you said there. It's um definitely not something that I'm actively chasing or something like that. It's just kind of cool thing to kind of lead something in any organization is pretty cool. So um yeah, I definitely am not not thinking about it too much, but yeah, it's pretty cool for sure.

SPEAKER_01 31:32

Okay, well, I'm gonna wrap this up by making you think a little bit because looking at uh these all-time records and this all-time list for the Firebirds. Uh quick quiz for you, if you don't mind, Logan. Um told you where you stand on some of these respective all-time lists. The franchise all-time leader in games played is whom?

SPEAKER_04 31:56

That would be John Hayden.

SPEAKER_01 31:59

John Hayden with 206 regular season games in a Firebird sweater, second on that list. No shocker.

SPEAKER_04 32:07

Yeah, it's myself, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:08

Logan Morris. Catching up to him in that one, too. He's got 191. All right, we're gonna make it a actually that this one now, this is this is not tougher. I think I think you're gonna get this. The franchise all-time leader in penalty minutes.

SPEAKER_04 32:24

Yeah, that's uh that's an easy one for sure. Ian McKenna.

SPEAKER_01 32:28

He's got it by a lot. 481 assembled across 157 games. John Hayden uh second on that list, 278, and your buddy Jacob Malonson in 130 games, 163 penalty minutes. Not surprisingly, Logan Morrison not on that list. You barely get whistled at all, man. A little bit more this year, a couple more times this year than last year.

SPEAKER_04 32:52

A couple 10 minutes, and the pimp's up a bit, but yeah, nothing, nothing crazy.

SPEAKER_01 32:56

All right, that's gonna move you up that list a little bit. All right, here's the last one for you. This one's gonna be kind of tricky, and I felt I kind of owed it to this guy because I badmouthed him a couple months ago on this program a little bit when I had Coach Sonny on. And there's not there's it's rare to badmouth anybody on the Fire and Ice podcast, but I got in a quick dig. The franchise all-time leader in points per game, and I'm gonna give you a hint that this individual played but 19 games in a Firebird sweater.

SPEAKER_04 33:27

19 games.

SPEAKER_01 33:29

19 in his career. But he's still he's still qualified for this uh this record.

SPEAKER_04 33:36

Oh, is it uh Sprong?

SPEAKER_01 33:39

Yeah, Daniel Strong. 1.32. He was incredible while he was here on the ice. Uh 1.32 in those 19 games. This will be really tough to give you because I don't you didn't I don't you don't think you played with this guy. The second on that list, I'm not gonna make you guess it's Jesper Froden had a great uh no, I didn't play with him. Played just the 44 games in uh year one for the birds. 1.07, third on that list, Andrew Potterowski, followed by Ben Myers and Cole Lind. I could show more because I know you gotta be somewhere pretty high on that list as well, man, given the season that you are having. Logan, got a good one coming up uh this Friday night. It's Fuego's birthday. You guys are hosting first place Ontario. How do you scout out the rain? They're having themselves a good season. This is a big game for you guys.

SPEAKER_04 34:30

Yeah, it's a huge weekend for us with the back-to-back against uh Ontario there. They're yeah, obviously a really good team, and they're I think they're on like a seven-game win streak right now. So really good defensively, and um just got to play play structured and kind of play the patient game and just wait for your chances and and capitalize on them when you get them. So um, yeah, it's a huge weekend for us.

SPEAKER_01 34:51

Yeah, huge weekend and a huge stretch with this this road trip and the latter game against Ontario is included in that. Of course, that game is at Ontario followed. And I gotta ask you this one too, because it's followed by one at San Jose and then back to back next weekend at the Colorado Eagles. As I mentioned earlier in this program, I looked this up not once, not twice, but thrice. Your game next Wednesday at San Jose, it's 10:30 in the morning.

SPEAKER_04 35:16

It is, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:17

Why the hell is that, man? I I tried to find out why. Why would that happen? I'm very confused.

SPEAKER_04 35:23

Yeah, it's just kind of a thing that um they do. It's like a school day game, so they bring a bunch of kids from school to watch. So um it's not very common, but I I did a couple in junior hockey as well. Um, yeah, they're they're different, different for sure.

SPEAKER_01 35:38

Okay, well, my insiders tell me that the Barracuda players are kind of late sleepers. So I think you got to jump up quick. Yeah, jump out of 10. Jump out of early that 1030 game. Let's get back to preferred. Logan boards and always a pleasure business with you, man. Have to break your preferred continued success as we get towards the end of regular season number four.

SPEAKER_04 36:01

Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_01 36:15

Alright, there we go. Epilogue style to wrap up this episode. Per usual, the Desert Sun's Desert Shootout segment, where we duel with pens in lieu of pucks. He's been a little MIA, the sports and leisure editor of the Desert Sun. He's kind of got his head full of rackets instead of sticks these days. So good to bring him back to the ice. Welcome to the return of Shad Powers to the podcast. Hello, Shad.

SPEAKER_03 36:44

Hey Judd, thanks for having me again. Yeah, getting a little involved in some tennis. That's a pretty neat pro tennis tournament we have out there, but I haven't forgotten about our Firebirds.

SPEAKER_01 36:52

Yeah, well, the tennis, she comes and goes. Firebirds are here as a permanent fixture. So good to have you back on the bench and back in the peanut gallery, where you deserve a big long. All right, man. Five questions as preface. Set them up, knock them down style. First of five, let's get started with most impressed by of late. Fill in the blank, Chad.

SPEAKER_03 37:15

I'm gonna go with uh a guy that we don't talk about much, uh, is uh your boy Edward Saleh or Saleh. Um I've been it's been fun to see him sort of contributing lately more uh consistently in the way he's been doing it with some sort of impressive like one-on-one scoring plays. That's kind of what the bill of goods we were sold with him uh and we saw a little bit of last year, especially. Um, he's been quiet in his Firebirds career, uh, there's no doubt, but it's fun to see when he's on He does look special, and it's like just sort of um a huge added commodity if he's gonna come out and score confidently or or make plays or put pressure on a goalie um consistently. That'll be that'll help as we look for scoring and action um behind the uh you know the front line.

SPEAKER_01 38:04

Yeah, absolutely looking for scoring. I think that we can editorialize perhaps depth of scoring. You're absolutely right. I got a couple goals the other day for Edward. Still a kid, we forget that because we've seen him for a while. I think he's just uh just a right 20 years old. Uh seeing that depth, seeing that growth, we've seen the skill set, we saw it from the get last year, but he does kind of come and go a little bit. He does disappear at times. So a little depth of scoring and a little more Edward Chole definitely be a good thing. Let's hope we're continually impressed by him as we hit this last stretch of games. Question two of five for Chad Powers. Memorable moment of late chat.

SPEAKER_03 38:44

That's a that's a tough one. I think I mean there's been a lot of um cool things. I think one thing that was huge was the performance by Nikkei Coco. I guess it was two games ago. Um, you know, it was a game where the Firebirds were outshot something like 40 to 20 right in that range, and uh and they still won 4-2 behind Coco. He hasn't had like a signature game, I wouldn't say, in a while like that. Um so it's nice to see that he's still got it. But uh, you know, no, we know he does, but uh but we haven't seen one in a while. Huge sort of performance one where you can really maybe pin a victory on Coco. We haven't had one of those in a while. And uh I think that's a big moment because that's something we need going forward, of course, is better and more consistent, excellent goalie play from him, and I'll give him some time as he's kind of still working his way out of injury. Um, maybe now that that game is sort of an indicator that maybe he's getting back to his 100% form, which we know is very good.

SPEAKER_01 39:41

Yeah, and that was a game where we not just needed Nikkei Coco to be great, but we needed that win. And we are we're outshot the let the Saturday passed against Calgary, and he was kind of back to his old Nikkei Coco self. He came out of that game. You can tell that he was locked in, he was aggressive. There were at least two moments, if not three, where he was about 30 feet out of the crease, and we saw that from the get. It was like, all right, dude is engaged. Uh Shad Power has been up in his his ivory editorial tower. We missed him in the trenches a little bit. A little more Andrew John, a little more Larry Legend for the Desert Sun in terms of these Firebirds games, but nonetheless, I know you're paying attention. Uh, your best quote of late, Chad.

SPEAKER_03 40:22

I know that's that's a good one. I like um I like when Laxdall gets heated, and he was recently uh after uh not, of course, this weekend after those two nice wins, but the previous home game, he was like, you know, um uh what was the wording he said? Yeah, I love when he's just sort of like um unleashes on the guys, and and Larry had the perfect quote in his story. He's like, hey, what are we doing out here? Are we golfing too much? Are we sitting by the pool? I mean, that's solid. I like when a coach does that. And I think he's done that, I'm gonna say, three times this year, and every time the next game they've won. So I think you know, uh he's he has command of the locker room like that. So when you know, he's the type of coach I think that doesn't fly off the handle all the time. So when he does, you know, like this is serious. I'm a player here, I need to get my stuff together and come out with with my best performance in the next game. So yeah, probably golfing too much. And that was a night Larry Bohan in our golf writer was there, so it was perfect.

SPEAKER_01 41:24

Not only ear catching, but subsequently eye catching, those editorial skills of Shad Powers. I believe you did include that in the headline for the next thing. Wise move, wise move made me want to read the article. Uh, question four or five set up, knock them down, desert shootout style. Concerns are, I don't want to say a plenty, but they are definitely there with 55 down and 17 to go. Your biggest concern as we hit this final stretch of game shit.

SPEAKER_03 41:52

I know this is sort of like uh you know basic concern, but you know, it's just the inconsistency. I mean, we've had like stretches this year where I felt like, okay, that's that's six, seven, eight nice games in a row. This team's like got it got something figured out, and then boom, you know, four or five clankers in a row, and then three great ones. You know, like I want to see, of course, all great ones, but we're you know, we know that's not gonna happen. But like just a consistent level, I guess, is what I'd like to see. You know, you don't have to win every single game, but it uh just coming out with the same energy, the playing winning hockey, uh, you know, whether that results in a win every night, of course not. But you know, there just needs to be a level of you know, a high level of play that we see every night. And let's face it, that's not happening right now. Some nights we see subpar, some nights we see great. So I would like to see always good.

SPEAKER_01 42:49

I I'm inclined to agree. It's something we touched upon more than a few times last year. That it's a little one step, uh two steps forward, rather, one step back kind of play. And as we get into the playoffs, yes, we were pretty assured that we are gonna be a playoff team, knocking on wood while I say that here in fifth place. Um, but we got a comfortable spot in the playoffs, and and I don't think we exactly know yet. This this could be a team, they might rip through this first round if they're playing their best self, or they could get swept if they're playing with some of the limitations that we've seen in these stretches. So I I I like that choice. I gotta agree with it. Uh, we've got some tough games coming up a late would be the perfect time to show a little bit more of that consistency against some of these top teams in the pack.

SPEAKER_03 43:35

And like you said, we're in fifth place, and and there is importance in being in the top four if you can get there to get that uh home first round series.

SPEAKER_01 43:44

Question five of five rapid fire style for Shad Powers. Not sure how applicable this final question remains, but hey, there's still uh injuries. We saw it uh the other night with the Kraken again. Guys are probably still gonna get moved around in this final. Stretch of play. What's Kraken? Do you think there's somebody on the Firebird still gonna be moved up at the scale of Kraken? Is there dueling for their own playoff spot?

SPEAKER_03 44:08

I mean, the name that comes right to mind is what about Logan Morrison? I mean, that guy is playing some great hockey right now. Scoring or getting a point almost every night. Uh, you know, if they're looking for some offensive punch, I think he'd be the guy. You know, it'd be a horrible time for the Firebirds to lose him. But um, you know, the Kraken, like you said, they're in their own playoff battle looking like they might have a decent chance to get to the postseason, and you have to pull all the stops to do that. And if someone goes down, like you said, or you know, just looking for a little extra oomph, uh, it seems like Morrison would be the guy right now.

SPEAKER_01 44:42

Nice nod to this episode's guest as well. And uh I'm inclined to agree uh he's given the crack and every reason to uh give him another crack. Uh, you'll forgive on it's been a couple years, of course, since he's had that taste. The NHL got the four games a few years ago, hasn't been called up since, but he's decidedly made a push for them to give him uh give him another shot, not just uh not just a cup of coffee. Shad powers, we will let you get back to your ports and your rackets and your fuzzy balls. But we want to see you back at Aquisure Arena again soon. Until then, always appreciate the time, friend.

SPEAKER_03 45:18

All right, thanks a lot, Jud.

SPEAKER_01 45:21

Alright, Firebirds, friends. It's gonna wrap it up for another episode of the Desert Tuns Fire and Ice Podcast, presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort. Thank you all again for your time, your interest, your ears, your ongoing support of this endeavor. Equal gratitude, of course, goes to this episode's guest, Logan Morrison, centerman for the CV Firebirds, and the team's leading scorer thus far into the year. Great to have Logan back on the program. Shad powers of the Desert Sun. Enjoyed revisiting the Shad in that Desert Shootout segment. Again, check out all the Firebirds coverage online at DesertSun.com. Get a subscription or heck, just go out and buy yourself a tangible physical newspaper. Desert Willow Golf Resort, tea times may be made online for either or both. The Firecliffe andor Mountain View courses. Get it online at desertwillow.com. While you're on there poking around, hey, you need to brush up. We're at the peak of the peak season. Grass is green, the rye is high. Great time to brush up your game at the on-site. An excellent Palm Desert Golf Academy. Again, you can find that online at Desertwillow.com. Equal thanks go to the sponsors of the Firebirds Freeze Frame segment, both the Ground Squirrel, that's G R N D SQRL, and the 29 Palms Beer Company up there in 29 Palms, California. Your high desert hockey homes for Firebirds Action. Birds back at it on home ice this Friday night versus first place Ontario, the I-10 Rival, 7 p.m. puck drop. Again, that is Fuego's birthday. Bring the worms, bring the bird seed. We will see you there at the Birds Barn this Friday night. Until then, again, everybody, thank you so much for tuning in and be well.