Welcome to episode 47 of the Duck Boats podcast today. We are very lucky
lucky to be joined by Mark mclaughlin of the Providence Bruins. How you doing today
Mark? I'm doing well. Thanks for having me on guys. Awesome. Glad to have you here
Kevin. How you doing today over in Nantucket? Is it cold and cold and rainy, cold
rain, windy, like 25 degrees. It's awful. It might be paradise in the summer
but in the wintertime it's surely not. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. But we're glad to have you on Mark and we just kind of want to
get into some things about your hockey career, obviously, um, quickly becoming a fan favorite
I think in Boston for any of the prospects, for sure. That's gotta be pretty cool
But let's kick it back to the start. Like what made you start playing hockey other than I guess it just being a part of
Massachusetts culture
Yeah, obviously hockey is really big and mass. But um, so my dad played hockey growing up
Um and then my siblings played as well. My brother and sister played
So basically from a young age, I was, I was picking up the stick and started playing
uh as soon as I could walk, I was starting to skate
So, um, yeah, so family definitely got me into it. But um
just as it went, just loved the game and I loved playing and playing and mites and then up to Minimum Flames and Providence Capitals
a bunch of different youth teams that we had, we had a lot of
a lot of fun with those groups. So, um, but definitely the family is what got me into it and definitely got me hooked Minimum
Flames. Do you play out of the mall? Borrow rink? The one with the eight rinks in it
Yeah. Yeah. All the time in England, Sportscenter. Yeah, of course. That was
I just, I remember as a kid that was my favorite tournament we would always go up and play in Marlborough would get there and
just be in the hotel and that rink. I remember the first time walking in there as a kid and you're just like
oh, my God. Yeah, it's awesome. There are so many great games there and Providence Bruins actually played there probably
Yeah. Yeah, during COVID. That was if you think about it though
like, that's the best, that's the best smaller rink around, like, in this area. It just makes sense
Yeah. Have you, I wonder if you, have you been in the new rink that they just built or they just kind of redid in
North Attleborough
their rink one is so there, it's three ranks and their rink one they put in like stadium seating and they put in like a
mini Jumbotron. It's pretty cool. Especially, I think there's a, I don't know what level it is and there's an S P H L team
playing out of there and they, we had like a, you a game the other day and the kids were just enamored
like, skating out, looking up at the scoreboard. It was pretty cool. Yeah
that must make the experience fun for the kids. The Jumbotron, definitely
So you talked about your family getting you into hockey? Who is that your biggest inspiration growing up
Um I mean, my family as a whole, um really had a big impact on me
Um I'll talk, I'll talk about my brother a bit because he
I grew up like he was, he's um around eight years older than me
So I grew up idolizing him, watching him play, played for Junior Bruins played division three
I Wentworth. Um So just growing up watching him, um kind of learning the game through how he plays and kind
of modeling my game after how he plays the right way and plays hard
Um So I think he was a huge inspiration on, on kind of how I play the game and how I carry myself for sure
Yeah, that makes complete sense. Obviously, like having someone directly to look up to is close to your age but not quite that close
That's pretty, yeah, pretty cool. Who's your, who's your favorite player growing up
Was it a Bruin? Oh, yeah, that's, that's an easy question. Yeah
that was, that was a softball, softball for you. Yeah. So, being here is the biggest
dad is the biggest Bruins fan. Doesn't miss, doesn't miss a single game
So, but, yeah, I always always loved that version. I played center most of my life playing wing out a little bit
But yeah, just the way he plays, plays, plays the right way 200 ft game
What's not to like? So, um, he's definitely someone I looked up to and what's my favorite player
For sure. So what was that feeling like? Yeah, you stepped on the ice with Bergeron
Yeah, honestly, it was, it's kind of funny because like during the summer
you know, when it all starts winding down and, and, you know
you're not in the thick of it, you're like, wow, that's pretty special that I got that opportunity
And, um, you know, it's playing aside all those unbelievable guys, but I feel like in the moment you kind of just like
I'm just ultra focused. I was trying to help, just trying to do my best
So I feel like it didn't really sink in until this summer and I kind of noticed it was like
it was pretty special, you gotta think to like at this point there's been a lot of guys from Mass who came and played for
the Bruins in Bergeron's time there. And I mean, I grew up in Rhode Island
my favorite player growing up was also Patrice Bergeron. So was 90% of us
Right. So, it's like the ones who make it to Boston like that
He has to be used to the fact that he is more than just a hockey player in a lot of ways to a lot
of guys. So he, he knows that obviously. Yeah, it's cool. I mean
it was cool to kind of see an inside look at and, you know
get a view of his leadership and how he carried himself. And
you know, his presence is, is huge in the locker room and
you know, he always has the right things to say and he's the first one in the morning showing up to practice
It's, you know, it's just the ultimate team guy and the ultimate leader
So that was pretty cool to see, like, because everyone talks about it
but to see it firsthand is, you know, it's, it lives up to all the
all the stuff that you see that about him being a great leader. So that's awesome
Kick it back a bit. Do you ever look back and like
realize how lucky you were to, like, grow up in mass and in the Rhode Island Mass area for like the talent level of hockey
And do you think that helped get you to where you are now. Like, if you look at where you played as a kid
you didn't really have to leave this area until you went to the U S H L because how much hockey talent there was
And I think that people outside of the New England area kind of miss
like how good Mass and Rhode Island hockey is in a way
Yeah, I mean, that's huge. Like, you grow up with, you know
competitive practices playing against guys that are, you know, love the game and want to get better and are really good hockey players and it
ultimately makes you better. So, and great coaching too. Yeah, in a massive New England has
Um, so, I mean, me and Mike Callahan plays on province were actually roommates now but
but him and I grew up playing youth hockey together, um, you know
Mike Hardman and plays was played in N H L H L, um was on our Providence Capitals team
um like a numerous amount of division one college guys came out of that
So it's like the 99 age group was, was so talented and there's other guys to their in NHL and
um you know, just getting to be able to play if you're playing against your playing with
with them. It's that competitiveness that, you know, mass hockey has really been elite
um, you know, for, for a while now. So I think that's huge and um but the biggest thing is that practices
it's I feel like being able to compete against those kids, like and have that kind of developed that
you know
desire to compete and, and push each other is kind of what makes you love the game
And that was great for, for when I was young. Yeah, I mean
I see it now, right? So I coach at a like might a level which is so young
right? But there are already so Providence capital became Providence Hockey Club
Yeah, we already have kids from my team getting like picked, like they're just getting like picked off to go play there now
like such a young age and things like that. So I have my qualms with them because they keep taking my star players
But at the same time, it's obviously great for those kids to play at that level
And like that's, you know what I tell their parents and things like that. But the it's just even like Master Rhode Island
I don't know if you know this, we're the only two states left in the United States that have full ice hockey at the eight
year old level. And when I sat in like the coaching meetings there
people coaches from other parts of the country like Washington and things like that
They don't, they can't fathom it and they just don't realize that even at the U eight level
it's so competitive. Like it's, it's full ice hockey where these kids are breaking the puck out of their zone and they're running power plays
and they, there's two refs and there's just, there's no way not to be because exactly what you said
it's just so competitive in this area from like a young age. Yeah
I mean, there's so many good teams like we had, um, you know, Jack Rathbone
um, Aidan mcdonough, like all those guys are playing on other teams
you know, other high caliber players that are playing, you know, closer to home or whatever it might be for another program and
you know, it just makes us that much better
So what went to your decision to leave cushing and go into the U S H L
Um Yeah, that was a hard decision because, you know, you want to do your senior year cushing and a lot of friends
their familiarity of it. Um But ultimately, I felt like, and I've kind of had this as I went
on with my hockey career. So you wanna, when you're dominating and um you know
you're playing well, it's, it's time to move to another level which you were 43.33 games
which you were, you had 43 points in 33 games at that point
Yeah, so I felt, I felt like I needed another, you know
challenge and um to take that next step. So we went to the U S H L and um and that was great love
Cedar Rapids. Coach Carlson was one of the best coaches I've had
Um, and then same thing for going to college to its. I ended up
I was supposed to go into the true freshman but felt like I wasn't dominating yet that I needed another year to develop and get
my game in the right place. Um, so I did another year and it worked out great
got a lot better and then went into school more ready. I felt like
So, um, so, yeah, that was kind of the journey there definitely makes complete sense
You see it more and more. I, I don't think that it's ever a bad idea to give yourself another year if you're not and
then if you're not quite ready, it's, it's good to stay, you know, I think I agree with both sides of that
Just perfect segue gave us there. How did you choose B C
Did you have other hockey schools that you were deciding with or through
Yeah. Yeah, I was looking mainly at hockey schools. Um I really want to play in the pot
Uh, you know, growing up as a local kid is, you know
hard to turn that down and then, uh the education was a big part of it to B C is an amazing school
Um, was very fortunate to have gotten that as well and being able to graduate this past this past spring
So, um, but Yeah, it's hard when you get a call from legendary Coach York
it's, that's hard to turn down and, you know, I always looked up to P C and wanted to go there
So, um you know, it all fell into place and I was so glad that I made that decision
It's like you have are questions that we came up with in front of you. It's like you're giving us as easy as segues
Oh yeah, so back to coach York. Um Do you have a good Jerry York story since you were his last captain
Everything? Which is a huge honor. Do you have a crazy story for any
any anything you played? Four years for him? There has to be one right that you can tell that has to be pretty good
Yeah, there's a, there's a, yeah, try to think of one. I mean
there's so many great, great moments that the thing about coach York was he was so much like he was like teaching us life lessons
while we're, you know, learning the game of hockey and you know
playing and practicing and whatever. But like you would always be like
you would make sure you like doing your school work, you're doing this and checking in with your family
Like it's just like the nicest like down there human being, it's like the best mentor you could possibly have
Um I've told this story before and on, uh on one of the Bruins nesting or something like that
But, uh, when he, um, he brought the custodian into, like, recognized all the work that he has been doing for
like, picking up their trash, whatever that night. And a guy that we would never meet
but, like, he brought him in just to make sure he felt like he was part of it and like that we
you know, recognized the work that he's doing and appreciate it and it's just
it's just cool, like he thinks of everything. He's just the nicest person, like to think outside the box like that and to make sure
everyone's like, feels appreciated and like the work that they're doing matters
it's just like he was great at building a team. So that was pretty cool to see
I thought that was a great, great little story. No. Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's
that shows the character of someone and just how they're, he's instilling that character on you guys
which makes you better people and better hockey players. So that's definitely
I mean, you can tell that's his goal. That's why he's, I would say the most storied hockey coach in college hockey history really
I mean, he is, at least for people who grew up in this area
The key is by far the most storied coach. Give you one more from BC
What was your most memorable season in Boston NBC? I looked through kind of the years
I mean, your sophomore year, you guys were pretty much a wagon of NHL talent
Like yourself included, you guys had new Hook, baldy house at night
There's even more guys in there who are going to play in the NHL or have played games. It's just that team was so good
looking at it
Sophomore, junior year were our best years. Um, sophomore year. Honestly, we
we had a lot of, we had, I think 12 seniors that year
we had a lot of older guys. I felt like our team was really well rounded
We had a lot of like solid defensive guys. We had, you know
that young freshman group holding New Hook apartment. We had, we had solid Deke or we had
we had like everything we hit, which disappointing is what it is
But that year was so fun. I thought we were just, we're clicking at the right time coming down the stretch
But so it was kind of, unfortunately, never got to see that through and see what that team was made of
But, um, but yeah, junior was awesome to like battling the elements of COVID and
um, I thought we, you know, had a great season, just didn't end up working out in the end
but it was great. We had such a great core. Like all those
like baldi knew how expensive night Hardman hunts go Giles and being like all those ridiculous
Yeah, this is just an incredible group, just such such a fun group to be around every day coming to rank
We're all pushing each other. We were having a blast doing it at the same time. So
um and it's awesome seeing those guys have success now, bullies and been killing it lately
Had a great night last night. So keeping in touch with those guys is great calling them every now and then
So we went to the game in Boston against Minnesota this year
We scored two and it was just so we were right behind the net and so many Bruins fans were just cheering for him
But like, no, it was, it was such like, it was such a like funny watching guys like cheer for him but then try not
to. But then where it's just, it was funny because obviously like
that it was, it was at the garden. Yeah, two years and scored and we're up in our whole BC team had a box and
we're like going crazy up there
root against the Bruins. But yeah, yeah, you have to
it was prior to signing. Exactly. Exactly. I don't want anyone to jump on you. Yeah
So we're in a segway into gear Olympic career. Um So at what point did you know
there's a chance you're going to be a U S Olympian
Honest, it never really crossed my mind. Um
You know, well, until like the very, very end when I was hearing rumblings that I might have a chance of making it
And I was like, what, I didn't really try to get my hopes up
We're in the middle of the BC season. I was, you know, ultra focused on that
And, um, and then, yeah, like cancer fruition is crazy. But I can
I honestly couldn't believe that. I called my family right away. It's like I'm going to China
China. Yeah, it's pretty surreal. And that's, I mean, that's an experience you can never get back in
It was just so honored to have that chance and go over there and
you know, it didn't end up working out how we wanted it to, but we had a great team
That's another thing that's really, it was really fun to watch a lot of skill
a lot of speed. So, yeah, just getting to see other events was one of the coolest things ever like going to
um, you know, the ski, like half pipe and um snowboarding stuff
We went to curling figure skating, speed skating. Um Yeah
Yeah, it's so cool. It was a lot of fun. Um Yeah
I had an absolute blast there. Did you get to meet Shaun White
I did
That's awesome
That's awesome. What was it just, what was it like to put that jersey on for the first time and just be like
was that when it hit you or did it hit you before? Like, was there like a moment when you were there and you were
like, oh my God. Like, I'm really here. Opening ceremonies. Yeah. Walking out the Olympic rings hanging from
from the top of the stadium, the music playing and, you know
announcing the United States is, that was like, wow, I can't believe I have this opportunity
It's, you know, just trying to make the absolute most of it. So
you know, putting new jersey on so special to, I have been another
like, crazy things that I never worn USA jersey before and never made us a team
I was gonna ask you that because I looked through, I, I
that was the first time the Olympics. It's like, hey, that's pretty cool. Yeah
it's absolutely crazy. Like I, you know, dying to get a chance to represent our country and for it to be an Olympics is not
what I was expecting. Yeah. So that was really, that was really cool
It was pretty surreal, like I said, yeah, I mean, that's something you'll have forever
Like that's just no, like no one can ever take that away
You're a U S Olympian forever. It's pretty, pretty freaking cool. Yeah
it's just awesome to see like all the college guys get that opportunity
Yeah, not what everyone expected. Everyone know last, last one, we kind of went with a couple of college guys
So, um but yeah, I mean, we had a great team. So to me like if you're not gonna have the NHL guys
it makes it 100 times more fun to watch with college guys and the talent level is just so high
So, like, you're not like, it's just, it was so much more fun to watch than the one before
Like, to me, at least I just, I enjoyed a lot. Yeah, I mean
all those guys, like, most of the guys are playing and playing, you already know NHL NHL already and doing really well
So, um, yeah, it's definitely a great group of really talented group
Yeah. Would you ever take a vacation back to China
I don't know if that's on the bucket list right now
Uh maybe down the road. We'll see. What's your bucket list? Vacation spot
So my family, we went to uh U S Virgin Islands last
last summer. Nice John's. Yeah, it's beautiful there. That's, that's one of our favorite spots
you know, I'm a big, I'm a big ST Martin guy. Yeah, I was a Catholic
Saint Martin. It's fun. I haven't been there. But yeah, that's awesome
Yeah. Half ducks and then half friends. So little mixture of everything down there
Yeah, it's great. That sounds cool. So, I mean, I don't even
it's like, I don't know if I really even have to ask you this. Like, why you signed with Boston? But how cool is it
to have the opportunity to sign with the Boston Bruins? Like when you
when you knew that you had a chance, was it just like Oh my God, like
that was your only option, right at that point, like if you, if you get all these contracts, but you have the Bruins mask
Very hard, very hard to turn that down for sure. You know
dreams about, you know, you dream about playing NHL but like you see yourself wearing Bruins jersey
you know, as a kid and you know, all growing up. So um you know
like everything happens for a reason to, to go back to it
Like you're so aggravated and frustrated that you don't get drafted and then
you know, you know, you know, so whatever, you just keep working and stick to the game plan and
you know, believe in yourself and, you know, so it ended up working out great because then I could sign
you know, where I wanted coming out of school as a free agent and
you know, there's no turning down boss and for sure. So, uh you know
stars aligned and it worked out great. Like that's a great message to for kids
It's like you didn't get drafted and instead of being sulking, you went out and
where it's almost a point per game player with a point per game player that almost a point per game player in Hockey East and
then went and got to side with the Boston Bruins. So that's kind of a ringing endorsement
Just keep your head down and keep working and you can still make your dream come true. Oh
yeah, absolutely. It's a huge, huge message even like, no matter where you go to
it's like, you know, you gotta keep that same mindset that, you know
you're never out of it and you're, you know, you just believe in yourself and just keep working hard
It can get you a lot of places. Definitely. All right. The big question to that first goal you scored
which is a beautiful goal. Have you ever had a better rush than when you scored that
No
there's no way, you know, I couldn't have wrote it up any better
This is amazing. Passed by Freddy too. But, but yeah, that was fun to be a part of like 8 to 1 game two and
game like that. That was amazing because I was like, no, you know
you're playing loose out there, you know, you're not worried about blowing the game
You don't have to think as much as just playing like how you can play
you know, like stressed out and whatever. So, um yeah, but that was
that, that was awesome. That was, I've said it a bunch, but the coolest part was that I was
it was a home game and it was in Boston that I got to share with everyone that helped me get to where
where I was, you know, so it was my whole family, friends
you know, people from my hometown, my teammates from every step of the way all the way up
you know, so it's like all my BC teammates. So it was like
yeah, I'm gonna draw it up any better because I was like, I was immediately thinking of that because
you know, they helped me get there and to share with them is so cool
It's hard not to like, look at the moment you've had already, like early in your career and be like
well this is, you've had some pretty, pretty sick moments so far. Like I'm sure there's gonna be a lot more
but there's been some cool ones, right? Like that. The Olympics just always mean being on such a good B C team
being the captain of Boston College. I mean, Jerry York retired after you
right? Like you were his last captain. Did you guys know he was retiring like earlier than everyone else
Uh, maybe like, like the day of Oh, yeah. Okay. So not really
Yeah, you know, um yeah, he sent, he sent, uh, sent me a text and said, uh
he said I'm hanging up the skates. Thanks for, I was like reading it
I was like hanging out. I was like, oh my God, I can't believe it. Um Thank him for everything and
and yeah, he's such a good guy. I've been talking to a bunch
He's gonna come out to a Providence game. So, yeah, he's so supportive and you know
I was wishing me the best stone. Yeah, he's great. He's the best. That's awesome
Alright, another one for you here. So then we'll get into some fun stuff coming kind of at the end of what we have here
for you. But after training camp myself included a lot of Bruins fans
we really, a lot of people thought you looked NHL ready. How does it feel to know that you have the Bruins fan base behind
you? And what are the things you're focusing on to get to that next point
Right. I mean, obviously things, it's amazing to be a Providence Bruin and you're doing great there
but your, your goal is to play in the NHL. So what are the things that you're focusing on this year to get there
Yeah, I mean, your, your goal is always to be going up there and it's what can I do to get better to be there
And, um, you need to view this as an opportunity and, um
and just use all the resources that are here. There's, you know
amazing coaching staff, there's, you know, I'm adjusting to my first year of professional hockey
the huge difference between the schedule from college to pro. Uh, so getting used to that
you know, picking the brains of older veterans that have a ton of experience like Chris Wagner and
you know, Connor, Carrick, Mike Riley's here. Um, you know, so it's all an opportunity to get better and
I've been trying to work on different aspects of my game that I know
um, you know, would get me to be an NHL player. So
um, just working on, you know, my skating and, you know, just making sure I'm playing
you know, like a very
low risk game and not making too many mistakes and, you know
managing the game the right way. Um, being more physical and so stuff like that
I've been trying to work into my game for sure. Definitely. Yeah
it was great answer. I mean, just keep on grinding. Right. It's
it's what you've done your whole career. So you just gotta keep doing it. Yeah
Yeah, absolutely. You're gonna keep at it and, um, grind away. Absolutely
It's, it's been great down here. It's a ton of fun because
like I was saying earlier, it's awesome that we have so many young guys
It's almost like you're back in college again a bit. It's, everyone's around your age and it's been a really fun group
There's so much skill, so much, so much team speed. So, um
it's been a great group to be a part of and we're having so much team success because we're really jelling together
I feel like it was a lot of, you know, camaraderie within the group in the locker room
So that makes it fun to show up to the rink every day and go to work
Awesome
So, under the fun stuff to get to know a little more about you away from hockey
Um, what's your favorite thing to do away from the, the, the rink
Um, I would say away from the rank, I've been getting into golf
even though I'm not good at all. I'm actually really bad, but I've been getting
I've been getting better. It's fun to handicap, handicap, didn't have a handicap
I'm starting to break 100 and I'm happy about getting there. That's the first step
Right. So, um, it's been, uh, I've been doing a lot of that with
with, you know, former teammates and PC guys and this and that hometown friends
So that's been, that's been a ton of fun. Um, my family is really big into just being outdoors
hiking, camping. Um, so we do a lot of that. Go up to the White Mountains a lot
Yeah. Go on some good hikes. So that's, that's been something that's been part of my life for a while and a ton of fun
to get outside and do that. You got you? Okay. So, who's the best golfer in the P Bruins
I think it's just in Brazil
Yeah, you can hammer the ball. He's, you know, six smoke something
So, um, he's got, he's got the soft hands too, so he's got a mix of
yeah
Yeah, we're teamed up together because I'm, I'm bad. So, have you got
no, I actually haven't
I guess it's hard now. I guess you won't now. Right. Everything. Yeah
Normally do it during the summer and then, yeah, exactly. It's off as you start getting prepared before the season starts
So, for sure, it's pretty much, I mean, golf season's over anyway
What's your obviously local? What's your favorite restaurant in Province? Where do you guys like
Where do you go for your favorite meal improv? Um, so there's a place called Cersei that's really good downtown
and, and he knows, he knows my spot and this is my favorite
for sure. Yeah, the pink sauce is really so good, so good
So I used to work right over there. So I would just walk there for lunch all the time and just sit at the bar
and just, I would just be like me and three old Italian guys and I would just sit there with them and just talk and
I would just listen to their stories and eat my chicken parm. Yeah
And the nose is definitely one of the best spots. Yeah
for sure
Who's the best dress on the P Bruins Johnny Beecher said Vinnie was
So that's the first one that came to mind. I don't want to pump his tires like that
Yeah. Um, Vinnie is though. He cares, he cares a lot about his fashion
Loves it. Yeah, he cleans up. Well, um, chronic characters. Good style to shoutout to seize
Yeah. He's always dressing up and looking good. Awesome. That's really all we had for you
I don't know if you have anything else, Kev No, that's how I have
We're so thankful for your time and, and just good luck with everything this year
If you have anything you want to talk about or any cause or anything you want to shout out, you can feel free if it's
not. We're just super thankful. Yeah