This episode of Mission Control is a massive Space City hockey roundup! We dive into the latest news, the roaring success of the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet, and the incredible 6,000-fan turnout at the 3rd annual Hockey Day in Houston at St. Arnold Brewing. The weekend proved once again that Houston is a Hockey TownThe episode caps with a brief on-site interview with Houston hockey royalty: Terry Ruskowski. The two-time WHA Avco Cup Champion, inaugural IHL Aeros coach, and the only player to ever captain four different pro franchises sits down to share his memories. Terry discusses the tight-knit culture of the WHA Aeros, the chaos of the NHL merger, drawing massive playoff crowds with the Laredo Bucks, and why he firmly believes Houston is more than ready for an NHL franchise.

00:00 - Brief News Bullet Points

08:43 - Thoughts on the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet & Hockey Day in Houston

18:06 - Favorite Parts of the Weekend (and what went horribly terribly wrong for me)

26:10 - Terry Ruskowski: Playing Days in Houston

35:00 - Terry Ruskowski: Coaching Career and if Laredo can do it...SHOW LINKS:Hockey Day in Houston: http://www.hockeydayinhouston.comThe Howe Foundation: http://www.howefoundation.comInter Scholastic Hockey League: http://www.ishl.orgWHOAH (Women's Hockey Outreach Association of Houston): http://whoahhtx.wixsite.com/homeChampions Club Texas: http://www.championsclubtexas.comBeer League Warriors Apparel: http://www.beerleaguewarriors.comoh hey, the website doesn't suck as much now: http://www.mchockeypodcast.com - you can get sexy merch there, too.Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists for the Houston hockey fans.

In this massive episode, we assemble the "Brady Bunch" of Hockey Day in Houston, Powered By Main Event: Lance Rosenberg, Ryan Brooks, Marc Tushnet, Mary Adler, Michel Petit, and Eric Kimmel preview everything happening this Saturday at St. Arnold Brewing Company. We cover how a simple block party idea evolved into a massive, free festival featuring the Dallas Stars' Ice Girls and Victor E. Green, Chilly Dog, street hockey, and adaptive sled hockey clinics with the Houston Hellhounds. The panel also dives into the serious impact of the event, from the Howe Foundation's incredible scholarship match to the sold-out Houston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet, and how this surging demand is highlighting the urgent need for more ice rinks in the city. Whether you are a lifelong beer-leaguer or have never watched a shift in your life, find out why there is a spot for you at Hockey Day in Houston!00:00 - The Brady Bunch14:17 - What's Different About Houston20:38 - Is Hockey Day in Houston Just for the Players?29:14 - The Impact of the Howe Foundation40:53 - When Should You Arrive?Make Sure You're At Hockey Day in Houston on March 21st: https://www.hockeydayinhouston.com/Main Event Entertainment, Powering Hockey Day in Houston: https://www.mainevent.com/St. Arnold's Brewing: https://www.saintarnold.com/HTX Storm Hockey: https://www.htxstorm.com/Houston Hellhounds Sled Hockey: https://www.facebook.com/houstonhellhounds/American Special Hockey Association: https://www.specialhockey.org/University of Houston Ice Hockey: https://www.houstonicehockey.com/Rice University Ice Hockey: https://www.instagram.com/ricehockey/Women's Hockey Outreach Association of Houston: https://whoahhtx.wixsite.com/homeBlueline Slapshot: https://www.bluelineslapshot.com/The Howe Foundation: https://howefoundation.com/Dallas Stars: https://www.nhl.com/stars/oh hey, the show's website doesn't suck as much now: http://www.mchockeypodcast.com - you can get sexy swag there, too.Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists for the Houston hockey fans.

Hockey Day in Houston,Houston Hockey,St. Arnold's Brewing,Dallas Stars,Gordie Howe,Mark Howe,Marty Howe,Howe Foundation,Houston Sports,HTX Storm,Houston Aeros,Sled Hockey,Texas Hockey,NHLtoHouston,NHL,Houston,Houston Texas,Houston TX,NHL Shorts,HoustonIsAHockeyTown,NHL expansion,Hockey,Aeros,St. Arnold's,Beer League,Hockey Players in Business,USA Hockey,NHL to Houston

In this episode of Mission Control, we are joined by former NHL defenseman Michel Petit. Michel shares incredible locker room stories from nearly two decades of pro hockey experience, including what it was like to room with his childhood idol, and the wild reality of fighting a player one game, only to defend him as a teammate weeks later.But this episode isn't just about the past—it’s about the future of Space City. As a key figure behind Blueline Slapshot, Michel breaks down the ambitious plan to build a state-of-the-art, 8,000-seat dual-sheet ice facility in the Houston suburbs. We discuss conversations with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, the immediate goal of landing an ECHL franchise, and Houston is the most untapped hockey market in North America. Plus, we talk about the upcoming Houston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet and Hockey in Day in Houston!Learn about Michel's Blueline Slapshot initiative here: https://www.bluelineslapshot.com/Get Tickets and Attend the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet: https://hockeyplayersinbusiness.org/event/hpib-hou-houston-hockey-hall-of-fame-banquet-march-20th/Make Sure You're At Hockey Day in Houston on March 21st: https://www.hockeydayinhouston.com/00:00 - Introduction15:24 - How Do All these Pro Hockey Players End Up in Houston?25:23 - Michel's thoughts on Bettman38:26 - Today's ECHL52:07 - Of Course, We Talk about Hockey Day in HoustonThe NHL isn't in Space City yet - but the fans are.Welcome to Mission Control: Houston’s Hockey Podcast — a fan podcast for a team that hasn't arrived yet. Whether you’ve been following NHL relocation rumors since 2013 or are just hyped from the Winter Olympics, this channel is for those who believe Houston has deserved a team for a long time. The show covers Houston’s hockey history, NHL expansion gossip, and local events. With throwback stories, occasional interviews, and poor attempts at humor, we’re building the fanbase before the 33rd franchise gets here. Subscribe, interact, and be part of Houston’s hockey future.

NHLtoHouston,NHL,Houston,Houston Sports,Houston Texas,Houston Aeros,Houston TX,NHL Shorts,HoustonIsAHockeyTown,NHL expansion,Hockey,Aeros,Hockey Players in Business,USA Hockey,Hockey Day in Houston,Houston Hockey Hall of Fame,Houston Hockey,World Hockey,Philadelphia Flyers,Hockey Podcast,Michel Petit,New York Rangers,ECHL,Blueline Slapshot,NHL History,Guy LaFleur,Chris Nyland,Hockey Fights,Texas Hockey

Matt spent a few minutes talking to Marc Tushnet, who's involved in nearly everything in Houston hockey. He's got some great evidence as to why Houston is a HUGE market for Pro Hockey. We'll talk a little about the Oil Kings Hockey Club, the HUGE Memorial Day tournament, and - naturally, Hockey Day in Houston.00:00 - Let's Meet Marc Tushnet!08:45 - What Really Grows the Player Base?11:22 - Evidence that Houston is a HUGE market for Hockey17:26 - Hockey Day in Houston is coming soon!29:43 - A Special Cameo and the Houston Hockey Events Calendar

Hockey Day in Houston: http://www.hockeydayinhouston.comHouston Oil Kings Hockey Club: http://www.oilkingshockeyclub.comHouston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet: https://hockeyplayersinbusiness.org/event/hpib-hou-houston-hockey-hall-of-fame-banquet-march-20th/oh hey, the website doesn't suck as much now: www.mchockeypodcast.com - you can get sexy merch there, too.Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists for the Houston hockey fans.

Join us as we sit down with board members of WHOAH (Women's Hockey Outreach Association of Houston) to discuss women's hockey in Space City. We'll talk about their "By Women, For Women" mission and the details for Girls & Women's Hockey Day - Saturday, February 7th at Frost Town Brewing. Whether you're a seasoned skater, curious about hockey, or want to learn just enough to root for Team USA, tune in to learn how WHOAH is supporting hockey in Houston.❄️ JOIN US THIS SATURDAY ❄️ Event: Girls & Women's Hockey Day / Olympic Watch Party When: Saturday, Feb 7th @ 9:00 AM Where: Frost Town Brewing Details: Food trucks, raffles (including signed PWHL gear), and Team USA!🔗 Connect with WHOAH: Website: https://whoahhtx.wixsite.com/homeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556298042134Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoahhtx/Email: whoahhouston@gmail.comISHL PLAYERS - get your scholarship application in BY FRIDAY: https://www.ishl.org/news/houston-slapshot-scholarship-2026-score-your-futurEarly Pricing for the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame ends this Saturday - get your tickets here:https://hockeyplayersinbusiness.org/event/hpib-hou-houston-hockey-hall-of-fame-banquet-march-20th/I'll be at:Frost Town Brewing this Saturday for Girls & Women's Hockey Day (provided WHOAH says its cool for dudes to attend) - It's US Women v Finland!The Decoy on Saturday the 14th for US Men v Denmark, and the Women's QuarterfinalNick's Place on Saturday the 15th for US Men v Germany00:00 - Introductions 09:32 - Why a Women's-Only Space is Important12:54 - WHOAH Does Cool Stuff25:27 - Details on GIRL'S & WOMEN'S HOCKEY DAY ON SATURDAY35:56 - Lots of Hockey Events Coming Upoh hey, the website doesn't suck as much now: www.mchockeypodcast.com - you can get sexy merch there, too.Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists to for the Houston hockey fans.

In this special 20th episode and first-ever livestream of Mission Control: Houston's Hockey Podcast, we are joined by WHA champion and broadcasting pioneer Jack Stanfield for a deep dive into Houston’s pro hockey history. Jack shares untold stories from the 1974 Avco Cup run, reveals exactly how close the Aeros came to joining the NHL (and how that deal eventually created the New Jersey Devils), and discusses the "magic" of playing alongside Gordie Howe. We also explore his role in revolutionizing how we watch sports through the creation of regional networks like HSE, and get his expert take on the viability of bringing an NHL expansion team to Houston today.Obligatory merch page link: https://mchockeypodcast.printful.me/"The Rebel League" by Ed Willes: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/892319.The_Rebel_LeagueThe Okananagan Hockey Community Foundation: https://okanaganhockeyfoundation.com/about/Jack's episode of the Face-Off Spot Podcast: https://faceoffspotpodcast.com/episodes/episode-183-jack-stanfield/Well, I WOULD tell you to join me at the Rice / UH game, but it's sold out. No, I did not get mine.HPIB Slapshot Scholarship: https://www.ishl.org/news/houston-slapshot-scholarship-2026-score-your-futurHockey Day in Houston Info: https://www.hockeydayinhouston.com/Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Space City yet - but the fans are.Welcome to Mission Control: Houston’s Hockey Podcast — your launchpad for all things hockey in Space City. Whether you’ve been following NHL relocation rumors since 2013 or just discovered the game through the Four Nations Face-Off, this channel is for fans who believe Houston has deserved a team for a long time. We cover Houston’s hockey history, NHL expansion gossip, arena politics, and local events. With throwback stories, awkward edits, and bad attempts at humor, we’re building the fanbase before the 33rd franchise gets here. Subscribe and be part of Houston’s hockey future.

HoustonHockey, WHA, Gordie Howe, Hockey History, Hockey Podcast, Houston Aeros, NHL to Houston

Matt takes you on a Christmas hockey road trip in this episode of Mission Control: Houston’s Hockey Podcast — but not before covering key local and national headlines. We break down the final three inductees to the 2026 Houston Hockey Hall of Fame, why the $1.7B Penguins sale matters to Houston, and healthy rants about the Team USA Olympic roster snubbing Jason Robertson, Team USA's inability to produce a good-looking jersey, and retro jerseys worn by relocated teams. Why should you listen to Matt ramble about his roadtrip? Because he's making a point about arenas... why else?

00:00 A Sleep-Deprived Introduction featuring the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame

09:24 The Olympic Rosters are Out... dude, wtf?

17:50 Winnipeg's Attendance, the ECHL Strike, and Retro Jerseys

24:24 What I Did on my Winter Vacation

39:22 The Calendar - The Part you Skip to if you Don't Care about the DFW Trip

Want a Sexy T-Shirt, or other merch to-be-added? https://mchockeypodcast.printful.me/

Hockey Day in Houston Info: https://www.hockeydayinhouston.com/T

he Count Dankula clip is from his episode of Albert Dryden: https://youtu.be/z2MPzVt3Hc8?si=eGojH5d-4W3GTSW6

Hey, they JUST added Channel info on the NBC Broadcast site:https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule/sport/hockey

Sportico's Article on the Penguins Sale: https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/pittsburgh-penguins-sold-hoffmann-nhl-fenway-sports-1234868839/

Bettman on Winnipeg's Attendance Issues: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/12/12/bettman-says-winnipeg-jets-improving-attendance-still-needs-work/

Oh, and the "traditional Christmas movies" were Die Hard 1 & 2.

Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcast

Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcast

The NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your community. Mission Control exists to help build a hockey fan community in Houston.