Page 14 of The Trade Deadline
[Transcript from an Instagram Reel posted on @bmorebluecrabsnhl featuring highlights of when Ryan “RJ” Russell was mic’d up during a home game vs the Boston Militia.]
In the tunnel before the game:
RJ: You ready to get it, boys? (He bangs his chest against his linemates Jordan Foster and Pierre Laurent, then the goalie Vladislav Voronin.)
RJ: You gonna score for us tonight, Nilsy?
Lars Nilsson: I’m trying, but I broke my stick in practice today so…
RJ: Shit, that’s a new twig?
Nilsson: Yeah. I don’t like how I taped it.
RJ: Well, don’t score or you’ll have to tape it that way every time.
Nilsson, laughing: You’re just trying to stay ahead of me in goals.
RJ: Obviously.
On the ice during warm-ups:
RJ: (Singing “We Will Rock You” while skating through teammates and doing stretches. A puck shoots by his head.) Watch it!
During the game, before a face-off:
RJ: How’re the kids?
Ref: Good. One started high school last month.
RJ: For real? High school? I remember when you brought ‘em to that game a few years ago. They were both like this tall. (Holds out his hand to his chest.)
Ref: That was five years ago.
RJ: Dang. Time flies. The younger one still doing tennis?
Ref: Unfortunately. Lessons are expensive.
RJ: Cheaper than hockey, though, right?
Ref, laughing: Yes, thank fuck. You gonna line up for this face-off or what?
RJ: You gonna drop it on my side for me?
Various moments during the game while RJ is playing:
RJ, getting hit into the boards: Ow.
RJ, blocking a shot: Ow.
RJ, after trying to get an icing waved off: Ahhh I’m tired now. Shouldn’t’ve done that. Shouldn’t’ve done that. Gotta skate back. Ugh.
Joel Krew from the Boston Militia: Fuck off, Russell.
RJ: That’s not very nice. I’m mic’d up, y’know that? Everyone’s gonna hear you being mean to me.
Joel Krew: They’re gonna hear my fist hitting your face if you don’t knock it the fuck off.
RJ: Knock what off? I’m just playing. Your guy was the one whacking my stick. Tell him to knock it the beep off.
Joel Krew, laughing: Did you just say beep?
RJ: I told you, I’m mic’d up. Gotta set a good example for the kids.
Joel Krew: Is that why they picked you? You the only hockey player who doesn’t curse?
RJ: I mean, probably.
Different clips strung together of RJ on the ice and the bench:
RJ: Dang it.
RJ: Shoot.
RJ: Fridge.
RJ: What the heck was that!?
Louis Ponts from the Boston Militia: (a string of bleeped out expletives)
RJ: I think that was kinda uncalled for, but same to you, bud.
On the bench during the game:
RJ, after a save: YEAH, VORNY! He’s so talented.
RJ, after a breakaway: GO GO GO! SHO— Aww, that was a close one. Dang it. That would’ve been sick.
RJ: Look, they’re doing the wave. Look, look. It’s coming around. Get ready…now!
RJ: Sorry on that pass. I sent it too far ahead of you.
Jordan Foster: No, it was perfect. Sorry, I wasn’t going fast enough. I was gassed. My fault.
RJ: Nah, bro. I’ll get you next time.
RJ, after Nilsson scored: Heck yeah! Was that—was that off his butt?
Pierre Laurent, laughing: I think so.
RJ: Did he just score with his butt?
Laurent: That would be a helluva first goal, no?
RJ, fist bumping Nilsson as he skated along the bench: Was that off your butt?
Nilsson: It was.
RJ: Nice. You know you gotta redo that awful tape job all season now, right?