Run ’em up and fill ’em in.
The event will feel worlds away from the polished spectacle of Disney On Ice at UBS Arena later this week. Instead, the cast of the sharp‑witted Canadian hockey series “Shoresy” will be on the ice for a gritty showdown against a roster of former New York Islanders legends, including Benoit Hogue, Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck, and Matt Martin.
“They’re old‑rotten NHL guys, so I guess they’re itching to beat us,” Hogue told The Post. “I think we’re feeling the same way.”
“I’m not sure that my speed will still be up to par, but every time I get into a competition, I’ll do my best and try to win,” the 59‑year‑old Stanley Cup champion added.
The cult hit with a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes chronicles a small‑town Ontario squad battling a possible demise. The show features several ex‑professionals and has become a phenomenon so intense that its fans demanded an actual live event in their hometowns, much to the astonishment of the actors themselves.
“I was just fine with having a job,” Terry Ryan, who plays the comic forward Ted Hitchcock, remarked. “It’s surreal to see people showing up in fictional Sudbury Blueberry Bulldog jerseys at places like the Islanders’ games.”
“I never expected it to become such a global buzz—well, maybe mainly Canadian,” Ryan added, “I’m a confessed first‑round miss and an NHL footnote. A brief stint with the Montreal Canadiens in the ’90s didn’t hurt.”
Today, Ryan is on the road with creator and star Jared Keeso—better known as the fiery, foul‑mouthed player “Shoresy”—and other cast members as they take a cross‑country tour, measuring up against seasoned NHL alumni in hockey hubs such as Detroit, Boston, and Toronto.
“I didn’t foresee that I’d be playing before thousands of people again, let alone selling out NHL arenas,” Ryan reflected on the “Shoresy Classic” circuit that has also hit Los Angeles and Edmonton.
“Playing hockey games never even crossed the storyboard’s mind,” he laughed. “So it’s wild, it’s fun that we’re back doing what we always loved.”
It’s a nostalgic journey, too, as many of the “Shoresy” players remember the teams they’ll face—Ryan, for instance, still talks about the Isles days, especially the 1995 draft conversation.
He recalled then‑general manager Mike Milbury asking what he would do if he’d meet a girl ten minutes before curfew.
Ryan’s reply was to have a quick five‑minute fling and still get back on time.
“I figured he could probably take a joke,” Ryan chuckled.
“And I knew he wasn’t going to pick me… so there was a chance for me to spread my creative wings in that meeting.”
Set the tone
What’s genuinely intriguing is the roster the “Shoresy” cast will go against on Wednesday night.
The Islanders alumni lineup, guided by six‑time Stanley Cup champion Brian Trottier and playoff penalty‑shot legend Shawn Bates, also features Matt Moulson, Johnny Boychuk, Thomas Griess, and enforcers Steve Webb and Eric Cairns.
“Hopefully the young guys can make the plays, and I’ll just stay in a spot, grab the puck, and aim for an empty‑net goal,” Hogue said with a grin.
On the “Shoresy” side, former Islanders coach Ted Nolan’s sons—ex‑NHLers Brandon and Jordan Nolan—will be out on the roster. They portray two characters named Jim on the show, both known for their rough, on‑ice temperaments.
If the Nolan brothers or anyone else steps onto the ice for the actual match, Ryan said the crew is ready to hang with the best of them.
“We’ve all stayed busy and stayed in shape,” added Diaby, who grew up playing beside the Islanders’ Anthony Duclair and competing against Jonathan Drouin.
“We can still move, and our legs are still strong.”
If it heats up, Hogue and his crew are prepared for the physical side of things.
“I’m sure there’ll be a bit of bumping out there,” Hogue told The Post, a moment after deciding to join the game.
“But I’m all good with that.”
Remember, “Shoresy” streams on Hulu in the United States.
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