In this episode of The Faceoff Spot, Adam Larson welcomes back longtime friend and former WADA Hockey podcaster Jeff Fink for a wide-ranging conversation on the growth of hockey in Texas, the creative path that led Jeff from English class to sports writing, and the culture that makes adult-league hockey so special. They reminisce about MiniDiscs, Napster, street hockey gear, and the early internet, while also digging into Jeff’s time working for junior teams, learning the operations side of the sport, and rediscovering his love for playing. With reflections on community, mentorship, and the joy of simply being on the ice, it’s an episode packed with nostalgia, humor, and genuine appreciation for the sport.

0:00 – 1:25 — Introduction & Sponsor Adam Larson: Welcome back to The Faceoff Spot. This is your host, Adam Larson. Thanks for tuning into another episode. I always appreciate you guys listening. And of course, thank you to our sponsor, Play It Again Sports in Mansfield… (Sponsor pitch continues) Adam explains that he enjoys having returning guests, and introduces today's guest: Jeff Fink, “washed-up hockey podcaster,” returning after four+ years.

1:25 – 4:16 — Catching Up & Getting Older Jeff jokes about how long it has been, Adam explains he’s now married, and they both talk about getting older, wiser, and growing gray hairs (“knowledge, not stress”).

4:16 – 6:06 — Jeff’s Introduction to Hockey Jeff explains growing up in the South without hockey until the Stars arrived in 1993. Mighty Ducks movies inspired him; seeing CHL teams live fueled the passion. Eventually he bought used gear and started playing, discovering a deeper love for the sport.

6:06 – 12:16 — Becoming a Writer & Podcaster Jeff describes a Facebook ad that launched his writing career. He freelanced for Blue Sports Media, got credentials for bowl games, wrote 40–50 articles, then transitioned to covering Texas hockey. The pandemic killed the website, but during the NHL bubble he pitched starting a Texas-focused podcast: WADA Hockey. He recaps working with Jason and Pat, credits The Morning Skate, and recalls interviews (Terry Ryan, Theo Fleury). He emphasizes fan-driven journalism vs AI-generated analysis.

12:16 – 17:28 — English Class, Creativity & School Memories Adam delivers a dramatic segue asking why Jeff loved English. They bond over being poor students academically but thriving in English/creative classes. They reminisce about science fair mouse-trap cars, school TV programs, and the way creative students found outlets before everyone had iPhones.

17:28 – 19:52 — Being Creative vs Solving Problems Adam contrasts creativity with memorizing formulas; Jeff agrees. They discuss how some kids are built for engineering and math, while others were built for storytelling and creation.

19:52 – 24:45 (File 1 ends; File 2 begins) — MiniDiscs, Napster & Early Internet Life Adam brings up MiniDiscs, early piracy, Napster, LimeWire, and how destroying family computers was a rite of passage. They joke about how impossible it is to impress kids today compared to how magical early internet tech felt.

24:45 – 31:00 — Hockey Mini Sticks & Kids Being Spoiled Today Adam tells a Play It Again Sports mini-stick story; Jeff shares stories from running a rival shop. They compare old flimsy plastic mini sticks to today’s carbon-fiber ones. Jeff recalls street hockey and homemade nets built from PVC and fishing net.

31:00 – 34:40 — Men’s Leagues, Photos & Being Proud of Progress Adam jokes that every picture of Jeff looks dramatic but isolated (“What is happening here?”). Jeff explains photographers make him look better than he is, and he purposely avoids posting videos. They discuss adult players being proud of their improvements and efforts even if they started late.

34:40 – 40:45 — Hockey Community Love Letter Jeff praises the hockey community, mixture of physicality & finesse, and how the sport creates lifelong friendships. They talk about the “I started somewhere” bond, post-game beers, and the culture of chirping but loving each other.

40:45 – 45:40 — Missing Men’s League & Time Away Adam shares that he misses the “boys” and hasn’t played men’s league in three years. Jeff has drop-ins but struggles during the season due to working in hockey. Adam talks about the habit breakdown of missing a single skate → missing months.

45:40 – 49:20 — Gear Storage, airing equipment, Zamboni life Jeff now stores gear on a shelf in his garage, a built-in reminder to skate. They go on a tangent about airing equipment, rusting rivets, and shout-outs to Play It Again Sports. Jeff recounts working operations at Nytex and learning to drive a Zamboni.

49:20 – 54:30 — Jeff’s Hockey Career & Kids in the Sport He’s done social media admin, play-by-play, operations, and team support. He wishes he’d played hockey younger and talks about the financial barriers. He loves watching friends’ kids enter the sport and imagining future Fink kids.

54:30 – 57:45 — Shannon & The Moms Hockey Podcast Adam thanks Jeff for “giving Shannon the day off” to be on his show. Jeff praises Shannon for reviving WADA Hockey, adding a mom’s perspective, and helping bring energy back to the brand.

57:45 – End — The Shout-Out Adam asks for Jeff’s shout-out. Jeff: “Be good or be good at it.” He thanks friends and family for supporting him in a sport that’s unusual to pursue in the South. They wrap with banter about Texas heat giving way to hoodie weather.