2025 AFHL Stanley Cup Finals

MEDIA DAY: Déjà vu all over again

April 7th, 2025

For the second year in a row, the Rain City Bitch Pigeons and the Laval Nomads will battle for a Stanley Cup under the bright lights this week, but first they had to survive one of fantasy hockey’s most grueling contests – Media Day.

News conferences are nothing new for elite athletes, but there is nothing quite like the Stanley Cup Finals Media Day and its relentless non-stop questions.

Here are some of the best quotes that we heard…

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QUESTION FOR RAIN CITY FORWARD CONNOR MCDAVID:

The Rain City Bitch Pigeons are the biggest dynasty in AFHL History. Your team won the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2019 and then back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2023 and 2024, crushing AFHL fans’ hopes across the country. You guys are now looking to become the first team to ever three-peat this week. How are the players on your team dealing with all the haters?

CONNOR MCDAVID:

“We’re embracing the villain role with full awareness and conviction. We know we will not have an easy matchup against Laval, but we have the belief that we are still the best team in this league given our Stanley Cup track record and diverse talent on the roster. That being said, haters are just noise. Doesn’t bother us one bit.”

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QUESTION FOR LAVAL FORWARD DYLAN LARKIN:

What is the difference between this Finals appearance and last year’s Finals appearance?

DYLAN LARKIN:

“It’s not as overwhelming as it was the first year. I think we know what we are coming into this time and it feels good to be because. But, this means nothing if we don’t win it and that’s the mentality I have this year.”

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QUESTION FOR RAIN CITY FORWARD MITCH MARNER:

You’re one of the veterans on this team. You’ve been a part of all three of Rain City’s Stanley Cup victories. How does it feel to be look up to on this squad?

MITCH MARNER:

“Yeah, it’s nice. The younger guys, and even the guys who have not won it yet, they are always asking me questions and I’m always giving them honest answers and I hope that helps them because that feeling of having this opportunity is something we all want to have at least once… if not more.”

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QUESTION FOR LAVAL DEFENSEMAN QUINN HUGHES:

What is the current hunger level for this squad to win? Several core players have been with this team for many years. Is there a pretty strong desire to finish what they have started?

QUINN HUGHES:

 “I’m not so sure they are here to finish what they started as much as it’s just they want to win. These guys really want to win, man. Everybody in this organization wants to win. Coach Alex Chau stated he wants to win badly and you’ve seen the moves that he has made the last several months and he added top-end players and key pieces throughout the time we’ve been here. These guys will do anything it takes.”

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QUESTION FOR RAIN CITY DEFENSEMAN ADAM LARSSON:

What is the strategy for dealing with Laval’s forecheck?

ADAM LARSSON:

“We know it is going to be a physical series. The Nomads come hard and they finish their checks and we’re aware of that. It’s going to be about having good first touches, getting to the puck first, and making good reads. There won’t be a single play we can rely on every time either, we’re going to have to move our feet and make reads and be smart with where we go on the first touch. They’ve always been a great forecheck team and we learned last year and got better and better dealing with it as the series went on.”

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QUESTION FOR LAVAL COACH ALEX CHAU:

What do you think about the possibility of the next word engraved on the Stanley Cup being Laval?

“It’s a lifetime achievement. You can ask anyone here, what are your dreams if you can have anything you want and winning the Stanley Cup is one of the answers. It’s what I’ve been working on for a very long time.”

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QUESTION FOR RAIN CITY COACH JASON HENLEY:

What is your mentality going into your fourth Stanley Cup Finals?

JASON HENLEY:

“Laser focus. My mindset is all about execution in the Stanley Cup Finals. I’m not thinking about the crowd, the cameras, or the moment. I’m thinking about the first play, the first read, the first hit. Every detail matters. Making sure my guys are prepared — mentally, physically, emotionally — so when we step onto that ice, there’s no hesitation. Just trust in the preparation, trust in the team, and belief that we’re going to win. Period.”