Episode 98 is a heater — we’re joined by Al Iafrate, one of the baddest blue-liners to ever lean into a slap shot. We talk old-school NHL vs today’s game, fighting, toughness, and why guys like Al could play big minutes and answer the bell.

Al breaks down the hardest shot arms race, how power plays were run when defensemen actually shot to hurt feelings, and why the game was built on finishing checks, protecting teammates, and earning respect between the whistles. Plenty of stories about rivalries, refs, legendary barns, Olympic pride, and the locker-room culture that made teams tight.

Plus they talk about Mark Riley and Josh Dolan getting their asses handed to them in Montana at Kevan Miller’s place, watching Al casually hike past them on a Rocky Mountain in flip flops like it’s a Tuesday morning skate. No water, no whining, just straight veteran grit.

The boys are joined by 1/3 of The Jims, Jon Mirasty — former enforcer, absolute beauty, and a guy who’s lived the parts of hockey most people only chirp about from the couch.

We get into the real stuff: locker-room brotherhood, growing up in the game, playing overseas in the KHL, and what it’s actually like being that guy when things boil over. Mirasty talks fighting, respect, culture shock, language barriers, and why the enforcer role doesn’t end when the skates come off.

We also dive into his time on Shoresy, what that experience was really like, and how close that show hits to real hockey culture — not the Hollywood version. That leads into a great story about the Boston Bruins Alumni vs. Shoresy cast game at TD Garden — with Mark Riley reffing the game and Josh Dolan up in the booth doing play-by-play. Absolute circus. Electric building. One for the memory bank.

From there it opens up:

• the mental side of being the tough guy

• transitioning from hockey to MMA

• protecting the game and the room

• leadership, accountability, and earning your keep

• empowering kids in his community to stand on their own two feet

There’s plenty of laughs too — chirps about sports media, fake toughness, and the difference between how hockey looks on TV versus how it’s actually lived. No PR spin. No nonsense. Just honest talk with someone who’s been in the fire.

Lace ‘em up and get in the barn.

We were down at Harmon Golf in Rockland, MA — unreal setup, private club, golf + fitness, big-league vibes — and the chirps were FLYING. We had Lou Merloni in the barn… former Boston Red Sox, longtime WEEI voice, and NESN guy. Hometown kid from Framingham who actually lived the dream.

Lou walked us through his first game at Fenway, the ENTIRE city of Framingham showing up like it was a holiday, what it was really like wearing the Sox across your chest, and what life in Boston sports media is like behind the scenes. We could’ve kept him for three periods — absolute beauty.

Safe to say… Chirping Zebras is on a serious heater right now. 🔥🦓