Trent Kaese Podcast Interview
In this episode, Ken is joined by former Buffalo Sabres draft pick Trent Casey, a name fondly remembered by UK fans from his time with the Peterborough Pirates, Milton Keynes Kings, and later Blackburn Hawks.
Trent takes us back to his roots in Nanaimo, British Columbia, growing up just a ferry ride from Vancouver. He reflects on juggling soccer and hockey as a youngster before choosing the rink for good—partly because skating beat running any day of the week.
The conversation moves to the build-up to the 1985 NHL Draft, when scouts and GMs began circling. Drafted by Buffalo at just 18, Trent suddenly found himself at NHL camp alongside legends, including a brilliant “only in hockey” moment when Scotty Bowman called him into the office—not for a lecture, but to talk fishing back home in Nanaimo.
One of the most powerful sections of the episode covers the tragic Swift Current Broncos bus crash. Trent explains how close he was to the group, how fate meant he wasn’t on the bus, and the heartbreaking confusion that followed when his family received condolence calls due to a mistaken identity. He also reflects on how the 2018 Humboldt Broncos tragedy brought those memories sharply back.
Trent’s NHL career included just one game—but it’s a moment etched forever. He recalls the shock call-up, hanging up the phone thinking it was a prank, and skating against the Quebec Nordiques on 25 March 1989, including an unforgettable warm-up moment when Joe Sakic skated over to welcome him. Five shots on goal, one game—and a lifetime memory.
UK hockey fans will love the next chapter. A conversation with teammate Danny Shea led Trent across the Atlantic, joining Rocky Sagan in Peterborough. He talks about culture shock, passionate Pirates supporters, hostile away rinks, and the intensity of import battles—especially trips to places like Durham and Whitley Bay.
Highlights include the Pirates’ club-best third-place league finish, the unforgettable Wembley Playoff weekend, a famous semi-final win over the Cardiff Devils, and the next-day showdown with the Grand Slam-chasing Durham Wasps.
Trent also speaks honestly about the realities of the game—being released, moving teams, promotion success with Milton Keynes, a wild comeback against Telford Tigers, and finishing his UK career in Blackburn. Off the ice, meeting Jackie in Peterborough would change everything, leading to a return home and a new chapter in life.
Post-hockey, Trent and his family built and ran a golf course on Vancouver Island, turning raw land into a full operation—while still keeping hockey close with relaxed weekly skates.
The episode is packed with laughs too, from dressing-room pranks to a surreal visit with Keith Gretzky that ended with Trent standing in a room full of Wayne Gretzky’s trophies—nearly kicking one in the dark.
A warm, honest, and often very funny conversation, blending NHL moments, UK rink nostalgia, and the human stories behind a career that took Trent from Vancouver Island to Wembley… and back again.