THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
WITH JASON ROMANO, FEATURING JACCOB SLAVIN
Jaccob Slavin is an All-Star defenseman with the Carolina Hurricanes. He was selected by Carolina in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft after a collegiate career at Colorado College (in Colorado Springs), and made his NHL debut on Nov. 20, 2015.
In 2017, Slavin signed a seven-year contract extension with the Hurricanes, and in 2020 was named to his first All-Star team. One year later, he won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy presented each year to the “player to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” In 2024, he won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for a second time, and in July he signed a new eight-year contract to remain with Carolina until 2033.
Today on the podcast, we welcome back Jaccob Slavin to share about signing his new contract, stability in Raleigh with the Hurricanes, and sharing the Gospel with his teammates.
Josiah (left) and Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes, April 11, 2026. (Photo via X/@Canes)
Not a bad week for star Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin.
On Tuesday, he put home an overtime game-winner for Carolina’s 50th win of the season, just the fifth 50-win season in franchise history. It marked his first goal of the season. As a defenseman, he doesn’t typically add a ton of offense for the Hurricanes, but injuries have limited him to only 39 games this season, the fewest of his 11-year career.
On Thursday, the 31-year-old was given a night off to rest as the Canes played in Chicago, but a Slavin was still on the ice. Jaccob’s 27-year-old younger brother, Josiah, made his debut for Carolina. It was his first NHL action since 2022, when he played for Chicago.
Then on Friday, the Hurricanes announced that Jaccob had been named the team’s nominee for the 2025-26 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which honors the player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” Jaccob has long been active in supporting organizations such as International Justice Mission, Compassion International, the Raleigh Dream Center, the Raleigh Rescue Mission, and the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation.
But Saturday was the ultimate highlight. Jaccob was back in action, as was Josiah, and for the first time in the NHL, the brothers took the ice for the same team.
“Just pure joy,” Jaccob said during a first-intermission interview. “I mean, obviously, growing up together, played a lot of mini sticks together, played a lot of backyard hockey together. But, to finally be able to be here in the NHL with him — that’s just joy. It’s awesome — thankful for this opportunity.”
“It’s been nothing but awesome,” Josiah said. “I mean, he’s been five years older than me, so I’ve been catching up pretty much my whole life. Just to get this opportunity is nothing but special.”
"Close-knit family, we all love Jesus, and we're just happy to be here together" Both Jaccob and Josiah Slavin joined to discuss things in a very special first intermission interview#CarolinaCulture#TusksUp#NHLpic.twitter.com/wGHzuOMRxg
Jaccob tallied an assist in 26 minutes, 54 seconds of ice time, while Josiah, a left wing, logged 14:04 as Carolina defeated the Mammoth in Utah, 4-1, for its 52nd win of the year. Heading into Monday’s matchups, the Hurricanes own the best record in the Eastern Conference (52-22-6).
Their parents, Robert and Wendi, and older sister, Jordan, also traveled to Utah to take in the special moment in person, though brothers Justin and Jeremiah were unable to make the trip.
“We have a close-knit family,” Jaccob said. “We all love Jesus, and we’re just happy to be here together.”
Robert echoed those thoughts when he and his wife were interviewed for the Canes’ broadcast as well.
“Five kids that love the Lord and they’re always there for each other, no matter what happens,” Robert said.
Josiah’s time with Carolina was short-lived, however, as he was sent on Sunday back to the Chicago Wolves, the minor league affiliate of the Hurricanes. In 66 games this season with the Wolves, he has registered 25 points (six goals, 19 assists).
No matter where he’s playing, though, Josiah will continue pointing teammates to the Lord. He said in December that he’s leading a discipleship group amongst the Wolves, and they have up to 13 guys attending the team chapels, with five or six also going to church together when their schedule allows.
Undoubtedly, he’s taken a cue from his older brother, who’s long been one of the most outspoken Christ-followers in the NHL. With the platform Jaccob’s been given through hockey, even his time with the recent U.S. Olympic hockey team, he’s given glory to God.
He suffered a lower-body injury in preseason training that forced him to miss 29 regular-season games. He came back for two games before an upper-body injury knocked him out for another 10 games. For a time, it was questionable whether he’d be able to play in the Olympics.
“I just look at it with gratitude,” he said in February, after Team USA won gold. “… Just thankful for God, and protecting me while I was over there, but also through this season with the injuries that I had at the beginning of the year. Just trusting His timing with it all, and getting to a spot where I was healthy enough to go and play. So, again, I look at it with gratitude.”
In March, Jaccob returned to the Sports Spectrum Podcast and touched on the mantra many athletes say about praising God in the good and the bad. He was asked about why we should do that.
“I think the biggest reason why, as a Christian athlete, is we look at what Jesus did on the cross,” Jaccob said. “Going into a game, we know that we are sinners saved by grace. So we’re playing from the identity of, ‘All right, I’m out here as a chosen vessel of God to glorify God.’ And whether you’re in the office working, whether it’s a sport you’re playing, whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, that is where God has you, so you’re going to do your work for God’s glory. So the reason why is because He’s worthy of it.
“One thing I’ve always prayed before games is: Christ died for me so I’m going to play for Him. If He was willing to give His life for me, I feel like the least I can do is play for Him with the platform He’s given me, the abilities He’s given me, and really just glorify and honor Him through the sport of hockey, or through loving my wife, parenting my kids, whatever it is.”
With two games remaining in the regular season, Slavin and the Hurricanes are looking to match the franchise-best win total of 54.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING DAVID POLLACK
David Pollack is a former University of Georgia All-American linebacker, who was a first-round draft pick in 2005 by the Cincinnati Bengals. After his playing career, he spent more than a decade at ESPN as a college football analyst. He is also the co-host of the “Family Goals” podcast and the host of the “See Ball Get Ball” podcast.
Today on Sports Spectrum, we welcome David Pollack back to the show as he provides an update on his wife’s battle with brain cancer, trusting God in the storms of life, his just-released book “Every Day Counts,” and the 2026 NFL Draft.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING JAMEIS WINSTON
Jameis Winston is an NFL quarterback who played the 2025 season with the New York Giants. He was originally selected No. 1 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and after five seasons with Tampa moved to New Orleans, where he spent the next four seasons with the Saints. In 2024, he signed a one-year deal with Cleveland, and in 2025, he signed a two-year deal with New York.
In college, Winston was the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, and a few weeks later led his Florida State Seminoles to a BCS National Championship victory over Auburn.
Today on the podcast, Jameis Winston is back on the show for an inspiring and wide-ranging conversation about faith, football, his surprising receiving touchdown last season, and how much longer he plans to compete at the highest level of the NFL. A powerful and candid discussion between Winston and host Matt Forte.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING FRANK KAMINSKY
Frank Kaminsky played eight NBA seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets, and is currently playing with Alvark Tokyo of the Japanese League.
He was selected ninth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by Charlotte after a stellar college career at Wisconsin, where he was the 2015 Naismith College Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American. He led the Badgers to the Final Four twice (2014, 2015) and advanced to the national championship game in 2015 before losing to Duke, 68-63.
Today on the podcast, host Matt Forte talks to Frank Kaminsky about his love for the Chicago Bears (Matt’s former team), the phone call he got from Michael Jordan, playing in two Final Fours, growing in his faith, and becoming a dad.
