Former NHL star David Backes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
THIS IS THE GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
David Backes recently retired after a stellar 15-year career in the National Hockey League, where he became one of the fiercest competitors and most dependable teammates in the league. He spent 10 of those seasons with the St. Louis Blues, where he was named to three All-Star teams and served as captain.
Backes spent the final years of his NHL career with the Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks before announcing his retirement on Sept. 9. Backes was also a two-time Olympian, helping the U.S. to win a silver medal in 2010.
He joins the Get in the Game Podcast to reflect on his career, share his and his wife’s heart for service (particularly as it relates to animal activism), share how his faith impacted his career, and what he hopes his legacy will be.
(This interview was recorded prior to Backes’ retirement announcement.)
THIS IS THE GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
Our guest today is Fonzo Martinez, the boys basketball head coach at McKinney Christian Academy in Texas.
In 2026, Martinez led his club to the 4A state championship for the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). He joins host Scott Linebrink to talk about leadership, faith, winning and trusting in the process.
What a season, what a journey, what a team, what a BROTHERHOOD✊🏼🫡 This team was SPECIAL, and has only cemented the standard and CU1TURE of our program. Time to get in the gym, and start working for next season… we’re coming for that 🏆💍💪🏼
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 GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
Our guest today is Kevin Washington, Baylor Athletics’ associate athletic director for mission impact and enrichment. He is also the chaplain for the athletic department.
Kevin joins Scott Linebrink on the podcast to talk about his experience as a chaplain at Baylor, personal experiences on the athletic field that shaped his faith, serving others, and what he defines as true success.
