ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ

IG: ardaocal TikTok: ardaocaltok

[ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda]

So I did a TED Talk about Hockey, Video Games, Star Wars and ESPN. If you want to check out it's here: https://t.co/UYuiVqXLgu

[ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda]

Barry Melrose meant a heck of a lot to a heck of a lot of people - he was the first analyst I worked with on NHL at ESPN and I hit the jackpot - he was incredibly kind, warm, giving, and made me feel like I truly belonged in a place that maybe didn’t want me to at times. “Head down, do the work…”

Coach was a man of routine. Every In The Crease day would start with us smoking a cigar at his little secret cigar speakeasy in Bristol (seriously it was in like an industrial yard then he’d enter a code and a humidor and poker table would appear), Outback Steakhouse (he’d get the chicken, we’d share a bloomin’ onion), then head to studio and watch pucks. Sometimes we’d be waiting to tape until 3am. Tough then, but wonderful memories now. “Hey Arda… name me any player from Saskatchewan and I’ll tell you what town they’re from”. Barry somehow always knew… and if the answer was Kelvington then the convo changed to the summer baseball league 🙌🏽 some of my favorite memories were when Boomer was in there with us. He loved Barry (who didnt). They would recite the entire roster of the 1968 Montreal Canadiens (Boomer would listen to Habs radio broadcasts from Long Island).

I will always have love in my heart for you, Barry. Thanks for all those late studio nights, those words of encouragement, all the Wendel Clark stories and putting up with me constantly bringing up that Gretzky should have been called for high sticking on Gilmour… I will smoke a cigar in your honor.

God bless Barry Melrose and his contributions to hockey. He deserves to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame and deserved for it to happen while he was alive and able to enjoy it.

I hope everyone in Heaven is loving the stories Coach is surely telling them, and they are laughing at the time ESPN organized a big bus and restaurant for a goodbye party for Barry when he took the coaching job with the Lightning but then a month of so later they booked the same bus and restaurant for a “welcome back” party.

Thank you Coach. Thank you for your passion for the game, for keeping the flame alive in America all those years, and for being the best coach and teammate I could have asked for. Thank you for all of it ❤️

[ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda]

Barry Melrose meant a heck of a lot to a heck of a lot of people - he was the first analyst I worked with on NHL at ESPN and I hit the jackpot - he was incredibly kind, warm, giving, and made me feel like I truly belonged in a place that maybe didn’t want me to at times. “Head down, do the work…”

Coach was a man of routine. Every In The Crease day would start with us smoking a cigar at his little secret cigar speakeasy in Bristol (seriously it was in like an industrial yard then he’d enter a code and a humidor and poker table would appear), Outback Steakhouse (he’d get the chicken, we’d share a bloomin’ onion), then head to studio and watch pucks. Sometimes we’d be waiting to tape until 3am. Tough then, but wonderful memories now. “Hey Arda… name me any player from Saskatchewan and I’ll tell you what town they’re from”. Barry somehow always knew… and if the answer was Kelvington then the convo changed to the summer baseball league 🙌🏽 some of my favorite memories were when Boomer was in there with us. He loved Barry (who didnt). They would recite the entire roster of the 1968 Montreal Canadiens (Boomer would listen to Habs radio broadcasts from Long Island).

I will always have love in my heart for you, Barry. Thanks for all those late studio nights, those words of encouragement, all the Wendel Clark stories and putting up with me constantly bringing up that Gretzky should have been called for high sticking on Gilmour… I will smoke a cigar in your honor.

God bless Barry Melrose and his contributions to hockey. He deserves to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame and deserved for it to happen while he was alive and able to enjoy it.

I hope everyone in Heaven is loving the stories Coach is surely telling them, and they are laughing at the time ESPN organized a big bus and restaurant for a goodbye party for Barry when he took the coaching job with the Lightning but then a month of so later they booked the same bus and restaurant for a “welcome back” party.

Thank you Coach. Thank you for your passion for the game, for keeping the flame alive in America all those years, and for being the best coach and teammate I could have asked for. Thank you for all of it ❤️

[Jonny Lazarus @JLazzy23]

Got on the ice thanks to @Arda and almost completely wiped out

Thanks to @StevenPappasTV for the video 🤣

Awesome time last night! @shoulder_check

[ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda]

@JLazzy23 @StevenPappasTV @shoulder_check I thought @GrittyNHL was gonna fight you

[Jonny Lazarus @JLazzy23]

First look and introduction for Pavel Dorofeyev as a @NYRangers.

@Arda with the pregame intros🔥

[LaughingPlace.com @laughingplace]

A #DevilWearsPrada2 pop-up has arrived at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Guests can step into Runway and even take a photo inside of Miranda's office.

[ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda]

I got let go from ESPN this morning. It’s all good, I’ll be fine. 10 years is a decent run. I think I’m just gonna take some time off before I decide what’s next. Good vibes and acts of kindness.

[Andrea DiCristoforo @DreWithESPN]

An incredible start to the #StanleyCup Playoffs across the U.S.

Great to see the entire #NHL on this rise‼️

[ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda]

@LukeLograno This was literally yesterday!!!!

[ESPN PR @ESPNPR]

A remarkable start to the '26 #StanleyCup Playoffs!

ESPN networks delivered the most-viewed First Round of the Playoffs since the new #NHL rights deal

More: https://t.co/ULNbzP6e6N

[ESPN PR @ESPNPR]

Last Saturday's #StanleyCup Playoffs Philadelphia Flyers-Carolina Hurricanes matchup on ABC delivered the most-viewed Second Round Game 1 on record‼️

#NHL

[Andrea DiCristoforo @DreWithESPN]

How DOES the Draft Lottery work?

[ESPN PR @ESPNPR]

How does the #NHLDraft Lottery work? 🤔

'25 No. 1 pick, Matthew Schaefer, & the daughters of his #Isles teammate Matt Martin break it down

🏒 Tuesday | 7p ET | ESPN
🎙️ Hosted by @Buccigross

🎥 via @NHL

[P.K. Subban @PKSubban1]

Appreciate the love! legends all around me over here! Levanator & The Messiah!

Add mentor to Steve’s Resume! Learning from Steve Levy everyday in studio has been a pleasure. “Paper & Pen” couldnt ask for a better team with he and Mess! ABSOLUTE BEAUTIES👀 😂

[ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda]

@AndrewMarchand incredible on air teammate

[ESPN PR @ESPNPR]

ESPN hits 100 BILLION views on YouTube!

Across all channels, ESPN is the first EVER sports platform to achieve this milestone

[ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda]

@SoDawsome @CanesStats I’m trolling

[Erik Johnson @6ErikJohnson]

Spencer Carbery is so good on TV. Great add to the studio on ESPN!!

[Made In Canada @MadelnCanada]

Only in Montreal do they make a Stanley Cup replica out of city construction cones 😂🔥