Hockey Night at the Puck & Pickle Pub

I'm not much of a hockey fan, but the chemistry and camaraderie between these two was infectious. I laughed more than I thought I would for a subject I'm not super passionate about, and the whole crowd getting rowdy and involved made it even more of a fun time.

I’m not sure how it would play to a non hockey audience but for a hockey fan it was like the first night of the Stanley Cup playoffs. We were brought right back to watching the game, cheering the goals, booing the opponents, complaining about the refs, complaining about how hockey has changed, highlighting our favorite players and quizzing each other about greatest nicknames , scorers goalies and defensemen.

For the most part side it was splittingly funny with some great ad libs and they also mentioned 5. New Jersey Devils and some other less accomplished players.

This show is so much fun, and it is easy to see the two actors are having a lot of fun too. They play “themselves” as two friends in a pub watching an important game on the big screen. But they also play a zany cast of others, including two feuding TV sportscasters, an old pair of fans, a couple of cougars, a pair of lovers and more. They also play with the fact they are in the outdoor picnic pavilion with people poking their head in to see what’s going on, geese flying low overhead, and during the performance I was at, a squirrel who may have been chewing on the speaker wires, prompting one of the performers to ask the audience if we had been watching the squirrel instead of them all along.

I picked this show to see for my husband, who is a huge hockey fan, and I was surprised at how much I loved it! From start to finish, it had me in stitches.

I laughed the entire way through. Some of the best parts were when they went off script and out of character—just flubbing lines or riffing in character, and the audience roared with laughter. Those unscripted moments felt spontaneous and absolutely hilarious.

Highly recommend this show to hockey fans, comedy lovers, or anyone who just wants a joyful, high-energy escape.

Solid hockey stats. Love the borderline inappropriate jokes. Great night out at puck and pickle pub!

There is so much to love about this show regardless if you know a thing about Hockey.... the chemistry between Jon Paterson & Ryan Gladstone is so strong and they banter and riff effortlessly and hilariously from one character to the next.

It is worth it to be able to act like you are at a sports game instead of a theatre. If you are a hockey lover or sports geek... THIS SHOW IS FOR YOU. If you like great acting & stellar chemistry between artists that have been friends for ages... THIS SHOW IS FOR YOU.

Absolutely Hilarious from start to end. 100% would recommend to any sports fans or those who love comedy’s. Great characters created and well put together!!

Hockey Night at the Puck and Pickle Pub delivers a knockout performance to a packed house of 260, and it’s every bit the crowd-pleaser you'd hope for. This dynamic two-man show showcases top-tier talent and dishes out laughs that go far beyond expectations. From the opening moment to the final curtain, the energy never dips—keeping the audience riveted throughout. Their exceptional performance earned a well-deserved standing ovation. For Canadian hockey fans, this isn’t just a show—it’s a rite of passage.

Not just for hockey fans!

A Hockey Night at the Puck & Pickle Pub review by Andrea Noga (Alberta Youth Theatre Collective)

If you’re a Canadian excited by the announcement that NHL players will henceforth be permitted to play in the Olympics, this might be the show for you. Also if you’re just Canadian, this might be the show for you.

Hockey Night at the Puck & Pickle Pub imagines the 2026 gold medal Olympic match between the United States and Canada, McDavid and Matthews head to head in a game watched around the country. The show takes place in the title pub, with two actors (Ryan Gladstone and Jon Paterson, with Gladstone as the sole writer as well) playing a variety of different pairs of pub customers. From themselves, to crass older ladies, to statistic obsessed hockey nerds, the pair of actors demonstrate a keen comedic range in a show that will keep you laughing throughout.

The show is in constant movement between characters– to the point that the actors have to keep a cheat sheet onstage to remember which pair of characters they’re switching between. They stay on track mostly, with a few mistakes here and there that are more funny than awkward. The actors offer clear physical choices that help differentiate the many characters, and add an extra comedic dimension. Gladstone and Paterson work well as a duo, operating on the same wavelength and being completely attuned to the other’s timing and nuances. They are well matched and make the other’s performance better, and the individual performances were pretty good to begin with.

Though where Hockey Night really sings is in the script. While both actors are equipped with strong comedic reflexes, the actual jokes on the page are smart and well crafted. For what is mainly a sketch show, Gladstone’s narrative commitment and comedic follow through is impressive. Jokes pay off right when they need to, and none of the characters overstay their welcome. The joke to laugh ratio is impressive, and the sheer number of jokes which hit would challenge for a Fringe 2025 record. For a relatively simple premise, Gladstone milks it for all that its worth, and it is worth quite a lot.

If you’re worried about not getting the references, don’t be. Sure, hockey history and key players are discussed throughout, however the show is not just some display of jock jargon. Fellow hockey fans will enjoy some of the deep cuts brought up, however the comedy in the show comes largely from character dynamics and wacky situations– which can be enjoyed by anyone, hockey fan or not. No matter your Fringe tastes (or taste in sports), this is a quintessentially Canadian show that is bound to make anyone laugh eventually.

Hockey Night at the Puck & Pickle Pub plays at the Campus Saint-Jean Auditorium.

Very energetic show! My husband knows all the hockey trivia, so he got way more out of that. I enjoyed all the morphing between fan characters. Both men were hilarious and you could tell they were having fun with each other. Lots of laughs!

OMG! it's literally a laugh a minute, cannot recommend it enough. Fast-paced, high energy and absolutely hilarious. 5 stars!

loved the characters they created in their bar, would definitely watch again. if you know anything about our Canadian pastime,it's a must see.!!