Coastalthe spinoff series of Letterkennyfuses the sport of ice hockey with the fictional realm of television, casting many real-life professional hockey players and media pundits. Coastal is similar to other sports comedies, but tends to be more vulgar in tone. The Canadian series follows the Sudbury Bulldogs as they are in danger of being shut down. Happily, Shoresy (Jared Keeso) prevents this from happening by making a bet and reshaping the team to play better than ever.
The compliment was given to Coastal for portraying First Nations characters and putting female characters in charge. For some of the cast members of CoastalThis is their first acting job. This is because CoastalWith all its jokes and comedic notes, it still aims to portray a realistic ice hockey team and this is achieved by casting actors with experience in the world of sport.
11
Terry Ryan
Montreal Canadiens
Terry Ryan plays Ted Hitchcock, a player recruited to the Sudbury Bulldogs. He is a Newfoundlander, which makes him stand out among other players due to his unique way of speaking and his accent that sometimes makes it difficult to understand him. It should also be noted that Hitchcock has a particular fondness for martinis, despite his elderly vibe. Every time Shoresy introduces Hitchcock, he likes to point out that when his full name is said quickly, it sounds quite funny and vulgar.
Before he began acting, Ryan grew up playing ice hockey as a child. Later, He would win Rookie of the Year honors in 1998 after being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.. However, his time with the team was cut short due to an ankle injury. Ryan spent the next few years playing in ball hockey and senior hockey tournaments in Newfoundland, eventually entering the film industry. Before getting a role in Coastalhe appeared in Jared Keeso’s previous series, Letterkenny.
10
Jonathan-Ismaël Diaby
Jonquière Marquis
In CoastalIt can be argued that Jonathan-Ismaël Diaby plays himself as Dolo, which is an homage to his real-life nickname, JoDolo. When selecting new team members, Shoresy brings up Dolo as one of the most interesting prospects when he was called up to the NHL. However, Shoresy is quick to note that Dolo turned down the opportunity to play “the show” because he chose to follow his dream of being a rapper.
Diaby is also a rapper and was able to share his creative opinions on what songs would be used in his scenes
In 2013, Diaby was selected in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft, drafted by the Nashville Predators. The last team he played for was Jonquière Marquis, playing in defense. Mirroring his character’s artwork, Diaby is also a rapper and was able to share his creative opinions on what songs would be used in his scenes.
9
Brian McGonagle
Co-host of Spittin’ Chiclets
Brian McGonagle guest star as himself in Coastal. He is one of several personalities who appear in the opening of Coastalas a guest on the program “Quemadas Questionáveis”. He is the only non-Canadian member of the panel, and so when Shoresy’s name comes up as a strong contender for dirtiest player of all time, he is the only one who has never heard of his infamous reputation.
Outside of the show, McGonagle is a blogger with Sports stool. Alongside former National Hockey League players, McGonagle hosts the hockey podcast titled Spitting out gumlets. He is known by the nickname Rear Admiral, but more commonly simply as RA. Since the show’s inception in 2016, it has grown a large fan base and become a very popular sports podcast show due to the banter between the hosts and their NHL guests.
8
Andrew Antsanen
Kahnawake Condors
Andrew Antsanen has a recurring role as Brant “Goody” Goodleaf. Goody is another of the players Shoresy chooses to add some life and “veteran presence” for your struggling team. Shoresy enthusiastically introduces him as having been invited to “the show”, aka the pro league, and even claims that he led the league in scoring. However, he then must point out that it was actually professional lacrosse that Goody played. There’s also a running joke about Goody’s love of chicken.
Antsanen is one of many indigenous actors who star in Coastal. In addition to acting, Antsanen has previous experience in sports and as an MMA fighter. Years before CoastalAntsanen played as part of the Quebec Junior A Hockey League with the Kahnawake Condors but he didn’t play much and opted to train younger players.
7
Jonathan Torrens
Co-host of the Taggart and Torrens Podcast
Jonathan Torrens has a special role in Coastal like commentator Remy Nadeau. TThe French-Canadian commentator has a tendency to speak in his announcer voice even in everyday conversations. Similar to his character’s work, Torrens is a television personality known for a variety of jobs such as co-host Street cents and Jonovision. His closest real-life career to that of his character Remy is his co-host work on the Taggart and Torrens Podcast, on which Jeremy Taggart and Jonathan Torrens discuss a variety of topics, including sports.
Torrens is one of the few actors to play characters from both Letterkenny and Coastalas he starred in Keeso’s previous series as Noah. Ironically, Torrens’ other famous roles outside of Canada are on hit Canadian seriesas Trailer Park Boys where he plays J-Rock and Mr. where he plays director Robert Cheely.
6
Jonathan Mirasti
Binghamton Black Bears
Among the show’s ensemble are three First Nation characters, all named Jim, all played by professional ice hockey players. Jim #1 is played by Jonathan Mirasty. Not strictly hockey players, the Jims were local prison guards who were recruited into the Sudbury Bulldogs purely for their physically intimidating abilities as wrestlers. Jim #1 sells this suit the most with his enormous size, but he has a calm demeanor.
His last season he played as a left back for the Binghamton Black Bears
Before winning the role of Jim #1, Mirasty’s hockey career was extensive, as he played in several leagues, including the WHL, KHL, and AHL.. Throughout his career, he played for teams such as the Syracuse Crunch and the Fort Wayne Komets. The last season he played was as a left winger for the Binghamton Black Bears as part of the Federal Prospects Hockey League.
5
Brandon Nolan
Carolina Hurricanes
Brandon Nolan plays one of three characters who reject the notion of nicknames and insist that everyone be called “Jim.” Like the rest of the Jims, Jim #2 isn’t always seen outside of hockey scenes. He is often in the locker room before and after the game, showing his unwavering willingness to play and fight hard, while maintaining that polite demeanor that gives the Jims their reputation as a trio of “beauties.”
Nolan, a former Indigenous NHL player, had his final season with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2008. In addition to Nolan, his brother and father were NHL players, with the latter also coaching. Together, the three used their prominent surname and founded the 3NOLANS First Nation Hockey School to help Indigenous youth learn and improve the sport.
4
Jordan Nolan
Kings of Los Angeles
The last of Jim’s characters in Coastal, Jim #3, is played by Jordan Nolan. While none of the Jims are related on the show, Jordan Nolan is actually his brother in real life. Coastal Jim’s co-star and colleague, Brandon Nolan. Jim #3 stands out a little more than the other two, as he is the one who is more likely to give his opinion on matters, rather than simply giving the curt answers that the other Jims are known for.
best known for his career with the Kings, winning the Stanley Cup with the team in 2012 and 2014
Nolan’s post-hockey career is similar to his brother Brandon’s, but his previous career looked a little different. In the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Nolan was selected in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Kings. Nolan bounced between teams including the Buffalo Sabers and St. Louis Blues, but is best known for his career with the Kings, winning the Stanley Cup with the team in 2012 and 2014. Since 2021, Nolan has stopped playing the sport and started working as an employee in the Kings’ front office..
3
Tessa Bonhomme
Ohio State Buckeyes; Sports Network Reporter
As a guest, Tessa Bonhomme acts as herself. During the opening scene of the show’s first episode, Bonhomme hosts “Questionable Call,” in which he leads a panel of hockey experts in a discussion about the sport. It’s the discussion of candidates for dirtiest player in hockey history that leads to the introduction of Shoresy.
Bonhomme is a television sports reporter for The Sports Network and a former professional ice hockey player. Bonhomme had an impressive career, known for her time with the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s team, where she ended up being co-captain. She also became the 12th woman in the history of the sport to have three awards to her name: IIHF World Gold, Olympic Gold and the Clarkson Cup.. Following his ice hockey career, Bonhomme starred in a few acting projects, including the predecessor of Coastal, Letterkennylike herself.
2
Jay Onrait
TSN Sports Anchor in SC with Jay Onrait
Acting as himself, sports anchor Jay Onrait has a special role in Coastal. Like many of the other real-life hockey pundits who appear on the show, Onrait plays himself during the series’ opening moments as part of the “Questionable Call” panel. As Onrait is known for his comedic energy as a commentator, the show allows him to have some laughs on stage, as host Tessa Bonhomme seems to have an inexplicable disdain for him.
Onrait, who won the Best Sports Announcer award in 2011, has always worked in the sports industry, including his time at the NHL Network and his blog at The Sports Network (TSN). In 2017, he hosted a show called SC with Jay and Danbut after his co-host was removed from TSN, Onrait had his 2021 show called SC with Jay Onrait.
1
Jared Keeso
Strathroy Rockets
Jared Keeso plays the series’ titular character, Shore (“Shoresy”). While Keeso played the main character Wayne in Letterkenny, this show was also where he originated this character, although Shoresy’s face is never seen in Letterkenny. Although he was originally introduced as simply an annoying hockey player on the original show, Shoresy delves deeper into the character, exploring his deep love for the game and his surprising emotional side.
Before creating Letterkenny or CoastalKeeso starred in films about famous ice hockey figures
Although he is best known for his work in the entertainment industry, Keeso has experience with ice hockey, which may explain his interest in creating Coastal. When he was younger, Keeso played for the Strathroy Rockets and the Listowel Cyclones. Before creating Letterkenny or CoastalKeeso starred in films about famous ice hockey figures. So it only makes sense that he would want to ensure Coastal was as authentic as possible with the portrayal of the sport and the culture that surrounds it.
The Advantage of Using Real Hockey Players and Experts
Despite being a silly comedy, Coastal It’s a program that strives to place the audience in an authentic world and having people from that world involved in the series is a huge step forward. The show is a love letter to Canadian hockey culture, made by people who are passionate about the subject. It makes sense that they would want to fill the show with as many people who share this understanding as possible to bring authenticity.
There are probably a lot of viewers who are unfamiliar with this culture going into the series. This does not hinder the viewing experience, as Coastal still laughs like Letterkenny made for an international audience. However, Coastal gives the best insight into this world and makes the audience feel like they understand it, even if they are an outsider. This comes from artists who are comfortable with the talk, the walk and the spirit of hockey culture.
While many of these cast members are not trained actors and many make their acting debut on the series, their experience in this world is far more valuable than acting talent. With a character as strong as Shoresy in the lead role, it holds the story together while real hockey players and lovers add the flavor to make it all feel like a lived-in world.