it's finally done! i spent a really long time on this, so please consider giving this post a like/reblog/share. please do NOT reupload to twitter, tiktok, or other public sites!
this is intended to be a reference doc containing (what i hope is) every single bit of willmack lore up until the '25-26 season! no rpf lens, no speculation, just an organized document for your enjoyment.
contains: a complete, ordered timeline, as well as a section that consolidates everything into separate events!
what you'll find: audio transcripts, video links, articles, gifs, and more (even some hockey analysis) dating all the way back to 2020!
i'll try to move everything over to tumblr eventually, but for now, you'll be able to find the complete archive in the linked doc! i promise not to delete it, but if you want to make a copy for preservation, all i ask is that you only share the original :)
highlights below the cut:
pre-nhl
8/2/20 - aap tournament final
source: youtube
will’s 05’s team beat macklin’s 06’s team 9-8
12/9/22 - chicago steel vs usntdp u18's
source: x
macklin’s chicago steel team beat will’s usntdp team 5-4 in a shootout
6/26/24 - nhl draft prospect interview (macklin)
source: youtube (timestamp, 14:23)
transcript:
reporter: how much are you looking forward to--you know, assuming the sharks are the team, just getting to san jose, getting to development camp, and meeting some of those guys--are you familiar with one or two already?
macklin: i know some of the players, like, i’ve talked to will a little bit
7/2/24 - willmack first pitch at a giants game
source: youtube
7/3/24 - development camp interview (will)
source: youtube (timestamp, 0:43)
transcript:
reporter: obviously, bc-bu, big rivalry, you and macklin aren’t skating in the same group, but i’m sure you guys have had some run-ins together, conversations off the ice, how well do you know him off the ice and just, how cool is it that you guys are on the same team now?
will: yeah, it’s pretty crazy, but i mean, we’re roommates at the hotel, so we’re around each other pretty much all day when we get back
7/4/24 - sj sharks prospects scrimmage
source: facebook
9/11/24 - rookie faceoff interview (will)
source: youtube (timestamp, 2:37)
transcript:
reporter: is there anybody that you’re most excited to kind of skate with, whether it’s this weekend or when training camp starts next week?
will: well i mean, everyone talks about how me and mack have been playing against each other, so finally being on the same team is gonna be good
9/13/24 - post-rookie faceoff interview (macklin)
source: youtube (timestamp, 1:39)
transcript:
macklin: for some reason we’ve been put together every single time for roommates, but - kind of getting sick of him, um, but no, it’s been awesome learning about - like, getting to know him and play with him
nhl
10/9/24 - pre-nhl debut interview (will)
source: nhl.com (timestamp, 1:07)
transcript:
reporter: what’s the relationship like between you and macklin right now, and also your boston ties?
will: (laughs) yeah i mean, everyone kind of knows about it now that we’re together pretty much every day, so it's pretty cool
practice shenanigans (fanvideo)
source: tumblr
pre-game sewer
source: x
willmack warmup rituals (fanvideo)
source: x
1/27/25 - the jersey bet
source: instagram
post-game interview transcript:
reporter: macklin, you had to wear will’s bc jersey on the way in, just, that - what’s the story behind that and just, how much did you not like that?
mack: yeah, i mean we made a bet, when bu and bc played, and… they uh, they swept, so i had to, uh - had to put the jersey on, which… i mean, it didn’t feel right.
reporter: did will make sure it was his, not just a -
mack: yeah, no he did. yeah, he made sure it was the one that he beat us in, yeah.
source: youtube (timestamp, 3:01)
3/3/25 - locker room interview (will)
source: x (video 3)
transcript:
interviewer: what does it send to you guys, that there are joe, patty, mike grier, ryane clowe, they’re all still involved with this organization?
will: shows how much they care about, i think, i mean even patty and joe having mack and i get to live with them, it’s something special, and just to get to pick their brains about certain things, and them questions, it’s pretty cool, and hopefully one day that mack and i can pass that down, and stick around, and you know, enjoy it.
3/22/25 - the jersey bet pt. 2
source: x
post-game interview transcript:
reporter: did you feel like you got some revenge on will today, coming into the building?
mack: (laughs) yeah, that was great. he said - he, uh, he told me that the bu jersey is better than the bc jersey, so. he said that to me. yeah, he did.
source: youtube (timestamp, 2:45)
the next day:
smith today, with a smile and a shake of the head: “that’s a complete lie.”
source: x
4/10/25 - chipotle unwrapped (macklin)
source: youtube (timestamp, 1:27)
transcript:
interviewer: you know that rivalry, bc-bu, is so huge, how tough is it for you now to be like, super close with him? after hating him for so long, and probably your teammates not liking him.
mack: yeah no, i mean… i hated him for a while, if i’m being honest. (laughs)
off-season
4/17/25 - locker clean out interview (will)
source: youtube (timestamp, 5:51)
transcript:
reporter: back then, did you really think this - your friendship could blossom this much this fast?
will: um, probably not this much to be honest, but yeah, i mean we - i think everyone knows that we were rivals before that, and i mean, we didn’t say a word to each other before that, so um, i think it’s pretty cool, and obviously now it is what it is, so
7/30/25 - halifax training video
source: x
context: macklin and will playing against sidney crosby and nathan mackinnon in summer training
...
if you're having a problem with crashing, here's a link with no gifs included:
going down the rabbit hole for my willmack master doc and found this old practice video... am i being delusional or does will say "good one, baby" after macklin scores?? (timestamp, 0:05)
somebody please tell me bc im going slightly insane
sharing some vintage willmack with you guys because theyre sooooo
(from the nhl @ the rink podcast on november 13, 2024)
transcript below the cut:
q: how are you guys different?
will: um…
q: i guess you can answer that in how you’re different as a player, and also people.
will: i mean, we’re both very competitive guys, i mean, you’re not gonna get to this point if you’re not. so i think, um, as a player, i mean, he’s very high paced, and you know, obviously you see him play. i mean, he’s pretty amazing out there, so i think, uh. i mean, as a person, he’s - he’s funny, and has a personality, and he likes to make a lot of jokes, and something - something that i like, and like to hang out with.
update on my willmack masterpost because im truly in the trenches rn... i have been audio transcribing their never offside podcast for what feels like literal days on end. i am only halfway through. i've been putting it off for so long because i knew it would be torture and it is. why do they constantly talk over each other and finish each others sentences. i am trapped in a prison of my own making
