10 SUNDAY THINGS FOR TITAN AUTO
1 – THANKS NHL!: We here in Saskatchewan will forever be in debt to the NHL for the (no small) feat of bringing the 2019 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic to Mosaic Stadium in Regina. Saturday’s spectacle was announced as a sellout at 33,518 and fans agreed that the Winnipeg Jets’ 2-1 OT win over the Calgary Flames was a great game. Was it cold? No different that any other occasion of skating outdoors, when it’s nippy enough to make you cover your ears. Actually, it was perfect.
2 – QUOTABLE: The NHL types seemed genuinely pleased to be here. Commissioner Gary Bettman said at Friday’s Legacy Luncheon at the International Trade Centre, “This is a place where hockey matters and we like to be where hockey matters.” Hockey Night In Canada host Ron MacLean told us at a reception Friday evening, “This doesn’t feel like a neutral site game. This province really loves the NHL.” On the broadcast in the third period, CBC’s Craig Simpson pointed out “In the bars and restaurants, the TVs weren’t on the World Series. They’re on the NHL and CFL. That’s Saskatchewan for you.” Indeed.
3 – MORE: The Jets’ Bryan Little and the Flames’ Mathew Tkachuk both raved about the event on the broadcast, saying the ice was perfect and the conditions were a dream. Not too warm, not too cold. On CBC’s After Hours, Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said “With the fireworks, the flyover, and the atmosphere, for a Canadian kid this is as good as it gets.” He further quipped, ‘The only way to top it might be if it was December 24 and Santa Claus went blazing over the stadium!”
4 – NHL TEAM IN SASK: I suggest we stop talking about it because I don’t believe it’ll ever happen. We’re just getting our hopes up for a letdown. Definitely some big-thinkers will poo-poo that take and it says here there will always be some guys with deep pockets in the 306 who will try to make it happen. (My Mom would’ve said “guys with more money than brains”). However there just aren’t the corporate dollars here and I can’t see 15,000 people driving from all corners of the province 41 times per year on bad roads. Plus, I like NHL road trips. If we got a team, we’d have no reason to go anywhere!
5 – BUT…: We still are very much in favour of a new 15,000-seat arena in Saskatoon and that movement is rolling big-time. The movers and shakers told me last week that they envision a new arena in 7-8 years in the Bridge City, and the conversation needs to start now. The Saskatchewan Rush need a house that big, and owner Bruce Urban has already pledged some dough. Saskatoon’s shown that the top music acts will stop there with an adequate facility. And thennnnnnn, with a 15,000-seat arena, you wouldn’t be closing the door on the arrival of an NHL team if the impossible happened. As famed CFL coach Gary Etcheverry is fond of saying, “Never is a long time.”
6 – BOOMIN’: My figures are totally rough, but I’ve heard reports that the Garth Brooks concerts in August generated $20-million for Regina and the Heritage Classic is bringing in around $10-million. That’s $30-million in hotels, restaurants, gas, you-name-it, in less than 90 days. And yet Halifax civic officials say a new stadium there isn’t a wise investment for their citizens. Ooookay.
7 – SPEAKING OF: The Halifax stadium debate is definitely turning into a political football but if the project fails (and we should know either way by December), Concordia University economics professor Moshe Lander says it’s the fault of the Schooners owners. “(The owners) keep missing out on opportunities to try to legitimately sell this to the public and get them on-side,” Lander told News 97.5 radio in Halifax. “If this fails it’s going to be because the ownership group just completely fumbled a gift that was handed to them. If you’re going to name the team, at least start trying to brand it into the city’s consciousness.”
I’ve only been saying this for close to a year.
8 – RIDERS WON: We only caught 20-or-so snaps of the Roughriders’ 27-24 win at Edmonton on Saturday afternoon but it was comical watching the running commentary from fans and pundits on Twitter and Facebook. “This isn’t how a first-place team plays!” someone wrote, while another added, “Did the Rider D-line know there was a game today?” And then we got word the Riders pulled it out on another walk-off field goal by Brett Lauther after a game-winning drive by one Cody Fajardo. At 12-5, it’s clear this team is special and has championship qualities. But there are 4 other CFL teams who feel the same way about their club. November’s going to be a thrill.
9 – C.O.T.Y.: The five teams who feel they are special are – Sask, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton and Montreal. Maybe Edmonton does too. But it’s definitely a 5-way race for Coach of the Year between Craig Dickenson, Dave Dickenson, Mike O’Shea, Orlondo Steinauer and Khari Jones. Folks, it’s neck-and-neck. So really the only way to decide is to see who’s the last one standing on the podium at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium on November 24.
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Where can I buy a full length fur coat? It’s for me. … Terry Jones’ column in the Edmonton Sun previewing the Riders-Esks game bemoaned the fact there was “no buzz” leading up to Saturday’s clash of West Division rivals. He mentioned “no buzz” several times in the article. What a pity. Hope they find some. … 29,228 was the attendance figure at Commonwealth Stadium. That’s not too shabby. … Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros did a nice job of shoving it down our throats in Friday’s 29-28 win over Calgary. I’m more than happy to eat my words if Zach pulls this off. Ergo, I see a QB controversy unfolding in The ‘Peg. … The Rod Pedersen Show‘s ratings are skyrocketing in Winnipeg. We have the data. I know … I can’t figure it out either. … By the way, the Winnipeg Jets are on the rise to becoming the #1 NHL team in Sask. That crown is currently held by the Edmonton Oilers but it’s slipping, I sense. … CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie was in Regina on Tuesday as the guest speaker at the RCMP Regimental Dinner. It would’ve been great if he’d held a media availability! Either way, Military personnel in attendance say Commissioner Ambrosie had some nice things to say about yours truly so thank you very much Randy! … By the way his keynote topics were his life story, leadership, and his vision for the CFL and CFL 2.0. … My take: The #1 day in Sask sports history was the 2013 Grey Cup. #2 was the Heritage Classic. What’s #3? … Happy Hallow’een.
Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen
#3 Sask Sports moment is Brooke Henderson’s win last summer.
Announced attendance in Edmonton was far greater than actually attendees. No more than 20,000 in the park and without the Rider fans they would have only had 10-15 thousand.
I used to be in the Flat Earth society but we all can change. Based on those pipelines not going through and a myriad of other issues I voted PC for first time in 25 years. Build stadiums and rinks as we need that stuff because the events are so much fun. I can’t even fathom how I sat in the old Mosaic Stadium compared to what we have now. Here is how I know Regina is the place to be and Saskatoon which I do get up there is a very close second. I didn’t get to the Heritage… Read more »
Warning with question!
Who here in Southern Saskatchewan or anywhere else has misgivings using the upcoming slanted one way bridges (open this week) on the Regina bypass in slick dead of winter conditions? Snow drifting in plugging, icing up the road surface already and they aren’t even open to the general public just yet. Pouring tons of road salt on the surface not the answer. Stay safe, slow down everyone.
Go Pat’s Go.
It may be fair to say the Schooners ownership fumbled a gift but virtually everywhere municipalities are begging organizations to move to their community. Perhaps the city of Halifax isn’t national class, it’s a beautiful city but perhaps it’s regional class. In Saskatchewan we keep talking about the possibility of an NHL team, I agree it won’t happen. What is Halifax waiting for if not the CFL.
It’s ironic that you say SK is becoming a Jets province while many of us in MB remain loyal Oilers fans. I guess it’s the Wpg Jets not the MB Jets (nor the MB Bombers.)
The same owners that stalemated the Arizona Coyotes and announced a new arena that never was actually happening.
Why did we ever think they were smart enough to run a CFL team. Shame on us.
‘On the broadcast in the third period, CBC’s Craig Simpson pointed out “In the bars and restaurants, the TVs weren’t on the World Series. They’re on the NHL and CFL. That’s Saskatchewan for you.”’
Is there actually a place in Canada where baseball is a bigger deal right now than hockey and football? Even the Americans don’t seem all that whipped up about the World Series.
The Heritage Classic was spectacular but I didn’t find it to be a great game. A low scoring hockey game is always a bit boring for me. Also the sight lines were poor and it was hard to get into the game being seated so far away from the playing surface. I’m glad I went this time but will not want to spend that sort of money again watching a hockey game from such a distance.
Sask sports day #3 – May 1989, Swift Current Broncos win the Memorial Cup in overtime in Saskatoon.