10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking Shots …

1 – BECAUSE IT’S THE CUP: Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night in Las Vegas was a good news/bad news sort of deal. The good news is the real Golden Knights showed up. The bad news, unfortunately, is that the real Florida Panthers showed up too. What I mean by that is, the Cinderella story, Team of Destiny Panthers were nowhere to be found in a game where the “heavy” Golden Knights steamrolled their opponents on the way to a decisive 6-2 victory. Two goalposts and Nick Cousins being robbed by Vegas goalie Adin Hill of a tap-in, go-ahead goal in the second period aren’t something the Cats have been accustomed to in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

And with four minutes to go and the game out of hand, NHL darling Matthew Tkachuk sucker-punched Vegas forward Nicholas Hague, and was slapped with 14 minutes in penalties and was able to hit the showers early.

A forgettable debut in the Cup Final. But it’s only one game and Panthers coach Paul Maurice has 48 hours to prepare his team for Game 2. At least rust wasn’t a problem for Florida, who’d been off for 10 days. They scored first and were sharp for 40 minutes. But the game is 60 minutes long.

2 – COACHING CAROUSEL: News came out of the Memorial Cup, of all places, that Mike Babcock is set to come out of retirement and be named head coach of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. Surprised? Not really. However I’d heard Mike’s plans were to retire. His goal was always to retire at age 60 and at the time he was 59, with not much else to accomplish and more money than he could ever spend. And now the Blue Jackets have come calling. … I’ve seen it a million times; just when you think you’re finished with something, entirely, the next opportunity presents itself. … The other curious situation is that of Patrick Roy. The NHL icon will, reportedly, coach his last QMJHL game Sunday when his Quebec Remparts take on the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Memorial Cup final in Kamloops. Roy’s let it be known that he’s handing the reins of the Remparts over to Simon Gagne. However the last I’d heard (yesterday), Roy didn’t have an NHL opportunity locked down yet. However my guess is it’ll be the New York Rangers.

3 – MEM CUP: The folks in Kamloops tell me they’re still smarting over their Blazers blowing a 4-1 lead in Thursday’s tiebreaker, and losing 5-4 in overtime to the Peterborough Petes in their own building. Those gaffes stay with you for a lifetime. (i.e. A weak overtime goal against by the Pats in the 2001 Memorial Cup semifinal in Regina, or the 13th Man in the 2009 Grey Cup). In Kamloops, they’re not used to that stuff. If you want the name of a good counsellor, I know a few. Otherwise, we in Regina know the feeling, and have the scars to prove it. … So Seattle faces Quebec City in the championship at 7 pm ET Sunday on TSN. What a story. I’ll be rooting for the T-Birds, who’ve never won the Memmer. … It’s also the last game as Thunderbirds head scout for Regina’s Cal Filson, who’s accepted a full-time scouting position with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. Yes, Chicago, the same team which will draft Connor Bedard #1 in the NHL Draft later this month. Life’s about timing …

4 – SPEAKING OF: I didn’t know how or where else to point this point so I thought I’d ball it all up into one — The RP Show, who celebrated its 4-year birthday on Saturday and recently passed 1,000 episodes — was graciously accredited by the National Hockey League to cover all seven games of the Stanley Cup Final. However with the series schedule being backed up to June 3, it ran interference on our show dates already scheduled for Canada, and CFL coverage! The good news is I’ll be able to take in the games in Sunrise, FL and then will be in Edmonton in time for the Week 1 CFL game between the Elks and Roughriders. If you can believe, the NHL graciously said, “Do what’s best for you.” IMAGINE!

5 – RIDERS: Most CFL markets are brimming with optimism coming out of the preseason, especially Saskatchewan. The Roughriders went 2-0 in exhibition games for the first time since 2007, as was pointed out by Rider historian and team writer Rob Vanstone. Of course we all know the preseason is a mirage (the 2008 NFL Detroit Lions went 4-0 in the preseason before going 0-16 in the regular year), but if you were the Riders, why wouldn’t you be optimistic? They won their games, the QBs looked sharp, they allowed only one sack against Winnipeg Friday night and took only one penalty. It’s only preseason, yes, but they played well and have nothing to apologize for. 

6 – ONCE AN ELK … : Meanwhile in Edmonton the Elks were 0-2 in the preseason and that, frankly, doesn’t mean anything either. Are you gonna bet against a Chris Jones team? I’m not. Regardless, it appears the Green & Gold are still smarting from years past as they get set to host Saskatchewan one week from today in a 7 pm start at Commonwealth Stadium. They still haven’t won a home game under the name “Elks”. This one should be a dandy, and I’m excited to be there!

7A – ONE CLICK AND YOU’RE THERE!: Saskatchewan at Calgary football games at McMahon Stadium are always special! Please make plans to join us June 24 in the Foothills for the inaugural RP Show Summer Football Road Trip presented by Woody’s RV World and Engelheim. Your entire summer getaway plans are covered with this offer! The trip includes round-trip charter transportation by Engelheim from Regina-to-Calgary (stopping in Saskatoon if necessary), two nights at the Euro-chic Hotel Clique Calgary Airport, complimentary breakfasts, pre & postgame parties hosted by Sask alumni and me, and of course a game ticket. The deadline is approaching so please reserve your seats today! ONE CLICK AND YOU’RE THERE >> Eventbrite.ca

7B – DASH TOURS: After decades working in the sports media in Regina and Saskatchewan, do you think I might’ve had A LOT to do with the legendary Dave Ash of Dash Tours???? One time we were doing a live draw on CKRM for a trip to Grey Cup. In the commercial just before we went to air in the CKRM studio, Dave looked at me and said, “Are we doing this legit?”

A little bit of me died that day.

8 – OTHER CFL STUFF: Week 1 of the 2023 season kicks off Thursday with BC at Calgary. On Friday, Hamilton is at Winnipeg. On Saturday, Ottawa is at Montreal. … This is the perfect schedule, with a game per night. It remains that way for the first five weeks which takes us well into the summer. Bravo schedule makers! Now, about the lack of a return of Bo Levi to Calgary and Cody to Sask. …. Cody Fajardo looked sharp in the early stages of Friday’s 25-22 Montreal home win over Hamilton. By that I mean, he did, but was victimized by a snap over his head and some drops. However Cody shook them off and never looked rattled. … Last I heard, QB Jeremiah Masoli’s status to start Week 1 for the the Ottawa RedBlacks is cloudy. For that, you can thank Garret Marino. … The BC Lions look sharp and above all, confident. Vernon Adams Jr. tossed three touchdowns in the Lions’ 26-22 home win over Calgary on Thursday night. However Stampeders #1 QB Jake Maier didn’t play. … Like I said, the preseason is a mirage, in any league. … Can’t speak for why the CFL stats are screwed up on the league’s official website. On the mornings after games, I wake up with a complete statistical rundown from each game via email from the league. No complaints here! Very lucky. Hopefully they get it figured it.

9 – CEBL: I call the Canadian Elite Basketball League our “start-up cousin” to the RP Show. We both debuted in 2019, so both are beginning Year 5. Remarkably, people are still only finding us both now. Regardless, we’ve been following Canada’s pro basketball league from Day 1 and they really seem to be getting a foothold from coast-to-coast. The crowds have been great! Over 7,000 fans turned out to the Winnipeg Sea Bears debut at Canada Life Centre last week. Their league staffers have said our show and this website are some of the few in the media who give them coverage but fans are finding them somehow! The CEBL has been doing exemplary work from their team and league websites from Day 1 and you can follow it all here: CEBL.ca.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Excited to speak to the Sheldon-Williams Collegiate Grade 9 Health class this week about Addiction prevention. Thanks Mr. Dufour for the opportunity! … Also excited to speak to the Saskatchewan Angus Association this upcoming weekend. Sports stories to entertain the ranchers! … Can’t tell you how much I enjoy watching the Golden Girls on Hulu. … You wanna know why? Because it reminds me of the mid-1980s when I was in my early teens, and was home Saturday nights watching TV with my Mom and if it wasn’t seeding or harvest, Dad would be watching with us too. The Golden Girls came on at 9:00 pm on Saturday nights. It was probably – no, definitely – the best time of my life. The show takes me back there every time. … The flavour Cookies ‘N Cream is nothing more than the cheap cousin of Birthday Cake. … Does wearing two watches make you crazy? … If you’re struggling and feel you could benefit from some one-on-one Mental Health coaching, contact me at PedersenRecovery@aol.com. I’m doing one-on-one remote coaching (phone, FaceTime, Zoom) at $75 an hour. Qualifications? I’m a certified Mental Health Coach (CCAR), licensed Interventionist, and have a Certificate in Stress, Grief & Trauma management as well as a Diploma with Highest Distinction as Addiction Treatment Specialist. Soup to nuts. Don’t struggle another day.  … The gashing of mainstream media has worked out perfectly for the RP Show. There are all these empty press box seats, and the teams and leagues want them filled. Voila! … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen