10 WEEKEND THINGS
Taking shots …
1 – M.A.F.: It’s a good news/bad news kind of thing. With the Florida Panthers’ magical run to the Stanley Cup Final last spring, it’s wakened all of South Florida up to the NHL, and the Cats. That’s the good news. The bad news, in the social media age, is that everybody has a voice but very few of them are informed. This being my third winter here, I saw this phenomenon blossom firsthand. So today Panthers fans are up-in-arms with the 3-game suspension of their forward William Lockwood for running Minnesota goalie Marc-Andre Fleury here on Friday night. “Incidental contact” some are saying (even in the media), yet they wouldn’t know incidental contact if if bit them in the nose. And the Flower left the game not long after the hit with what the Wild are saying is an upper body injury. ‘Tis a pity, as I watched M.A.F. extremely closely all game, including warmup, because I knew it would likely be my last chance to watch him live. Fleury attempted to stop every shot in warmup like his life depended on it, and was the last one off the ice. A true Hall of Famer. *Oh, and you can’t run goalies.*
2 – LET’S GO OILERS: Have you heard? The Edmonton Oilers beat Calgary 3-1 in the Saddledome Saturday night to set a record with their 13th consecutive win. They now own the longest win streak by a Canadian team in NHL history. The overall league record is 17 straight wins, set by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1993. I might remind you that the Pens didn’t go on to win the Stanley Cup that season so despite the ballyhoo surrounding this year’s Oil, I’ll doubly remind you what’s most important. Also on Saturday night, former Swift Current Bronco net minder Stuart Skinner tied Grant Fuhr with his franchise record-matching 10th straight win in goal. I’m just wondering where the people are who said Edmonton doesn’t have NHL-calibre goaltending? Thought so.
3 – TAKE FLIGHT: Oh, and the Winnipeg Jets won on Saturday too don’cha know. Nik Ehlers scored with :46 left in OT for a 2-1 Jets victory at Ottawa. Winnipeg’s 64 points are tied with Vancouver for #1 overall in the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers are 13th overall. It would be nice if the hockey gods saw fit to line Winnipeg and Edmonton up in a playoff series but it would take a lot, as each are in the top three in separate divisions. But if they did meet, the Jets would win in six games.
4 – OTHER NHL NOTES: Famed Panthers & Blue Jackets coach and Sportsnet analyst Doug MacLean twice predicted on this week’s Cats ‘N Bolts Podcast that Toronto and Florida will meet in Round 1. Subsequently, he picked the Panthers to win it. … The NHL’s Stadium Series next month featuring the Flyers, Islanders, Rangers & Devils at MetLife Stadium is generating a lot of hype. In South Florida, some are wondering if we could ever see the Lightning and Panthers meet at LoanDepot Park, the home of MLB’s Miami Marlins? With a retractable roof, there’s no reason why it couldn’t happen. One can dream! … My Calgary spies tell me sportsradio in Cowtown is saying the Flames franchise is split between two factions: committing to a rebuild, and staying status quo. But that’s not new. … There’s a groundswell of support happening in Atlanta to make the Peach City the NHL’s 33rd market. I’m told you can expect to hear a lot of Georgia this spring. We’re proud that the RP Show airs daily on WQEE Radio in Atlanta from Noon- 2 pm ET, and is known as “Atlanta’s NHL Show”. … Can you imagine Wayne Gretzky wearing one of those chrome L.A. Kings helmets?
5 – JR HOCKEY CHAOS: It was in the spring of 2021 that I first reported a handful of Alberta Junior A teams were set to defect from the AJHL to the rival BCHL. As usual, I showed up to the party too early. But the spit hit the fan on Saturday with that news becoming official and, I’m told, those teams have all been suspended indefinitely (i.e. kicked out of the AJHL effective immediately) by Hockey Canada. Furthermore I’m told Blackfalds, Brooks, Okotoks, Sherwood Park & Spruce Grove will join Cranbrook in the BCHL’s Interior East Division, which should cutdown on their their travel expenses. (Not sure if that’s been reported yet or not). Why the defection? All I’ve ever been told by officials from these teams is “money and player development”. I’ve been around the scene my entire life and still don’t really see or understand the benefit but as of today, it’s happened and they’re good as gone. And you thought College Football was screwed up!
6 – ALL HE SAID WAS ____: Some corners of the Rider Nation got irked by Mitchell “Scruffy” Blair’s column on this website this week where he said “This rabid fanbase should temper its expectations”. I saw them say some real mean things about Scruffy and me on some fanboards! Hopefully we’ll recover. The fact remains the Riders have missed the playoffs the past two seasons with back-to-back 6-win campaigns and it’s going to take more than swapping out coaches to fix it. Hey, Rider fans are going to get optimistic, especially in the off-season – just like Cowboys and Leafs fans – but don’t come with the pitchforks and torches after us who maintain a level head and common sense. Thanks for reading though! CFL fans are asking us for unvarnished reporting and commentary this season because they’re not getting it elsewhere, and we’re very happy to provide it for you.
7 – CFL: I’m sure there are many more layers to the Arland Bruce IV story than I know but it was disappointing to learn the CFL voided the contract the rookie signed with Edmonton in December. A quick Google search will tell you the younger Bruce’s NCAA elligibiliity ran out while serving an NCAA suspension for gambling while at the University of Iowa in 2021-22. Is this why the CFL voided the contract? They’d rather not touch the situation? Or is it because of Arland Bruce Sr.’s lawsuit against the CFL for concussions suffered during his career? I have a problem with either theory but again, there’s likely a lot more to this than I know. However the CFL used to be a “second chance league” and the younger Bruce is a tremendous football player, which the CFL should welcome.
8 – NFL: The home teams won (Baltimore & San Francisco) in Saturday’s NFL division playoff games and I expect the same thing will happen on Sunday (Detroit & Buffalo). However the Ravens covered and the 49ers did not. You can certainly see how gambling makes things a lot more interesting in sports, and many credit the explosion of the NFL’s popularity to point spreads and Fantasy Football in the last decade or so. There’s a distinct and clear line between the coaches, players & personnel in sports with regards to the betting scene, with the media and fans on the other side of it. I’ve obviously chosen the latter, and am very happy with the choice.
9 – A.I.: We’re hearing so much of the term “Artificial Intelligence”. It’s everywhere, but particularly in this digital media space which I exist in, and mainstream radio. Somewhere I read that in 2023, AI was being perfected, and in 2024 it’ll takeover society. Over breakfast in Lighthouse Point, FL last week, a techie start-up guy told me, “With regards to your RP Show and Cats ‘N Bolts NHL Podcast, with AI, a computer can listen to it, then spit out the words and key points for consumers so they don’t have to listen to it all.” WAIT! I thought consumers went to podcasts because they don’t have time to read the newspaper and magazines anymore? Stop the world, I want to get off.
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Just kidding! These are exciting advancements and it’s a thrill to be a quality content guy in the middle of it! … Did you know Paul Kariya played 989 NHL games and had 989 points? … That reminds me of Rider great Don Narcisse catching a pass in 216 consecutive CFL games, having played in 216 total career games. … We highly recommend the new Netflix 3-episode series American Nightmare. It’s a thrill-a-minute! … Somewhere I saw 2024 is supposed to be the year of karma. This could get interesting! … We need an emoji of a wagon. … Have you purchased your Telemiracle 50/50 tickets yet and/or contributed to our donation page? PLEASE DO SO HERE! I don’t ask for much. Thank you. … There are over one million alligators in the State of Florida. A 12-foot gator wandered out of a creek and into a mall parking lot in Estero, FL recently, greeting startled shoppers. … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?!
Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen
It was a great weekend The Friday Pats game was one of the best in the 40 years I have attended. First: it took 40 years but I finally by pure accident ran into Dale Derkatch. I didn’t freeze up like usual……and out of nowhere I just blurted out “you’re better than Bedard” he laughed and I just said for my generation it’s important we make sure it’s known. Derkatch then/now/always is Pats royalty gold standard. Maybe 2500 if that in the stands. Second the Pats played lethbridge. The Pats work very hard they just don’t have the fire power.… Read more »
Pt. 2 – I wonder where the people are that said the Oilers would miss the playoffs just 3 short weeks ago haha?
One of them is actually the proprietor and author of this website.
#5 is beyond long overdue. I have had relatives go both routes. Jr A vs WHL is no competition. They cater to a very different breed of hockey player. Jr A has always been told it isn’t as good and is in these smaller towns. The AJHL has money and then some. They want to be direct competition to WHL and show is great hockey that pathways to the NCAA. Now where the rub is. The NCAA is pure garbage. Those guys get a “scholarship” for one season and as soon as the replacement is gone they have to use… Read more »
What’s left over after the junior A “haves” combine to make a super league is everyone else is left behind. This all was put in motion when the lesser lings bring up pay to play scenarios. Small timers. So those small timers now become a super junior b loop. Junior B hockey has its place. Playing for the regina capitals is for the peter pans and lost boys that need a little extra time to figure life out. Some will stare out a bus window and realize it’s time to move on but most will not. Eventually they do figure… Read more »
Why so bitter and resentful? What’s wrong with junior B? Is it not enough to play the game competitively and enjoy yourself for a while before you spend the next 40+ years in the working world?
I mean, 90% or more of the dub won’t get a sniff of the AHL let alone the NHL. So are they just a bunch of Peter Pans too, wasting their time living out a fantasy unless they are on the central scouting list?
I’ll rail on this all day long. Junior B and C is for losers. For the boys out there that are going somewhere in life – then absolutely Junior B and even Jr C Qu’Appelle League is a great extension to enjoy the game. Junior B used to be like that. Then what happens? Oh the rats have taken over. That kid that’s in school or taking a trade. This kid has to realize player safety is of no concern to the vast majority of the losers in these leagues. This extends to Provincial senior hockey. The day will come… Read more »
6- Mr. Mitchell Blair was absolutely unequivocally 110% bang on with his statement on the Saskatchewan Roughriders team direction and its new head coach. Intellects with a everyday common sense must remind were dealing with Saskatchewan Cave Skull Lowbrows not up to speed who happily lap up anything the Roughriders football club throws at them. It’s to wonder, the Roughriders had an prime opportunity to hire Mr. Scott Milanovich to steer them right, sadly they ended up with someone else down the list as of their choosing, sad.
7) It is the gambling that kept him from playing. Sports betting is what is keeping the lights on for the CFL since the shutdown. The league’s corporate partners can’t have folks questioning if the players are tampering with the score and the juice isn’t worth the squeeze for a “maybe” player. Gambling is the one sin leagues can’t overlook. Hit your wife, drive drunk or have a loaded bazooka on the dash and you’re in trouble but gambling is an automatic game over. No second chances for that
7- The Canadian Football League is a minor league, whoever is sticking their nose from the league’s head office (Ambrosie?) into a NCAA matter by voiding a young up and coming Arland Bruce IV contract is just absurd. The voiding of this particular player contract highly probable a person/s who has no professional sports background with a misguided grudge (against Arland Bruce Sr.) and that’s not a good look on the CFL, it makes the league look incompetent. This Canadian Football League decision should and must be reversed immediately, let the young man play.