10 WEEKEND THINGS

BUCKLE UP …

1 – JOIN THE REGIMENT: In 103 years of Regina Pats hockey, there very likely has not been a story as incredible as this. The mere presence of Exceptional Player Connor Bedard in red, white & blue is history making itself, and it’s even more mind-boggling that he leads the Western Hockey League in scoring with 28 points in 15 games as a 15-year old. Then last week’s events where Connor’s grandfather Garth was tragically killed in a car crash in B.C., Connor declining to leave until he played one final game to honour his grandpa and best friend, and then scoring both goals including the OT winner against Brandon, is the stuff legends are made of. Somebody noted on Twitter that Disney would turn this movie script down because it’s too unbelievable. Now, Connor’s with his grieving family in North Vancouver before departing for Frisco, TX and Canada’s U18 tournament in which he’ll again skate as an under-age. The blonde-haired marvel has already answered so many questions and yet, so many more keep popping up ..

2 – BIEBER ON SKATES: From my perspective, it’s truly fascinating to watch people wake up to a story. Hockey people in Western Canada have known of Bedard for 2-3 years but now casual fans from not only here, but across the continent, are clamouring to follow his story and his progress. Friday night’s events under the orange top seemed to be the tipping point because my inbox and DM’s were packed afterwards with questions about how and why this kid is such a big story. (Go back and read Point #1 again). The personal side is one thing, but the hockey side is quite another ..

3 – THE SCOUTING REPORT: Clearly you don’t need to worry about putting pressure on Connor Bedard. He’s faced it, and answered the bell. (And then some). Hockey skills coach, scout and Junior Coach/GM Drew Kocur said on The RP Show this week that the word which comes to mind first after watching Bedard is “perfect”. The perfect player. Can you imagine? Even Connor would deny that label, having admitted to several minor mistakes on the ice but he doesn’t make them twice. Another scout was quoted as saying Bedard has “10 times the skill Sidney Crosby did at that age”. Now THAT’S saying something!

With the personal tragedy Bedard faced this week, it only proves to the world that he’s human. It pulled everyone to his side and tugged at the heart strings. It’s okay to love him.

4 – WHAT’S NEXT: People who don’t know hockey quite that well, but are following the story regardless, are wondering if Bedard’s ready for the NHL already? After all, according to CHL number cruncher Geoffrey Brandow (who quoted Elite Prospects), Bedard’s 1.87-points per game are the highest by any player under 17 years old in League history! But the notion of a 15-year old playing in the NHL is preposterous. HE’S STILL A BOY! And that’s what makes this story all the more captivating. He shouldn’t be doing what he is at this age and this size. He’s only going to get better and by the time’s he’s 18, he should be NHL ready in every way. Who knows what’s going to go on between now and then? Sit back and enjoy the ride. There’s plenty of room for you on the bandwagon.

Meanwhile the Regina Pats play their first game without Bedard Monday against the Winnipeg ICE at 6:00 pm on AccessNow TV and 620 CKRM and the question now becomes how will the Pats will fare without #98? He’s supplied over half their offence. That story in itself continues to make the Pats must-see TV.

5 – GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS: The good news is that there will be pro football in Canada because the CFL is not folding. The bad news is there’s a solid chance we may not see it again for awhile. Since Wednesday I’ve spoken with five solid sources whose stories on the CFL/XFL merger and 2021 season are all generally the same. One of their messages began with “You deserve to know truth” which I never questioned but I’m guessing it’s because we cover the CFL so closely and talk about it everyday on the RP Show. Talking to these sources and disseminating their information feels a whole lot like patching together a quilt. So here goes ..

6 – 2021: There seems to be three clear hurdles the CFL needs to clear to get onto the field this summer or fall – 1) Covid/Variant, which is self-explanatory, 2) Money. Will the Federal government step up with funding to play or to stay alive? Or will the owners “bite the bullet” themselves to foot the bill to play like former Commissioner Larry Smith suggested on TSN Montreal last week? and 3) Convincing the teams who DON’T want to play, otherwise. If there’s only one team dissenting, then that team is the Toronto Argonauts and MLSE. Remember last year the vote to play was 6-3 in favour, and yet the season was cancelled. Why would it be any different one year later? Read on ..

7 – THE BACKSTORY: One unimpeachable source told me the moment MLSE realized it’s impossible to turn a profit with the Argonauts (roughly two years ago), they immediately turned their attention to blowing up the CFL and making it a profit-making venture. At this point in the story you might want to research MLS ownership because it’s a big part of what’s going down. And this is huge. The vision is central ownership with shareholder-held franchises which has proven to ensure sustainability, then profitability.

Remember that source I quoted a year ago who said, “MLSE is running the CFL”? He told me yesterday that they’re simply a year further down that path and the pandemic, and folding of the XFL, have only expedited the plan. Everything is lining up more perfectly than they ever could’ve imagined.

8 – NFL TORONTO: There are other sources out of Toronto who’ve confirmed this and more. It’s a grand plan but I’m told the ultimate enchilada ends with an NFL team in Toronto, a converted Rogers Centre-to-NFL facility, the Blue Jays playing elsewhere downtown, and the CFL/XFL league existing as proof Canadians love football but aren’t a threat to NFL Toronto.

Dizzy yet? The central figure to this all is one Larry Tanenbaum who just happens to be the Chairman of MLSE, a 25% owner of the company, and the new best friend of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Remember last week when Goodell said, “Canada is a very important market to us.”?

They’re hiding in plain sight.

9 – BACK TO THIS SEASON: I was perhaps a little harsh on ALL CFL operators on the show this week but that was born out of my own frustration, plus the cries of beleaguered CFL players and staffers who simply want an answer for this season with training camps planned for a month away. The Covid situation is what it is and likely the smartest/safest scenario is to scrap this season and build for whatever the next version of the CFL is to be. However current CFL operators, the majority anyway, want to play for the good of the league and their employees and the fact is the majority of them wanted to play LAST YEAR. But sources have all confirmed to me that MLSE is all about – entirely about – balance sheets and care little for the history and viability of the CFL nor the people who keep it running. If it’ll cost more to play than not play, then their vote is to not play. Pretty easy. MLSE is truly a faceless, emotionless corporation but with NBA, MLS and CFL trophies in their lobby – plus ownership of the #1 NHL team in Canada – who can say they’re wrong???

The hold up is more about convincing every team to play than it is about fans in the stands. (This explains why the Return To Play proposals have been approved in five out of six provinces). There have been suggestions about playing without the dissenters (because perhaps the Argos aren’t the only ones. They weren’t last year). To me, this is where CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie needs to stand on the table and yell “WE’RE PLAYING WITH OR WITHOUT YOU!”

But Randy’s a smart guy and this would’ve dawned on him already. Are there legal issues with playing a season minus one or two teams? Likely. That would take time to sort out, which the CFL clearly doesn’t have. Does he even want to tick off MLSE knowing they’re the big fish in this pond? Remember he declined to fine them in 2019 despite being the only team who went over the salary cap.

As the world turns …

10 – RANDOMS TO END: The U.S. Presidential race in 2024 is going to come down to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and The Rock, isn’t it? Guess who’d have my vote. … A new baseball stadium for Downtown Regina — If You Build It They Will Come. … Netflix series we’re currently enjoying and you may want to check out – Ginny & Georgia, Who Killed Sarah, Superstore, The Serpent. I did not care for Bad Trip … Further to Points 5-9, I’m not doing anything heroic by reporting this MLSE story. The top dogs at TSN and Sportsnet are aware of it but they’re under the control of MLSE too. I’d rather be on Assiniboia radio and be able to speak the truth than to be on national network TV and be muzzled. Call me crazy. … Thanks to the Winnipeg ICE for the gift bag of workout gear, hat and toque this week! Theirs is some of the nicest gear in hockey. … It’s also easy for me to report on CFL stuff because I don’t ever plan to leave hockey. This fit with the Regina Pats has been a dream. Absolutely exhilarating! .. Who says you can never go back? You can if both sides are willing. There’s already talk about ‘next year’ which frankly makes my heart race. … It was a tremendous effort by Lumsden, SK in Kraft Hockeyville 2021 but alas, they lost out to Elsipogtog First Nation, N.B. Saskatchewan continues to be shutout by Kraft Hockeyville voting but we must not quit! When the day comes that a Saskatchewan community wins, it will be a party the likes of us have never seen. … Kudos to retired CFL RB Calvin McCarty who’s the new OL/RB coach at Bellerose High School in the Edmonton area. … Wait till you see Chris Jones’ coaching staff at South Pittsburg HS! It’s gonna knock your socks off. Hint: it’s rumoured to be filled with CFL/NCAA greats. … I’m told Chris Jones turned down a position job with a CFL team in order to take the South Pittsburg job. C.J. will never be without a job in the pros. He’s doing what he loves and this job in Tennessee pays the same as the CFL job, when you factor in the US/CAN dollar exchange. … Who do the Brandon Wheat Kings hate more: the Regina Pats or Winnipeg ICE? Right now it seems to be even. … The new/relocated NLL franchise in Albany, NY will announce the results of its Name The Team Contest this Thursday at 5:30 pm ET. Here’s to praying the NLL returns in 2021! … UofR Rams head football coach Mark McConkey sent a letter to stakeholders this week outlining their plans to play in 2021 and they include provisions for an 8-game, 6-game, 5-game or 4-game season. As it stands, plans for their spring camp beginning April 30 are still on. … I keep thinking of the email I got from an Edmonton doctor last summer saying to shut-up about Covid because I don’t know what I’m talking about. True! But I still have to deal with thousands of peoples’ crappy opinions about sports on a daily basis and they have no idea what they’re talking about. Does that count? Maybe not. … The fact remains you don’t need to pass an IQ test to start a Twitter account nor to have a baby.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen