DAYTONA HOMES FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK

1 – A PICTURE’S WORTH….:  A new billboard went up on Saskatchewan Drive this week promoting 620 CKRM’s afternoon sports talk show The SportsCage.  I had to stop the car and snap this interesting shot of the sign with the new stadium construction in the background.  With this recent snap of warm weather, the stadium workers will have great conditions to get even more work completed.  It creates a tingling sensation every time you drive by what will be the future home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  It’s really taking shape.

2 – CHANGE OF SCENERY:  Later on that day I was driving along the nearby lawn bowling pitch and noticed new Roughriders offensive coordinator Jacques Chadpelaine jogging amidst the slush and puddles.  It’s a far cry from his sunny jogs along Vancouver’s Seawall I’m sure!  He had his head down, apparently deep in thought.  It’s exciting to think of what Chapdelaine will bring to the Rider offense this year.


3 – REYNOLDS IN ACTION:  The Saskatoon business community will be able to get a firsthand account of the progress of the new stadium on April 9 when new Roughriders President Craig Reynolds addresses the North Saskatoon Business Association at a luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn.  The topic of one of Reynolds’ first addresses as president will be a stadium update.  Tickets are only $30 and are available by calling 306-242-3060.

4 – SEPARATED AT BIRTH?:  It’s been awhile since we published this once-popular blog feature but with Craig Reynolds’ recent prominence, I’ve been reminded of his uncanny resemblance to comedic actor Jason Segal.   Judge for yourself:

Regina Leader Post

Or is it just me?

5 – SHEETS TO THE WIND:   It may be awhile before we know where running back Kory Sheets plays in 2015.  Roughrider Assistant GM Jeremy O’Day told us on Wednesday that Sheets plans to pursue NFL opportunities but sources tell me Sheets has reached out to the Riders on more than one occasion about a return.  I’ve also been told the only CFL team Sheets wishes to play for is Saskatchewan.  Regarding my Monday prediction that Sheets will wind up in Winnipeg, I saw somewhere that the Bombers say they have no interest at this time.  This whole situation seems far from a conclusion.

6 – ROCKY! ROCKY! ROCKY!:  On April 15 former Roughriders quarterback Ian “Rocky Butler” will be inducted into the Hofstra University Hall of Fame.  Rocky starred for Hofstra from 1997-2001 and as a senior, finished as runner-up for the Walter Payton Award and was a first-team All-America selection.  Rocky signed with the Riders in 2002 and, in his CFL debut as a starter, rushed for three touchdowns in an upset victory over Winnipeg in the Labour Day Classic.  On that afternoon, Rocky cemented his spot in all-time Labour Day lore.  He was with the Riders through the 2006 season before being dealt to Hamilton and he later joined the Toronto Argonauts’ practice roster.   Congrats on your achievement Rocky!  One thing I’ll never forget about Butler was when he told me Taylor Field reminded him of the stadium at Hofstra in New York.  He was a class act.

7 – IN THE PADDOCK:  The buzz in town around the Regina Pats was evident this week with several people asking about the status of one Sam Steel.  The 16-year old rookie phenom was injured Tuesday in P.A. and didn’t play in Wednesday’s 4-1 win at Swift Current.  On Thursday, Pats coach John Paddock was asked if Steel will play before the WHL playoffs.  “I don’t know that and I don’t care,” Paddock scolded.  “It doesn’t matter.  It’s totally irrelevant.  There’s no games mean anything to any player individually.  It’ll be a day-by-day thing and we’ll see where he’s at.”   So there.

The Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors play a home-and-home series this weekend beginning Friday at Mosaic Place and concluding Saturday in the Brandt Centre.  620 CKRM will have the broadcast of both games.

Apparently there will be a huge crowd at Saturday’s game.  At least, it seems everyone I know is going that isn’t going to the Regina Thunder dinner featuring Ken Miller.  Saturday’s going to be a fantastic night!

8 – A LONG WAIT:  Curtis Hunt’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons went out in the first round of the AJHL playoffs this week, losing their best-of-five series with Sherwood Park in four.  They’ll now have to wait until April 25 when they begin play as hosts of the Western Canada Cup, the regional Junior A tournament which will decide who goes to the Royal Bank Cup.

9 – NO DUB IN THE PEG:  When the news release came across on Thursday from the Winnipeg Jets declaring the move of their AHL team from St. John’s, NF to Winnipeg, the first thing I thought was that snuffs out any chance of the WHL coming to the Manitoba capital.  It had been rumoured over the past few years that the Kootenay Ice would be moving to the MTS Centre but there’s been no talk this season and perhaps this is why.  It’s too bad because the Brandon Wheat Kings would’ve loved to have a Manitoba neighbour but it won’t be happening any time soon.  SportsCage junior hockey analyst Kelly Remple surmised on Thursday that this means Nanaimo, BC will be the next site of a WHL team.

10 – GONER FOR CONNOR:  Rarely have we seen a more exciting race for last-place in the NHL than in 2014-15.  The Oilers, Sabres, Leafs and Coyotes seem to be doing their best to silently “tank” it the rest of the way in order to enhance their chances of securing the #1 pick and Connor McDavid.   Methinks that even if the Oilers finish 30th, the hockey gods will dodge them with the #1 ball in the lottery.  It’s just been that kind of year in Oil Country.  They’ll likely even lose the raffle.  Talk about irrelevant!  You don’t see much talk of them anymore on the sports networks and I haven’t seen coach Todd Nelson’s face in ages (except on the rare occasions I see their games on TV).  Crisis is the word of the year in Edmonton and Toronto.

Regarding the conspiracy theory that the NHL will rig the crapshoot, nothing surprises me anymore in pro sports.

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THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY! SEE YOU IN THE CAGE AT 4 PM
RP
@sportscage
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