10+ WEEKEND THINGS

Taking shots …

1 – Forget anything else. Darryl Sutter’s postgame news conference on Sportsnet 960 The Fan is the most-riveting live broadcast in Canada these days. Following Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Edmonton in the Saddledome, Sutter told reporters “Connor McDavid was the difference in the game.” While pundits and analysts dissected the game six ways from Sunday, the Jolly Rancher boiled the game down to one succinct sentence. McDavid had a goal and two assists and it’s clear – to Darryl and everyone else – that the Flames won’t ever get past the Oilers until they find a way to contain Edmonton’s #97. Of course the clip which got the most publicity was Sutter’s explanation as to why forward Jonathan Huberdeau left the bench in the middle of the first period: “I think he had to go take a shit.” AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

2 – We are into Week #3 of the NHL regular season and two great RP Show hockey analysts, Tim Hunter and Parry Shockey, feel there are no mirages or red herrings so far. Both have solid NHL credentials and feel the Sabres (5-4-0), Golden Knights (7-2-0), Flyers (5-2-1), Canucks (2-5-2), Leafs (4-4-1) and Ducks (1-6-1) are exactly what their record indicates, whether it be good, bad or in the middle. Still, many feel U.S. Thanksgiving is the true cut-off date for the smoke to clear in the NHL and methinks the Flyers and Ducks won’t continue their current pace. What a start!

3 – To the CFL and the Roughriders season is over. It mercifully concluded with a listless 36-10 loss to the playoff-bound Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Saturday, completing the Riders’ 2022 season at 6-12. Out of the playoffs. I was following the score while at the Flames game and the comments overheard there about the Roughriders and Saskatchewan, hurt. But the truth hurts. Missing the playoffs in a season where Saskatchewan is hosting the Grey Cup is inexcusable. In 1995 the same thing happened but back then we didn’t even expect anything more out of the Green & White. In 2003 I dared to dream of it, but deep down didn’t feel we deserved nice things. In 2013 it was expected and the team delivered a championship in the greatest day in provincial history. Now in 2022 – with what’s supposed to be the Saskatchewan Roughriders juggernaut – this result adds up to the biggest F-up in franchise history.

4 – What’s next? The rumour mill in Riderville is ridiculously out-of-control with who’s gonna stay and who’s gonna go and further complicating matters is the CFL’s absurd football operations salary cap. It feels like it’s being held up as a reason not to make changes – i.e. the team would be handcuffed by having to pay the dead weight of contracts for fired folks – and that’s sad, if true. It muddies the water between what will happen and what should happen. I’ve said my piece and won’t say it again. Now it’s time to sit back and watch. Rumour is an announcement will be made this week but I’m not holding my breath.

5 – In August I said it’s starting to feel like the 1990s again with the Roughriders and almost four months later that feeling has only intensified. Rider Priders have threatened a boycott and to that I’ve heard the old familiar adage from almost 30 years ago of, “If you don’t buy tickets, we won’t have a team.” What a mess. (Fred Wagman: “READ MY LIPS!”)

6 – Just to clarify, the rumour of Stampeders special teams coordinator Mark Kilam and QB coach Marc Mueller heading to Sask was just something picked up off the street. It didn’t come from any football people at all. However the rumours of Cody Fajardo heading to Hamilton and Bo Levi Mitchell signing in Sask came from deep inside the CFL as early as Labour Day. Can you imagine?

7 – Bo Levi was given a fitting send-off by the Stampeders faithful on Saturday night but the treatment of Cody Fajardo in Riderville has been deplorable. He stood on the sidelines with his helmet on Saturday night with seemingly the whole world peering in on his pain. Cody’s meteoric rise and just-as-fast fall in Saskatchewan is going to take a long time to get over. Here’s hoping he gets the support he needs.

8 – Bo Levi Mitchell-to-Saskatchewan just makes too much sense. Get your #19 MITCHELL Rider jerseys in time for Christmas. If Bo wants to sign with Saskatchewan (I get the feeling he does) and the Riders want him (why wouldn’t they?), then this should be an easy negotiation. Hell will freeze over and apparently pigs can fly.

9 – I spent enough time in Saskatchewan to know that the fans don’t care much for the road to the Grey Cup if their Riders aren’t in it. They just care about the fortunes of the Green & White, and that’s the same with fans anywhere. However the CFL Playoff match-ups are pretty juicy with the division semifinals next Sunday featuring Hamilton at Montreal and Calgary at BC. I’ll take the Alouettes by double digits and the Stampeders in a last minute nail-biter. Three points or less. It’s going to be a fun week of build-up!

10 – My inbox is full with insight into the financial troubles currently facing the CFL but I’m not following up on any of them. I’ve comfortably made the decision to stick to what I’m seeing on the field and the inevitable coach and quarterback carousel of the off-season. Eventually the CFL’s going to have to partner with a U.S. league or allow for U.S. expansion and when they finally do, they’ll wish they did it 10 years earlier. That’s how Recovery goes; you have to reach rock bottom before welcoming change. I’ve lived it. There’s a better life out there! For Canadian football, that means expanding into America. It’s certainly done WONDERS for the RP Show. Listen to our show daily on WQEE Radio Metro Atlanta or watch on Game+ TV in all 10 provinces and 31 States.

11 – We are 22 days away from the 2022 Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium and we still don’t know who the halftime act will be. Ironically, the CFL’s 2022 slogan is #LetEmKnow.

12 – A hearty congratulations to the Regina Thunder for winning the PFC championship, routing the Saskatoon Hilltops 39-21 at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday. This is likely the biggest win in the organization’s history, save for the 2013 Canadian Bowl in head coach Scott MacAuley’s rookie campaign. Next up is the 2022 Canadian Bowl versus the Okanagan Sun on November 12 at Mosaic Stadium. Finish it off boys!

13 – Here’s a press box conversation from the Saddledome last week — Coach: “Do you think the Regina Pats are saying they won’t trade Connor Bedard in a ploy to drive the price up?” Me: “I don’t think Pats ownership is that hockey-smart.”

14 – A Canucks fan huffed to me this week that even if Vancouver finishes rock bottom, the NHL will rig the draft lottery in order for Connor to go to a U.S. team. However with Connor McDavid in Edmonton and Auston Matthews in Toronto, I could never see that being the case. Certainly, I hope not. However Gary Bettman sure does seem to love his Arizona Coyotes and that explains how the NHL could approve the “cattle barn” dressing rooms in Tempe’s Mullett Arena.

15 – This week a buddy sent me a pic of his cousin’s kid in a WHL headshot. I had no idea what team logo it was (the Victoria Royals third jersey). Not sure if this is a WHL problem or a ME problem but for a Dub junkie like myself, it was alarming. Not having a mainstream TV contract is murderous for the WHL.

16 – What exactly is a muster point?

17 – Why do hockey fans bang on the glass at players? And when did a boring hockey game become known as a “low event” game?

18 – Is Yellow Grass, SK’s Aaron Roy ever going to stop riding bulls? I suppose as long as he continues to stay atop the leaderboard, he won’t. What a story.

19 – It’s strange watching the MLB Playoffs without Joe Buck calling the action. Has anyone else noticed besides me? … Also remember when Phillies star J.T. Realmuto was called “selfish” for not being vaccinated this summer and was accused of hurting his team? He hit the go-ahead homerun in the 10th inning of Philadelphia’s Game 1 World Series victory. … Before you go off half-cocked, I’m vaccinated.

20 – Our good buddy and my broadcast mentor Kevin Gallant is in a cancer battle and in true Kevy form, he’s thinking about OTHERS and raising funds for Movember. Please visit his link and make a donation on Kevin’s Movember page – https://ca.movember.com/team/2422232?mc=17&utm_medium=share&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=public-share-mospace

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen