10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking shots …

1 – #JOINTHEREGIMENT: You knew the good times would return some time, but frankly I’m startled that it’s been this soon. 6,499 jammed Regina’s Brandt Centre Saturday night (you couldn’t find just one more chair to sell?) to watch the hometown Pats spank the rival Moose Jaw Warriors 8-4. Public Address announcer Darren Szabo announced at one point that it’s the Pats’ third straight sellout. And let’s be clear; Connor Bedard is selling out the Brandt Centre. Not the Regina Pats.

As usual, I made my way around the facility chatting with all fans and the newcomers admitted they came to see one player. There were many people in attendance whom I didn’t think knew where the Brandt Centre was but, thanks to Connor’s performance at the World Juniors, Regina Pats games have become “the thing to do”.

The bellyaching about ticket prices from last summer and fall? Apparently that doesn’t matter now.

2 – BEDARD BRAND: Honestly, seldom do junior hockey stories affect mainstream discussion but the CTV story this week estimating Connor Bedard’s financial impact on the Western Hockey League to be $1.5-million since the World Juniors has got a lot of people talking. It makes me want to cry that Connor sat alone signing autographs on the Brandt Centre concourse past 11:00 pm Tuesday night, appeasing fans who’d waited four hours to see him. What are all other 17-year olds doing at that time of night? But Bedard’s taking it all in stride, apparently obliging all who want a piece of him. But when you see Connor on the ice, that’s his happy place. He was all smiles as he lit up the scoreboard with three goals and two assists against the Warriors Saturday night. He knows that in just a few months, he’ll be ticketed for the bright lights of the National Hockey League.

At least Reginans and Saskatchewan hockey fans are enjoying him now, because I’d be shocked if the Pats get past the first round of the playoffs. This isn’t the 1996 Regina Pats who made a shocking run under coach Rich Preston with a lineup featuring Chad Mercier, Rhett Gordon, Derek Morris, Kyle Calder, Boyd Kane and Curtis Tipler. This year’s team really is a one-man show although Bedard’s supporting cast certainly turned in a stellar performance Saturday on Pack The Dome Night.

3 – GOOD TIMES: It’s real nice to see people smiling. I love Reginans more than any other people on earth and these days they’re pretty chipper with Connor Bedard wearing Red, White & Blue and the Roughriders having signed free agent quarterback Trevor Harris away from Montreal. The mood around here is optimistic! Gosh knows we’ve gone through some tough times and as far as those franchises go the toughest, I’d say, was the 2000s (maybe the 90s) with little hope at all. But we got through it together!

4 – WARRIORS: I have absolutely no idea what the four Moose Jaw Warriors did to earn an indefinite suspension from the Western Hockey League for violating team and league rules, which was announced Saturday. However I applaud the WHL for being this transparent regarding the suspension rather than trying to sweep it under the rug.

5 – NHL NOTES: Have you noticed every single night in the National Hockey League has produced eye-popping results? It feels like this is simply amazing. … The Calgary Flames fell down 2-0 in Buffalo after one period on Saturday and fans were burning their season tickets. Then the Flames erupted for seven goals over the final 40 minutes to win 7-2 and calm everybody down. The Flames could be the best team in the NHL every night if they wanted to be. They are tied for the final playoff wildcard spot in the West. … The Florida Panthers are three points out of a playoff spot in the East and were denied a fourth straight win on Saturday courtesy of a 5-3 home loss to Colorado. Frankly I’d written off the Panthers in mid-December but head coach Paul Maurice has them playing every shift like their life depends on it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made the playoffs! … If the Flames played with the Panthers’ urgency, they’d have no problems right now. … And the Edmonton Oilers can put it on cruise control now with Evander Kane back in the lineup. He’s the difference-maker. … There are lots of Winnipeg Jets fans in the Queen City – more than ever – and they’re wondering what the chances are of the Jets landing Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews at the trade deadline? I’d say pretty good, but only if he wants to.

6 – BROTHERLY LOVE: Of course one of the biggest stories of Super Bowl LVII is a matchup of the Kielce brothers – Kansas City’s Travis and Philadelphia’s Jason. The last two brothers to face-off in a Stanley Cup Final was in 2003 between Anaheim’s Rob Niedermayer and New Jersey’s Scott Niedermayer (two great Dub grads). You have to go all the way back to 1946 before that, and Ken Reardon (Montreal) and his brother Terry Reardon (Boston).

7 – SUPER BOWL WATCH PARTY: Come on down to the Four Seasons Sports Palace for our Super Bowl Watch Party and win great prizes, plus hang out with RP Show personalities! Kickoff is at 5:30 and it’s first come, first served. We’d love to see you!

8 – THE LETTER: Several Rider season ticket holders forwarded me a letter they’ve received from the team this month. In it, the club thanks them for their support, apologizes for last year’s 6-12 debacle in a Grey Cup-hosting season, and promises to be better on the field and “make things right”. The reaction from these fans is predictable, for anyone who’s lived in Saskatchewan for a half century. They wonder what the motivation is behind the letter, and what they’re supposed to do with it? The time for talking, apologies and promises is long past. It’s time for some results.

9 – MENTAL HEALTH: On Tuesday night I addressed a few hundred delegates from Viterra at their Annual Country Regional Meeting in the Hotel Saskatchewan Grand Ballroom. The keynote topic was Mental Health and I gave several facts and stats about Mental Illness, shared my story, and offered tips on Recovery and where to go to get help. It’s about a 45-minute presentation with Q&A.  In truth, I think I scared the crowd with my personal story of Recovery from alcoholism and Mental Illness because you could hear a pin drop at the end and most jaws were on the floor. But the point is, RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE! And the good news is I’ve received several messages from people in the week since who’ve been going through some really tough times but my story has shown them that there’s a way out. Mine is a gory story but all that is behind me now and I’m the most grateful person alive. Recovery works! But I really didn’t mean to scare them at all.

For booking inquiries please contact EMJ Marketing at 306-631-4123.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Scary moment in Estevan Friday night when Nipawin Hawks player Rylan Lefebvre had his wrist badly gashed by a skate blade. It happened right in front of me. Thanks to quick work by Hawks therapy staff and Estevan paramedics, Rylan is going to be okay and make a full recovery! However it’s not known if he’ll return this season or not. … What a treat to run into the perennial winner of “Regina’s Best Restaurant Server” Bill Perentes at The Cottage. After 41 years at Grekos, Bill has literally gone across the street. People go to The Cottage just to see him! … The only constant in life is change. … Just reminding you that Jerry Springer was once the Mayor of Cincinnati. … I’ve got the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LVII by 4-5 points. … Yellow Grass, SK has a Mexican restaurant? … Honestly why would anyone drink decaffeinated coffee? … Starbucks lids are generally the bane of my existence. … Reminder: our spring residency at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino in Calgary begins March 13. I so can’t wait! I’ve missed Alberta. … We’ve got a real big announcement coming up this week for an event in Pense, SK this spring. Stay tuned! … I applaud the Saskatchewan Rush’s boldness for hiring popular Drag Queen/trans performer Karma K as halftime entertainment for their February 25 game. You knew the move would be highly controversial and create a splash. Now, let’s see how many people show up. Or don’t! … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen