The Monday Morning Goalie For SUDS
Photo: USA Hockey
Truth & Rumours For SUDS Car Wash
1 – USA WINS OLYMPIC GOLD: The best team won. Team USA squeaked past Canada 2-1 in OT in Sunday’s Olympic Men’s Hockey gold medal game in Milan, Italy and they absolutely earned it. Canada whiffed on a 5-on-3 power play, missed several open nets and were stymied by U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck when they actually hit the net, and left Jack Hughes uncovered in overtime when he scored the winner. That’s the recipe for a molotov cocktail if there ever was one. … Those of us who’ve been around the international hockey game always said if the USA ever gets *real* serious about hockey, we (Canada) are in big trouble. It appears that time has arrived.
2 – TKACHUK: The vitriol spewed at Matthew Tkachuk on social media over the weekend has been nothing short of entertaining. With two Stanley Cups and an Olympic gold medal collected over the past 608 days with nary any offensive stats to go along with it, somebody called Tkachuk “the greatest passenger of all time”. He laughs at that kind of stuff. There are intangibles that can’t be measured and the hockey people know that. … When Tkachuk was running his mouth before and during the Olympics, I got real nervous for Canada’s hopes. You don’t do that unless you have supreme confidence in your team. … It’s similar to when I was running my mouth about the Roughriders back in the CFL days. I had confidence we’d win in the end. And we did. I get Tkachuk. … To the Tkachuk haters: you might wanna buy some earplugs. As kids in Canada we grew up learning of Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig, Dave Christian, Herb Brooks, etc. from that 1980 USA gold medal team. Little kids on the continent will be now be learning of the Tkachuk brothers for the next 50 years. Winning matters.
3 – POMO NO GO: Sometimes ya just can never predict how things will go. Once the Florida Panthers reconvened for their first post-Olympic break practice on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, I couldn’t wait to ask head coach Paul Maurice about the report Team Finland players approached their sport governing body about having Maurice be their national coach at the Olympics. I expected Maurice to say he was flattered, and he’d take their call. Instead, the Sault St. Marie, ON product shrugged and replied, “Ya I got a bunch of texts. Silliness. I think somebody got confused with Tuomo Ruttu; there is a Panther coach on their bench, it just wasn’t me. They got too many good coaches over in Finland. They don’t need me. I was born in Canada, I’m a US citizen, I think I’ll stay in Fort Lauderdale for these tournaments. It worked out just fine!”
Hey, I get it! After speaking with various Panthers players and staffers, nobody left South Florida during the extended break. I mean, why would you? It was sunny and +30C here on Sunday. Paradise indeed.
4 – CRIM: When the RP Show went to air in prime time in Las Vegas back in late-September, Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon promised to make an appearance on the show. On Tuesday, the Plenty, SK product made it happen and viewers are still raving about the interview. The longtime Brandon Wheat Kings czar went into great detail about the differences – and similarities – of running an NHL program versus running a WHL program. He also discussed former Wheat Kings owner Bob Cornell, whom Kelly bought the team from when McCrimmon was just 40 years old. Kelly also talked about still being “a fan” of international hockey, and what it means for players and their club teams to be represented. It was a fascinating discussion. Thanks Kelly, and thanks Vegas Golden Knights!
5 – CHL TOP 50: There’s been plenty of buzz about the Canadian Hockey League’s recent poll of the Top 50 all-time players. Presumably it was compiled by hockey people and I’d say they generally got it right except for the snub of Theoren Fleury. There were 13 WHL players on the list and they were Connor Bedard, Leon Draisaitl, Ray Ferraro, Grant Fuhr, Jarome Iginla, Mike Modano, Cam Neely, Scott Niedermayer, Carey Price, Brian Propp, Mark Recchi, Joe Sakic & Shea Weber. … Who would I change? Wendel Clark for Ferraro, for starters. And probably Clark Gillies for Brian Propp. Oh, and likely Mark Fitzpatrick for Fuhr. … It pains me slightly to see the hockey people agree with me that Connor Bedard is the greatest Regina Pat of all time. There are many who feel that honour should go to Dale Derkatch or Jordan Eberle and those two are real close friends of mine. It’s tough to say it’s Bedard, but I have to. What a great debate!
6 – GREY CUP ODDS: Don’t look now but here are your Grey Cup odds from Bet99 for 2026: Montreal (+260), Saskatchewan (+400), BC (+500), Toronto (+550), Calgary (+750), Winnipeg (+950), Hamilton (+1100), Ottawa (+1200), Edmonton (+1500). … At first glance I wondered how much thought went into this but then I realized it’s simply last season’s Grey Cup participants and then a copy & paste of the standings. That is, save for Hamilton, but the Ticats’ 26-year Grey Cup drought must have been brought into consideration. Debate away …
7 – ATLANTIC SCHOONERS: You could field a CFL expansion team with the leftovers from Free Agency. These guys still haven’t signed anywhere so could you imagine them making up the CFL’s 10th team? I’d pay to watch them – QB: McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Chris Streveler, Jeremiah Masoli, Matthew Schiltz, RB: Sean Thomas-Erlington, William Stanback, Ka’deem Carey, REC: Dominic Rhymes, Mitchell Picton, Davaris Daniels, Malik Henry, OL: Jacob Ruby, Sean McEwen, Travon Tate, David Foucault, Shane Richards, DL: Shawn Lemon, Nigel Romick, Anthony Lanier III, Lorenzo Mauldin IV, LB: Adam Bighill, Adam Auclair, CJ Avery, DB: Ciante Evans, Patrick Burke Jr, Kenneth George Jr, Lawrence Woods III, Dexter Lawson, K: Brett Lauther, P: Richie Leone. … I bet they’d win at least five games.
8 – NFL GRAND PLAN?: The other leagues say the NFL is the King Of All Leagues on this continent because they have the marketing dollars to back them up but that’s hogwash. The NFL’s works its ass off – harder than any other league – to stay relevant 24/7, 365 and I’ve seen how they’ve done it since the 1990s. If you recall, MLB was more popular up till then. … Anyway since, and during, Super Bowl 60 Week the NFL announced they’re headed to play games in France, Brazil and Australia and just this week revealed that the San Francisco 49ers will be play in Mexico City this season as the league has committed to games in the Mexican capital for 2026, 2027 & 2028. We’ve debated on the RP Show what the endgame is here for the NFL – besides just making gobs of money – and I think Commissioner Roger Goodell wants to make the NFL the globe’s first worldwide league with divisions in Europe, Asia, North America and South America. … I pray it happens before I die so I can say I’m right, and it likely will.
9 – OTHER STORYLINES: It’s funny how NBC and USA Network are wall-to-wall with Olympics coverage down here while ESPN and Fox Sports have virtually ignored the Games, and we all know why (they don’t have the broadcast rights). … So here are some of the things being discussed regarding the NFL: 1) Will new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy bring back his old Green Bay buddy, QB Aaron Rodgers?, 2) How much leash will McCarthy get from Steelers fans given the fact he’s a Steeltown native?, 3) Which team has the most pressure on them in 2026?, 4) How soon will Tom Brady return the Las Vegas Raiders to prominence? and 5) The new Miami Dolphins braintrust is taking out the trash (releasing WR Tyreek Hill). Is it going to work?
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Robert Duvall was married four times. … k.d. lang once said if you had to pick, it’s better to be rich than famous. … Billy Graham lived to be 99. … PSA: When your team wins, you don’t get to question coaching decisions. … Please wear headphones in public. … Reporters who turn down requests to be interviewed are hypocrites. … The Blue Jays’ entire infield is playing in the World Baseball Classic: 1B Vlady (Dominican Republic), C Alejandro Kirk (Mexico), SS Andres Giminez (Venezuela), 3B Ernie Clement (USA), 2B Leo Jiminez (Panama). … An Illinois judge ruled against a Chicago man who sued Buffalo Wild Wings, alleging the chain’s use of the term “boneless wings” was deceptive marketing. Aimen Halim filed a lawsuit against the popular restaurant chain, challenging what he called “the false and deceptive marketing and advertising of Buffalo Wild Wings’ Boneless Wings.” The suit alleged the products’ name misleads customers into thinking they are made of de-boned wing meat, rather than breast meat. Halim claimed he purchased a serving of boneless wings, and would not have done so if he had known they weren’t made of wing meat. Buffalo Wild Wings responded to the lawsuit in a post on Twitter/X saying: “It’s true. Our boneless wings are all white meat chicken. Our hamburgers contain no ham. Our buffalo wings are 0% buffalo,” the company said. … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?
Y’er welcome,
RP
When the USA gets serious about Hockey, no doubt. Gretzky will get credit and rightfully so for NHL expansion. His generation played a lot of neutral site games along the way to get a foundation set. At a certain point Gretzky just needs to officially break up with this dump and embrace his home for the past 40 years. He owes Canada nothing and in turn enough is enough for him. Bob Gainey of the Dallas Stars started what is a behemoth of youth hockey expansion in Dallas/Texas overall. The rest of the teams use it as a blueprint. The… Read more »
DeNiro is a leftist lunatic, hard to watch his movies now.
The lesson we are learning. Whether it is actors or athletes along with any false Gods and prophets. The more people search for the truth eventually they wind up at Jesus. Billy Graham said the Bible is the only history book that predicts the present time and future. If what is being stated in the pulpit doesn’t align with what is in that book. You are being hood winked at your most vulnerable moment.
DeNiro – he’s compromised. Hang with Hollywood types long enough and evil will manifest.
The truth does not answer questions.
Not sure what game you were watching Rod ? You have been down in Yankee ville far too long . Canada clearly out played and out chanced USA . Yes they missed far to many chances to put the game away , and yes Helle had a great day ! But he clearly had lady luck on his side on this occasion . LUCKY FOR HIM !! We know thats how it rolls sometimes . As far asThachuk’s goes well a few days ago your saying YOU DONT LIKE WHAT THEY BRING TO THE RINK , but now its praise… Read more »
Sour grapes.
You are either holding the gold or your second best no matter what you tell yourself. That American team is one for the ages. They kick the snot out of Canada in two games. …how did they celebrate? Taking a call from Pres 45&47 – cranking Toby Keith’s Courtesy of the Red White & Blue and crushing Coronas with the Director of the FBI in the dressing room. Inside every Canadian is an American dying to get out and that is why the Republicans have a lock on Gen Z and Canadian real men. Meanwhile in Canada’s dressing room. They… Read more »
What do you mean Red, White and Blue?
According to Google THIRTY different countries have flags that are R,W&B
I can already tell how you were raised or the lack thereof. There was this guy named Toby Keith. He had a long list of bangers. After 9/11 he wrote one called Courtesy of the Red White and Blue. Suffice to say the gist is mess with the USA “we’ll put a boot in your a$$ courtesy of the Red White and Blue” They did that to an evil regime in 2001 and they did it at a hockey tournament. Canada looked like every loser at the local arenas or who got knocked out of a provincial play down Canada… Read more »
The “better team” nonsense has become nauseating. If there was ever such a thing as a pick ’em, it was the Canada/USA matchup for the gold medal game. An absolute dead heat.
Why? some say McDavid is best player in the World? Answer- HE’S NOT the best player in the World. McDavid game play is so predictable, no imagination to it, same old same old. If he was the best player in the World why didn’t he show up in the most crucial 2026 Olympic Gold Medal game and bedazzle the World? Other teams and their personnel have figured out McDavid’s game play, I did, a long long time ago. In the opposition zone he skates out from behind the net and uses the circle paint lines as hus guidelines where he… Read more »
Then who is????
He is the Marcel Dionne of his era and that’s not a bad thing.
I see him playing with a stack of absolute duds in Edmonton. He is uncoachable as there is nobody to play with so he has to do it all.
His best bet. Go the Mike Modano/Scott Niedermayer/Steve Yzerman/Brett Hull route. Go find a team that has a world class goalie and air tight defensive system.
Sidney Crosby impersonated Ron Francis and making sacrifices within a group = championships.
Nobody cares or has a clue how many points Crosby has. He is a winner.