Moose Jaw Express Pedersen Column

Reprinted with permission of the Moose Jaw Express newspaper:

1 – IN THE HANGAR: At press time, the Moose Jaw Warriors are still trying to find their game. At 4-5-0 and coming off a 4-2 home loss to Swift Current on Tuesday, The Tribe sits 10th in the WHL’s Eastern Conference as the team prepares to host a four-game homestand in late October. The Warriors are literally trying to find their game, or a complete game, as explained by Assistant Coach Darrin McKechnie on Country 100. “We’ve had that all year, being down and fighting back,” McKechnie told James Gallo. “That hasn’t been our problem. It would be nice to play with the lead instead of chasing the game.” It’ll come.

2 – SMITTY STRIKES: Rookie Warriors forward Carson Smith netted his first WHL point, an assist on Jan Trefny’s second period goal, in that Swift Current game. The 17-year old from West Kelowna, BC was the last player on the club to hit the scoresheet this season! “Ya for sure it feels good,” Smith told James Gallo on the Mad Greek postgame show. “It’s always a good feeling but at the end of the day, not the outcome the team was hoping for, but for me personally it feels good. It’s a little confidence booster.”

3 – DUB EAST: We love our Power Rankings around here! One month into the regular season, here’s where we think the Eastern Conference stacks up: 1) Brandon, 2) Medicine Hat, 3) Swift Current, 4) Red Deer, 5) Saskatoon (have we reminded you it’s incredibly early?), 6) Edmonton, 7) Calgary, 8) Moose Jaw, 9) Lethbridge, 10) Regina, 11) Prince Albert.

4 – LATE NIGHT SNACK: With a 2-0 win over the Penticton Vees on Oct. 16, Wenatchee Wild Head Coach Don Nachbaur moved into sole possession of second place on the WHL’s all-time coaching wins list with 743. The victory moved Nachbaur past longtime Portland Winterhawks Head Coach Ken Hodge and his 742 wins. The 67-year old from Kitimat, BC began his WHL coaching career with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 1994-95.

5 – HORDY SWAP: The Saskatoon Blades have added 2009-born forward Braden Hordichuk in a cross-division trade with the Regina Pats in exchange for a 2030 eighth round pick. Hordichuk, of Scottsdale, AZ, made his WHL debut against the Edmonton Oil Kings on October 2 and logged 10 penalty minutes. Just like his dad Darcy, a former Blade (1998-2000), who played 542 NHL games and was a super pest in both leagues.

6 – CHL RANKINGS: From a panel of NHL scouts and Central Scouting here’s the CHL Top 10 for Week 5 – 1) Guelph, 2) London, 3) Quebec, 4) Spokane, 5) Val D’or, 6) Ottawa, 7) Victoria, 8) Brandon, 9) Medicine Hat, 10) Newfoundland. The Memorial Cup will be played in Guelph, ON May 21-30.

7 – SJHL POWER RANKINGS: 1) Warman, 2) Weyburn, 3) Melfort, 4) Humboldt, 5) Flin Flon, 6) Melville, 7) Nipawin, 8) Yorkton, 9) Kindersley, 10) Battlefords, 11) Nipawin, 12) Estevan.

8 – RIDERS PLAYOFFS: Saskatchewan clinched a CFL playoff berth with a 16-12 home victory over the Montreal Alouettes at Mosaic Stadium in Week 20 however at press time, their playoff opponent had not been determined. Still, a massive relief on Elphinstone St. I’m sure.

9 – HOPPY LIVES: I once asked Hall of Fame Rider President Jim Hopson how the team could ever top winning the Grey Cup at home like we did in 2013 (45-23 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Taylor Field)? He responded as he stroked his white goatee, “To win back-to-back”. They now have that chance.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Facebook memories aren’t good for the PTSD. … Jesus had haters. … From FoxNews: Consuming Ultra-Processed Foods Increases The Risk Of Brain Damage. … Never seen a ref change his mind.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen

(For Moose Jaw sporting tips and scoops, email Rod at pedersenmedia@outlook.com)