DAYTONA HOMES FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

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TOP 10 FRIDAY THOUGHTS

1 – OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER DUPLICATED:  Roughriders head scout Craig Smith pointed out in Florida on the weekend that comparisons to Weston Dressler for rookie prospect Ryan Smith are unfair.  He’s right, but unfortunately they’re also inevitable.  Back in the day I didn’t like being compared to legendary Regina broadcasters Geoff Currier and Kevin Gallant but it happened anyway.  So be it.

We all know Dressler’s story by now but Ryan Smith’s is remarkably similar.  He’s from small-town North Dakota (Wahpeton to be exact, population 7800), he’s 5’7″, 175 lbs, plays the inside “slot” position, and was a star at North Dakota State University.  Sound familiar?  But it doesn’t stop there.  Their dogged determination is a carbon copy and so is their “aw shucks”, humble demeanor.  But that’s just a coincidence.

However for at least three reasons, a lot of people are uneasy with tabbing Ryan Smith as “the next Weston Dressler”: 1) it places monstrous, unfair expectations from the Rider Nation on a nice,  unassuming kid, 2) it may inflate his own ego, and 3) it may cause NFL teams to take a closer look at him which might already be hindering contract negotiations between Smith and the Roughriders.

My take is this; all winter long people have been wringing their hands at the losses of Weston Dressler and Kory Sheets.  There was downright panic in this province at the idea of Dressler leaving.  So relax, there may be another coming down the pipe.  Up until last week, I didn’t even know Ryan Smith existed!  And as far as hyping him up too much and getting people worked up, that’s what I do.  But for now we’ll pump the brakes.

2 – HOPPING ALONG: The same goes for speculation over Jim Hopson’s future.  It’s funny how from one news conference on Wednesday (Brendan Taman’s contract extension), I came away with a positive feeling while other media outlets went away thinking team President Jim Hopson is going to be out the door one day soon.  As Eric Tillman once said, “That’s the way they’re wired”.

Anyway my prediction is Hopson will be around as Roughrider President and CEO for at least two more seasons and more likely until the team moves into the new stadium in 2017.  Jim has his detractors – don’t we all – but his success is undeniable.  He took over a team that was flat-broke on February 2, 2005 and transformed it into the machine it is now with tens of millions of dollars in the bank and two Grey Cup titles.  He has the nuts to make tough decisions which aren’t always popular, but have proven to be the right moves in the end.  Again, no one can deny what he’s done.  He’ll be on the SportsCage today along with Rider chairman Roger Brandvold on Four Seasons Football Friday.

3 – HOT CHICK: The Juvenile Diabetes (JDRF) is pleased to invite the general public to its 2nd Annual Research Symposium this Sunday from 2pm – 4pm at the Regina Ramada.  Roughriders star John Chick, a diabetes sufferer, will be speaking along with Dr. James Shapiro from the Edmonton Islet Cell Transplant Program who will discuss his program and other Type 1 Diabetes research projects taking place in the world.  Please RSVP by phoning 306-543-5451 or email regina@jdrf.ca.  Randy Durovick with JDRF can be reached at 306-533-9940.

4 – THE RING OF FIRE:  Speaking of Jim Hopson, Wednesday must have been a special night in the Saddledome as the Calgary Flames beat the L.A. Kings 4-3 in a shootout.  Hopson was in attendance as a guest of Flames President Ken King and saw the Flames tie an NHL record with their 49th one-goal game (Florida Panthers, 2010-11 season).  Calgary’s Sean Monahan also became the first Flames rookie to score 21 goals since Jarome Iginla in 1996-97 and there were also NO penalties in the game!  That was a franchise first for the Flames and just the second time for the L.A. Kings (the first was February 19, 1977).

5 – OIL LEAK:  So the Kings needed a slump-buster down the stretch and they found it in Edmonton Thursday evening, easily blanking the Oilers 3-0 to complete a four-game season series sweep.  Hall of Fame Oilers voice Rod Phillips wrote on Twitter, “LA Kings at a different level than the Oilers.  Tough for Edmonton fans to swallow”.  Among the six Oiler players who did not dress and are out for the season was forward Boyd Gordon (shoulder), a Regina product.  Did you watch the telecast on TSN?  Oilers GM Craig MacTavish was interviewed between periods and didn’t seem to have any answers.

6 – NO MORE SHANNY BANS:  Toronto Maple Leafs fans are abuzz with the news Brendan Shanahan will leave the NHL office to become President of the Leafs as early as Monday.  It certainly is a trend isn’t it?  Trevor Linden was hired as President of the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.  However Sportsnet’s Arash Madani made a great point on Thursday’s SportsCage.  It’s all great to bring back these hockey legends to be in charge of these teams (even the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers got in on the act hiring franchise great Wade Miller as President) but what experience do these guys have in running pro sports franchises???  Meh.  It worked for the Roughriders with Jim Hopson.  Let’s see how it plays out.  For the Leafs Nation, which seems very similar to the Rider Nation, they deserve better than what they’ve had for the past generation.  I’m surprised their fanbase has remained so loyal.

7 – STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF NOTES:  Montreal could become “Canada’s Team” in the NHL Playoffs since they’re the only team in the tournament from Canada but the L.A. Kings and Philadelphia Flyers have the most Saskatchewan kids with four each.  In L.A. it’s Jarret Stoll, Robyn Regehr, Linden Vey and Dwight King while in Philadelphia it’s Luke and Brayden Schenn, Brayden Coburn and Scott Hartnell.  The truth is there are Saskatchewan kids littered all over the Stanley Cup Playoffs like: St. Louis (Jaden Schwartz and Brenden Morrow), San Jose (Patrick Marleau), Anaheim (Ryan Getzlaf), Columbus (Ryan Murray and Nick Schultz), New York Rangers (Derek Dorsett), Pittsburgh (Chris Kunitz), Montreal (Travis Moen), Tampa Bay (Keith Aulie).  If I’ve overlooked anyone, please let me know in the comments section.

P.S. … For those of us having playoff drafts, who’s your dark horse?  I’m assuming when we sit down to the draft table the Bruins, Penguins, Kings and Blues will all go early.  I’ve had success in the past loading up on a dark horse who went deep into the spring.  Who’s going to do that this year?

8 – THE MOUSTACHE IS COMING TO REGINA:  Hockey Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald was on the SportsCage on Thursday promoting his upcoming appearance in Regina on Wednesday, April 30 at the Travelodge for the 2nd Annual Cougar Mens Hockey Alumni fundraising dinner.  We likely sold a lot of tickets with that interview because Lanny had us in stitches.  He may end up being funnier than last year’s speaker Tiger Williams.  Regardless, tickets are $100 each and can be purchased by calling Sharky at 306-539-4089 or by visiting the association’s website at http://www.reginacougarhockeyalumni.com/.  It’s an old school, boys-night-out hockey banquet and I’m thrilled to be the MC.

9 – TEEPEE TALK:  Folk singer Buffy St. Marie hasn’t been relevant in 30 years and now she’s causing all kinds of problems for the Moose Jaw Warriors by saying their 1984 logo is offensive.  What a wild debate this has touched off!  Unfortunately race is always a lightning rod in this province and everywhere else.  Personally I like the logo and like all of the things associated with the native heritage.  We were taught in schools growing up about First Nations people and how they lived off the land and were extremely resourceful and hearty.  Legendary Chiefs like Sitting Bull were revered and I couldn’t wait to get to the Big Muddy as a child to actually see where he had presided.  Some of the best people I know are First Nations while some of the most horrible people I know are white.  We’re all the same under the colour of our skin.  So having said that, and because some have asked my opinion on the topic, I implore the Warriors to simply do what they think is best with this logo and jersey.  For those who are offended, they need to look in the mirror and ask what’s wrong with them.

10 – FINALLY, A CHAMPIONSHIP: The Pilot Butte Storm succumbed to the Saskatoon Quakers in the seventh and deciding game of the PJHL championship series by a 5-2 score on Wednesday.  It might have been, in a way, a relief for first-year Storm coach Karl McNish because had they won, the team had no way to finance a trip to Abbottsford for the Keystone Cup.  They were actually going to have to ask the players to pay their own way, on top of hosting a variety of fundraisers.  Regardless, Karl and the boys should be proud of their season and as far as Saskatoon goes, they finally won a hockey title!

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A note from the Press Box Sports Bar regarding their annual hockey draft to be held Monday evening:

It’s that time again where spring begins and our favourite time of year is near, The Stanley Cup Playoffs!

We are having our 6th annual NHL draft Mon April 14th. We look forward to Trev and Kitzi hosting the event again this year.

Itinerary:
6-6:30pm Registration
7-8 pm Full rack of RIBS dinner with rice and Caesar salad, and a beer.
8pm  Draft begins.

The total per team is $480.00 with a max of 8 people per team.
We based our prize money again on 20 teams so please let others know and spread the word to ensure a sellout.

FIRST: $4000.00 based on 20 teams
Second: $2000.00 based on 20 teams
Third: $1000.00 based on 20 teams

For details email pressbox@sasktel.net, call 306-924-0111 or stop into the Press Box at 909 Albert St. N. and ask your server.

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THAT’S ALL! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
RP
@sportscage