DAYTONA HOMES FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

NO BREAKING NEWS, BUT 10 FUN NOTES TODAY

1 – THIS IS OUR MARCH MADNESS!:  They’re going bonkers in the States with the March Madness NCAA basketball tournament getting underway but we have our own version in our own backyard; the WHL Playoffs.  The tournament for the Ed Chynoweth Cup opened Thursday evening with Kootenay upsetting the Hitmen in Game 1 in Calgary by a 5-2 score.  A respectable crowd of 6649 turned out to Scotiabank Saddledome.

It will be interesting to see what the crowds are in Regina’s Brandt Centre for Games 1 and 2 of the Pats’ first round series with the Brandon Wheat Kings this Saturday and Sunday.  In 2012 Regina soldout the old Agridome for Games 3 and 4 against Moose Jaw which is virtually unheard of in the WHL but that will be tough to match this time around.  The Warriors brought a lot of fans over for those games and for some reason there was much more buzz in the city then than there is now.

Case in point — as of Thursday morning only 12 seats had been sold for the Pats’ fan bus going to Brandon for Game 4 next Friday.  It’s tough to pinpoint why the hype isn’t where it should be but I’ve given up on begging people to buy tickets.  However I’ll guarantee something will happen this weekend in the games to spark interest in this series.  It always does when the Pats and Wheat Kings collide in the playoffs.  The fun part is no one knows what it will be!

I wondered if I was doing the right thing by taking 620 CKRM’s SportsCage to the Brandt Centre box office for Friday’s show but darn it, this is the biggest thing we have going on right now!  It’s time to get excited.

As far as a prediction goes, I can’t see Regina winning this series without the services of star goaltender Daniel Wapple.  However I’d be ecstatic if back-up Dawson MacAuley makes me eat my words. Regardless I’m taking the Pats in a bet with Regina Keg manager Jordy Schaworski (a Brandon product and Kelly McCrimmon disciple).  However we have not yet decided what’s on the line.

2 – QUOTE OF THE WEEK #1:  It came from Brandon Wheat Kings Coach/GM Kelly McCrimmon on the SportsCage on Thursday when Kelly Remple and I asked who should wear the ‘underdog’ label in this series.  “Let me see,” McCrimmon smirked.  “The Pats finished first and all I’ve read about is how many goals they score.  On the other hand we’re leaking oil going into the postseason and we only made the playoffs in the 72nd game.  I think two astute hockey men such as yourselves can figure out who the underdog is.”

3- TO SNUB OR NOT TO SNUB?:  Several WHL types and fans alike were rankled at my assertion that Regina’s Chad Lang and Malcolm Cameron were robbed of the Conference nominations for GM and Coach of the Year respectively.  However my mind’s made up and you should know by now that as far as my teams are concerned, they can do no wrong.

4 – THE RING OF FIRE: The Calgary Flames are keeping a close eye on prospect Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats.  The Flames noted on their Twitter account this week that Klimchuk led the Pats with 1.3 points-per-game in the regular season.  The regular season makes All-Stars and the playoffs make legends.  It’s time for Klimchuk to step up.  Incidentally Pats teammate Chandler Stephenson got the only All-Star nod on Thursday, being named to the second team Eastern Conference roster.  Was team MVP Dyson Stevenson snubbed?  You decide.

5 – THE MOTION PASSES: The CFL rules committee, which includes Roughrider head coach Corey Chamblin, voted in favour of video replay for pass interference calls or “non-calls” beginning in 2014.  Now it goes to the CFL’s Board of Governors for ratification but that’s a slam dunk.  The Riders wouldn’t say whether they supported the idea or not, but it’s safe to say they do.  If I’m wrong, I’m sure I’ll be notified.  One CFL fan moaned Thursday night that this will mean 3 1/2 hour games from now on but the number of challenges should remain the same.  Many of the rule changes over the past few years seem tedious but this is one that should truly improve the game.

6 – CHANGING HISTORY: It’s fun to think about how many championships would have changed hands if video replay was available for the past 40 years.  In the 1972 Grey Cup Hamilton’s Dave Fleming was clearly out-of-bounds when he caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Chuck Ealey against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the first quarter in Ivor Wynne Stadium.  Video review might have altered the outcome in that tight game.  What about the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals and the infamous “foot-in-the-crease” goal by Brett Hull to clinch the series for the Dallas Stars over the Buffalo Sabres?  Truthfully it wouldn’t have mattered.  The rule book, at the time, stated the goal will stand if the offending player doesn’t interfere with the goaltender.  Hull did not.

7 – QUOTE OF THE WEEK #2: From Sportsnet’s Arash Madani on the SportsCage on Thursday regarding the Montreal Alouettes placing exiled NFL’er Chad OchoCino on their negotiation list.  “I would love to see Chad’s face when the contract is slid across the table,” Madani chuckled.  “But Jim Popp has done this in the past.  I have a tough time believing Chad Johnson would consider it but if he does, it’ll make a heckuva spring!”

It should be noted the Alouettes also have quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Russell Wilson on their neg list.  And the last we looked, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats owned quarterback Johnny Manziel’s CFL rights.  He’s a projected Top-5 pick in the NFL Draft by some.

7 – NO ONE LIKES A BULLY: Star Roughrider slotback Chris Getzlaf is travelling the province spreading the word about the Red Cross’s Anti-Bullying Campaign.  Chris will discuss it on the SportsCage tonight and he’ll also unveil plans for the inaugural Chris Getzlaf & Friends Celebrity Golf Classic at the Long Creek Golf Course.  The event will be held on May 24 in Avonlea and several CFL and NHL types will be on hand along with yours truly as MC.  For more information, call Nelson Motors in Avonlea at 306-868-2022.

8 – A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN: The Craven Country Jamboree raised $10,000 for the SJHL’s scholarship fund in 2013 and they’re back for more in 2014.  Details were announced this week and Craven manager Ted Gross said on the SportsCage that the pairing of a country music festival and a hockey league may seem odd to some.  I had to laugh at that comment.  You can’t throw a stone at Craven without hitting a hockey player.  Good on Craven for giving back.  Both organizations are very close to me.

Incidentally as wonky as the new SJHL divisional alignment seems, it’s getting the thumbs-up from the league’s coaches and GMs.  For instance, Yorkton coach Trent Cassan told us on the Cage last night they’ve never met Notre Dame in the playoffs until this year.  At least, not in his time.  The current Battlefords/Estevan series is an intriguing one as well and tonight the Bruins go up to North Battleford trailing 3-1.  Congrats too to Melville’s Jamie Fiesel, who was named SJHL Coach of the Year on Wednesday.  The Millionaires are waiting for Round 3 of the playoffs after sweeping Kindersley.

9 – PHOTO TIME:

Craven Country Jamboree Communications Manager Kim Blevins sent in this photo from the NHL Alumni game played in Nashville on Saturday.  It depicts some good Saskatchewan boys.  From left: Jamie Heward, Kelly Chase, Kurt Wickenheiser, Troy Volhoffer, Mike Sillinger, Garth Butcher and Barry Trotz.

10 – GREEN IS THE COLOUR: It’s that time of year again — the 620 CKRM Roughrider Pep Band is looking for new members.  They’re inviting all musicians to their first rehearsal on Sunday, April 6 at the Eagles Hall on Halifax Street.  The Pep Band is looking for percussion, trumpet, tuba, trombone, baritone and saxophone players.  For more information call Bob at 306-586-2639 or email riderpepband@accesscomm.ca.

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THAT’S ALL! SEE YOU IN THE CAGE AT 4:00 PM
RP
@sportscage