DAYTONA HOMES FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS
19 LEFTOVERS – AND A CONTEST AT THE END
1 – FIRE UP THE RUMOUR MILL: There was a rumour going around Gold’s Gym North this week that slotback Nik Lewis would be playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2014. Would you take him? It likely doesn’t matter because I’ve been informed Lewis is under contract with the Calgary Stampeders for one more year. However more gas was dumped on the fire Thursday evening when Lewis was spotted at Gold’s Gym South working out in Stamps gear. Debate away!
2 – OH SHEETS: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Oakland Raiders are expected to agree to terms with running back Maurice Jones-Drew on a three year deal today. A quick check of the Raiders’ depth chart this morning shows Kory Sheets isn’t even on it! Let alone in the top three. He may be back here before you know it.
3 – DO OR DIE: For the first time this season the Regina Pats are facing an elimination game. The Pats visit Brandon tonight in Game 4 of their WHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal trailing the Wheat Kings 3-0 in the best-of-seven series (6:30 pm, 620 CKRM). The odds are stacked against the Queen City Kids since it’s virtually unheard of to come back from being down 3-0 in the WHL Playoffs.
Hopefully the Pats’ visit to the Canadian Armed Forces base in Shilo, MB on Thursday provides some information. The excursion was described as an “eye-opener” by one member of the team as the players chatted with their namesakes from the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry.
Regina goaltender Daniel Wapple should be commended for suiting up for Game 3 despite his ankle injury and while he clearly wasn’t at 100%, he made some saves which weren’t being made in Games 1 and 2. At least Brandon had to work for its Game 3 victory. However the Pats are going to have to give their goaltenders a lot more help than they have in this series so far. It’s a head-scratcher as to why Regina has been a different team in the playoffs than they were down the stretch.
But there’s still a chance.
4 – HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF?: On this date in 1985 the Regina Pats set a WHL playoff record by scoring 17 goals in a playoff game against the Saskatoon Blades. The Pats won the game 17-3. The record still stands today.
5 – THE SALE IS IN MOTION: The group attempting to purchase the Prince George Cougars from the Rick Brodsky family will file their official franchise purchase application to the WHL office today. It will be reviewed over the next six weeks and then go to a vote by the WHL’s Board of Governors. A two-thirds majority is required for the sale to pass. The group is headed up by Prince George businessman Greg Pocock and includes NHLers (and former P.G. Cougars) Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer. Their intent is to keep the team in Prince George which used to be one of the WHL’s more enviable markets.
6 – YOU PAY YOUR MONEY, YOU TAKE YOUR CHANCES: Much has been made about Pats fans booing and “bronx cheering” goaltender Dawson MacAuley on the weekend. Some felt it was too harsh of treatment for a teenager. However if you plead for a sellout, and the fans deliver, you can’t tell them how to act when they get there. The player is an adult, old enough to vote and get married, and certainly handled the situation with class. I’ve thought long and hard about these situations over the years and concluded that in the WHL the benefits of rockstar status in your community outweigh the negative of the occasional harsh treatment from fans. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and it should build mental toughness.
7 – ON THE BUTTON: TSN hockey analyst and former NHL GM Craig Button was an enlightening guest on the SportsCage this week. He first noted that he is not interested in the vacant Saskatoon Blades GM position although he is voluntarily helping out on the club’s search committee. Craig is happy with his current role on TSN and is a sought-after motivational speaker. He also predicted a St.Louis-Boston Stanley Cup final which we pointed out is a rematch of the 1970 NHL championship series. “Oh yah!” Button blurted. “The Orr goal!”
8 – GOING STREAKING: With a loser point on Monday in Calgary, the San Jose Sharks clinched a playoff spot for the 10th consecutive year. That’s the fourth-longest streak among the Big Four (NHL, MLB, NFL and NBA). Only the Red Wings (22 years), Spurs (16) and Nuggets (10) are longer. It’s interesting to note the B.C. Lions have the CFL’s longest current playoff streak dating back to 1992.
9 – ON THE VERGE OF A RECORD: The Calgary Flames have been in an NHL-leading 44 one-goal games this season. The club record is 45 set in 2005-06. However in the end what does it mean? Nothing.
10 – FAIR TRADE?: Thursday was the one year anniversary of the Jarome Iginla trade from Calgary to Pittsburgh The two players the Flames received from Pittsburgh, Kenny Agostino and Ben Hanowski, were healthy scratches in Calgary’s home game against Anaheim on Wednesday.
11 – TO BLOCK OR NOT TO BLOCK: TSN’s NHL colour commentator Ray Ferraro made an interesting comment during an Oilers telecast this week. He said, “Coaches can’t demand players block shots anymore. You have to ask”. It’s true, players aren’t lining up to get down in front of a Shea Weber slapshot and there are bruised ankles all over the place. It made me pay close attention to this theory in subsequent NHL and WHL games and Razor’s right; you never see players dive in front of shots anymore. Ever!
12 – THE HOUNDS AND THE BLUES: Wilcox, Saskatchewan’s Jaden Schwartz recently became the third former Notre Dame Hound to score 20 goals in a St. Louis Blues uniform. The others are Rod Brind’amour and Scott Pellerin.
13 – OIL CHANGE(S): The Edmonton Oilers are out in the NHL wilderness and it appears they couldn’t find their way out with a flashlight and a compass. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug said in a report this week, “The venom towards the hockey team in this city is at an all-time high”. Even head coach Dallas Eakins admitted that “it’s horrible”.
The Oilers’ struggles have provided material for Edmonton-based comedian Ken Hicks who appeared last weekend at Regina’s Laugh Shop Comedy Club in the Ramada Hotel and Convention Centre. “The Oilers are so young, their team picture looks like a One Direction album cover!” Hicks snickered. “I’m afraid the only team they could beat is the Predators!”
14 – MORE STREAKING: The SJHL semifinals open Friday night with Melville at the Battlefords and Humboldt at Yorkton. These match-ups insure that for a tenth straight season, either the Terriers or Broncos will be in the SJHL championship final. By the way the SportsCage will be broadcasting live from Melville before Game 4 next Wednesday.
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| Scheurwater |
15 – PLAY BALL!: Regina’s Stu Scheurwater will be behind the plate for Saturday’s Blue Jays-Mets MLB preseason game at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. He’s been umpiring in the minors for a decade or so and is on the big league call-up list this year! Another Saskatchewan kid hits the big time.
16 – LEFTOVERS FROM A.C.: In the MMG I recapped Anthony Calvillo’s moving speech at Saturday’s Regina Thunder Champions Dinner but I left out a couple of interesting comments from our Q & A. Calvillo said Don Mathews was the best offensive coordinator for whom he ever played. I suggested that “The Don” is remembered as a defensive specialist but A.C. countered with, “That’s what everybody thinks but he designed the offense and Jim Barker called the plays!”
Calvillo also predicted that there will be NO CFL work stoppage in 2014. He feels the players simply can’t afford to go on strike. And CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon made a great point in Winnipeg this week that a good number of CFL teams are on the hook for millions of dollars for stadium construction and renovations. In the end the owners will win and after closer examination, they should.
17 – THE SUNSHINE STATE: Roughriders Assistant GM Jeremy O’Day will join us on Four Seasons Football Friday in the SportsCage today on 620 CKRM. Jeremy will outline the team’s plans for its Florida minicamp next weekend in Bradenton, FL. The SportsCage will be broadcasting live from the IMG Academy next week with shows on Friday and Saturday on site. We’ll have a special Monday edition live from Hogan’s Beach Bar in Tampa Bar once camp wraps up. Tune in today to hear who will be donning the Green & White in Florida.
18 – A CFL’ER GETS A SUPER BOWL RING: On Thursday evening I was discussing the hiring of Rey Williams as the Riders’ first-ever Director of Player Development with one of the team’s assistant coaches. We agreed it’s a long overdue appointment. He also pointed out that former CFL linebacker Maurice Kelly (Las Vegas, Toronto, BC and Winnipeg) is the Seattle Seahawks Director of Player Development and thus, will receive a 2013 Super Bowl ring.
19 – FINALLY, THE CONTEST: Enter to win two tickets to Avenged Sevenfold with special guests HellYeah at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw on April 16, 2014. To enter, simply text “MOSAIC” to 393939. The contest closes Monday at 11:00 am. For more information on tickets to Avenged Sevenfold visit: http://tickets.mosaicplace.ca
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THAT’S ALL! SEE YOU IN THE CAGE AT 4 PM
RP
@sportscage
Lewis in Green and White? Who would have thought Geroy would have been?
nik lewis AND geroy simon? as roughriders in green??
i do not know how to comprehend that, but do know that many in rider nation would also not know how to comprehend that!
however, as the cfl is the only soap opera i follow and/or care about, i'd welcome it!
chapeau
I'd take Nik Lewis yesterday. I'm sure there are a few babies who will be concerned that he talked trash to someone, somewhere, sometime though. Doesn't concern me though. The guy just moves the chains. He'll fit in just fine.
Who would you play goalie for the Pats in Game 4?
Don K
Nik's best days long behind him, is too expensive, and not sure he would have much of an impact ….
We would have to open another KFC.
Riders don’t need Lewis, too much “leadership” makes your team too old and too slow to be effective. If you bring Lewis in, you need to ship Simon out. If it comes down to leadership and team chemistry I’d take Simon over Lewis.
So how long till Sheets is back in a green uniform?
The Oakland Raiders have re-signed Darren McFadden and have signed Maurice Jones-Drew to play RB. Oakland is also very high on 2nd year RB Latavius Murray which instantly puts Sheets 4th on the depth chart.
Simon is not Lewis. Thankfully. I really hope Nik Lewis is not a Roughrider this season or ever.
Maybe MacAuley is considered adult age, but to not even dress him as a backup for game #3. What does that do to the team when you are trying to preach stick together and play as a TEAM.
Lewis girlfriend lives here. That's all.
12 Oil Changes;
So Eakins thinks "It's horrible" Well guess what, he's part of the reason why. It's pretty obvious that any coach that puts up signs that say "Chop wood, carry water" and thinks that's motivational material is in over his head.
I'll pass on Lewis too. We already have enough leadership in the dressing room plus receivers who can get the job done. The anon poster is right, too much "leadership" can turn into a bad thing. I'd be interested to know how many of those one-goal games were wins and losses. If even half those losses were wins the Flames would be right in the thick of the playoff hunt. Bob McKenzie on TSN talked about the Flames taking that next step and they'll need some more scoring punch to do it. Still, all the other pieces are in place… Read more »
No such thing as too much leadership. Too much ego, yes.
Ya I've seen thick Nick at Golds the past few off seasons. No big deal.
No disrespect to Brockman or Cassan, but not many if in fact any coaches that have made a direct jump from Jr. A to the WHL have had success. Its usally best for the guys who first come in as Assistants and get the feel for the WHL then try to move on for a head coaching job. No offence to the Rat, but I'm sure Derkatch would be the first to admit this. The jump to major Jr. Is a big adjustment for coaches…just as it is for Pro coaches moving from coaching pro's to developing amatuer athletes and… Read more »
Don't know about the other guys but Derkatch was ready to be a HC. He would've been successful if given the proper opportunity.
Sheets on his way back and I bet Weston is next…. a lot of talk about nothing.
Just goes to underline the fact that much of the media (and fans) talk/panic/hype is just that and has little to do with reality.
Nice statement about reality as you make up a scenario in your head.
A response to a couple three things: 1) The Riders do not need Nik Lewis. Geroy Simon was a different type of veteran leadership, and he accepted his role. Nik Lewis would never bite his tongue and do that. 2) In a salary cap world, Kory Sheets just may stick with the Oakland Raiders. He works cheap in that league, but if he were to be cut and have to come back to the CFL I would be very cautious. Once they've been to the big time, or had a taste of it how can they be expected to come… Read more »
Kevin Yates must have texted Obama and told him to get a shot in at Wall on Rod's blog. Or maybe Obama is just bitter that not only is Wall the premier and Link is not, but Wall's SC Broncos are in the thick of the playoffs and the Pats already have tee times booked.
If the Wheaties win tonight I do not consider it an upset at all. Brandon was picked to be 1st or 2nd in the Division while Pats were not even supposed to show up. A rash of injuries mid-season caused Brandon to slide down in the standings and if it were not for a late comeback against the Pats in the 2nd last game of the season they may not be in the playoffs at all, which would have been unfortunate but them's the breaks. You Pats "fans" that are saying they are choking in this series should think about… Read more »
Dear wheat king fan I love how you give you're excuse about all the injuries the wheat kings had .well I bet the pats could say that in this series.