FRIDAY CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY – THIS IS IT

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 am and 5:20 pm on Cat Country 98 FM)

IF YOU LOVE HOCKEY, YOU’D BETTER BE WATCHING THE NEXT TWO NIGHTS!

FRIDAY NIGHT IS GAME 4 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL AND THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING TAKE A 2-1 SERIES LEAD INTO THE GAME OVER THE DALLAS STARS.

THE SERIES REALLY HAS BEEN FASCINATING ALTHOUGH IT MAY GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE LEAST-WATCHED, WITH LESS THAN A MILLION CANADIANS TAKING IT IN ON SOME NIGHTS.

WE HAD THE FAMED “KEEPER OF THE CUP”, PHIL PRITCHARD FROM THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME, ON THURSDAY’S ROD PEDERSEN SHOW AND HE’S ALREADY IN EDMONTON, IN THE BUBBLE, AND READY TO HAND OUT LORD STANLEY AS EARLY AS SATURDAY NIGHT.

WHEN I WAS A KID, I USED TO RECORD HOCKEY GAMES ON OUR FAMILY VCR FOR WATCHING IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN I WAS MISSING THE GAME.

THIS FEELS LIKE THAT.

NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN HAS ANNOUNCED THE LEAGUE’S OFF-SEASON HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS RELATING TO COVID AND SAID WHILE HE EXPECTS THERE TO BE A 2020-21 SEASON, HE CAN’T SAY WHEN.

HAVEN’T WE HEARD THAT BEFORE?

FRANKLY THIS IS TURNING INTO A MAJOR TUG-OF-WAR. SPORTS PEOPLE IN CANADA ARE FEELING OPTIMISTIC THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE A RETURN TO PLAY SOONER THAN LATER BUT MY GUT IS STRONGLY TELLING ME WE WILL NOT.

AND AS OF TODAY, I’VE SEEN EXACTLY ZERO INDICATION THAT THINGS WILL CHANGE ANYTIME SOON.

AT LEAST I’LL HAVE HOCKEY GAMES TAPED ON MY PVR TO ENJOY ON THOSE COLD WINTER NIGHTS.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.