FRIDAY COMMENTARY – DON’T PLAY CHICKEN

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

A COUPLE OF THINGS TO MULL OVER ON A FRIDAY …

IF YOU’RE A HOCKEY FAN, YOU MUST HAVE A FEELING EITHER WAY ABOUT THE SJHL ALLOWING WHL PLAYERS TO PLAY IN THEIR LEAGUE UNTIL DECEMBER 20.

I’VE GONE BACK AND FORTH ON IT, AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS SINCE IT WAS ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK. OVERALL, I DON’T SEE THE POINT.

THE ONLY ADVANTAGE I COULD SEE IS FOR S-J TEAMS TO RACK UP POINTS IN THE STANDINGS BEFORE THE DEADLINE. BUT THE DOWNSIDE IS THE 4-TO-5 PLAYERS WHO’VE BEEN SKATING WITH THE CLUBS ALL FALL BEING RELEGATED TO THE STANDS NOW WHILE THE DUB STARS TAKE THEIR SPOTS.

ONE GENERAL MANAGER TOLD ME NONE OF THIS IS THE CASE AND THAT THESE BIG NAME JUNIOR PLAYERS FIT IN WITH THE CORE VALUES OF THEIR FRANCHISE AND WILL BE A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THEIR OTHER PLAYERS.

AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT LOYALTY, CONSIDER REIGNING SJHL GOALIE OF THE YEAR BERK BERKELIEV OF THE MILLIONAIRES WHO FLEW THE COOP IN MELVILLE AND SIGNED WITH NEW JERSEY IN U-S JUNIOR FOR THIS SEASON.

THE MILS’ REBUILD WAS FOCUSED AROUND BERK, BUT HE DID WHAT WAS BEST FOR HIM. NOW, THE TEAMS ARE DOING THE SAME. THEY ALWAYS HAVE, BUT NOW IT’S EVIDENT FOR YOU ALL TO SEE.

THIS WHOLE SITUATION DOESN’T SMACK OF BEING PATIENT, OR THE PHONY LINE OF “WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER”.

MEANWHILE THE SJHL ANNOUNCED ITS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE THIS WEEK BUT THERE WAS REPORTEDLY A CATCH. THEY WEREN’T GOING TO PLAY UNLESS THE CAP OF 150 SPECTATORS WAS LIFTED BY GOVERNMENT HEALTH OFFICIALS.

TO ME, IT LOOKED LIKE A DANGEROUS GAME OF CHICKEN WITH THE GOVERNMENT. AS IT TURNS OUT, IT WAS. I GOT WORD LAST NIGHT THAT THE SEASON WILL COMMENCE ON NOVEMBER 6, WITH THE 150 CAP STILL IN PLACE.

WE’VE LEARNED MANY, MANY THINGS DURING EIGHT MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC.

ONE OF THOSE IS – DON’T PLAY CHICKEN WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WIN.

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