FRIDAY COMMENTARY – JUST GO WITH IT

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)

IT’S FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS IT’S TIME FOR THREE THOUGHTS IN ONE COMMENTARY …

FIRST, CANADA CLAIMED GOLD AT THE WORLD UNDER-18 HOCKEY TOURNAMENT IN FRISCO, TEXAS LAST NIGHT WITH A THRILLING 5-3 WIN OVER RUSSIA.

HONESTLY JUST WHEN YOU THINK CONNOR BEDARD CAN’T POSSIBLY SURPRISE YOU ANY MORE, THE 15-YEAR OLD PHENOM TAKES IT UP A NOTCH.

JUST SECONDS AFTER BEING DENIED ON A PENALTY SHOT IN THE FIRST PERIOD, THE PATS STAR SLICED THROUGH THE RUSSIAN D AND ROOFED A BACKHAND FROM 20-FEET OUT. IT’S THE NICEST GOAL I’VE SEEN HIM SCORE.

IT’S THE JUNIOR HOCKEY OFF-SEASON NOW, AND THIS’LL BE THE LONGEST OFF-SEASON EVER AS WE ANTICIPATE BEDARD FILLING THE BRANDT CENTRE NEXT FALL …

NEXT, TV RATINGS MAY HAVE BEEN DOWN 20% FOR TUESDAY’S CFL DRAFT ON TSN BUT THAT REALLY IS IMMATERIAL AT THE MOMENT.

WHAT’S PARAMOUNT IS THIS LEAGUE GETTING ONTO THE FIELD IN 2021. THAT WILL SOLVE EVERYTHING.

WHAT I’M SEEING IN THE NEWS DOES NOT LOOK POSITIVE BUT WHAT IS POSITIVE ARE THE PEOPLE IN THE LEAGUE. ESPECIALLY THE PLAYERS.

JUST LIKE LAST SUMMER, I SUGGEST WE JUST GO WITH IT AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

WHAT OTHER CHOICE DO WE HAVE?

AND LASTLY, IT TURNS OUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN NEW YORK WITH THE RANGERS IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE DISCUSSED HERE YESTERDAY.

IT WAS TEAM CEO JAMES DOLAN WHO FIRED OFF THE NASTY STATEMENT TO THE NHL REGARDING PLAYER SAFETY CHIEF GEORGE PARROS, AND WHEN THE TEAM PRESIDENT AND GM STOOD UP TO DOLAN, HE FIRED THEM.

THE 250-THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE DOLAN RECEIVED IS BEING CONSIDERED “MONEY WELL SPENT”.

IT’S TOUGH TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON WITH A TEAM 25-HUNDRED KILOMETRES AWAY (LOOK IT UP), BUT WE WERE CLOSE.

IN THE END, ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY INVOLVED LOOKS BAD BUT IT’S CLEAR THE NHL AND THE RANGERS DON’T CARE. I GUESS WHEN YOU HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY.