FRIDAY COMMENTARY – LET’S DROP THE PUCK

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

THINGS ARE STARTING TO SHAKE IN THE WHL.

THE HOCKEY WORLD’S BUZZING OVER THURSDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE ALBERTA GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED A RETURN TO PLAY FOR THE PROVINCE’S FIVE TEAMS BEGINNING FEBRUARY 26.

THE OBVIOUS NEXT QUESTION AROUND HERE IS, “IS SASKATCHEWAN NEXT?”

TIME WILL TELL. BUT THE REVELATION BY THE ALBERTA GOVERNMENT IS A MAJOR STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

RUMOURS ABOUND OVER WHAT’S GOING ON BEHIND-THE-SCENES BETWEEN THE LEAGUES, THE TEAMS AND PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICIALS.

FRANKLY, I HAVEN’T POKED TOO MUCH INTO IT BECAUSE IT’S A HIGHLY DELICATE SITUATION, FOR SURE A POLITICAL FOOTBALL, AND ONE WRONG STATEMENT COULD PUT THE WHOLE THING UP IN SMOKE.

I DO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT FOR THOSE WHO ASK “WHY ARE THEY TRYING TO PLAY AT ALL?” OR ARE AGAINST TEAM SPORTS IN THE PANDEMIC, WOULD YOU PLEASE TRY TO STEP OUTSIDE YOURSELVES FOR A MINUTE?

I GET THAT THERE REMAINS A GREAT DEAL OF FEAR AROUND THE VIRUS. I ALSO GET THAT THE PANDEMIC’S NOT ENDING ANYTIME SOON, IN FACT WE TALK ABOUT IT HERE ALMOST EVERYDAY.

BUT FOR THE 19-20 YEAR OLD HOCKEY PLAYERS, THIS IS POTENTIALLY THE MOST CRITICAL YEAR OF THEIR LIVES. FOR SURE IT IS SO FAR. IT WILL DICTATE THE COURSE OF THE REST OF THEIR LIFE. PLUS THEIR RECOVERY RATE IS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF 100%.

FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS YOUNG PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE IS BEING SELFISH OR INSENSITIVE, I SUGGEST THEY TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK IN THE MIRROR ABOUT WHO’S BEING SELFISH.

THE PLAYERS HAVE BEEN PATIENT, AND FOLLOWED ALL THE RULES. IT’S TIME FOR THEM TO STOP BEING PUNISHED BY A MOVEMENT THAT, FRANKLY, IS SEEMING TO BE LESS SCIENTIFIC BY THE DAY.

LET’S DROP THE PUCK.

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