FRIDAY COMMENTARY: THE “CALL”, AND MORE

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

A FEW THOUGHTS TODAY, TO CLOSE OUT A REAL FUN WEEK.

WELL, IT WASN’T MUCH FUN FOR THE CALGARY FLAMES AND THEIR FANS. AFTER OPENING THE BATTLE OF ALBERTA SERIES WITH A 9-6 WIN OVER EDMONTON, THEY NEVER WON ANOTHER GAME AND WERE ELIMINATED LAST NIGHT WITH AN OT LOSS IN GAME 5.

THE HOCKEY GODS CAN BE CRUEL AND PERHAPS EVEN TURNED THEIR BACKS ON CALGARY IN THIS ONE. THE CLINCHING GAME WAS BASICALLY DECIDED ON A REFEREE’S CALL WHERE THE FLAMES GAME-WINNING GOAL WAS CALLED BACK BECAUSE IT WENT IN OFF A SKATE.

NO ONE WHO COUNTS THEMSELVES AS A FLAMES OR OILERS FAN SHOULD GET AN OPINION ON THIS BECAUSE THEY’RE BIASED.

FRANKLY I WAS PULLING FOR BOTH TEAMS (IF POSSIBLE), AND I SAY THE GOAL SHOULD’VE COUNTED AND THE FLAMES WERE ROBBED. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PUCK WAS GOING IN ON ITS OWN OR NOT, I THOUGHT THE RULE WAS CHANGED A FEW YEARS AGO SO THAT ALL GOALS OFF SKATES WERE ALLOWED; KICKING MOTION OR NOT. THIS WAS IN ORDER TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OUT OF THE OFFICIALS’ HANDS.

AT LEAST NOW CALGARY WILL HAVE A BUILT-IN EXCUSE FOR YEARS TO COME.

AT THE SAME TIME THURSDAY EVENING, CFL PLAYERS WERE VOTING IN FAVOUR OF THE OWNERS’ LATEST WORK PROPOSAL AND IT’S CONFIRMED WE WILL HAVE FOOTBALL AS SCHEDULED.

THE WHOLE THING WAS A MAJOR RUNAROUND – MAYBE EVEN A WILD GOOSE CHASE – BUT AT LEAST THERE IS FINALLY LABOUR PEACE.

IT JUST SUCKS THAT PLAYERS HAVE TO GO TO WORK DISGRUNTLED.

AND FINALLY, THE PLAYOFFS OPEN TODAY AT THE CENTENNIAL CUP HERE IN ESTEVAN; THE NATIONAL JUNIOR A HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP.

IT’S A DOUBLEHEADER OF QUARTERFINALS BEGINNING AT 4 PM WITH THE FLIN FLON BOMBERS AGAINST PICKERING, ONTARIO FOLLOWED BY SUMMERSIDE, PEI AGAINST LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC.

IF YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON SOME TICKETS, I’D ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.

IT’S BEEN EXCELLENT HOCKEY AND AS EXPECTED, ESTEVAN HAS BEEN A SPLENDID HOST.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV across Canada and the USA. Call your cable provider for details. You can also watch on YouTube Live or listen 24/7 at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)