MONDAY COMMENTARY – STICK UP FOR HOCKEY

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

THESE ARE SCARY TIMES WE LIVE IN, AND I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT CATCHING THE FLU.

THE RETURN OF MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY HAS BECOME SOMETHING OF A POLITICAL FOOTBALL OF LATE, AND TWO MONTHS SHY OF THE WHL’S PROJECTED RETURN, I’M STILL CURIOUS HOW THEY’RE GOING TO PULL IT OFF.

THE ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE WAS THE FOCUS OF THE HOCKEY WORLD ALL WEEKEND AS THE PROVINCE’S SPORT MINISTER – LISA MACLEOD – SAID IF THEY RETURN TO PLAY, IT’LL BE WITHOUT BODYCHECKING.

THEN HER BOSS, PREMIER DOUG FORD, TWEETED TO THE CONTRARY SAYING THEY’LL DO THEIR BEST FOR THE OHL TO RETURN “AS IS”.

EVERYBODY’S GOT AN OPINION ON THIS SO HERE’S MINE: BODYCHECKS ARE A RARITY IN TODAY’S MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY ANYWAY SO IF THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET BACK ONTO THE ICE, I SAY LET’S GO FOR IT.

I’M FAR MORE CONCERNED WITH THE LARGE GATHERINGS BAN AND IF THAT’S NOT INCREASED, WE’RE NOT GOING TO HAVE HOCKEY TO WATCH NOW, OR EVER.

WHAT’S SAD IS TSN HAD TO GO TO THE COUNTRY OF HUNGARY FOR ITS HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT ON SUNDAY. IT FEELS LIKE EVERYONE’S PLAYING HOCKEY BUT US, AND THIS IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE SPORT.

WHAT’S SCARY ABOUT THESE TIMES IS THAT IF YOU STICK UP FOR SOMETHING, YOU’RE ATTACKED BY THE “CANCEL” CROWD AND LEFT TO FIGHT THE BATTLE ON YOUR OWN.

AND THEREFORE, NOT TOO MANY ARE STICKING UP FOR HOCKEY.

SCARY TIMES INDEED.

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