NEUGSIE’S AROUND THE RINKS

By: Jamie Neugebauer
Voice of the ND Hounds/DUBNetwork MJ Warriors Beat Writer

1. Olympic schedule: The schedule for the hockey tournaments at the Beijing games came out and China is going to face Canada, the USA, and Germany…in men’s hockey. That’ll be…something? Should be ugly folks. Either way, Canada should walk through to the playoffs in the event and anything but gold would be a failure. Period. 
2. Humboldt reloaded: Humboldt certainly did a number on the Notre Dame Hounds to open the campaign this past weekend, outscoring them 14-4 in the two games. Scott Barney has done a great job reloading that team, and given the coaching, the home support, the goaltending of Rayce Ramsay…I am prepared to say they are more my way too early pick to win the SJHL than Estevan. Impressive group. 
3. Kurki or Rumsey?: So everyone, myself included, just assumed that Estevan’s Mark Rumsey, fresh off a long, productive QMJHL career, would be the leading SJHL leading scorer…but I am changing my pick there too. Logan Kurki of Humboldt put up six points in the two games without even breaking a sweat, and the mix of opportunity he’ll get plus his ability to dominate will equal a massive year. Rumsey will have a great year too, I predict, but a lot of mouths to feed in Estevan. It’ll be a fun battle to watch!
4. Do I watch it?: The Toronto Maple Leafs All or Nothing on Amazon Prime…do I watch it? I keep going back and forth about it. Do I want to watch it like a tire fire, hard to turn away…or will it be too painful? I remember being so stressed every single playoff game against Montreal, should I inflict myself with that? Have you seen it? I’ve gone back and forth more than while contemplating any other show.
5. Warriors return: The Moose Jaw Warriors got Ryder Korczak, Daemon Hunt, Eric Alarie, Cole Jordan, and Max Wanner back from NHL camps, so if Carl Tetachuk can at least be a serviceable goaltender (which I believe he can), I believe this MJ team is for real. Might take some time for them all to gel, but it looks like the 2004-born Matthew Gallant, one of Connor Bedard’s teammates in West Van CSSHL, will fill a need at the right-shot defenceman spot, and they will score goals. Will they keep them out? We’ll find out!
6. Pats on CBC: Speaking of the Dub, I heard my colleague Victor Findlay is going to call the Regina Pats – PA Raiders game on CBC on Oct. 2 and I think that’s great. I remember loving that there used to be more junior hockey on TV when I was younger, so it’s wonderful it’s coming back. Getting to watch the magic man Bedard do his thing will be a blast any day, but he certainly has proven the ability to rise to the occasion as well, and I think being on national TV will be a great stage for him.
7. Showcase! Pretty pumped about the Warman SJHL Showcase Monday-Wednesday next week! Rory McGouran and I will be calling seven games each (mostly together) Sasktel TV Max, and former La Ronge Ice Wolves goaltender Jordan Frey will be joining us. Jordan joined me on the air in North Battleford on Tuesday for his first-ever broadcast, and folks you’re in for a treat. He’s excellent.
8. Love a hotel: Speaking of a roady to North Battleford, I am writing this column at midnight in my hotel, and boy do I love staying in a hotel. I love my toddler daughter with all my heart, as well as my wife, but I am definitely also looking forward to not being woken up at quarter to six. Thank you for coming back hockey…please stay a while.
9. Did they blow it: Did the Jays blow it? They couldn’t beat the left-for-dead Twins, they couldn’t find a way to win a series vs. Tampa…so I think they need to win four of the final five games here to get in. Great job getting meaningful games, but the Yankees and Red Sox are still better. Something was wrong with Ryu this year. 
10. Dach out?: Finally, can someone explain why the Saskatoon Blades dealt Colton Dach to the Kelowna Rockets for Trevor Wong and nothing else? I’m sure Wong is a fine player, but Dach is a second-round pick? Can someone explain this to me?

(Follow Jamie on Twitter at @Neugsie)