Scruffy’s This N That

1 – GOTTA BE BETTER: Canada’s two main sports networks are not helping Canadian University sports. Yeah, I know — what a bold statement to make! It is really disappointing to see that neither TSN nor Sportsnet had any information on the men’s and women’s basketball championships two weeks ago and the volleyball championships held last weekend. I didn’t see anything on the men’s hockey championship going on this weekend either. Not one highlight, not one mention of scores on their ticker. Nothing! No, neither network has the rights to the event, but it doesn’t help USports or the tremendous athletes across the country when there is no mention of the event at all.  USports does have a deal with CBC Gem, and they do a good job, but you have to be a hardcore to watch and if you’re not well then good luck in finding a score on either network — but you can find scores of NCAA games.  USports and our national networks need to find a way to showcase the young men and women that represent their universities in the various sports. There are many great stories to tell. 

2 – WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY: It’s not the Four Nations and it certainly isn’t the Olympics, but it will be best-on-best in the middle of the NHL season and I’m all for it. The World Cup of Hockey will return with games, including playoff ones, happening at Calgary’s brand-new rink and Edmonton’s Rogers Place. I am guessing Highway 16 from the Battlefords to the Alberta capital will be as busy as Highway 1 from Regina to Calgary as hockey fans in the 306 will want to check some of it out. 

In making the announcement, Gary Bettman said that unlike the Olympics, the gold medal game will decided by the traditional five-on-five which is great news, but he wouldn’t commit to Russia being there. While the IIHF still has Russia on suspension for their invasion of Ukraine, Bettman said the IIHF has no affiliation with this event so it will be up to the NHL and the PA to decide. I think a lot of hockey fans want to see Russian players like Kucherov, Shesterkin and Kaprizov going up against the Finns, Swedes, Americans and Canadians. Time will tell. 

3 – THE GOLDEN GOAL PUCK: Jack Hughes wants the puck that he put behind Jordan Binnington to give the Americans Olympic gold. That puck currently sits in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The debate has started as to whether or not he should have the puck. I think he should, but it comes with a caveat. I don’t know what Hughes has when it comes to what he used in the gold medal game, but I would certainly give him the puck if he donated the game sweater he had on and maybe the stick or gloves. 

This shouldn’t be classified as an f-u to Hughes because he is American either. If this was Nathan McKinnon, Mika Zibenajad or Mikko Rantanen wanting the puck, I would say give it to him. I might be wrong on this one as I haven’t been to the Hockey Hall of Fame in a few years, but I believe the puck Connor McDavid scored with to win the Four Nations is in his possession, but other artifacts were donated by number 97. The same with Alex Ovechkin who kept many of the pucks he scored with en route to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record but there are game-worn items he used in the record-breaking game. I think a little too much is being made on this issue. Just come to an agreement and tell us how the story ends.

4 – PLAYOFF TURNOVER: The Stanley Cup playoffs are now less than a month away. Are you ready? While the topic of the playoff structure has started to raise its head again, I am like Gary Bettman when I say I have no problem with it as it currently stands. Yes, one team in the Central will be out in the first round and that division has been head and shoulders better than any other but that’s the way the ball has bounced this year. 

What I see is that as the playoffs inch closer just how much turnover we are seeing. Going into games Friday, there are seven teams that were in the playoffs last year that won’t be there this year. Those squads are Winnipeg, Washington, Florida, Toronto, Ottawa, New Jersey and St. Louis. I think the fact that there is new blood coming into the playoffs is great for the overall product as it shows parity is alive in the NHL. It’s really what we need to see in Major League Baseball and hopefully will once MLB adopts the salary cap or something that will level the playing field.

5 – WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: I don’t think there were too many outside the US that were disappointed with Venezuela winning the World Baseball Classic. What a great event! Aaron Judge, who is quickly if he hasn’t already turned into MLB’s version of Josh Allen and Connor McDavid, said the atmosphere was better than a World Series. Agreed! Much like the Olympics and Four Nations, the atmosphere around those games were better than what a Stanley Cup Final is. Countries are engaged with what is happening whereas with a World Series or Stanley Cup, it is the two fanbases who are hardcore with others just being a spectator. We knew going in the US, Japan and Dominican Republic would be the squads to watch because of the major league content, but did we think about Venezuela despite their major league talent. I didn’t.  The game globally is in great shape, and it will be showcased again at its best in the Olympics which sadly Canada won’t be a part of which I didn’t know until after their defeat to the US in the quarterfinals. 

6 – ’26 MLB SEASON: Barring a miracle, the last baseball season we will see for awhile begins Wednesday as the first pitch of the 2026 campaign will be thrown Wednesday night when the Yankees meet the Giants. 

People in Canada are obviously hoping the Blue Jays can win one more game than last year, but sorry kids, I don’t know if they are a playoff team.  The Red Sox got better, the Yankees got better and Baltimore got better. Did Toronto? 

Much like the Leafs with Mitch Marner and their failure to replace him, the Blue Jays lost Bo Bichette, and they did not replace him. They may not miss his glove, but they will miss his 200 plus hits. Jeff Hoffman is still the closer and I don’t have to remind you how tumultuous his 2026 campaign was. Kazuma Okamoto is expected to provide some pop while questions about whether or not George Springer can turn back the clock again and if Ernie Clement and Addison Barger can have similar seasons to last year are valid ones.  It starts Friday against Sacramento and that team is starting to make some noise as they prepare to call Vegas home.  It should be a fun ride for Toronto fans whose expectations are a lot greater at this time than they were last year on Opening Day. 

While I would like to see any team, but the Dodgers win it this year, how can you bet against them with that lineup. 

7 – HEADING NORTH:  The Riders have done a tremendous job in allowing the people of this fine province a chance to get a good look at the Grey Cup.  The Cup has been to many communities in all areas of the province and that includes the North.  It was great to see that some members of the team and the Cup went way up into places like La Loche and Buffalo Narrows.  The football team has had a special relationship with people in that part of the province as they have held camps while inviting football players to come to Mosaic Stadium for a day of learning.  Those in the far north probably don’t get to Mosaic Stadium for game days and have only the TV to watch their football heroes.  To have them come into their yard with the Grey Cup would be memories not forgotten by young and old. 

8 – SJ PLAYOFFS: The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs are underway as the first-round started last night.  Guessing there is a lot of excitement along Highway 10 as the Yorkton Terriers and Melville Millionaires are first-round opponents.  Mike Reagan and his Flin Flon Bombers are once again the favourites having been the best team in the regular season, but his team is not the healthiest going in so winning or even getting go to the Canterra Seeds Cup is no guarantee. The SJ playoffs are always great, and I expect nothing different this time around.

From the SJ to the under 18 loop, the Regina Pat Canadians and Moose Jaw Warriors start what should be a fantastic championship series in Regina tonight at the Co-Operators Centre. It’s a shame that one of these teams won’t be battling for a Telus Cup come April.

9 – RANDOM THOUGHTS:

• Congratulations to the legendary Sandra Schmirler curling rink that was inducted into the World Curling Hall of Fame last weekend. I thought they were already in so what took so long? 
• I’ve got Michigan playing Houston in the final of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. I could say I’m biased because of Michigan, and you might be right, but they are the number 3 team in the rankings going in. If I am taking a team that isn’t Michigan, I like Florida and I think St. Johns is going to surprise some people, 
• Rory McIlroy unveiled what he will be feeding his fellow competitors at the Masters Champions dinner this week. I can’t help but wonder what that meal would look like if John Daly had ever won the Masters.  Cheeseburgers, 7-11 nachos and Budweisers?
• Former Toronto sportscaster Mark Hebscher is asking if Troy Yesavage could be the next Alex Manoah.  Considering Yesavage isn’t a mouthy, self-absorbed individual who thinks he is better than he is than I would say the answer is no.

That’s all I got.  Have a great week!