STACKHOUSE’S 10 WEEKEND THOUGHTS

1 – RIDERS WIN PRESEASON GAME – It won’t count in the standings, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders put a stop to their six game losing skid by defeating the BC Lions 30-27 in their first preseason game Saturday night, played in front of a smattering of fans. At the risk of triggering all of you, I will leave most of the fan commentary alone for now. I’m sure it was too cold, or the fact the game was preseason, or I’m sure there is some other excuse as to why the crowd was so shockingly low. As far as the game is concerned, I watched a bulk of the first half and that’s it. My guess, for those wondering, is that Jake Dolegala will be the back-up quarterback and then the team has to decide if Mason Fine has a future with them. Fine started at the end of last year but if he falls to number three to start this season, doesn’t it just make sense to release him and give him a shot somewhere else and take a long look at Shea Patterson as the third?

2 – OTHER RIDER NOTES – It was interesting to see wide receiver Randy Satterfield in the lineup on Saturday night.  Satterfield caught the first touchdown in the USFL last year. Kendall Watson and Keith Corbin had the best stats at WR, both totalling over 60 yards receiving. Mitchell Picton was on the receiving end of two majors. Javian Hawkins had a nice game at running back although he did drop a pass in the backfield that, surely, would have gone for a touchdown in the second quarter.  

3 – JETS TRADE PARTNERS – Speculation on what the Winnipeg Jets are going to do with their four malcontents is starting to pick up with the main focus being on a landing spot for goalie Connor Hellebuyck with New Jersey, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Carolina emerging as top suitors. One thing Jets fans should come to terms with before any trade is made is that they are unlikely to get an established NHLer in return unless the Jets’ trading partner needs to shed salary or a pre-trade long term contract is worked out for Hellebuyck.  In the case of the Sabres (Devon Levi) and Devils (Akira Schmid), both teams have very good young goalies who could be part of the package should Hellebuyck agree to a multi-year contract. There’s no question in my mind Hellebuyck nets the biggest return, followed by Mark Scheifele. Blake Wheeler will be a salary dump and the Jets will still have to eat some. Pierre Luc Dubois will go to Montreal for less than what the Blackhawks got for Patrick Kane so anyone hoping to see the Jets get a makeover that still allows them to compete will be sadly disappointed.  

4 – JETS EXPOSED – Meanwhile, my expectation is that if Columbus follows through and hires Mike Babcock to be their next head coach, as expected, former Jet Patrik Laine will have a monster year in 2023-24. Also, don’t be surprised if anyone else the Jets happen to move has a resurgence. Their dysfunction is on full display for anyone paying attention. This week during a press conference, former Jet coach Paul Maurice made mention of what great team players Matthew Tkachuk and Alexander Barkov are, especially Barkov. In particular, one of the quotes given by Maurice centred around how selfless Barkov is when it comes to his linemates.  “He, literally, will play with anybody. He doesn’t care and that’s why you seldom see them (Barkov and Tkachuk) together because we are a much more dangerous team when they are not on the same line.” Go back to when Maurice coached the Jets and how infrequently he busted up Scheifele and Wheeler.  That tells you all you need to know about those two.

5 – DUBAS THE MAN – I don’t get the love affair with Kyle Dubas. It seems fairly evident now that Dubas had an opportunity to be Pittsburgh’s General Manager and that’s why he changed the framework of a possible agreement to renew with Toronto. I mean Dubas did a good job if you consider giving the players everything they want a good job. Some of the contracts Dubas handed out turned the NHL salary structure upside down and his draft record is also suspect. He has shown a willingness to make the big trade but he’s lost a lot more than he’s won when wheeling and dealing. Nevertheless, the Penguins think he’s the answer because he kinda looks like Theo Epstein, I guess. Meanwhile, the NHLPA is sorting out a possible conflict of interest with Dubas’ agent, Chris Armstrong. Armstrong works for Wasserman Sports, the same agency that handles Auston Matthews’ contract negotiations. Armstrong, however, is not an NHL agent. He, typically, represents golfers. Perhaps that better explains Dubas’ track record as a GM. He’s had lots of practice at golf.  

6 – INTERMISSION SHOWS – While the Sportsnet NHL playoff coverage remains relatively depressing and monotone to watch, the mood is almost 180 degrees different on TNT. During the marathon overtime game between Florida and Carolina last week, Wayne Gretzky was on their panel and told several super interesting stories, including one about goalie ‘Suitcase’ Gary Smith, who wore 13 pair of socks inside his skates because he believed it made his feet wider and he was harder to score against. Then, this week, Paul Bissonette ribbed Gretzky on the roster construction of the Edmonton Oilers, to which Gretzky snapped back, “You got guys in Toronto that are on milk cartons.” Way better entertainment. Much more credible analysts. I have to hand it to ESPN and TNT. They have me engaged once again with intermission shows.

7 – GRUDEN SAINTS – Disgraced NFL Coach Jon Gruden recently ‘visited’ with the New Orleans Saints and helped them install their new offense with quarterback Derek Carr, who thrived under Gruden when both were with the Raiders. Gruden, as we know, wrote offensive emails and that has resulted in him becoming an outcast in the NFL as far as ever getting another coaching position. Perhaps he has a chance to sneak onto a team somewhere as an underling, but who are we kidding? The woke mob isn’t going to allow that and I’m surprised he got away with this ‘visit’ to the Saints.

8 – NFL CHANGES – NFL analyst Mike Florio had a rather interesting interview on Mad Dog Sports Radio this week where Florio suggested there are owners who, if they could do things over again, would prefer to have their teams play in smaller stadiums (one level) and just charge more for tickets because it’s not worth the hassle to have peons in the upper deck that don’t provide much of a return as far as revenue is concerned.  I was mildly surprised to hear this admission even though my eyes were opened during the pandemic when professional sports leagues had no trouble playing games in empty stadiums, which tells me they are still making lots of money even without a single ticket being sold. Trust me, if the owners were going to lose money there is no way they would have played. We’ve got past labour disruptions to prove that. Florio also expects, in the near future, the NFL will expand and put four teams in Europe (which isn’t a good sign for the CFL as more talent will be swallowed up by the NFL), games will start to be played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and you can also expect them to add another game to the regular season schedule to make it 18.  

9 – CEBL OPENING WEEKEND – The Winnipeg Sea Bears and Calgary Surge both emerged winners in their first game as CEBL members on Saturday. Calgary defeated Edmonton 74-70, spoiling Jordan Baker’s debut as coach. Baker, a long time player with the Stingers, retired at the end of last season. Simi Shittu led the Surge with 17-points and 14-rebounds. Winnipeg rallied for a thrilling 90-85 win over the Vancouver Bandits. Jelani Watson-Gayle had 22 to lead the Bears. Former Rattler and Winnipeg native Chad Posthumus had a nice game for his hometown team, scoring 10-points and 9-rebounds. The Bandits, who come to Saskatoon on Wednesday, got 30-points from DJ Steward, which ties a season CEBL high, and 17-rebounds from Giorgi Benzhanishvili, which is a season CEBL high. So, the Rattlers may have their hands full. Unfortunately, for the first time in three seasons, I will miss the Rattlers home opener but I intend to hit up as many games as I can.

10 – FRED SASAKAMOOSE – Maybe the best kept secret in hockey is the Fred Sasakamoose Tournament, which was won this year by the Cross Lake Islanders of Manitoba. The Islanders defeated Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation 3-2 in the final, broadcast on APTN. I happened to catch the third period when Cross Lake broke open a 1-1 game with goals by Konrad McKay and Austin Crossley. PBCN got one back late on a Joe Hicketts point shot that was eventually put in by Ashton Morin. Brody Claeys (Dauphin MB) was named the tournament’s top goalie. Harley Garrioch (Thompson MB) was the top defenseman, Bryce Gervais (North Battleford SK) the top forward, and Konrad McKay (Wabowden MB) the MVP. Just to give you an idea of the skill of this tournament, Claeys is a former goalie for the OCN Blizzard who played in the ECHL this past season. Garrioch played for Flin Flon and spent four years at Neumann College. Gervais played in the BCHL and last year was in the AHL for Iowa. Konrad is a 43-year-old who played as high as the AHL but spends his winters watching his son Carter play for the Melville Millionaires. Carter was also on the Cross Lake team.  As far as senior hockey in Saskatchewan, it doesn’t get any better.

(Mike Stackhouse is a freelance writer/broadcaster. Follow him on Twitter at @Stack1975)