WEEKEND SPORTS NOTES
KEEPING TRACK…
1 – Welcome to November! This weekend the rest of the continent turned their clocks back an hour, except for us in Saskatchewan and Arizona. That’s because everyone knows the world revolves around us! 🙂 Be ready for your favourite TV shows to start an hour later, and for NFL games to now begin at noon Sask Time on Sundays. However nothing changes with The Rod Pedersen Show on Game+ TV Network! The network will now pick up Hour 2 of the show, still airing at 12 pm ET in 1.2-million homes in Canada and the USA.
2 – Sunday’s a huge day for two Saskatchewan Roughriders alum. We broke the news Friday that former Rider LB Derrick Moncrief (2017-2018) will make his NFL debut for the Los Angeles Rams when they visit the Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile former Rider LB Sam Eguavoen (2016-2018) is in his second season with the rebuilding Dolphins. Not only were the pair teammates in Regina, but they were also roommates. Chris Jones (and his vast network of scouts) could find talent! By the way Jones’ Cleveland Browns host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
3 – The news isn’t so good for another Roughriders alum. News broke Saturday that Jeff Knox Jr. was arrested in Pittsburgh this weekend on two counts of attempted homicide. In 2015 Knox won the Riders triple-crown as Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Outstanding Rookie. He’s had cups of coffee with the Buccaneers and Argos since, but is now facing the biggest challenge of his life. Jeff hasn’t had an easy life, and is a great guy. We pray this situation turns out the best possible for him.
4 – Hardy Wagner scored in OT as the Notre Dame Hounds beat the Humboldt Broncos 6-5 Saturday in SJHL preseason play. It was a rough, spooky Hallowe’en affair at the EPA. Elsewhere Jacob Herman made 30 saves as Yorkton blanked Melville 6-0. Flin Flon spanked La Ronge 6-2, Estevan got past Weyburn 6-4 and Melfort skated past Nipawin 3-2. The SJHL preseason concludes Sunday and the regular season is slated to open on Friday with spectator capacity limited to 150 fans.
5 – The ice and logos are in in Regina’s Brandt Centre, home of the WHL’s Pats. The Dub season is still slated to begin January 8 with training camps to open on Boxing Day. However it appears there will need to be a change to the 150 cap in order for the WHL to proceed.
In the Q on Saturday, Val D’Or Foreurs forward Jakob Pelletier scored twice, and added the shootout-winning goal, in a 4-3 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in Rouyn-Noranda. Both teams along with Baie-Comeau and Rimouski were all in action yesterday afternoon. They previously had their seasons suspended due to rising COVID-19 cases in Quebec.
6 – Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is working with the Ontario Hockey League on a return to play plan that will allow bodychecking. The premier tweeted this after minister of sport Lisa MacLeod previously said there wouldn’t be any due to COVID-19 concerns. The OHL hopes to start its season in February. I contend there isn’t much bodychecking in major junior anyway so LET’S PLAY!
7 – Sports icons Bobby Orr and Jack Nicklaus are in hot water for endorsing Donald Trump for the November 3 U.S. President election, it seems. We ask, what business is it of anyone else’s who they endorse and/or vote for?
8 – Sun Media columnist Lorne Gunter gashed the CFL in a column this weekend entitled The CFL Needs To Get Its Act Together. In it, Gunter chastised the CFL for this week’s Grey Cup Unite announcement saying there’s nothing really unique planned and it’s hard to celebrate “our game” when there is “no game” (i.e. no CFL football in 2020). Gunter’s Twitter bio says he’s Edmonton-based which is a CFL hotbed. His influential column underscores the fact the CFL is facing a lonnnggg road back.
9 – Alabama throttled Mississippi State 41-0 in NCAA football action. Receiver DeVonta Smith made four touchdown catches as the Crimson Tide cruised to their sixth victory of the season, before fans in Tuscaloosa. Canadian John Metchie III had three catches for 18 yards in the victory.
10 – I miss the simple things! A coffee, a cinnamon bun, and a USA Today newspaper by the pool at a Holiday Inn in Glendale, AZ, Vero Beach, FL or Oceanside, CA. Fortunately I never took those things for granted at the time, but they’ll be extra special when we can freely enjoy them again!
(With files from CP)
