The Monday Goalie For SUDS
TRUTH & RUMOURS FOR SUDS CAR WASH
1 – SEVENTH HEAVEN: Can’t agree with anyone who says these Stanley Cup Playoffs haven’t been absolutely spectacular. The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens are going to a Game 7 for the first time in the history of their rivalry, and the 130th Game 7 in NHL history will be played Monday night at Keybank Center in Buffalo. The Sabres forced it with a stunning 8-3 victory at the Bell Centre Saturday night; a game in which Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin became the first defenceman in NHL history to record five points in an elimination game. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! His teammate Zach Benson had 1-1-2 and was +3, causing ESPN’s Ray Ferraro to call Saturday’s game “Benson’s coming out party”. You will remember Benson – the former Winnipeg ICE forward from Chilliwack, BC – was on the RP Show in 2022 when we told viewers to remember the name. #IsItMondayYet
2 – VGK: The RP Show airs nightly in Prime Time on Silver State Sports in Las Vegas and months ago I told viewers I’ll always have the Golden Knights back. That hasn’t changed, even after Vegas was docked a 2026 second round pick and coach John Tortorella was fined $100,000 for skipping the postgame news conference following Thursday’s Game 6 clincher at Anaheim. My synopsis? Vegas was reminded that “no one’s bigger than the league”, and, it was a tad heartwarming to be reminded that the NHL still cares about its media. Maybe chivalry isn’t dead? If Torts didn’t have a ton of backers in the game, I’d think he was a petulant hothead. I’ve never met him, but those who have swear by him. That’s good enough for me. Go Knights Go!
3 – COACHES: That’s another thing. Something seemed “off” in Frank Seravalli’s reporting of the VGK denying the Oielrs permission to talk to fired coach Bruce Cassidy, whom Vegas is paying to stay home in 2026-27. But they allowed Cassidy to interview with Los Angeles? Only the Knights know why this is. The biggest travesty to me in all of this is seeing the wet-behind-the-ears media in some major NHL markets whining about Vegas’s controlling tactics and saying, “That’s not fair”. Darling, if you’re going to cover pro sport, you’d better get up to speed on how it runs. Life isn’t fair and the sooner you accept that, you’ll sleep a helluva lot better. And things will make a lot more sense.
4 – THE ED: I think they call it the “Reverse Sweep”? Or the “Gentleman’s Sweep”? I can’t keep up. Whatever it was, the Prince Albert Raiders won Game 1 of the WHL championship 4-2 at Everett and then the Silvertips won the next four games on the way to taking the Ed Chynoweth Cup in a five game series. The ‘Tips have advanced to the Memorial Cup in Kelowna which begins Friday. A very strong Kitchener Rangers team will represent the OHL while the QMJHL champion has yet to be decided. Chicoutimi leads Moncton 3-2 in the league final. The most wonderful time of the year…
5 – CENTENNIAL CUP: Hail the Nighthawks! Austin Dubinsky was terrific in a 34-save effort, Hayden Wheddon scored twice and the MJHL-champion Niverville Nighthawks downed the host Summerside Capitals 4-1 on Sunday in PEI to win their first national championship. The SJHL-champion Flin Flon Bombers didn’t qualify for the playoffs despite going 2-1 in the round robin. The Bombers simply didn’t win the right two games …
6 – CFL: Ready or not the 2026 CFL preseason kicks off today at 1:00 pm MT with the Saskatchewan Roughriders at the Calgary Stampeders. The forecast for the Foothills calls for 14C and sunshine. The game is not televised, but I’ll be tuned in on CFL+. In fact, we’re going to host our first ever CFL Livestream from the RP Show Facebook page during the game. Come join CFL alum Matt Dubuc, Darren “Moose” Dupont and me as we follow the game and converse with fans! … There’s lots of griping about it not being on TV but at this point, I’ve raised the white flag. If you really wanna see the game, you can buy a ticket and go. The calendar is certainly set up for that. … We’re going to be doing lots of CFL coverage on the RP Show this summer, plus on our social media feeds, because it does great numbers for us. IT’S A FABULOUS LEAGUE! Plus sponsors have come running due to our CFL coverage … BC Lions owner Amar Doman will be on the RP Show on Tuesday.
7 – CRUISIN’: Score a touchdown in the Caribbean! Picture this: a seven day cruise under the Caribbean sun with some of your favourite CFL players like Adam Bighill and Jameer Thurman. Spend your days on idylic beaches tossing the pigskin around, create your own replica stadium of sand, share a drink with your fellow fans – this is sure to be a blast! You’ll be sailing on the NEW Star Princess so even when you’re not singing your team’s song or taking a selfie with a player you’re sure to have an absolutely spectacular time. Pricing starts at $1,799 per person. For info contact Neal Chark at neal@uniglobecarefree.ca. Uniglobe Carefree Travel is the official travel partner of the BC Lions and the RP Show.
8 – NFL SCHEDULE RELEASE: Hear me out. As a guy who worked for teams for decades, I was never big on schedule release day. It was literally, “Tell me where I need to be and when, and I’ll be there.” But with the NFL, you just can’t escape it, and once again ESPN aired a three hour Schedule Release Special on Thursday evening. After only a few seconds of digging into the schedule, you’re hooked! For instance, did you know ESPN is carrying the Super Bowl for the first time ever this season? And ESPN has a record 29 games? Didja know the Cowboys face the Giants in New York in Week 1 in a classic NFC East clash right out of the gate, and it’s John Harbaugh’s debut NY??? It’s a Super Bowl rematch in Week 1 with the Patriots at Seahawks on a WEDNESDAY! The NFL’s coming after it all. The Raiders host the Dolphins in Week 1. Who will be under centre for Las Vegas – Kirk Cousins or #1 pick Fernando Mendoza? It doesn’t take much to get you excited!
9 – CURLING UPROAR: Let me get this straight — people are in an uproar because Brad Gushue has joined USA Curling as its High Performance Director? Meanwhile Curling Canada’s High Performance Director is David Murdoch, of GREAT BRITAIN? What are we doing here? It appears Elbows Up only applies to certain things.
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Happy birthday today to George Strait – the King of Country. … Whatever happened to Marilu Henner? … If you’ve got the money honey, I’ve got the time. … If I love you, I’ll tell you. Unfortunately if I don’t, I’ll tell you that too. Working on that. … Twitter Premium is actually worth the cost. … 2026 is almost halfway over. So there’s that. … A tourist who threw a huge rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Maui boasted that he didn’t care about the consequences because he’s “rich” — before he was detained over the attack. Kaylee Schnitzer, who filmed the video, can be heard yelling at the man: “What are you doing? Why would you throw a rock at it?” Hawaiian monk seals are among the most endangered marine mammals in the world. Harassing, injuring or killing one is against both state and federal law, and violators may face fines or criminal penalties. Schnitzer later told KHON. We told him that we called the cops, and he was like, ‘I don’t care. Fine me, I’m rich.’ He said that, and he kept walking.” … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK??
Y’er welcome,
RP
