THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

1 – RETURN OF THE NHL?: Unless I’ve completely misread things – and I usually don’t – the NHL and governments in Canada are headed towards a major showdown. On Thursday the insiders reported the NHL and NHLPA agreed to terms on a 56-game season beginning January 13 and on Sunday afternoon the League made it official. However both reports stated that the provincial governments haven’t signed off on it yet (specifically Ontario, Quebec and BC) and that remains the biggest elephant in the room. RP Show co-host John Lynch stated on Friday “The NHL is just too big” and predicts the government won’t stand in its way. I’m not so sure. I’m pretty sure they’ll play, but that February 1 date keeps echoing in the back of my head.

From Sens writer Bruce Garrioch in today’s Ottawa Sun: “Make no mistake, the NHL isn’t the least bit pleased with the provinces not willing to sign off on their plans, especially in Ontario.”

Sounds to me like the stand-off is well underway.

2 – SPEAKING OUT: Longtime Ottawa Senators Voice Dean Brown is the first public person I’ve seen put pressure on the government by Tweeting Sunday, “If reports are true and we are headed for a lockdown across Ontario, I fear for so many small businesses,” Brown wrote. “This could be the final nail. Must admit I’m surprised it’s all Ontario when today we had just 18 people in hospital here and no one in ICU for the 3rd straight day.” Tying hospitalizations to the economy has been a MAJOR no-no through this pandemic, but it appears Dean couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. I expect there will be more NHL people with much at stake speaking out similarly in the days ahead.

3 – IRONY: In its announcement on Sunday, the NHL declared a return to the 16-team playoff format rather than sticking with the popular 24-team format from last summer. With 56 games per team crammed in 116 days in this schedule, there wouldn’t be time for an expanded playoff in 2021. The League also announced a return to the “regular” calendar next October, and likely the familiar 16-team playoff. Remember the Tampa Bay Lightning were one of two teams to vote AGAINST returning to play last summer, and it had nothing to do with Health & Safety. Rep Alex Killorn said the Lightning players didn’t feel the 24-team format was fair. You can look it up. Ironically, they went on to win the Stanley Cup. There’s a lesson to be learned in there somewhere, like you can’t hit a homerun unless you step up to the plate or you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket. Or as country star Leanne Womack sings, “I Hope You Dance.”

4 – TAKE FLIGHT: Big news out of Winnipeg last week as the Jets announced their play-by-play crew for 2020-21 on 680 CJOB. Familiar Jets Radio Voice Paul Edmonds – the former Voice of the Regina Pats – will return as the playcaller and he’ll be joined by Jamie Thomas as colour man. Thomas had been hosting JetsTV and is a Sportsnet TV and TSN Radio veteran and has paid his dues in this perilous trade. Congrats men!

5 – CFL: The plethora of good news across the country last week seemed like a concerted league-wide effort to get some positivity going. It certainly did, with management and coaching extensions in Saskatchewan, pretty big name player signings from most teams, and restructured deals for star quarterbacks Mike Reilly, Cody Fajardo and Vernon Adams Jr. However the CFL faces all the same hurdles the NHL does regarding returning to play, plus many more including the big one: money/revenue. TSN insider Dave Naylor dropped the most revealing news on TSN 1290 Winnipeg saying, “I won’t be shocked if we’re kicking off in late September”, and “There really isn’t a plan as long as Covid is raging.” You can read the full interview here. Like you, my fingers are crossed but I remain highly skeptical. If this league can’t find a way to play without fans in the stands, it’s toast.

6 – FAJARDO: Any contract extensions involving Cody Fajardo and the Saskatchewan Roughriders over the next decade or so feel like a formality. It’s clear he wants to be in Saskatchewan for the rest of his career, and it’s also clear the Roughriders know what he brings to the team both on and off the field. He’s the type of player that transcends the Rider diehards. The average, casual fan has fallen in love with Cody and even fans of rival teams can’t help but admire him. If Fajardo has further NFL aspirations – which I’m sure he does – I could see the team building in an “NFL Opt-out” clause like Chris Jones had in his contract, which allowed him to bolt to the Cleveland Browns. Fajardo’s on track to become the most popular Roughrider ever which is staggering since he’s only been a starter for one full season. Now all he needs to do is win a Grey Cup and he and the Riders are positioned to do just that. All they need to do is play, which is out of the players’ control.

7 – GET ON THE GROUND: The Ocean Wiesblatt situation in Calgary last week was far more than a tempest-in-a-teapot. By now you know all the details but I was shocked at the backlash when I Tweeted that citizens need to comply with the orders of Law Enforcement “no matter what”. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that I take a pro-Law & Order stance, but I found myself in heated debates with people I normally agree with. They brought up First Nations stand-offs, Legislature protests and anti-mask rallies where police have been far more lenient. Dude I get it! I don’t understand that either but you’re not in charge.

Since I work very closely with Law Enforcement, support their fundraisers and hear their stories from in the trenches, I simply don’t want to see anyone get shot needlessly. That’s it. The cops never know who’s going to be “the one” in these confrontations.  Take care out there, and be smart. A game of shinny isn’t worth taking a bullet or being tased.

8 – NFL NOTES: Week 15 was another fun one. Some thoughts … Clearly it was more than “the system” that worked in New England all these years. Tom Brady’s headed to the playoffs with Tampa Bay while Bill Belichick and the Patriots were eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday. … Dallas beat San Francisco 41-33. Whoopee! The Cowboys’ playoff chances improved from 1% to 5% according to NBC’s Playoff Predictor. … The fact that the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield have been better without Odell Beckham Jr. is a message to someone. I’m not sure whom. … The New York Jets got their first win, beating the L.A. Rams 23-20 and fell out of the lead for the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes at 1-13! This franchise can’t win for losing. … NBC’s Jac Collinsworth has proven that while you don’t need to be born into NFL media, it helps. … The Jerry Jones skit at the opening of NFL Network’s Sunday morning coverage proved that football can indeed be fun. … The turnaround of the Browns underscores the importance of coaching. … The College Football Playoff match-ups of Alabama-Notre Dame and Clemson-Ohio State are excellent! If you’re wondering why they’re playing in the USA but not in Canada, it’s the difference in thinking between the two countries. I suppose if we didn’t like it, we could move.

9 – CURLING: There’s a battle brewing on the Saskatchewan mens scene. The format of the provincial playdowns hasn’t been determined yet and veteran Brock Montgomery feels the 2021 Tankard should be awarded to Team Dunstone since they were last year’s champs. That drew the ire of skip Colton Flasch, who said he wouldn’t go along with that idea for a variety of reasons. One is that members of the 2020 Dunstone squad migrated to Team Flasch over the summer. Obviously he also feels they’d give Team Dunstone a run for their money in a playoff next month. Sask Curl might be in for a fight no matter what they decide. Meanwhile Curling Canada told the RP Show they expect all provinces and territories to be represented at the Brier in the Calgary bubble.

10 – RANDOMS TO END: Amazon won’t sponsor your kid’s hockey tournament. … Did Lamar Jackson say he was “crampin'” on Monday Night Football, or “crappin'”? I’ve seen a lot of guys run to the locker room like Lamar did, but they weren’t battling cramps. … A Greek restaurateur said to me last week, “Hockey is in your heart. I can see it.” Is it THAT obvious? … The most valuable currency in our business is insider news, breaking news, and opinion. Having the truth doesn’t hurt either. … Louis Riddick has emerged as a tremendous colour commentator on Monday Night Football, but NFL Network’s Kurt Warner stole the show on Saturday night’s Carolina-Green Bay broadcast … Some interesting World Juniors notes – The last time Canada won on home soil was 2015 in Toronto with the McDavid, Domi, Duclair crew.  Jordan Eberle’s 14 goals are the most-ever for Team Canada while Eric Lindros has the record for points (31) set in the Regina Agridome. Kings prospect Quinton Byfield is the youngest player on the team. And Colorado has the most prospects on Team Canada. Now all we need to do is stay Covid-free, and play. … We never promote our YouTube channel on the RP Show but we received an email notification from YouTube last week stating they’ve added us to their Partners Program. In 2020 on YouTube alone, the show boasted 1.3-million minutes viewed on 235,352 views. The future is here folks. From time-to-time someone stops me and complains they can’t find me on the radio dial. That’s not my problem, it’s theirs. … Kudos to the Medicine Hat Tigers for capturing the 2020 Memorial E-Cup with a sweep of the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Best-of-3 Final (10-0 and 4-1 scores). Now, again, all the WHL needs is to play. … Not only are my pants too small, but so now too are my shirts! It HAS to be the dryer right? … Happy birthday today to Romby Bryant, Jim Popp and Global TV’s Taylor Shire. … Merry Christmas!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen