THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

1 – INSIDER BUZZ: The first thing fans thought when Kirby Dach broke his wrist in Canada’s pre-tournament game last week at the World Juniors was, “And that’s why the NY Rangers didn’t send #1 pick Alexis Lafreniere to Edmonton.” Wrong! At least according to one NHL insider who told me, “The Rangers don’t have a history of helping out Team Canada. Both their Head Coach and GM are Americans. Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t John Davidson (Calgary, AB) still New York’s President?” … Meanwhile there could be a very good reason the CHL, and specifically the WHL, haven’t pulled the pin on their season yet. I’m told a wealthy private donor may underwrite the cost of the WHL playing – and finishing – the 2020-21 season. Why? For two reasons: 1) Player development can’t skip ostensibly two seasons, and 2) We can’t go two years without a playoff nor handing out the Memorial Cup. … The CFL is doing everything it can to gear up for a 2021 season, and perhaps it will indeed be a go. As I’ve written in this space before, the CFL really has no choice but to play. However a health industry source told me if the CFL plans to kickoff in June, they’ll have to do it without fans. He predicted by mid- to late-August, there might be 20% capacity allowed in outdoor stadiums. Everyone seems to have a projection for how this will play out, so there’s mine.

2 – K.A. WINS AGAIN: Saturday night I was alerted to tune in TSN2 because Kent Austin’s Liberty University Flames were facing Coastal Carolina in the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl. With the mishmash state of sports right now, the game wasn’t actually on TSN’s program grid. I tuned in just in time to see the chaotic end of regulation where Liberty could’ve won the game on a field goal, but instead fumbled on a 1st-and-goal plunge and ended up going to OT! (I’m told Head Coach Hugh Freeze made the playcall, not Offensive Coordinator Kent Austin). Regardless, Liberty won the game in overtime on a field goal (Coastal Carolina’s FGA was blocked) and that gives Liberty two Bowl wins since Kent showed up. We’re not sure why Austin never won it all with Hamilton, because he’s won everywhere else.

In 2008 Rider President Jim Hopson allowed Kent out of his contract to coach at his alma mater Ole Miss, despite two years remaining on his deal. The Riders went to three more Cups, won one, and Austin was happy too. That’s good karma.

3 – SCORING ON SCHEDULE: We’ve seen several instances this football season where teams have scored in the late stages of games, but left enough time on the clock for the opposition to come back. And they have. (see: Baltimore/Cleveland on MNF) Is “Scoring Too Early” a thing? Since I’ve never called plays, I asked a veteran Canadian Head Coach and this was his response: “It’s avoidable. Gary Etcheverry talked about Victory Offense all the time — the initial thought is to run the ball or use high-percentage passes so we can control the clock. BUT it’s based on your confidence to score. Personally I would rather our Offence scores and then put the ownership on our Defence to stop them.” Voila! I prefer Option B. Option A seems too complicated and too risky. Score when you can!

4 – QUARTERBACK TREE: The restructured deal by Edmonton QB Trevor Harris over the weekend to be “Cap Floor Friendly” generated a lot of discussion in CFL circles. Someone brought up all the young quarterbacks who came up through the Toronto Argonauts organization close over the past decade. By name, they are Trevor Harris, Zach Collaros and Cody Fajardo. All three are currently CFL starters. Who gets the credit? Probably an even split between GM Jim Barker and Head Coach Scott Milanovich. I’m sure the personnel people will tell me if that’s wrong!

5 – CLAYPOOL ODDS: We are nearing the end of the NFL season and Vancouver’s Chase Claypool of the Pittsburgh Steelers is in the running for NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. However he’s not the favourite. Bodog’s odds have the following listed for the award: Justin Herbert -1000, Justin Jefferson +700, Tua Tagovailoa +950, Chase Claypool +5000. *Urban legend has it that Claypool’s mother is from Hudson Bay, SK.

6 – WEEK 16 NFL NOTES: Four consecutive days of NFL football – Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Sunday, Monday. The NFL truly is the Big Box brand store like Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, etc. The rich is getting richer in the pandemic while the small guys are getting choked out. … Only in the NFC East can a team still be in the hunt for a playoff spot (Dallas) but also still be in the hunt for a Top 4 pick. … The under-manned Cleveland Browns lost 23-16 to the NY Jets. As we’ve seen from other teams (New England), nobody’s getting a pass despite being Covid-ravaged. … The Pittsburgh Steelers recorded the biggest comeback in the Mike Tomlin era, beating Indianapolis 28-24. The Steelers trailed at one point 24-7. It was a relief since our featured Sunday bet from Come On! favoured Pittsburgh by -1.5 points. … New Orleans Head Coach Sean Payton compared their 52-33 win over Minnesota on Christmas Day to a CFL game. “It was one of those CFL games where we were converting first downs on first and second down.” Payton played QB for the 1987 Ottawa Rough Riders after his rights were purchased for $1,000 from the Arena League’s Pittsburgh Gladiators.

7 – TEAM CANADA NOTES: Canada is 2-0 at the World Juniors and that should be enough to satisfy the carnivorous Canadian fanbase. However their 16-2 win over Germany apparently “wasn’t crisp” enough while their 3-1 win over Slovakia was too close for comfort. Imagine if they’d lost! The fact is they don’t need to be perfect right now. They need to be perfect next week. … The Braden Schneider 5-minute major, game misconduct and one-game suspension for a hit-to-the-head versus Germany? The hit was unnecessary. … Everett Silvertips G Dustin Wolf has taken over in net for the USA and I don’t expect him to leave the rest of the way. … TSN analyst Craig Button looks young! He’s always worked out like a madman. … If you’re looking for Canada’s games on local radio, you can hear them on CJME/CKOM.

8 – AT THE MOVIES: YES the theatres are open. Tom Hanks’ new film News Of The World was released on Christmas Day and we enjoyed it at Southland Cinemas (still the home of Regina’s best hotdogs and it ain’t close). The film gets an enthusiastic two thumbs up from the MMG. It’s the story of an American traveller (Hanks) in the Midwest/South who reluctantly inherits an abandoned German orphan (Helena Zengel) and attempts to deliver her home in the 1870’s Wild West. Peril and hazards ensue, with an unexpected outcome. The theatres are safe and have taken all precautions to be virus-free. Give it a whirl if you want to feel normal for an evening!

9 – KNIGHT TIME: I couldn’t help but notice the gargantuan amount of Vegas Golden Knights apparel that’s available at local sports merchandise outlets, including Ultimate Fan Zone in Moose Jaw. Social media was loaded with pics of the gear Christmas morning, as it seemed to be a very popular gift item in 2020. It’s made me ask – are the Vegas Golden Knights the NHL team of Saskatchewan? I’m starting to think they are.

10 – RANDOMS TO END: Shopping malls are being scolded by patrons for being overcrowded on the weekend. I have to ask the shoppers: What were you doing there?  … Kudos to the Leboldus Golden Suns who were named Football Canada’s High School Team of the Decade for 2010-2020. The team won 6 provincial championships during that span, and only lost 4 total games. … Team Canada assistant coach Mitch Love hails from Quesnel, BC. He was a tough customer in his playing days and so too was another Quesnel product, Mitch “Wild Thing” Shawara whom we had in P.A. Former Regina Pats Assistant Captain Garrett Festerling hails from Quesnel too. Clearly, they produce tough hockey players in that Central BC town of 23,000. … I love the NFL Sunday extended pregame shows as much or more than the games. That’s something the CFL is missing. … If you’re not supposed to drink out of soup bowls at the table, why do they have handles?? I was yelled at for doing just that. … The original trial for double attempted homicide charges against Argonauts LB Jeff Knox Jr. was scheduled for December 17. It was postponed till January 8 and then postponed again until February 18. We are following it very closely.

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen