THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

FROM THE HOME OFFICE …

1 – TWO-FORTY GORDY: TSN hockey announcer Gord Miller doesn’t Tweet a lot but when he does, it usually packs a wallop. Like this one from last week, days after the cancellation of the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta: “It is odd sitting in a hotel room in Canada, packing my bags and watching college football games with 70,000 people in the stands in the US.”

The reaction to the post was bipolar; there was a lot of support, while there was also plenty of backlash with many telling Gordy to move to the US if he likes it so much. Almost 24 months into this, still no one can make sense of any of this pandemic other than Canada has chosen a far more “abundance of safety” approach than their US neighbours.

I’m long past looking to make sense of it, and continue to count my considerable blessings.

2 – BEDARD: Someone will have to explain to me why Connor Bedard – and his Team Canada teammates – can’t play in Edmonton in a tournament yet they can be returned to their junior teams and play there??? Regardless, Canada’s loss is Regina’s gain and “Bedsy” potted four goals in the Regina Pats’ 7-6 OT win over Moose Jaw on New Years Day.

I marvelled at those who said, “Hard to believe that’s just his first WHL hattrick”. HE’S 16 and only played a few dozen games.

The official attendance on Saturday was 4,070 which is near a season-high for the Pats. I figured the Orange Top would be sold-out every game to watch Bedard this season but the pandemic has ruined that too. Get out and watch him at least once live if you can.

3 – SIMMER: TSN Ottawa commentator and former NHL goalie Shawn Simpson asked me on Twitter if Bedard’s the best Regina Pat since Dale Derkatch. Followers eagerly chimed in on that question with their own thoughts. After considerable deliberation, I have to say no. I’d put the two Jordans in there – Eberle & Weal – as better Pats at the moment. How do we decide that anyway? Is it their NHL career or the junior numbers they put up?

Bedard’s 1.87-points per game last season in the Dub are the most by anyone under age 17 in history, but that’s why I broke it all down in a column last year. Sobchuck, Sillinger, Weal, and several others went on to have higher PPG totals then Bedard over the course of their junior career. Plus, Connor won’t be around after age 18 to further assault the Pats record book. Again, just watch and enjoy him now.

4 – NHL: It hasn’t as successfully maintained its schedule as the NBA and NFL due to Covid but in America at least, they’ve got the vast majority of the games in. There were some wild ones on Sunday including Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust notching a hattrick and five points in the Pens’ 8-5 win over San Jose (what is this, the 80’s?) Rust joins the Panthers’ Johnathan Huberdeau and the Kings’ Anze Kopitar as the only players to register five points in a game this season. … Elsewhere, Mika Zibanejad scored thrice in the Rangers’ 4-0 whitewash of Tampa Bay. Mika’s eighth career hattrick tied him with Rod Gilbert for 2nd most in Rangers history behind Bill Cook’s nine. … On Monday the Rangers host the slumping Edmonton Oilers! Should be a dandy. … On Tuesday the Calgary Flames visit the Florida Panthers and I’m eager to see Darryl Sutter’s crew live, especially since we’ll be broadcasting from Calgary for two weeks beginning next Monday. More on that later, but suffice it to say people are finally realizing I can talk hockey just fine from South Florida on a daily basis.

5 – BO PEEP: Speaking of Calgary, it was an interesting revelation over the weekend that Calgary Stampeders MVP Bo Levi Mitchell has a $100,000 roster bonus due early in the New Year. We all know what’s been happening to players lately whom are due big bonuses — they’re CUT. But nobody ever expected the Stampeders to cut Bo and news promptly came out that the the team is eager to have BLM re-work his contract. Case closed, easy peezy. Could you imagine Bo Levi Mitchell playing for any other CFL team? I can’t.

6 – GREY EAGLE CASINO: Might as well slip this in here now! It’ll be great talking more Calgary, and Alberta, sports beginning next Monday as The Rod Pedersen Show broadcasts live from Grey Eagle Resort & Casino in Calgary. It’s a huge deal for us and we’re excited to trot out many Calgary sports personalities across our set right at the casino. This is likely the biggest news we’ve ever had, save for going to national television on Game+ on July 2, 2020!

7 – MADDEN: Since his passing last week at age 85, sports networks have been flooded with documentaries about Hall of Famer John Madden. Did you know he was actually the THIRD choice to be the face of the NFL video game behind Joe Montana and Joe Kapp? Montana already had an exclusive deal in place with Atari and Kapp just happened to be the favourite player of the game developer, but they couldn’t reach a deal. The initial video game wasn’t much like the NFL at all – it was 7-on-7 – and Madden said he wouldn’t endorse it until it was 11-on-11. It was a fascinating story.

I loved Madden even more when they showed video of the news conference when he stepped down as head coach of the Oakland Raiders after 10 seasons. “I gave it all I had,” Madden advised. “And I don’t want to do it anymore.” That’s exactly how I feel about play-by-play. Madden summed it all up better than I’ve been trying to do for three years. I guess that’s why he was so good in the booth. I’ve had several offers to get back into it full-time, but just don’t have it in me anymore. I’d far rather do this, and the Recovery work. It pays better but more importantly, it feels wayyyyy better.

8 – MAN IN THE ARENA: Speaking of documentaries, do whatever it takes to watch ESPN’s new series MAN IN THE ARENA chronicling the career of Tom Brady. It’s like The Last Dance, but for football. A disclaimer airs at the start of each episode warning of foul language, but all the f-bombs come from Brady himself! You truly see Tom in a light we never have before. One interesting note I’ve picked up through just two episodes: he refers to his former coach as “Belichick” rather than “Bill”. Let that one marinate for awhile.

9 – NFL: In Week 17, the Tennessee Titans showed the Miami Dolphins who’s boss, whipping the Fins 34-3 and snapping their 7-game win streak. … The Dallas Cowboys were humiliated 25-22 at home by Arizona and it says here the Cowboys won’t win the Super Bowl without a kicker. … Tom Brady is still Tom Brady, leading the Buccaneers to a last-minute 28-24 win at the NY Jets. Everyone around me in South Florida is talking about that game the most. … I actually feel sorry for Antonio Brown. The mercurial superstar (formerly of the Bucs) disrobed in the middle of the game Sunday, and left the field. Coach Bruce Arians said it was AB’s last as a member of Tampa Bay. You only get so many chances to change.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: What a treasure it is to speak with people who “get it”. Thanks for the weekend phone convo Chad! … How is it I needed a negative Covid test to arrive in America by air, but didn’t need one to arrive with 500 others on a vessel by sea? Again, there is no making sense of this. … Irony: people whom are on time off criticizing the RP Show for taking time off over the Holidays. We hadn’t taken a day off in one year. … I can’t see Chris Jones staying in Edmonton past three years. Can you? … Jonesy’s longest stint was 5 years with Montreal as defensive coordinator (2003-2007). … It always comes in 3’s: John Madden, Betty White & Dan Reeves. Prayers and condolences to their families. … Lottery ticket buyers & redeemers remain the bain of my existence. … HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen