The Monday Morning Goalie

One-timers …

1 – A capacity crowd of 8,500 jammed TD Ballpark in Dunedin, FL on Sunday to watch the Toronto Blue Jays conclude the 2025 preseason with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. That was another bucket list item – to experience the Jays’ spring training home – and it didn’t disappoint. TD Ballpark is nestled in a modest neighborhood, about an hour’s drive from downtown Tampa. Like most venues, it looks far bigger on TV. Quite a day …

2 – Everyone of those Blue Jays revelers was grinning ear-to-ear, including Regina’s Ron Pugsley and Mark Stefan, whom we ran into while doing loser laps around the facility with my traveling buddy Brent Woltman of Caribbean Protein Supply (that’s the nickname we gave to intermission laps around the Agridome in the 1980s, and it stuck). Anyway, you can’t deny that the Blue Jays have a t-r-e-m-e-n-d-o-u-s brand, and I’ll give credit for the latest resurgence to former GM Alex Anthopoulos and skipper John Gibbons, the architects of the 2015 AL East pennant-winning season. The good vibes remain to this day and on Sunday, we got what we came to see: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the DH, batted second, and went 0/2 before being replaced. George Springer made a diving catch in centerfield and celebrated with a Rocky pose, which raised the roof on the place. And I even caught a glimpse of Jays icon Buck Martinez! Again, it was good vibes all around. Let’s see how long it lasts! The season opens Thursday versus Baltimore at Rogers Centre.

3 – Hockey fans across my social media timelines were smiling on the weekend too. Milestone, SK’s Nolan Renwick scored in double overtime Thursday night to propel the NCAA’s Maine Black Bears into Sunday’s Hockey East title game, which they won with a victory over the UCONN Huskies at Boston’s TD Garden. The former Notre Dame Hound and his teammates are off to the NCAA’s Frozen Four, expecting to be the #1 seed. A large contingent of Milestonians were in Boston for the games, including most of Nolan’s family. It was a treat to call his games in Wilcox alongside Jamie Neugebauer just a few years ago. …

4 – Meanwhile Regina’s Cooperators Arena was packed on Sunday to watch the U18 AAA Pat Canadians take down the Winmar Warriors 2-1 in Game 1 of the Provincial Final. Of course Regina phenom Maddox Schultz scored the winner for the Pat C’s at 6:39 of the third period on the powerplay. Game 2 of the Best of 5 goes Tuesday at the Southland Coop Centre.

5 – Wasn’t it just a year ago the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers almost lost their team? Maybe it was two years ago. Time flies. Either way, the Terriers are up 2-0 in their first round series with rival Melville after a 6-5 OT thriller on Sunday at the Gallagher Centre. In other first round affairs, Melfort leads Kindersley 2-0, Weyburn and Battlefords are 1-1, and Flin Flon leads Humboldt 2-0. Meanwhile the Estevan Bruins announced on Twitter they’re extending the deadline for applications for the Head Coach/GM position to April 2.

6 – The Western Hockey League first round playoff pairings are set. After the Prince Albert Raiders won a winner-take-all showdown with Saskatoon Saturday night at the AHC, P.A. took the East Division pennant and will face the Edmonton Oil Kings in Round 1. The Blades got the 5th seed, and will face the Calgary Hitmen. Sunday in the Saddledome was another winner-take-all showdown as the Medicine Hat Tigers upended the Hitmen 5-2 to claim their 10th Central Division crown in franchise history, and will open against the Swift Current Broncos. Lethbridge faces Brandon in the other series.

7 – Out west, the playoff pairings are: Everett-Seattle, Victoria-Tri-City, Spokane-Vancouver and Prince George-Portland. Can’t wait for Glen Erickson’s 10 WHL Playoff Things column which will drop here on Tuesday!!

8 – Turns out I ruffled some feathers in my Rod Squad Newsletter weekend column when I mentioned that Connor Bedard should’ve waived his NTC and accepted a trade out of Regina two years ago. It’s true – I don’t know all the facts surrounding the situation – but I know what I see. We’re also in the opinions and Hot Take business. The Pats are coming off the 3rd-worst season in franchise history, the season ticket base would turn your stomach, and the franchise is at the bottom of the barrel. As a lifelong Pats fan, it stinks and I felt it prudent to point out that not trading Bedard was potentially the worst move the franchise has ever made. It was strictly a professional opinion, nothing personal, and if that still ruffles your feathers then I guess we can’t be friends. Shalom!

9 – My broadcast career began in 1988 in the Milestone Memorial Arena when my Dad built a broadcast booth on the catwalk so that I could call 39C League games on CFSL Weyburn. Almost 40 years later it could come full circle, as the *Midget* Flyers are in the Provincial Final and are playing at home next weekend. The locals tell me it’s the best Midget team the town has produced since we won it all in 1989, and they’ve asked me to broadcast the home game of the series. The Midget Flyers lost Game 1 on Sunday at Aberdeen, SK. I can’t get out of Florida due to baseball commitments here, but through the wonders of technology, it looks like I’ll be able to do the broadcast remotely next Sunday. Details to follow!

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: I mentioned March Madness games to my friend Brent as we were driving from Tampa to Orlando on Sunday evening. “I didn’t even know it was on,” he shrugged. … The CFL Combine wrapped up on Sunday at the Affinity Event Plex in Regina. The Coaches Picks as top performers were Calgary Dinos LB Daniel Flanagan and Montreal Carrabins QB Jonathan Senecal. A complete recap is listed in the post below, courtesy the Canadian Football League. … Looks like Edmonton Elks GM Ed Hervey offered a halfhearted apology on Sports 1440 AM’s Jason Gregor Show regarding his “no superstars in the CFL” comment from Thursday. Not good enough Ed! … Hockey buddy Perry Andrusiak has asked me to mention his hometown Foam Lake Flyers, who captured their first provincial title in the program’s 77-year existence on the weekend. DONE HUMMER! … After all this goodness, I was informed in a phone call on Sunday about Americans turning on Canadians – and vice versa – in a Florida 55+ retirement community due to this trade war. I DON’T HAVE THE TIME OR ENERGY FOR THESE STORIES! What are we, 12? Up until a month ago, we lived in peace & harmony and there’s no reason why we still can’t today. Get out there and look after each other! … HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

Y’er welcome,
RP