The Monday Morning Goalie For SUDS

TRUTH & RUMOURS FOR SUDS CAR WASH

1 – WHAT CLASSIC: Week 16 in the CFL ended with a BANG. Rene Parades nailed a 62-yard field goal on the game’s final play to give Calgary a 40-38 victory over Ottawa on Saturday night before an announced crowd of 20,113 at McMahon Stadium. The gathering was small, but thunderous as Parades split the uprights and the Stampeders stormed the field. … The RedBlacks are now a devastating 0-13 while the Stampeders are back in the West Division race at 6-8, and now visit hapless Ottawa in Week 17. Some are predicting the RedBlacks will collect their first win in that one, but I just can’t see it. Their spirit is more broken than any team I’ve ever seen, despite the fact they’ve lost their last two games by a combined five points. What a bizarro year in the CFL, but hella entertaining …

2 – THE REST: In another thriller on Saturday, it went down to the final minute at BMO Field before Toronto beat Edmonton 24-19 on, essentially, a game-ending interception by Elks QB Cody Fajardo in the endzone. Had Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard not missed a field goal two drives prior, the Elks would’ve been in position to win it on a field goal, but that’s the way the wiener rolls. Initially CFL+ (the league’s streaming platform) was down so I listened to the call with Mike Hogan and Bob Bronk on TSN 1050 and Hogie was skewering Andre Proulx’s officiating crew. Initially I thought the commentary was harsh but once the video feed was corrected – thank you CFL – I’d have to concede the Argos broadcasters weren’t wrong. Will somebody be fired from that crew? Regardless, it was an entertaining day of CFL football. … Friday night, predictably, Montreal (11-3) whalloped Hamilton (4-10) 37-25 in the annual Hall of Fame game. Knowing the outcome, I tuned in primarily to pay respects to the Hall of Fame class because they deserve it: Charleston Hughes, Brandon Banks, Sean Millington, Calvin Tiggle, Frank “Pop” Ivey and Jim Evenson. I had the privilege of broadcasting most of this class’s games and applaud them for their outstanding careers.

3 – WEEK 17: Looking ahead, the games just get more and more interesting. Friday night there’s a doubleheader with Toronto (8-6) at Winnipeg (7-6) followed by Saskatchewan (8-5) at BC (7-6). Saturday features another doubleheader with Calgary (6-8) at Ottawa (0-13) followed by Hamilton (4-10) at Edmonton (10-4). … This is the last year of the East vs West playoff format so enjoy it while you can. We’ll figure out next year’s Page Playoff System format when we get to that bridge. … I really don’t care for the trolling of the winless RedBlacks by other teams’ social media accounts. Maybe I’m just too old school but Chris Jones had it right when he said “Win with class”. … My take on CFL rule changes: it’s the owners’ league and they can do what they want. I’ll watch regardless. The games have been great. … Very proud of NFL/CFL alum Chris Streveler. We had a long talk this week off air about his trying to make it in the media business. It ain’t easy these days, but Chris has gone about it the right way with a great attitude and exemplary work ethic. Nothing’s been handed to him. It’s amazing how we’ve become such great friends, having never been part of the same team. Bravo Strevy!

4 – HAGERTY: Can’t recall such widespread reaction from the North American football community as this two-game CFL suspension to BC Lions defensive back Josh Hagerty – a Regina product – for his repeated punching-below-the-waist of Montreal’s Liam Talbot in Week 15, resulting in a season-ending injury for Talbot and reportedly “life-altering surgery”. Let me first say that my take is that Hagerty should be suspended for the balance of the season but in no league has discipline ever matched the severity of injury (that I know of). … BC media and Hagerty’s family friends are defending the player, which is interesting and not surprising, while pundits elsewhere are calling for an outright permanent ban of Hagerty from the league. CFL/NFL alum Sean Salisbury referred to the play as “Bush league football. Disgraceful”. while Texas radio hosts Kenny Nagunst & Dusty Boyd called for Hagerty’s expulsion when I was on their show Friday in Amarillo. ,,, People can have their opinions far and wide. Two games is what it is. But have we heard the last of it?

5 – NFL WEEK 2: A so-so Sunday for the teams I follow. The Dallas Cowboys bounced back from their Week 1 loss with a 37-20 home victory over Washington while the Miami Dolphins suffered another double digit loss, 35-13 at San Francisco. I listened to bits on the radio and the Miami radio crew is having a hard time dressing it up. On the postgame show, the hosts asked if the Dolphins could beat any NFL team’s practice squad. That’s how bad it is around here. … Break up the Raiders! Las Vegas went to 2-0 with a 26-14 victory at the LA Chargers. Kirk Cousins looked sharp while we’re left wondering why there’s so much hype about Justin Herbert? … In the nightcap, the Chiefs got past the Colts 33-30 in overtime. Notice how the Chiefs are always in prime time? They host the Colts Sunday night. The Chiefs-hate is disturbing to me. All they do is win (when Patrick Mahomes is healthy) and they seem like a likeable bunch to me. Do people just hate winners because they themselves are losers? I’ve never understood it. … After listening to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on TSN prior to Thursday Night Football in Buffalo, it doesn’t sound like the NFL is coming to Canada anytime soon. That is, other than to take GTA football fans’ cash by promoting the Bills in the market.

6 – COLLEGE: #1 CFL Draft prospect Ty Benefield was atop the LSU defensive stat sheet on Saturday, registering a tackle and a sack in the Tigers’ 32-24 loss at Ole Miss. What a circus that atmosphere was, as the Rebels exacted revenge on coach Lane Kiffin for abandoning them. … Florida Atlantic beat Florida International 16-10 in the Shula Bowl here in Boca Raton. The Owls are 2-1. … Texas beat UTSA 30-6 and Miami beat Wake Forest 33-20. The Longhorns and ‘Canes are 3-0. Perhaps they’re on a collision course for the national championship in Las Vegas?

7 – NHL: Brady Tkachuk admitted to being nervous prior to Day 1 of Florida Panthers training camp on Friday. He showed no signs in his preseason debut on Sunday, netting two goals, an assist and a fight in the Cats’ 6-3 home victory over Carolina. … Weird seeing Sergei Bobrovsky in a Leafs uniform. Bob stopped 10/11 shots in Toronto’s 4-1 split squad home loss to Montreal on Saturday night. It was a treat to watch the TSN broadcast, and Gavin McKenna looked comfortable, going minus-1 and taking a minor penalty for the Buds. … The Oilers mulched the Jets 5-2 as Connor & Leon combined for four points and +8. … The Vegas Golden Knights handed the LA Kings a 4-2 preseason loss in Ontario, CA. … I’m thinking it’s time Connor Hellebuyck called a news conference and told his side of the story. Although, as we’ve learned in sports, he’s not obligated to do that. … It’s Hockey Night In Florida on Sunday as the Panthers welcome the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning receive the Nashville Predators.

With owner Randy Krawec at Overtime Hockey Lanes Calgary. Click HERE

8 – PLAYER POWER: At the Panthers Media Day on Wednesday, The Athletic’s Julian McKenzie (making the trip in from Ottawa for a Brady Tkachuk story) asked Florida GM Bill Zito how and why NHL players have more power now than ever before. Zito looked surprised by the question initially, credited a much stronger players union than there’s ever been before, and then shrugged “it is what it is”. Later that day on our Cats N Bolts Podcast, Panthers TV broadcaster Randy Moller credited the union as well and said during his day, the players had no power. … The current NHLPA Executive Director is Marty Walsh. … For the record, I have no issue with the players having more power. The same goes for employees in the workplace.

9 – DUB HUB: More proof that the preseason means nothing — the Regina Pats went 7-0 in exhibition games but opened the season with a 7-4 loss at PA on Friday. Meanwhile the Moose Jaw Warriors went 0-6 in the preseason yet opened the 2026-27 WHL campaign with a 7-6 victory on Saturday over the Saskatoon Blades in the Remple Temple. … Good golly it’s fun being back on the Dub beat! Can I cover Junior Hockey from Florida? Well Stan Fischler covers the NHL successfully from Israel. You tell me! … Coming out of the opening weekend of SJHL play, only Yorkton, Kindersley and Flin Flon are unbeaten. … The SMAAAHL preseason ended on Sunday with the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors whipping the Regina Pats Canadians 8-5 in the Temple Gardens Centre.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Christie Brinkley is 72. … Christine Brinkley has been divorced four times. … How the hell can you charge for air? … Regret is a slow poison. … Mt. Rushmore of soda pop: Coca Cola, Root Beer, Dr. Pepper and Pepsi. … Sorry, Sprite, 7-Up, Ginger Ale, Orange Crush, Tab, Fanta & Pic-A-Pop. … Use your mirrors to back up. … Movement is medicine. … More than a dozen passengers were reportedly charged after a fight broke out aboard a cruise ship in the Mediterranean this week. The incident occurred during a voyage on the Costa Smeralda ship between two groups of Italian passengers ages 18 to 20. The vessel was reportedly sailing from Naples to Sicily when the brawl erupted. While it is unclear whether the two groups knew each other beforehand, the altercation reportedly started after one guest made a joke directed at a woman in the other group, igniting a heated verbal argument near the ship’s nightclub before things turned physical. The police reportedly charged the 13 passengers involved with “aggravated brawling,” according to the outlet. … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,