THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS
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| Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews |
Happy Wednesday!
The Stanley Cup Final gets underway tonight in Los Angeles as the Kings host the New York Rangers. A lot of people have said that the best two teams played in the Western Conference Final; the Kings and the Blackhawks. I agree with that, but that’s not how the playoffs work. What a great series it was! I didn’t like the goal that ended it in OT in Game 7 but what a show those two teams put on. Would have liked to see a prettier one go in for the winner, not to mention my chances in the Sportscage playoff draft are now kaput now. It will be Cliff Mapes or Mitchell Blair who win it. Curtis Hunt and I are done.
As for the series, I find it really hard to pick the Rangers in this one, as much as I would rather see them win over LA. The Kings are just so dominant. Down the middle they are the best in hockey. Up front I think they have the edge because they win every draw and always have the puck. The D-corps is pretty similar with Drew Doughty and Ryan McDonagh both being capable of breaking the game open offensively. The goaltenders are both fantastic, though Henrik Lundquist had a better conference final than Jonathan Quick. In the end I think the Kings’ size and depth will be the difference, unless Lundquist steals four games, which very well could happen. That being said I’ll take the Kings in 6.
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How about this move by the Regina Pats ownership on the weekend?
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| From the Edmonton Journal |
A darn classy move to be sure.
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SLAPSHOTS
– Former Regina Pats forward Trent Ouellette will continue his hockey career in CIS. Ouellette will spend the 2014 season with the Western Mustangs in London, ON. Joining him there is another former Pat, Colten Mayor.
– The Saskatoon Blades announced Bob Woods as their new GM and Head Coach on Monday. I had a chance to chat with Bob yesterday for the SportsCage and he is certainly excited for the opportunity. Woods spent the last 5 seasons as an assistant in the NHL with Anaheim and Washington with Bruce Boudreau. Prior to those 5 seasons in the National Hockey League, Woods enjoyed success in the American Hockey League, winning AHL Calder Cups as a player, assistant coach and head coach, and in the East Coast Hockey League, where he is enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Some good pedigree for sure and the Blades will be a much better team in 2014/15.
– Some other WHL news this week, The Prince Albert Raiders traded 20 year old forward Chance Braid to Prince George for 19 year old defenceman Jordan Tkatch and a 6th round pick. A good trade for both teams in my opinion.
– Victoria Royals forward Steven Hodges signed a three year entry level contract with the Florida Panthers on Monday.
– The Swift Current Broncos are going back in time for their jerseys this coming season. I think they look really sharp.
– Ironically I saw a sign for the Pilot Butte Rodeo yesterday that uses the exact same logo.
– I unfortunately have not been able to get up to Saskatoon for Rider training camp yet. If there is no strike I will head up for the weekend but it doesn’t look good that way. The CFL rejected the CFLPA’s latest offer on Monday. From what I’ve read the players made even more concessions but the two sides can’t get to a deal. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the strike happen today. At the end of the day I think the deal will be just over 5 million for the salary cap with some increases in the years to come. I hope we don’t start missing games to get there.
– The Toronto Blue Jays continue their tear in the American League East. The Jays are 11 games over .500 for the first time since May of 2009. They lead the Yankees by 4.5 games. Yes, it’s only June but this team is playing good baseball. I’m always on the Jays bandwagon but right now its as good as its been in a long time. Edwin Encarnacion was named the American League player of the month for May. He hit 16 home runs in that month. That was more than a lot of MLB teams, the Cubs for sure.
– The Regina Red Sox have won two in a row heading into tonight’s home opener against the Moose Jaw Miller Express. The Red Sox won two in a row in Mellville on Monday and Tuesday night and are 2-1 on the season. They are a team with a lot of new faces and a new manager in Scott Douglas. It will be interesting to see how it comes together this year. There’s no shortage of good guys over there.
That’s it for me today. Have a good week.
Phil
@PhilTheThrill1
Always a sucker for the retro. Love those Broncos jerseys!
Brad Wall and John Gormley (who by the way is becoming less relevant each passing ratings period) are NOT union haters. I told you, they are anti-working class, anti-middle class as their allegiances go towards Corporations. Brad Wall is for sale. Yet here's something interesting. He's anti-working people as he wants the Liquor to be sold privately, yet wants to keep SLGA as the organization which distributes and sells the liquor. He stated it makes money for the government. He also wants to sell SaskGaming, which would end employment for hundreds of folks, yet keep the profits from gaming. He… Read more »
This is a sports blog. Please go away.
Go to @;<¥ BLOWBAMA!!!!!!
Thank you Obama, finally someone with actual inside facts talking about the situation….. I think the move by the Pats owners was amazing.Now these guys are smart. Great way to get other teams to actually maybe respect the Pats again. Maybe someone will actually trade with us now? Could make Lang's job a heck of a lot easier! (trade something plausible for the future I mean, not a makeshift average move that works for the year only to make the team look respectable)
I thought LA and Chicago looked a bit worn down in that seventh game, and with LA just finishing their 3rd seven game series I will pick NYR to win it, simply because LA will have a tough time going another seven if they have to and Lundquist being the best goalie.
Not telling you how to run your blog but I come here for sports news and to get away from the other BS and then you have to read comments like this Obama character writes and it has nothing but political rhetoric. I know you probably won't ban people but sometimes I feel you'd be better off without him. Turn this back into a sports blog, please.
Obama, I am going to respond to your post but i am definitely not going to get into a debate with you because it goes around in circles and isn't helpful to anyone and really, this is a sports blog. This is the major reason why I chose Brad Wall over the NDP, and i know others feel the same way, i have more money in my pocket because of the SaskParty than if the NDP were in power. It's that basic & that simple. Now you can spin people around with perceived facts but in the end, they're just… Read more »
Boca de pedo Paco, Vete a la verga !
From the engine that drives In the 306, V8.
@Paco, You're a good man, and I respect you. I also appreciate that you will be completely honest and say you are in it for yourself. Society is trending that way where it's every man for himself, and if a program doesn't apply to you then hey scrap it. I get that, no different than a guy in the Oil industry not giving a hoot over the environment. If it doesn't apply then don't worry about it. The reality is this. Brad Wall is governing with NDP policy and has for quite a long time. The record shows this, but… Read more »
Phil Thanks for putting some thing on this blog other than football and the Riders.
When I compare both statements from Paco and Obama I am going to side with Obama. Paco is distorting and making generalizations. He's using a narrow viewpoint and analysis only as it pertains to him. If citizens need a handup they are dogf'ers and therefore should work 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. The NDP built the Province on cooperation and economic intervention as there was no line up to get here. The SaskParty inherited an economy on the verge of booming, continues to use the very same policies the NDP had, and brands themselves as the party to manage… Read more »
When I compare both statements from Paco and Obama I throw up a bit in my mouth.
to the annon who said king henrik is the best goalie…………….how many cup rings and how many cup MVP's does he have? how many does quick have? and quick did it winning 2-1 and 1-0 games. ya quick didnt have the best series against chicago but that was CHICAGO!!! and Chicago had a ton of lucky bounces! and LA STILL won! this will be over in 5 games if NY gets lucky and LA is sleeping out of the gate. the fact is that LA has played only one more game total than the Rangers so who cares. everyone is… Read more »
@ Obama… I hope Brad Wall is doing all those things you say he is. That's why 70% of the voters elected him. Your so called "big business" creates jobs… and lots of them!!
@Clarkenstein, 70% of the Voters voted for Reuben Studdard on American Idol too. 70% of people live with cognitive dissonance. This means that you're so tied to belief that even with evidence sitting right in front of you it is impossible for you to change your opinion. Flat out the guy is terrible, flat out she sold the young generation down the river, and flat out all it's going to take are for commodity prices to dip, and interest rates to climb. When all that happens you're back in the summer of '82 babe. Again don't look at me I… Read more »
Who the #%#@ is Rueben Studdard, does he play football ?
….my last point and this relates directly to cognitive dissonance. The SaskParty has spent MORE on social programming than at anytime during an NDP administration. In half the time they have spent more… Think about that when describing the dogf'ers that don't pay their own way. The problem is they throw money at situations and do nothing to work to solve the problem. You'll never find a Politician like Brad Wall who was 8 feet wide, and 2 inches deep. I picked up on it long before he got in, and I called it right down the middle. Don't say… Read more »
Obama you're too smart for all of us knuckle draggers. You should find a different forum to peck out your bleatings.
Obama ramblings strangely familiar to a man named Serge ……..
Of course I used generalizations. This is a sports blog and I'm not going to put a dozen posts on here explaining my point of view, especially since no one cares and I don't care what anyone else thinks. Let's talk hockey …. No comments about Bob Woods being hired in Stoon? Not a surprise that they went with someone directly out of NHL. That's the way successful orgs in the WHL are going now a days. Those thinking a SJHL coach like Brockman should get a shot need to give their heads a shake. He'll get a shot at… Read more »
Obama just talks everyone into circles. Is he using facts, who knows? It sure brings traffic to Rods blog though. Are you guys starting to figure out what's been going on? Obama just pulls all you guys in. Paco and Obama went to school together from what I've read on here in the past. Everyone just needs to stop replying to anything he puts on here about politics. Then it will stop.
Thriller, are you going to get Weal to bring his cup ring back to Regina?
Obama—You suck.
Don't blame me.
Is it possible you can win championships with a former Bantam superstar who played one year in the SJHL?
SO Paco is Obama correct in assuming that 1) You're selfish and in it for yourself, and 2) you don't care what anyone thinks? If so you would be the guy a person at SaskParty headquarters would offer to pick you up and drive you to the polls on election night.