THURSDAY COMMENTARY – OH CANADA

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 am and 5:20 pm on Cat Country 98 FM)

OHHH CANADA!

AS NEWS CONTINUES TO TRICKLE OUT THAT THE NHL’S RETURN TO PLAY IN 2021 WILL INCLUDE AN ALL-CANADIAN DIVISION, FANS ARE GETTING GIDDY WITH THE POSSIBILITIES.

I’M ONE OF THEM.

THIS TRULY IS A DREAM SCENARIO, EVEN IF ONLY A 1-YEAR THING.

I’VE SEEN POLLS WHERE FANS ARE ASKED IF A CANADIAN DIVISION SHOULD BE PERMANENT AND IN SOME CASES, THE MAJORITY SAYS YES!

BUT IT WON’T BE, AND THAT’S A GOOD THING TOO. THE BIGGEST REASON? TRAVELLING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY TO DIFFERENT TIME ZONES WOULD WEAR THE PLAYERS OUT AND WHILE THE OWNERS DON’T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PLAYERS, THE UNION WOULDN’T STAND FOR IT.

SECONDLY, ONLY THREE OF THE SEVEN CANADIAN TEAMS ARE IN THE EASTERN TIME ZONE MEANING A GOOD CHUNK OF THEIR GAMES WOULD BE PLAYED IN WESTERN CANADA. THAT ADDS UP TO A WHOLE LOT OF 10 PM START TIMES WHEN MOST EASTERNERS HAVE GONE TO BED.

LACK OF RATINGS MEANS LACK OF DOLLARS. AND NOW YOU KNOW THE BIGGEST REASON WHY DIVISIONS ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY ALIGNED. NOT TO MENTION THE RIVALRIES CREATED WITHIN.

AND I’D HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST A PERMANENT CHANGE BECAUSE WE’D RARELY SEE THE AMERICAN TEAMS AND THAT INCLUDES MY FAVOURITES, THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS.

NO, WE’RE HEADED TO AN ABSOLUTE BONANZA OF FUN WITH THE CANADIAN DIVISION AND THE BEST PART IS IT’LL ONLY BE FOR A YEAR.

AND FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS COULD YOU GUESS WHO CANADA’S TOP TEAM WAS IN LAST YEAR’S REGULAR SEASON?

THE EDMONTON OILERS.

HOW BOUT THAT.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.