THURSDAY COMMENTARY – TO DEVELOP OR NOT TO DEVELOP

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)

TO DEVELOP OR NOT TO DEVELOP.

THAT IS THE QUESTION.

OR TO DEVELOP OR TO WIN? THAT’S EVEN MORE OF THE QUESTION.

THE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE MOVED MOUNTAINS TO GET THEIR PLAYERS ONTO THE ICE WITH A 24-GAME SEASON AND, WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS, THEY’VE ACHIEVED IT IN ALL FOUR DIVISIONS.

THE GOAL WAS NEVER ABOUT CROWNING A CHAMPION. THEY COULDN’T; THE MEMORIAL CUP’S BEEN CANCELLED FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR.

NO, THE GOAL WAS TO “DEVELOP” PLAYERS AS THE COMMISSIONER AND ALL THE COACHES SAID AND HAVING BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS THE GAMES FIRSTHAND, THAT GOAL HAS BEEN ACHIEVED AS WELL.

IT’S JUST A LITTLE HEAD-SPINNING TO ME BECAUSE IN THE 17 SEASONS I SPENT FULL TIME IN THE DUB (FROM 1993-2010), I NEVER HEARD THE TERM “DEVELOPMENT” ONCE WHETHER IT WAS ON THE BUS, AT A POSTGAME MEAL OR SOAKING IN A HOT TUB IN THE ROCKIES.

THAT DOESN’T MEAN THE WHL WASN’T DEVELOPING PLAYERS WAY BACK THEN TOO. THEY WERE. BUT LOOKING BACK THE FOCUS WAS ON WINNING, WINNING, WINNING.

I’M GUESSING IT WAS JUST UNSPOKEN.

IN TODAY’S WESTERN LEAGUE, IT SEEMS LIKE MORE OF A 50/50 SPLIT ALTHOUGH SASKATOON BLADES COACH MITCH LOVE SAYS THE BEST WAY TO DEVELOP PLAYERS IS TO WIN.

ALL THE OTHER COACHES AGREE.

AND, PROBABLY I EXAMINE THESE THINGS TOO MUCH. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THIS WHOLE DUB HUB IN THE BRANDT CENTRE HAS BEEN BETTER THAN A DREAM COME TRUE.

I’VE BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS FIRST CLASS HOCKEY FIRSTHAND, CALL CONNOR BEDARD’S FIRST GAMES AS THE GAME’S NEXT SUPERSTAR, REKINDLE OLD FRIENDSHIPS AND MAKE NEW ONES THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.

MAYBE THERE IS MORE OF A FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT IN THE GAME NOW. BUT WHAT HASN’T CHANGED IS THAT FOR THE REST OF US, IT’S ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT.

AND THE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE HAS DELIVERED THERE TOO, AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE.

WELL DONE BOYS.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY.