THURSDAY RUNDOWN: FAJARDO STARTS, LANNY, ARASH & WILLIS TOO!

On Thursday we wrapped up our 17-week residency at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino in Calgary with Episode #809 of The RP Show – Daytime Sports & Entertainment Talk – on Game+ TV! Here’s the rundown:

RP and Moose Dupont got things rolling with The Warmup covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) Week 8 in the CFL kicks off Thursday night with Montreal at Hamilton. Plus we played Deal or No Deal with this week’s Bet Regal CFL point spreads (MTL at Ham -3, BC -1.5 at SK, WPG -1 at CGY and OTT at TOR -5.5), 2) Team Canada will participate at the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship, as announced by Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith, 3) The Blue Jays fall 6-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals, 4) Montreal Canadiens hire Stephane Robidas as assistant coach, 5) Washington NFL owner Dan Snyder gives a deposition on workplace improprieties on Thursday, and 6) Is Baker Mayfield/Sam Darnold the #1 NFL training camp story?
The Roughriders released their depth chart for Friday’s home game versus BC and Cody Fajardo is listed as the #1 QB. The panel and viewers debated this decision and how gut-wrenching it must be for the Riders who know Fajardo is far from 100%. Who will be in the Grey Cup? Is it too soon to consider the crossover? Is this the first year the crossover team will advance to the Grey Cup?

Carolina Hurricanes TV analyst, NHL alum and former P.A. Raider and Lethbridge Hurricane Shane Willis joined the show from the Carolinas to discuss the Canes off-season, the summer hockey camps he’s currently working, and give analysis on The Trade. Willis likes the addition of Max Pacioretty via trade from Vegas and said he’s still a believer in Canes forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi despite him playing below expectations this season. Regarding the Tkachuk/Huberdeau trade, Shane said “I don’t think Florida got better.”
The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: Who wins on Thursday Night Football – Montreal or Hamilton? At press time the Ticats had 56% of the vote.
Flames great and Hockey Hall of Fame Chairman Lanny McDonald joined the show to breakdown the Tkachuk trade and why he thinks the Flames won it. Lanny also explained his role with the HHOF, how he feels the Flames lines will sort out, and what’s on tap for the rest of his summer (relaxing in Whitefish, MT).
Sportsnet Jays sideline reporter Arash Madani joined the show for a very informative and entertaining chat. Regarding the Jays being 8-2 under new skipper John Schneider, Arash feels Schneider has performed many tweaks with the team and we’re seeing the dividends. He also admitted he has no expectations for his Minnesota Vikings this season, and said the CFL’s top – and seemingly only – storyline this year is Nathan Rourke and the emergence of Canadian QBs.
On Wednesday The RP Show Corp announced the addition of 6-time championship sports executive Lee Genier as the company’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer and Lee joined the show at Grey Eagle to explain his role, talk sports and look ahead!
NEW: If you missed the show you can catch the replay at 10 pm PT/11 pm MT on Game+ TV, on our YouTube Channel, listen 24/7 on our sportsradio feed at www.rodpedersen.com/listenlive or listen to the podcast wherever you enjoy your podcast.
See you at 12 pm ET on Friday for a Flame Tech Football Friday!