THURSDAY RUNDOWN: RETURN TO PLAY UPDATES!

(NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz)

We discussed all our favourite leagues and dabbled in controversial topics on Episode #349 of The RP Show – Canada’s DayTime Sports Talk Show – on Thursday! Here’s the rundown:

• Rod and Dupes kicked it off with The Warmup covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) The Dodgers’ Justin Turner is in hot water for breaking Covid rules, 2) Thursday Night Football has Atlanta at Carolina, 3) The Vancouver Canucks owners are NOT interested in purchasing the BC Lions, 4) The Riders are offering a 3-year season ticket package, 5) The OHL and AHL seasons have been moved back to February, and 6) It’s CFL SIM Game Day with Saskatchewan at Calgary at 7:00 pm MT on the RP Show Facebook channel!
• Sportsnet Flames host Ryan Leslie joined the show from Calgary to discuss Rod’s assertion that Calgary is Canada’s best NHL team. Leslie obviously agrees, and examined Flames GM Brad Treliving’s moves in free agency. Leslie said the Flames have gone through 11 different goalies during Treliving’s tenure but they finally have who they want in Jacob Markstrom. Leslie also expects the 2021 World Juniors WILL be played in Edmonton and said the template’s been laid out by the NHL’s Edmonton bubble. Leslie also launched into a hilarious, spot-on impersonation of Flames radio broadcaster Peter Loubardias.
• During the show the CFL announced its Grey Cup Unite initiative for virtual, interactive events during Grey Cup Week and RP read the league’s news release on air. Both he and Dupes applauded the announcement and are eager for what the CFL has in store. Darren said it coincides perfectly with the CFL SIM Grey Cup game and predicted it’ll be a fantastic week.
• News also came down during the show that CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie stated all options are being explored for a 2021 season including playing with fans, or without fans. Viewers said that’s not much of an update but RP said it’s the best the league can offer at this time.
• The Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: What should happen to the Dodgers’ Justin Turner – Fine, Suspension, Both or Neither? The majority of respondents voted for “Both”.
• Hour 2 was broadcast on Facebook Live only and we were joined by NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz from Philadelphia. He explained the league’s Wednesday announcement that they are planning a Return To Play beginning in April of 2021. Sakiewicz was quick to point out that this is a “targeted” date, and not a guarantee. Nick admitted that Philadelphia politicians and health officials have had shifting positions on allowing fans at games (first saying NO fans until February but then allowing 7,500 spectators to last week’s Eagles/Giants game. He was in attendance at that game.) The Commish answered questions from viewers and said talks are in the works for a Canadian NLL TV deal. They’re also exploring an all-Canadian division due to the US/Canada border closure. Sakiewicz said the NLL has plenty of momentum and the league is not in danger of folding. However right now, the league is on pause.
• RP Show Junior A analyst Jamie Neugebauer – the Voice of the ND Hounds and formerly four different OJAHL teams – joined the bunker and said while the SJHL announced its schedule this week, they won’t play beginning November 6 if capacity isn’t expanded beyond 150 per game. He also examined the WHL/Junior A player transfers and said he’s not in favour of it. Neugsie also gave his thoughts on the initial SJHL Power Rankings and said it’s basically the Humboldt Broncos, then everybody else.
• Thursday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook page, you can catch the replay at 4:00 pm ET on Game+, listen to the podcast by clicking on the CONTENT tab at the top of this page, or listen anytime to our 24-hour live audio feed at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive.
• See you at 7:00 pm MT for CFL SIM and Friday at 10 am MT for a Football Friday featuring Mike Benevides, Frank McCrystal, Tori Gurley and more!