TUESDAY RUNDOWN: NHL NAMES AND A CFL UPDATE?

It’s Day 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoff Best-of-7’s! We covered that and dabbled in the CFL on Episode #294 of the RP Show. Here are the highlights:

• Rod and Dupes got it going with The Rollout for Flooring Superstores covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) The NY Rangers won the NHL Draft Lottery; what was your initial reaction?, 2) Rod and Darren hosted the Virtual Black Tie NHL Draft in Swift Current Monday evening and it was a riot, 3) Argos WR Juwan Brescacin Tweets that’s there been no CFL update and asked if the season has been cancelled? (The hosts debated if the players and staff are due an answer by now), 4) It’s Week 10 in CFL SIM. What’s Canada’s Game of the Week?, 5) The Blue Jays debut at Buffalo Tuesday evening against the Marlins, and 6) Tuesday’s NHL games: Columbus/Tampa Bay, Calgary/Dallas, Carolina/Boston and Chicago/Vegas.
• The RP Show received a couple tips Tuesday morning that an announcement on the CFL season may come on or before Friday, and insiders are “cautiously optimistic” there will be a season. The hosts surmised that they hope it’s true, but many hurdles remain. RP said he doesn’t believe players who say they won’t play this year, thinking that they’re saying it simply out of frustration. 
• Sirius/XM NHL radio host Scott Laughlin joined the show from his Toronto home sporting a HOT ROD Rowdy Roddy Piper T-shirt in honour of this appearance and promoted the book “Rowdy” about the famed WWF star who hails from Saskatoon and Winnipeg. Scott discussed the Leafs’ ouster from the playoffs and what lays ahead for the franchise, said he’s against expanding the playoffs to 24 teams in the years ahead, and detailed the Seattle Kraken expansion draft process.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: Which is Canada’s Game of the Week in Week 10 of CFL SIM – SK at MTL, Edmonton at Winnipeg, Ottawa at Hamilton or Calgary at BC? At press time, the Stampeders/Lions were leading and the hosts said this is the chance for CFL fans who are tired of Rider games being broadcast to vote for their teams!
• Hour 2 was broadcast on Facebook Live only and we were joined by WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. Ron was in his Calgary office and explained in fine detail the decision to delay the start of the 2020-21 season until December 4. He revealed that the plan is to play before 50% arena capacity, but it’s still subject to clearance from government health officials. Robison stated that they are NOT making plans for Hub Cities, the schedule is for divisional-play only, and said “We’re determined to play”.
• Carolina Hurricanes Public Address Announcer Wade Minter joined the show from his car in Raleigh, NC. He talked about the resurgence of the Canes with all their young stars, but added how deflating it is for the games to be played in the Toronto bubble. Minter talked about the “Buncha Jerks” campaign from last year spurred by Don Cherry, and explained the width of the Hurricanes fanbase. It was a fun chat!
• The guys talked a lot about the WHL’s Return To Play and Rod asserted that the NHL should step up and underwrite the costs – even suggesting paying for Bubble Cities if they had to – but Darren said it’s not the NHL’s responsibility to fund the CHL. It created a deep back-and-forth with viewers.
• You can vote now on our Twitter poll for the Rockstar of the Day for RoxDar Supply Chain Solutions. At press time, Ron Robison was leading. Monday’s vote was won by Mike Richards.
• Tuesday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook page, you can listen to the podcast by clicking on the PODCAST tab at the top of this page, or you can listen anytime to our 24-hour live audio stream at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive.
• See you at 10 am MT on Tuesday on Game+ TV, Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive. Our guest list includes Darren Dreger and Justin Dunk!