WEDNESDAY CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY

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

IT APPEARS THE BOYS WILL PLAY.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE IS EXPECTED ANY DAY THAT THE LEAGUE WILL INDEED CONCLUDE THE SEASON WITH A 24-TEAM PLAYOFF FORMAT.

THAT’LL BE A PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF COURSE, BECAUSE IT’LL BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL FROM THE PLAYERS AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY GOVERNMENT AND HEALTH OFFICIALS.

HOWEVER THE LEAGUE OFFICE AND OWNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK FOR TWO MONTHS ON GETTING A PLAN THIS FAR, AND FROM EVERYTHING WE HEAR, THE NHL AND ITS PLAYERS ASSOCIATION HAVE WORKED BETTER TOGETHER THAN ALL THE OTHER PRO LEAGUES.

THAT’S HOCKEY.

LISTEN CLOSELY TO SEE IF YOUR TEAM IS AMONG THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE INVITED TO THE PARTY WHICH IS TO BE STAGED IN FOUR SEPARATE QUARANTINE CITIES: FROM THE ATLANTIC DIVISION IT’S THE BRUINS, LIGHTNING, LEAFS, PANTHERS, HABS AND RANGERS.

IN THE METROPOLITAN IT’S THE CAPITALS, FLYERS, PENGUINS, HURRICANES, ISLANDERS AND BLUE JACKETS.

OUT WEST IN THE CENTRAL IT’S THE BLUES, AVALANCHE, STARS, PREDATORS, JETS AND BLACKHAWKS.

AND HERE IN THE PACIFIC IT’S THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS, OILERS, CANUCKS, FLAMES, WILD AND COYOTES.

IT ALMOST SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. THE ONLY THING I FEAR IS THE TWO COMPLETELY OPPOSITE REPORTS I’VE HEARD ON IF THE BORDER CLOSURE TILL LATE JUNE WILL AFFECT THIS PLAN OR NOT.

BUT HEY, AT LEAST IT GIVES US SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.

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