WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – THE TIE THAT BINDS
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 & Rock 98.5 FM)
You can put it on my tombstone: “It’s never a bad idea to go to a hockey game.”
So I took my own advice on Tuesday, checking out an American Hockey League game between the Calgary Wranglers and the San Jose Barracuda in the Saddledome.
Right off the bat it felt great, as the Wranglers were the first team my Dad ever worked for, as a scout, hired by Doug Sauter in the early 80’s.
The American Hockey League is Canada’s best-kept secret, with a calibre of hockey far closer to the NHL than junior and five teams in this country.
These guys can flyyyyyyyyyy.
And the rosters were loaded with WHL stars like Tristen Robbins, Josh Brook, Brett Sutter, Connor Zary and Ozzy Weisblatt.
Former Everett Silvertip goalie Dustin Wolf – whom I’ve always called Dustin From Tustin (CA) – got the shutout in a 4-0 Wranglers victory.
However the highlight of the night was a chance meeting with longtime NHL and WHA forward Rich Preston. The former Pats coach – whose father Ken was the best General Manager the Roughriders ever had – lives just outside Calgary and was scouting the game for the Anaheim Ducks.
As always “Rico” wanted to talk about the CFL, the Grey Cup, and he shook his head at his beloved Riders not even making the playoffs.
We laughed about the cold outside (-23) and vowed to spend much more time in sunny climates.
And then we enjoyed more hockey.
In Canada, that’s the tie that binds.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily on Game+ TV and WQEE Radio)
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My headstone will be as high as the Empire State Building with more layers than the Stanley Cup. Maybe people will finally listen to me when I’m dead.
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