This And That

The weekly collection of thoughts running through my muddled brain-----as always in no particular order


--The WHL playoffs are upon us and the Regina Pats are in them. That's a sentence you haven't been able to say for many years over the last few, but it is the case this year thanks to some shrewd moves by GM Chad Lang and some great coaching by Malcolm Cameron. I don't know if the Brandon Wheat Kings are a great first round matchup for the home side who would love to get into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in I can't remember how long, but they will have a tough go of it against a Brandon team that has shown they can win at the Brandt Centre.  Pats GM Chad Lang was on "The Sportscage" Tuesday and said discipline will be a key. I can't disagree.

--I am a little shocked Malcolm Cameron and Chad Lang weren't recognized for year-end awards. I have to wonder if this could be used as motivation for the guys.  I can see the argument for Medicine Hat's Shaun Clouston seeing he still managed to get his team into the playoffs in a tough Central Division without their best player in Hunter Shinkaruk. However, I don't think many thought the Pats would be a 39 win team and a division winner in Cameron's first year as coach.  As for Lang, Cameron wouldn't have had the success he and the team had were it not for some very shrewd moves. Once again, you can't tell me Mike Moore in Calgary with a Hitmen team expected to contend for a Central title did a better job than Lang.  If the Pats aren't a little choked. they should be. They got the short end of the stick in this one.

----Rod Pedersen was enlightening Phil Andrews on some Pats-Wheat Kings playoff stories of years past and the name of Matt Hubbauer came up. Hubbauer got suspended in that playoff season for an elbow he threw at Jordin Tootoo. The Brandon antagonizer was ready to run Hubby over and he saw it in enough time to get his elbow up. Tootoo did not get up.  Where is Hubbauer now anyways? He was one of the more popular Pats over the last 25 years.  Who else was in that role of most popular player? Dale Derkatch, Jordan Eberle and the late Rick Rypien are three that come to mind immediately.  Travis Churchman and Jan Zapletal do not,


--At what point do the Wheat Kings go to whatever group runs the farm show that kicks them out and asks them to move it up a couple of weeks so this scenario isn't repeated as it is year after  year after year. It makes the Wheat Kings look bad and in doing so it makes the WHL look bad too.

--The Oilers aren't making the playoffs and I have known that, but at least catch and surpass the Flames in the regular season standings. Is that too much to ask?

--The Brier final had 893-thousand viewers on TSN. Compare that to the last four Rider regular season games on TSN that did not have that many watching. Curling getting better numbers than the Riders. That should have those who use the old cornbroom pretty happy.

--The beatdown given to Daniel Bryan by Triple H on RAW Monday got to be a little uncomfortable. This only certifies in my mind that the bearded one will be walking out of WrestleMania as the champ.

--When you've been to Seattle as much as I have or even if you have only been there once, chances are you take the Monorail to the Space Needle. That monorail basically goes right beside the KOMO TV studios where that helicopter crashed Tuesday. I have walked that area of road many a time and it sends a chill down your spine when you see the pics and you know exactly where it is because you have walked around that area. I also can't help but wonder how the men and women of KOMO TV and radio were able to do their job knowing two of their own were gone. I didn't see a lot of TV on the subject, but in what I did see, the KOMO reporters did a tremendous job. It was tough enough for me to read Bob Hughes' death last year. I can't imagine what it would be like to say one of my co-workers had passed away in the  line of duty or one of any Regina media. I don't want to find out. either.

--It was tough hearing Rey Williams was retiring. I was a big Rey Williams from his first tour of duty here and I was real happy when he came back to Riderville because I knew the defence would get better.  While it was tough seeing him retire, I thought it was great for the Riders to bring him in as director of player development. Another great move by the Riders. Is there any wonder why they are seen as the model franchise in the CFL right now. Blame Jim Hopson for that.

--
--The CFL is going to allow instant replay on pass interference calls. I am guessing former NFL defensive back Corey Chamblin did not vote for that. As much as I agree that there is inconsistency in the refereeing in the CFL, you can't have a judgment call go to review. If they are going to do this, then they have to put no yards to a review and they have to put whether or not the receiver goes offside to review and many other things. I just think this will be a total disaster. I guess we'll see. One thing is for sure and it is pretty obvious now the CFL has it in for defenses. You can't touch the quarterback and now you can't touch a receiver.

--Back to the Pats. They want us to rock the red and wear red clothing to Games 1 and 2. I'm down with that especially with the home side wearing their red jerseys for Game 1. However, there is talk they won't be wearing red jerseys for Game 2. Ummmmmmm. If you want the fans to wear red, you have to as well. Its like teams having a white out and then coming out in their dark uniforms.

--March Madness has started with a bang. There were some great finishes on the first day of the tournament and more will be coming on the second day. 14 of 16 right on the 1st day including the three big upsets. My bracket is right here for those who care.

--Is this the goal of the year in the NHL??? WOW!!!


--That's all I got. Hope to see ya at the rink Saturday night.