This And That

The usual weekly assortment of thoughts running through my muddled brain and as always. they are in no particular order. 

The Saskatchewan Roughriders just get it. Other CFL teams seemingly don't,  The Riders realize many from this province go to Arizona in the winter time so they worked together on a promotion with the Arizona Coyotes. If you listened to Sportscage on Tuesday from a bar just outside the Coyotes rink, it sounded as if it was coming Riderville at Grey Cup time.  I don't think Rider fans will be adopting the Coyotes as their NHL team anytime soon, but to partner with an NHL team on this and bring the Rider Nation to Arizona was a tremendous idea by the football team. However, the Coyotes never seemed to join in. As Pats play-by-play man Phil Andrews indicated to me Tuesday afternoon and a quick look at their website proved it, there was nothing about the promotion on the Coyotes website and no mention of what was going on. Why?? You have to market yourselves as well and it would seem as if the Coyotes dropped the puck. 

--

This also brings to mind as to why other teams don't do this. The Stampeders may have realized what the Riders did at the Scotties when they brought Kevin Glenn to Mosaic Place hours after he had signed by having eight players at the Saddledome to sign autographs including stars Jon Cornish and Bo Levi Mitchell. I also understand they helped lead the curlers out before the evening draw. That's great, but have the Flames ever had a Stampeders night? Have the Oilers ever had an Eskimos night? Teams get upset at the Riders for what they do and all CFL teams have an NHL team in their backyard yet its the green and white who strike first. These teams angry at the Riders need to perhaps take a look in the mirror and see what they are doing or not doing. 

--

I have a bad feeling the Toronto Argonauts are going to be the CFL's worst team in 2015. Have they done anything to improve themselves? Then again, why would free agents want to go play for a team that is seemingly sinking. The Argos have a bigger rebuilding job than we think they do. The move to BMO Field can't come quick enough if you ask me. 

----

Why aren't we hearing anything about a new CFL commissioner!!!

---

As expected, the NHL trade deadline TV coverage was a bust and for one TSN employee who allowed a certain tweet to get over the air, the likely end of his days at the network. At least James Duthie didn't hide the fact that they were somewhat mocking themselves with their coverage of what was going on and TSN won the day when they interviewed Chris Stewart and were the ones to tell him he had been traded to Minnesota by Buffalo, 

---

The trade deadline also brought home how sports can affect a family life. The letter by the daughter of Jordan Leopold asking the Wild to trade for her daddy so he can come home is to me the story of the year two and a little bit months into the year. 

---

The CFL's salary cap is going up to just over 5 million this dollars. The NFL's salary cap is going up by 10 million to 143.28 million dollars. The best players play south of the border why? 

---

Steve Laycock gave up 5 and just about won a game at the Brier Thursday night. Steve Laycock can't give up 5 and expect to win the Brier. He has performed well this week, but his rink is just not up there with the Jacobs' , Gushues and Morris'. Those rinks are just a level above the competition.  Good on the fiery John Morris to realize things weren't working for his team and make a change that has been working by having Pat Simmons throw skip stones. 

----

Peyton Manning is coming back for an 18th NFL season which I'm sure will be his last. Will it end with a Super Bowl. NOPE! If it does, he will go out the same way Elway did, but I just can't see it happening especially when that guy named Brady is around. 

----

Finally, if this doesn't make you laugh, well I feel sorry for you....

WHL Hits And Penalty Minutes Are Down

Referees in the traditionally rough-and-tumble Western Hockey League have been sending offenders to the penalty box at a record low rate this season.

As the 2014-15 campaign draws to a close, multiple teams could break the WHL’s record for fewest penalty minutes in a season set by the 2013-14 Everett Silvertips with 816 in 72 games. Everett, with 646 minutes in 64 games, will almost certainly break that mark, as will the Kootenay Ice, who have been whistled for just 631 minutes in the same span.

As recently as three seasons ago, every team in the league racked up at least 1,000 minutes. This season could finish with as few as three teams topping that benchmark, and only the Prince George Cougars have already reached four digits.

Teams are fighting less, but are also taking fewer minor penalties.

In 2006-07, the average team earned about 6.7 power plays per game. Loosening of some rules brought that down to approximately 5.5 the next season, but there’s been a steady decline since even as the sport continues to tighten restrictions on violent hits.

This season, WHL teams average about 4.1 power plays per game.

"I think that’s a good thing," said WHL director of officiating Kevin Muench. "The game is changing; there’s more emphasis on speed and skill."

Muench said there’s been no "conscious effort" by the WHL’s officiating arm to decrease penalty calls, and cites coaching and education in explaining why there are fewer whistles.

"We’ve been meeting with teams for a handful of years about penalty infractions, and we talk about how standards are going to applied," said Muench. "Once there’s a buy-in, players have a stronger understanding and coaches have done a tremendous job teaching."

Kootenay coach Ryan McGill, an imposing presence in his playing days who compiled 793 penalty minutes in four WHL seasons, says teams have adjusted to a new reality in hockey.

"The intimidation factor isn’t really there anymore," said McGill. "The game is going away from that, and we don’t really have that personality on our team.

"I think big hits are out of the game because the player giving the hit understands there’s a risk for suspension," said McGill. "The way the rules are, and the safety concerns, the players are cognizant of that and don’t go out of their way for those hits anymore."

Muench said he has "no doubts" that players have adjusted to stiff punishment for certain kinds of hits, especially that target opponents’ heads.

"It took a few years for everyone to understand that checking from behind needed to be eliminated, now players are coming into the league familiar with consequences for checking to the head," he said.

Instead of instructing players to mash opponents into the boards, coaches like McGill are focusing on technique.

"In defending, we try to teach about body position and stick positioning, and not putting yourself in a situation where you have to take a penalty," McGill said.

Fewer collisions means there are fewer occasions to drop the gloves. The Ice have engaged in a league-low 23 fights this season.

"Our fights are spur of the moment, and those are the best kinds of confrontations," McGill said.

Instances of fighting have plummeted in all levels of hockey, and its decline is a welcome development for those who believe fighting is a major cause of concussions.

The league has claimed that concussions are on the decline, but there’s no way to accurately evaluate that statement because teams are not required to publicly disclose the nature of injuries beyond "upper" or "lower" body.

In 1997-98, the first season for which game-by-game data is available online via the WHL’s website, each of the league’s 18 teams at the time fought at least 85 times, with the Medicine Hat Tigers leading the way with 211.

This season, the Swift Current Broncos top the WHL with 63 fighting majors.

"Everyone talks about fighting, and we talk about it as well," Muench said. "Fighting still happens, but there’s been a lot of effort to reduce unnecessary fights and staged fights."


(Canadian Press) 

Stamps Sign Mitchell To Contract Extension

Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that international quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Red and White through the 2018 season.

The 25-year-old Katy, Tex., native boasted a 13-2 record as the Stampeders’ starter in 2014 and led Calgary to a 43-18 win over the Edmonton Eskimos with four touchdown passes in the Western Final before earning Most Valuable Player honours in the Stamps’ Grey Cup victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“Bo Levi has set the bar very high for himself after his performance last season but with his ability and determination, I believe he has room to grow and improve even more,” said Hufnagel. “The team has made a long-term commitment to Bo Levi and I’m pleased that he has made a long-term commitment to the Stampeders. This signing provides stability for the team at a crucial position.”

Mitchell led the CFL in passer rating in 2014 as he completed 264 of 417 passes for 3,389 yards and 22 touchdowns with just eight interceptions. He also carried the ball 35 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns.

In three seasons with the Stamps, he has completed 64.6 per cent of his passes (370 of 573) for 4,713 yards and 34 touchdowns. Mitchell also has 450 rushing yards and 11 majors.

“I’d like to thank Huff and the organization for making this commitment to me,” said Mitchell. “I feel like I’m just getting started here and so I wanted to make the same commitment to the Stampeders. I thank Dave and Huff so much for everything they’ve done for me since I arrived in Calgary in 2012 and I’m excited for the future as we build on what we accomplished together last year.”

NHL Trade Deadline Deals

Boston gained RW Brett Connolly from Tampa Bay for second-round selections in 2015 and 2016.

Tampa Bay obtained D Braydon Coburn from Philadelphia in return for D Radko Gudas plus first-and third-round selections in 2015.

Montreal received D Jeff Petry from Edmonton for a second round and a conditional fifth-round selection in 2015.

Montreal acquired C Brian Flynn from Buffalo for a fifth-round pick in 2016.

St. Louis received D Zbynek Michalek and a conditional draft pick from Arizona in return for C Maxim Letunov.

San Jose obtained RW Ben Smith and a conditional 7th-round pick in 2017 from Chicago for C Andrew Desjardins.

Detroit acquired D Marek Zidlicky from New Jersey for a conditional 2016 third-round pick.

Colorado traded D Karl Stollery to San Jose for C Freddie Hamilton.

N.Y. Islanders obtained RW Tyler Kennedy from San Jose for a conditional draft pick.

Pittsburgh acquired D Ian Cole from St. Louis in return for D Robert Bortuzzo and a seventh-round pick in 2016.

Buffalo traded G Michal Neuvirth to N.Y. Islanders for G Chad Johnson and a conditional third-round pick in 2016.

N.Y. Islanders traded C Cory Conacher to Vancouver for C Dustin Jeffrey.

Minnesota acquired D Jordan Leopold from Columbus for D Justin Falk and a fifth-round pick in 2015.

Toronto traded C Olli Jokinen to St. Louis for C Joakim Lindstrom and a conditional 2016 sixth-round pick.

Montreal gained C Torrey Mitchell from Buffalo for LW Jack Nevins and a seventh-rounder in 2017.

Pittsburgh received D Ben Lovejoy and sent D Simon Despres to Anaheim.

Buffalo traded RW Chris Stewart to Minnesota for a second-round pick in 2017.

Vancouver acquired LW Sven Baertschi from Calgary for a second-round selection in 2017.

Columbus traded D James Wisniewski and a third-round pick in 2015 to Anaheim for RW Rene Bourque, C William Karlsson and a second-round pick in this year's draft.

Boston received C Max Talbot and C Paul Carey from Colorado in return for RW Jordan Caron and a sixth-round pick in 2016.

N.Y. Islanders traded D Mark Louis to Arizona for G David Leggio.

Colorado acquired D Mat Clark from Anaheim for F Michael Sgarbossa.

Anaheim received D Korbinian Holzer from Toronto for D Eric Brewer and a 2016 sixth-round selection.

Minnesota traded C Zack Phillips to Boston for C Jared Knight.

NHL Three Stars Of Week

NEW YORK – Ottawa Senators goaltender Andrew Hammond, Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban and Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending March 1.

FIRST STAR – ANDREW HAMMOND, G, OTTAWA SENATORS

Hammond went 3-0-0 with a 0.67 goals-against average, .978 save percentage and two shutouts to backstop the Senators (27-23-10, 64 points) to a trio of victories. He denied all 25 shots he faced to record his first career shutout in a 3-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks Feb. 25. Hammond followed that performance with a 35-save shutout in a 1-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings Feb. 26, becoming the second goaltender in NHL history to post consecutive road shutouts against the Ducks and Kings (Steve Mason: Dec. 29-31, 2008). He then capped the week with 28 saves in a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks Feb. 28, helping the Senators complete a sweep of their road trip through California and extend their overall winning streak to a season-high five games. The 27-year-old White Rock, B.C., native has started all five games for the club during its current run, becoming the first goaltender in Senators history to win each of his first five career starts. Overall, he is 5-0-0 with a 1.18 goals-against average, .959 save percentage and two shutouts in seven career appearances.

SECOND STAR – P.K. SUBBAN, D, MONTREAL CANADIENS

Subban paced the NHL with five assists and shared the League lead with six points to power the Canadiens (41-16-5, 87 points) to three consecutive wins. He collected two assists in a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues Feb. 24. Subban then registered 1-2-3, his fourth three-point game of the season, and a career-high +5 rating in a 5-2 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets Feb. 26. He closed the week with one assist in a 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Feb. 28, giving him 1-11-12 in his past nine contests. The 25-year-old Toronto native shares second among defensemen with 12-36-48 in 62 outings this season. His 12 goals are two shy of his career high (set in 77 GP in 2010-11), while his 48 points are five shy of his best single-season performance (set in 82 GP in 2013-14).

THIRD STAR – EVGENI MALKIN, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Malkin tied for the League lead with 2-4-6 in two games to propel the Penguins (36 17 9, 81 points) to a pair of victories and their fourth straight win overall. He collected three assists in a 4-3 triumph over the Washington Capitals Feb. 25, his 25th career contest with at least three helpers. Malkin followed that performance with 2-1-3 in a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets March 1. The 28-year-old Magnitogorsk, Russia, native has posted three points in three consecutive team games (also Feb. 22 vs. FLA: 2-1-3), the second time he has achieved that feat in his career (also Feb. 7-10, 2008: 3-7-10). Malkin also is the first player to accomplish that feat for any team since Patrick Marleau did so for the San Jose Sharks Jan. 22-26, 2013 (6-3-9). Overall, Malkin has points in five straight games (5-6-11) and 26-38-64 in 57 outings this season, one point shy of the League lead.

2018 Curling Trials To Be Held In Eastern Canada

The road for Canada’s bid to become the first country to repeat as men’s and women’s Olympic curling gold-medallists will go through Ottawa and Summerside, P.E.I., it was announced today by Curling Canada.

Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre will play host to the 2017 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings from Dec. 2-10, while the final qualifying tournament for that event, the Road to the Roar Pre-Trials, will take place Nov. 6-12 at Credit Union Place in Summerside.

“We received an amazing response to the Request for Proposal we put out to host these events, and it was an extremely hard decision that came right down to the wire,” said Greg Stremlaw, Curling Canada’s Chief Executive Officer. “All of the candidate cities put in superb bids, and once we got to our shortlist, we knew that we had nothing but winning proposals on our hands. It’s a testament to the popularity of our sport, and these events, that there was so much interest in hosting them, and we know Ottawa and Summerside will put on terrific shows in 2017.”

The process for determining the competing teams for both the Road to the Roar and the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, as well as the formats for both events, will be announced before the end of this curling season. The winner of the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings will represent Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

This will mark the fourth time that Tim Hortons has sponsored the Trials, following the 2005, 2009 and 2013 editions; that’s in addition to one of North America’s leading quick-service restaurant chains being the title sponsor of the Tim Hortons Brier.

“The commitment Tim Hortons has shown to the sport of curling speaks for itself,” said Stremlaw. “Tim Hortons has repeatedly gone above and beyond to demonstrate its passion and enthusiasm for making our events special and memorable, and they continue to play a significant role in raising the profile of our sport.”

It will be the first time a major curling event has been staged at the Canadian Tire Centre, the 19,153-seat home of the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators. But the city has hosted numerous curling events over the years, and will play host to the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier , March 5-13.

Meanwhile, it will be the first time Summerside's Credit Union Place has hosted a Curling Canada Season of Champions event. The 4,228-seat arena is home to the Summerside Western Capitals of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.

TSN/RDS2, the official broadcast partner of Curling Canada’s Season of Champions series, will provide complete draw-by-draw coverage of both events, the first time the Road to the Roar Pre-Trials has been broadcasted from start to finish.

Already qualified for the Road to the Roar Pre-Trials are the winners of the 2014 Home Hardware Canada Cup, presented by Meridian Manufacturing — men’s champ Mike McEwen of Winnipeg and women’s champ Val Sweeting of Edmonton. Also in the Pre-Trials field is recently crowned Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, while the winner of this week’s Tim Hortons Brier, presented by SecurTek Monitoring Solutions, in Calgary also will earn a Pre-Trials berth.

It was Team Jones and the Brad Jacobs team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., that prevailed at the 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings in Winnipeg to qualify for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where they produced double gold for Canada — the first time one nation has swept the Olympic curling competition. While Team Jones pre-qualified for the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, Team Jacobs needed to come out of the Road to the Roar Pre-Trials in Kitchener, Ont., to have the chance to play for Olympic gold.

Canadian curling teams have reached the podium in every Olympic curling competition since the sport was re-introduced as a medal sport in 1998 at Nagano, Japan.

The first men’s and women’s direct qualifiers for the 2017 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings will be decided at the 2015 Home Hardware Canada Cup, Dec. 2-6 in Grande Prairie, Alta.

Something To "Mitch" About

Its one of the annual calm before the storm times we see in sports.

The NHL hasn't gotten to playoffs yet,  MLB spring training is just getting underway, there is no football and well, there isn't a lot of talk about, but it will all heat up in a few weeks in what is one of those magical times of the year when the excitement of one season ends as the optimism for another season begins.  I can't really decide if the end of March-the beginning of April is the best time of sports for me or if that comes in September when the CFL is in full swing, the NFL is starting, MLB is into its stretch drive and hockey is right around the corner.

--

One thing you can start getting excited about are the WHL playoffs as the Pats clinched a playoff spot over the weekend.  While the on-ice product is playoff bound, fans are now mad because ticket prices are going up. This just in....in life, the price of things go up. In the end, you make the decision as to what you can afford and what you can't afford. I haven't really gotten the whole story behind the ticket increase, but I know that QCSE are going to a model many professional sports teams use. Is that a bad thing?  It seems to me there are many who just want to complain about something when it comes to the local junior hockey team whether it be under the old regime or the new regime.  Congrats to John Paddock for getting his team into the playoffs. Lets see how far they get. A win over Swift Current is not a certainty, but if this team can put in the work, they can get there and give their "fans" an extended run from what has been seen in these parts for the last many years.

--

Its trade deadline day in the NHL and by the time you read this I'm sure some trades have been made.  It will be fun today watching TSN and Sportsnet trying to tap dance their way through what is a tedious day for sports TV as the two try and out do one another with their "Trade Day Coverage".  While I think the coverage is over the top. many will be glued in to see what their team does if anything and what players go where.  A notion was recently put out there saying there should be a no-trade memorandum issued by the league leading up to the deadline so the networks have something to talk about. That can go down as one of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard. Yeah, I can see the Devils not playing Jaromir Jagr for two or three games so he doesn't get hurt because they have a trade in place that could go up in smoke because TSN or Sportsnet need something to talk about. CMON!!! Anyhoo, it will be interesting to see how Duthie and company and Millard and his gang kill the time.

--

An interesting article in the Globe and Mail on the weekend and whether or not curling should be added to hockey and lacrosse as our national sport. You can read the article here if you want.  Say what you want about the game, but its impressive that more than a million people watched the Scotties final when the Oscars were on at the same time. Perhaps that's just the fact that many Canadians (like me) could give a rats ass about the Oscars. If Dumb and Dumber 2 didn't get nominated for an award then it tells you something about the nomination process and voting procedure.

--

Here is a question for Saskatchewan curling fans. I'm watching the Brier and seeing Regina's Braden Moskowy and Ben Hebert along with Moose Jaw's Pat Simmons playing for other teams.  I realize the rules are there, but does it bother you to see these quality curlers representing someone else when they should have the Sask jacket on. I say find a quality 4th and get these guys home,

---

I could be wrong, but I believe all is over for another year of U of R Cougar athletics after the womens basketball team bowed out of the playoffs on the weekend at UBC.  Now that the season is over, can someone at the bookstore look into purchasing Cougar golf shirts. In fact, maybe hawk those shirts outside the CKHS and rinks next winter. I went in to the bookstore three times this year to see a lot of Cougs gear, but no golf shirts. CMON!!

---

I wonder what the CFL thinks of the Northern 8 proposal. I would be very interested to hear their take on the project to get CIS football some more exposure. I would think they would be all in favour of it.  Why wouldn't they be?

----

A question for those who do business in East Regina and Harbour Landing. What area is tougher to drive through? I was in the Grasslands complex (is that what you call it) and its about as difficult to navigate if not moreso than it is in east Regina.

---

I've never heard of Dan Olsen before, but we might after this story if there is anything to it.  I think its safe to say this would shake the sporting world to its foundation if its true. I'm not the biggest Tiger fan, but I don't see this at all. Mr. Olsen might be getting a call from Tiger's lawyers.

---

From the Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons...

According to the statement of claim Eric Lindros has filed in his defamation suit against former referee Paul Stewart, Lindros was made out to be: “unfriendly, hostile, rude, insulting, vindictive, cruel, uncharitable and generally a despicable person.” Which I’m figuring is about five for eight.

---

Dustin Penner. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!

----

That's all I got. Have a good week!