Blades getting “Scrooged” in December of 2024

Saskatoon falls 4-2 to Wheat Kings heading into Xmas break

The Blades stop Wheat Kings LW Carter Klippenstein on a scoring chance.

December has been nasty for the Saskatoon Blades.

Before December rolled around, the Blades were on a heater.

Back on November 30, they downed the Swift Current Broncos 4-3 after a tiebreaking shootout at the SaskTel Centre. That win allowed the Blades to improve to 17-6-1-1 to have a solid hold on first place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. At the time, that victory was a third straight for the club and also a sixth triumph in the squad’s previous seven contests.

Luke Shipley scored twice for the Wheat Kings on Sunday.

The Blades appeared to be a surprise team in the WHL. Last season, they finished first overall in the WHL regular season standings with a 50-13-2-3 mark. In the WHL Playoffs, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship Series falling 3-2 in overtime in a series deciding Game 7 to the eventual WHL champion Moose Jaw Warriors at the SaskTel Centre.

Due to the fact the Blades made some trades to load up for a long post-season run, many weren’t expecting them to have the type of campaign where they would challenge for top spot in the conference. While the Blades had to deal with a number of key graduations, they had enough strong returning players that they expected to be in the post-season mix and not fall to the bottom of the standings.

Brandon Lisowsky scored twice for the Blades on Sunday.

When the 2024 calendar flipped over to December, the wins dried up for the Blades. In six outings so far for December, the Blades have two extra time losses and have dropped their last four straight games in regulation.

On Sunday playing before 5,274 spectators at the SaskTel Centre before heading to their Christmas break, the Blades fell 4-2 to the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Wheat Kings jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Blades rallied to even the score 2-2 at the 8:37 mark of the third period.

Wheat Kings 20-year-old defenceman Luke Shipley scored a pretty goal during a stretch of four-on-four play with 5:56 remaining in the third for the winning tally, and he sealed victory with an empty-net marker with 4.2 seconds remaining in the frame.

Ethan Eskit made 27 saves for the Wheat Kings on Sunday.

Despite the winless stretch, Saskatoon still sits first in the WHL’s East Division with a 17-10-2-2 mark. The Blades trail the Medicine Hat Tigers (19-14-1) for top spot in the Eastern Conference by one standings points with three games in hand.

The Wheat Kings improved to 15-9-3-1 with the win and trail the Blades by four standings points for first in the East Division with three games in hand. The Wheaties still have one game to play before departing on their Christmas break to pull closer to Saskatoon in the standings.

They are back in action on Tuesday hosting the 7-19-3-1 Warriors (7 p.m. local time, Westoba Place). Both the Wheat Kings and Warriors will head on to their respective Christmas breaks after that contest.

Ben Riche set up the Blades first goal.

The Blades have a long stretch to ponder where they are at this point in the 2024-25 campaign. Saskatoon doesn’t play again until hosting the Warriors on Friday, December 27 at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

While the Blades have two extra time setbacks in December, all four of their regulation losses have been heartbreakers. Saskatoon has fallen twice by one goal in those regulation losses. The other two losses have come by two goals, where the opponent has sealed victory with an empty-net tally like Brandon did on Sunday.

Sunday’s clash with the Wheat Kings was played pretty evenly by the two sides. Brandon basically was able to make two more plays than Saskatoon did, but the Blades are likely lamenting missed chances.

Nicholas Johnson had a goal and an assist for the Wheat Kings.

Just 1:51 into the opening frame, the Wheat Kings jumped ahead 1-0 off a Blades turnover in their own zone. A pass between Blades captain Ben Saunderson and 19-year-old centre Lukas Hansen was botched causing the puck to sit on the stick of Wheat Kings breakout centre Matteo Michels.

Positioned midrange off to the right of the Blades goal, Michels roofed a shot to the top left corner of the Saskatoon net for the opening marker of the contest.

The Wheat Kings pushed their edge out to 2-0 scoring on the power play at the 11:30 mark of the opening frame. During a scramble for the puck at the left side of the Blades net, Wheat Kings right-winger Brady Turko fed a backhanded pass across the front of the goal to left-winger Nicholas Johnson at the open right side of the cage. Johnson popped the puck into the empty side of the net to give the visitors their two-goal edge.

Ben Saunderson brings the puck up ice for the Blades.

The Blades came into the second period on fire applying all sorts of pressure in the Brandon zone holding a 15-7 edge in shots on goal for the stanza. Some sharp play by Wheat Kings netminder Ethan Eskit ensured the visitors went into the second intermission still holding the lead.

Saskatoon trimmed Brandon’s lead to 2-1 at the 8:33 mark of the second on a vintage goal by star 20-year-old left-winger Brandon Lisowsky. Entering the Wheat Kings zone on a two-on-one break, Blades breakout star centre Ben Riche drove down the left wing into the Wheat Kings zone with the puck and fed the puck across the front of the Brandon net to Lisowsky. Lisowsky fired a one-timer home to cut the Wheat Kings lead to one.

Matteo Michels scored the Wheat Kings first goal on Sunday.

Just four seconds into a power play at the 4:04 mark of the third, the Blades thought they had the equalizer when right-winger Hudson Kibblewhite tipped home a puck in front of the Brandon net that came off a point blast from 20-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann. The officials immediately waved off the goal ruling Kibblewhite knocked home the puck with a high stick.

The officials went to a video review that determined the call on the ice was correct much to the dismay of the Blades faithful in attendance.

The Blades finally broke through with the man advantage scoring five seconds into their fourth power-play chance. Working low in the left side of the Brandon zone, Kibblewhite sent a smart pass to Lisowsky positioned at the top of the left faceoff circle.

The Blades celebrate an equalizer from Brandon Lisowsky (#8).

Lisowsky one-timed home his second goal of the contest to even the score at 2-2 at the 8:37 mark of the third. With his two tallies on Sunday, Lisowsky now has 139 career goals for the Blades moving him one tally ahead of Josh Nicholls for sixth on the Blades career goal scoring list. Nicholls played five seasons for the Blades from 2008 to 2013.

Shipley proceeded to spoil the comeback party for the hosts. Entering the Blades zone driving down the right wing on a three-on-one break, Shipley weaved around Saunderson, who slide on the ice to break up any potential passing plays.

Brayden Klimpke starts a breakout for the Blades.

After getting around Saunderson along the icing line, Shipley cut to the front of the Saskatoon net and put home a backhander to give the Wheat Kings a 3-2 advantage with 5:56 remaining in the third. He proceeded to add his empty-net goal to round out the game’s scoring.

Johnson picked up an assist on Shipley’s empty-net tally to round out a two-point night with one goal and one assist.

Evan Gardner turned away 26-of-29 shots to take the setback in net for the Blades. Eskit stopped 27 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Wheat Kings.

As the Blades head into their Christmas break, one has to wonder if they are falling back to earth and if the graduations from last season are finally catching up to them.

Evan Gardner stopped 26-of-29 shots for the Blades.

Their 17-10-2-2 record might be an accurate reflection on where they sit. While they played well building a 17-6-1-1 mark after their win over the Broncos on November 30, they likely overachieved and got a couple of wins that they shouldn’t have.

Over their winless last six games that have included two extra time setbacks, the Blades likely deserved some breaks to get victory in a couple of those contests.

When they return to action after the Christmas break, the Blades will be in the mix in a wide open Eastern Conference. They could get back to the Eastern Conference Championship Series for a third straight year, or they could be eliminated in the first round of the post-season.

Ethan Eskit, left, and Nolan Flamand celebrate the Wheat Kings win.

No matter how the 2024-25 campaign plays out for the Blades, it should be entertaining to watch.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Dragicevic, Mrsic delivering for Raiders

Lukas Dragicevic in action for the Raiders last Friday.

Lukas Dragicevic and Tomas Mrsic are as good as advertised.

The pair came to the Prince Albert Raiders off-season trades with hopes both can give the club an offensive boost. Entering play on Tuesday, Mrsic, who is an 18-year-old skilled forward , sits second in team scoring with 34 points coming off 17 goals and 17 assists. Dragicevic, who is a 19-year-old offensive-defenceman, is third in team scoring with 28 points coming off two goals and 26 assists.

The pair helped the Raiders convert on 30-of-106 power-play opportunities for a 28.3 per cent success rate to sit third in the WHL. Last season, the Raiders converted on 60-of-258 power-play chances for a 23.3 per cent success rate, which was good enough for 10^th in the WHL.

Tomas Mrsic in action for the Raiders last Friday.

Dragicevic, who has a signed entry-level contract with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, came to the Raiders in a blockbuster trade with the Tri-City Americans on July 25. Dragicevic was acquired by the Raiders along with 18-year-old prospect goaltender Eric Kahl and a seventh round selection in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft in exchange for 19-year-old shutdown-defenceman Terrell Goldsmith, 18-year-old centre Grady Martin, 19-year-old netminder Nathan Preston and a third round selection in the 2025 Prospects Draft.

Mrsic, who was selected in the third round and 113^th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, was picked up by the Raiders in a head turning trade with the Medicine Hat Tigers on August 26. In that deal, the Raiders received Mrsic, a third round selection in the 2025 Prospects Draft and a third round pick in the 2028 Prospects Draft in exchange for star 18-year-old right-winger Ryder Ritchie.

This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click right here.

Raiders grit and perseverance delivers 4-3 victory

Fortin’s 39 saves holds off Hitmen

Niall Crocker, left, enjoys his winning goal with Aiden Oiring.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Head coach Jeff Truitt appreciated the battle of his Prince Albert Raiders.

On Friday night playing before 2,432 spectators at the Art Hauser Centre, the Raiders built a 3-0 lead on the visiting Calgary Hitmen and carried a 3-1 advantage into the third period. The Hitmen evened the score at 3-3 in the third, but the Raiders ensured the Calgary comeback was not to be.

With 4:08 remaining in the third period, Raiders 20-year-old standout right-winger Niall Crocker came up with one is his specialties. He banged home a gritty power-play goal from the front of the Calgary net on a four-on-three advantage to ultimately deliver the Raiders to a 4-3 victory.

“I really liked our compete,” said Truitt. “I thought that we skated real well.

Justice Christensen had the Raiders first goal on Friday.

“I thought that we were on pucks. I thought that we carried the speed quite a bit. I like a lot about our game and our physicality from time to time.

“We’re not going to get pushed around, and we showed that here tonight. It was kind of a team effort that way. We had to grind her out under some weird conditions in the third period and got her done.”

Raiders captain Justice Christensen opened the game’s scoring firing home a shot from the left point at the 9:56 mark of the opening frame. With Friday’s contest being the Raiders Toque and Teddy Bear Toss night, stuffed animals and mitts rained down on to the Art Hauser Centre’s ice surface after Christensen’s tally.

The players and off-ice staffers along with the game’s linesmen made sure the clean up was completed in rapid order.

The Raiders celebrate a Teddy Bear goal from Justice Christensen.

The Hitmen got into penalty trouble inside the final 92 seconds of the opening frame. First, they got unsettled after 19-year-old star offensive-defenceman Carter Yakemchuk was hit by Raiders 19-year-old centre Harrison Lodewyk in the right corner of the Calgary zone.

The Hitmen coaching staff argued loudly from the bench with the officials for a penalty for hitting from behind, and no infraction was called. Just 18 seconds later, Hitmen 20-year-old import left-winger Max Muranov forearm hit Raiders 16-year-old rookie defenceman Daxon Rudolph in the Calgary zone starting a big scrum. The Raiders came away with a power play with Muranov being given an interference minor making the difference in how the penalties were sorted out.

The Raiders show off some of the stuffed animals that were collected.

With 23.2 seconds remaining in the first, Hitmen star 20-year-old defenceman Kalem Parker was given a roughing minor to give the Raiders a two-man advantage for 69 seconds.

Just 33 seconds into second working that two-man advantage, Raiders star offensive-defenceman Lukas Dragicevic wired home a power-play goal from the left point to push the host side’s edge out to 2-0. For Dragicevic, that was his first goal since he tallied once in a 6-4 loss to the Royals in Victoria back on October 18.

His tally on Friday came on a Raiders power play that entered the day’s action leading the WHL with a 28.3 per cent success rate.

The Raiders and Hitmen engage in a first period scrum.

“It feels good,” said Dragicevic, who has two goals and 26 assists in 22 games with the Raiders this season. “Obviously, the power play has been really good this year.

“It just fits that I got it on the power play. I play with good players on that line. They set me up pretty good, and I just had to do the rest.”

At the 4:07 mark of the second, the Hitmen gave the puck away to Raiders 20-year-old right-winger Niall Crocker. Crocker got the puck to import left-winger Krzysztof Macias, who wired home a mid-range shot to give Prince Albert a 3-0 advantage.

Lukas Dragicevic scored the Raiders second goal on Friday.

The Hitmen stopped the bleeding at the 7:20 mark of the second when 19-year-old centre David Adaszynski sent home a mid-range off-speed shot through a screen for a goal to cut the Raiders lead to 3-1.

With 10:02 remaining in the second working on a power play, Hitmen star 19-year-old left-winger Tanner Howe thought he scored a goal during a mad scramble. The officials first called the play a goal, proceeded to have a conference over the call and waved the tally off on the ice.

The Hitmen thought they had another goal with 3:53 remaining in the second with a shot coming off the stick of captain Carson Wetsch. That goal was waved off as Hitmen 17-year-old centre Ben Kindel was given a minor penalty for goaltender interference.

Krzysztof Macias, left, enjoys scoring the Raiders third goal.

Just 62 seconds into the third, Hitmen 20-year-old star centre Connor Hvidston snuck a turnaround shot past Raiders 18-year-old netminder Dimitri Fortin to further trim the host side’s edge to 3-2.

The Hitmen evened the score a 3-3 with 5:21 remaining in third on a power-play goal from star 19-year-old right-winger Oliver Tulk. 

Tulk tipped home a puck from the front of the Prince Albert net that came from a pass by Wetsch.

That set the scene for Crocker to come through with the winning tally.

Dimitri Fortin made 39 saves in goal for the Raiders.

“We don’t give up,” said Dragicevic. “Maybe at the start of the year that is something that would have done, but we’ve grown as a team.

“We’ve grown as individuals. We knew we were going to get one on that power play. Our power play is too good to get stopped there.

“Crocks (Crocker) obviously banged that one home. It was a couple of passes before that one that led to that, and it was a nice goal.”

Fortin stopped 39 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Raiders (12-9-3). Anders Miller turned away 27 shots to take the setback in net for the Hitmen (13-9-3-1).

Tomas Mrsic had a pair of assists for the Raiders.

Star 18-year-old left-winger Tomas Mrsic had a pair of assists for the Raiders.

Truitt has been pleased with how solid Fortin has been for the Raiders after joining the club in a trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors on November 27.

“Since he has come in, he has been calm and cool,” said Truitt. “He has just done his job.

“He has made some key saves, but he hasn’t had to make many circus saves here. He has been pretty good. The guys in front of him have been good as well, but he has been solid.”

The Hitmen return to action on Saturday when they travel to Saskatoon to take on the 17-6-1-2 Blades (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre).

The Raiders salute their faithful after Friday’s win.

The Raiders get back at it on Saturday when they travel to Brandon to battle the 13-8-3-1 Wheat Kings (7 p.m. local time, Westoba Place).

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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WHL blessed to see lots of Tigers’ McKenna

A Gavin McKenna card.

Getting a Gavin McKenna hockey card from an Upper Deck 2023-24 CHL series box can make anyone feel like a kid again.

In recent years, the WHL has had the good fortune of cycling through a special generation of players talent wise that you have to get out and see. Many of those are currently in the 19-year-old age group that includes Riley Heidt of the Prince George Cougars, Brayden Yager of the Moose Jaw Warriors, Tanner Molendyk of the Saskatoon Blades, Gracyn Sawchyn of the Edmonton Oil Kings, Lukas Dragicevic of the Prince Albert Raiders and Andrew Cristall and Caden Price of the Kelowna Rockets.

McKenna, who is the superstar left-winger of the Medicine Hat Tigers, is the leader of younger class of elite players in the WHL. He leads the league in scoring with 48 points coming off 15 goals and 33 assists to go with a plus-20 rating appearing in all the Tigers 25 regular season games.

In 102 career regular season games, McKenna, who stands 6-feet and weighs 165 pounds, has recorded 53 goals, 110 assists and a plus-23 rating. Those statistics are incredibly impressive when you realize McKenna won’t turn 17-years-old until December 20.

Thanks to his late in the year birthday, McKenna won’t be eligible for the NHL Entry Draft until 2026. That means the Tigers will get to have McKenna for his 18-year-old season.

For folks on the WHL circuit, you still have about two thirds of the current regular season and the post-season plus the entire 2025-26 campaign to see McKenna. When the 2026 NHL Entry Draft comes around, there is a high probability that McKenna will be selected first overall and his time in junior hockey will come to an end.

McKenna’s rise was an unexpected one as he was born and raised in Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory. With the support of his parents Willy and Krystal, Gavin started traveling to hockey camps and tournaments at age eight. The parents knew that their son needed to be challenged and the competition in Whitehorse was limited.

Gavin McKenna recorded 97 points last season for the Tigers.

The people of Whitehorse and the business community fundraised to allow McKenna to attend these camps and tournaments. McKenna would move away from home to Kelowna, B.C., to play for the Rink Hockey Academy’s Under-18 Prep Team for his 14-year-old campaign. In 35 regular season games with the Rink Academy team, McKenna piled up 23 goals and 42 assists for 65 points.

He was selected first overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft by the Tigers. In his 15-year-old campaign in 2022-23, McKenna suited up for the South Alberta Hockey Academy Under-18 Prep Team located in Dunmore, Alta., which neighbours the southeast border of Medicine Hat.  

In 26 games with the SAHA squad, McKenna recorded 37 goals and 38 assists for 75 points. He was named the most valuable player of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League’s under-18 circuit.

McKenna also played in 16 regular season games with the Tigers in 2022-23, and he recorded four goals and 14 assists in those outings.  In the 2023 WHL Playoffs, he recorded one goal playing in all four of the Tigers games as they were swept by the Winnipeg Ice in a best-of-seven first round series.

As a full-time rookie last season, McKenna finished 12^th in WHL regular season scoring with 97 points coming off 34 goals and 63 assists. He set a new Tigers record for most points by a 16-year-old breaking the old mark of 95 points set by Al Conroy way back in the 1982-83 campaign.

McKenna captured the Jim Piggott Trophy as the WHL’s rookie of the year, and he was named CHL rookie of year too. This past August, McKenna helped Canada win gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup under-18 tournament piling up 10 goals and 10 assists in seven games. That sent him into the current campaign with the Tigers riding a sizable amount of momentum.

Gavin McKenna has 163 points in 102 career regular season games.

Of course, McKenna is going to draw comparisons to the WHL’s most recent phemon in Regina Pats alumnus Connor Bedard, who is skating in his second NHL season with the Chicago Blackhawks as a 19-year-old. The combination of the level of play, maturity and fandom that Bedard received during his time in the WHL was something you never saw in the WHL before.

If McKenna could reach the all-around levels Bedard did as a major junior player, it would be outstanding. With that said, I would never put that type of pressure on McKenna.

McKenna has to write his own story and make his own path in major junior hockey. Right now, he is doing just fine.

Hockey community morns passing of Hasenfratz

Mike Hasenfratz, left, officiates a WHL game on March 25, 2000.

Over the weekend, retired WHL and NHL referee Mike Hasenfratz passed away, and those that knew him remembered his as their favourite referee and one of the game’s great characters.

Hasenfratz, who was 58-years-old, was raised in Regina. While working in the WHL, he was selected to represent the league working the 1995 Memorial Cup in Kamloops, B.C., and the 1998 Memorial Cup in Spokane, Wash.

He claimed the Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Official of the Year in his final campaign on the circuit in 1999-2000.

Hasenfratz started working in the NHL the next season making his debut on October 21, 2000 working a game between the New York Islanders and the host Washington Capitals. He would work 705 career regular season games through the end of the 2013-14 campaign.

Just past the middle of his NHL career, Hasenfratz missed two seasons as he recovered from life-threatening heart surgery. From 2011 to 2014, Hasenfratz wore number-two to signify his second chance and what he called doing the second best job in the world after playing.

Rod Pedersen, who is the former play-by-play voice of the WHL’s Regina Pats and Prince Albert Raiders, recalled some good character memories on his site. Those can be found by clicking right here.

Hasenfratz’s final season in the WHL was the first season I covered the circuit in 1999-2000. Being in my first season and still learning the ropes of the league, I didn’t talk to Hasenfratz, and that was my loss.

I was amazed at how well he handled games between the Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors, who were heated archrivals. Back in Hasenfratz’s days, games between the Pats and Warriors included lots of extra-curricular activities and escalate to complete mayhem. He always had a good handle on those contests.

I got a photo of him talking to Brett Lysak of the Pats and Shawn Skolney of the Warriors after a skirmish during a WHL regular season game played on March 25, 2000 at the Pats home rink in the Agridome, which is now known as the Brandt Centre. When Hasenfratz went to the NHL for the 2000-01 campaign, I thought it was cool I had a picture of a referee who was in the NHL.

Rest easy Hasenfratz. You will be remembered fondly by many.

Dunne first queen of NCAA’s NIL game

It can be argued Olivia “Livvy” Dunne is the most famous NCAA athlete in the present day.

The 22-year-old Louisiana State University Tigers gymnast has set the bar of what can be made in the NCAA’s guideline regarding name, image and likeness. Since 2021 when NIL guidelines changed, a piece run by the New York Post on September 13 reports Dunne has made an estimated US$9.5-million.

She gained extra notoriety last season when the Tigers won their first NCAA national team title in program history.

Dunne, who is in her “super senior” season fifth year with the Tigers, has over 5.4-million followers on Instagram and 8.1-million followers on TikTok. With her social medial following, she has become attractive to companies looking for endorsements of their products.

The Westwood, New Jersey, product has endorsement deals with Grubhub, Vuori, Bodyarmor and American Eagle Outfitters. In July of 2023, Dunne partnered with Bayou Traditions to launch The Livvy Fund, which is a program that will connect female student athletes at LSU with top brands to secure NIL endorsement deals.

Dunne also made the media outlets swoon in the United States by dating Paul Skenes, who is a star right-handed pitcher for the MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates and is an alumnus of the LSU Tigers baseball team. Skenes was named the National League’s Rookie of the Year for the 2024 MLB campaign.

Thanks to what Dunne has been able to make through NIL for the short time it has been around, she has changed the overall sports world in North America. She is the NCAA’s first “Queen of NIL.”

As a ripple effect, the hockey world in North America is coming to grips with the changes in the NCAA’s NIL guidelines. Looking at social media, it appears a lot of people in the hockey world just look at the hockey world and don’t realize forces outside their sporting world can affect their world.

On November 7, the NCAA Division I Council voted to abolish old rules that classified CHL players as professional. Starting on August 1, 2025, players from the CHL’s three major junior circuits in the WHL, OHL and QMJHL will be eligible to play for NCAA Division I teams. Basically, CHL players will maintain NCAA eligibility as long as they have not signed an entry-level contract with an NHL team.

Under the old rules, the NCAA kept major junior hockey players out on the basis of getting a monthly stipend that has never hit $1,000 a month in Canadian dollars. That was how the NCAA classified CHL players as professional.

A class-action lawsuit was filed on August 13 in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, N.Y., challenging those bylaws. That lawsuit now becomes a mute thing.

The rules that had existed before really put undue pressure on young players mainly from Canada to make a decision if they would play for a major junior team or join the junior A ranks to keep their NCAA eligibility alive. As far as the development process goes, players will be able to make decisions more naturally and benefit from having more freedom with their path through the game in attempting to make the NHL.

 Still, those rules are causing major shockwaves in hockey. Junior A teams in Canada banked on being able to get good players who still wanted to protect their NCAA eligibility by not playing major junior. Now, that is a non-factor.

Also, the British Columbia Hockey League elected to leave the junior A Canadian Junior Hockey League in 2021. It officially became an independent circuit going rogue on May 1, 2023 when the BCHL elected to not renew its agreement with Hockey Canada. As a result, anyone associated with BCHL teams lost their sanctioning by Hockey Canada.

This past January, five teams formerly from the junior A Alberta Junior Hockey League joined the rogue BCHL in the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints.

Now, there has been shake ups with players trying to get their Hockey Canada sanctioning back and return to Hockey Canada sanctioned leagues. The fate of the BCHL and the five Alberta teams that joined that circuit is up in the air.

Also, there are concerns U Sports men’s hockey will no longer get the CHL recruits it once did.

No one knows for sure how exactly hockey will shake out in North America.

With the money Dunne made from NIL, it was impossible to keep CHL players out of the NCAA.

Meta’s war with Canadian power holders is ugly, other notes

Meta is continuing to duke it out with the Government of Canada and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Back on June 22, 2023, the Government of Canada passed The Online News Act (formerly Bill C-18) in order to get money from Meta, which is the parent company of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, and Google for displaying active links from mainstream media outlets in Canada. To me, this still is a bizarre law, because you are trying to collect a tax from an entity that is providing a free service. The links on the Meta and Google platforms directed users to the sites of mainstream outlets.

This would be like a neighbour cuts you lawn and cleans your driveway of snow for free to be a good person, but now you want that neighbour to pay money for the privilege to cut your lawn and clean snow from your driveway. That is how I see this law.

Plus, this regulation appeared to not be targeted at the Platform-X (formerly Twitter) social media channel or other search engines like Yahoo or Webcrawler. There must have been a view on those fronts that you can draw blood from the stone. Again, that is how I see it.

Anyways, I saw an update story on this front produced by The Canadian Press last Friday. Since The Online New Act came into force, Meta has been blocking links to all mainstream media sites around the world on its platforms for Canadian users.

In Canada, users of Facebook and Instagram have used a workaround sharing screen shots of news articles, pictures of hard copies of news articles or copying text of articles in their posts from mainstream outlets.

The Canadian Press story stated, “The Liberal government maintains the company (Meta) could still fall under Online News Act, but that would be up to the CRTC to determine.”

Last month, CRTC granted Google an exemption from the act under an agreement that will see Google pay out $100-million to Canadian news outlets.

When I went through that story from The Canadian Press last Friday, my mind was transported back in time to classroom sessions during my days at what was then known as the University of Regina’s School of Journalism and Communications talking about late Canadian philosopher and communication theorist Marshall McLuhan.

McLuhan coined the phrase, “The medium is the message.”

That means if you control the medium you control the message.

From how I read The Canadian Press story from last Friday, the Government of Canada overseen by the Liberal Party and the CRTC have concerns over people sharing screenshots of stories or pictures of physical stories from mainstream outlets on Facebook and Instagram. Now, this has gone far beyond taxing links or putting charges on links.

To me, this is about the Government of Canada putting control of the Facebook and Instagram social media platforms in the hands of the CRTC. Since its formation in 1968 and morphing into its present form in 1976, the CRTC is known as not being user friendly and exerting its power in a forceful way. The CRTC has operated that way no matter which political party has formed the Government of Canada.

To me, the CRTC with its regulations stunted the growth of the broadcast industry in Canada during the best days of the mainstream media in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s with regulations all in the name of protecting Canadian culture.

I remember a friend once saying to me the CRTC operations like the Joseph Stalin era Soviet Union.

Looking at how the CRTC has operated in the past, Meta should fight every way it can when it comes to allowing the CRTC to have control of its social media platforms.

Once again, McLuhan was right, “The medium is the message.”

• Last Saturday , the Universite Laval Rouge et Or downed the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks 22-17 in the U Sports national football championship - the Vanier Cup. The contest was played before 9,500 spectators at Richardson Memorial Stadium in Kingston, Ontario. Rouge et Or kicker Felipe Forteza hit a Vanier Cup record six field goals for Laval in the win. The old record of five field goals was set on numerous occasions with Laval kicker Vincent Blanchard being the last to hit five field goals in 2022. Forteza hit 6-of-7 field goal attempts last Saturday as the Rouge et Or won without scoring a touchdown. The Rouge et Or have won 12 Vanier Cups since their formation in 1996, and they’ve won more Vanier Cups than any other team. Legendary Rouge et Or head coach Glen Constantin picked up his 220^th career head coaching win in regular season and post-season play with the Vanier Cup victory. The all-time leader in career head coaching victories in U Sports football, Constantin has a 220-39 career record as the Rouge et Or head coach.
• On Wednesday, the CHL announced Kelowna, B.C., was chosen to be host of the 2026 Memorial Cup tournament that determines a CHL champion. The event will be the 106^th edition of the Memorial Cup. The Rockets last hosted the Memorial Cup in 2004, when they won the tournament as the host team after falling in seven games in the WHL’s Western Conference Championship Series. Kelowna was to host the 2020 Memorial Cup tournament that was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The CHL’s release can be found by clicking right here.
• The Medicine Hat Tigers, Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Spokane Chiefs all submitted bids to host the 2026 Memorial Cup that was awarded to the Kelowna Rockets. Myself and lots of observers felt the Tigers had the best roster to be able to host that event in 2026. James Tubb of the Medicine Hat News provided the Medicine Hat reaction to not getting the 2026 Memorial Cup, and his piece can be found by clicking right here.
• On Wednesday, the Moose Jaw Warriors traded 18-year-old netminder Dimitri Fortin to the Prince Albert Raiders for a sixth round selection in the 2028 WHL Prospects Draft. Fortin has a 1-2 record, a 5.26 goals against average and a .863 save percentage in five appearances for the Warriors this season.
• On Wednesday, the Everett Silvertips dealt Julien Maze to the Regina Pats for Cole Temple in an exchange of 2007-born forwards. Maze posted six goals, 13 assists and a plus-16 rating in 21 games with the Silvertips this season. Temple posted four goals, eight assists and a minus-five rating in 22 games with the Pats this season.
• Is it me or does it seem like every third commercial during the broadcast of a sporting event in Canada is an electric car commercial? That includes when Canadian broadcasters are able to override the commercials on sporting broadcasts on United States networks like broadcasts of NFL games.
• The one time recently I got to see the United States commercials for the broadcast of an NFL game on a United States network I noticed there were no electric car commercials. There was a commercial for a hybrid car and the commercial showed someone filling the hybrid with gasoline on three different occasions. A voice over at the end said that model of vehicle was available as an electric car.
• Marshall McLuhan – “The medium is the message.”
• The difference in car commercials I saw between Canadian and United States sports broadcasts can be attributed to the fact activist Steven Guilbeault is one of the most powerful ministers in the Governement of Canada as the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Before being elected to the Federal Government in 2019, Guilbeault built a career working for Greenpeace and likeminded environmental organizations similar to Greenpeace. With Greenpeace, Guilbeault was convicted of mischief in 2001 for climbing the CN Tower in Toronto and unfurling a banner. In 2002 while working with Greenpeace, Guilbeault and Greenpeace members went to the home of then Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and his wife Coleen to put up a banner and install a solar panel. Coleen was home alone and got terrified fearing she face a home invasion and grabbed a broom for defence. The Kleins didn’t press charges but did get a restraining order. Don Braid of the Calgary Herald wrote a column of Guilbeault’s past antics, which can be found by clicking right here.
• For the record in the political realm, I am not a fan of either United States president-elect Donald Trump or Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at this point in time. I am sure saying that would put me in the “asshole” category of many and open the door to be buried by both extreme right and left wingers. There was a time I thought having Trudeau become the Prime Minister of Canada was a good thing. That changed when Guilbeault was elected as a Liberal MP in 2019.
• I hate writing about politics. I hate it when it becomes a sizable piece in my sports posts as I am a sportswriter and photographer by trade. Since 2020, politics has affected my line of work at a more increasing rate, so some of my rants will come out every now and then.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Warriors captain Yager in obvious trade bait position

Brayden Yager with the Ed Chynoweth Cup on May 15.

Could Brayden Yager’s days with the Moose Jaw Warriors be numbered?

You can expect that question will continue to be asked as Yager’s Moose Jaw Warriors continue to struggle. Heading into action on Tuesday, the Warriors sat last in the entire WHL with a 5-14-3-1 record.

Of course last season, the Warriors finished fifth overall in the WHL with a 44-21-0-3 mark, and in the post-season, they would win the WHL championship and advance to the CHL championship tournament – the Memorial Cup – for the first time in team history. When that campaign concluded, the Warriors graduated a whole host of key players including WHL scoring leader Jagger Firkus, Atley Calvert, captain Denton Mateychuk, Matthew Savoie, Martin Rysavy and Lucas Brenton.

Over the past two weeks Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger traded away a pair of veteran defencemen to collect draft capital and get a little younger. On November 15, the Warriors dealt 19-year-old Czech import defenceman and prospect of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks in Vojtech Port to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for 18-year-old defenceman Ryder Ellis, a third round selection in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft and a second round pick in the 2027 Prospects Draft.

On November 17, the Warriors made a bigger deal sending 20-year-old offensive defenceman and Minnesota Wild prospect Kalem Parker to the Calgary Hitmen for 15-year-old prospects centre Nathan Gardiner, a second round selection in the 2025 Prospects Draft and third and seventh round picks in the 2026 Prospect Draft. When Parker got traded, it left a feeling that Yager might possibly be dealt at some time too before the trade deadline on January 10, 2025.

This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click right here.

Rams were a play away from their biggest upset

Rouge et Or claim Mitchell Bowl to end Cinderella run

The University of Regina Rams are likely not over the stunned and numb feelings yet.

On Saturday at Mosaic Stadium, the Rams nearly pulled off the biggest upset likely ever seen in U Sports football. With 3:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, second-year running back Marshall Erichsen ran home a touchdown from 36 yards out to give the Rams a 14-10 lead over the visiting and ultra-power Universite Laval Rouge et Or in the Mitchell Bowl, which is a U Sports semifinal playoff game.

The Rouge et Or responded putting together an 11-play touchdown drive that covered 85 yards. With 79 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, star quarterback Arnaud Desjardins hit receiver Isaac Gaillardetz with a five-yard touchdown toss that put the Rouge et Or up 17-14.

The Rouge et Or proceeded to force the Rams to turn the ball over on downs in their next offensive series. Laval than ran out the clock ensuring the 17-14 advantage help of as the contest’s final outcome.

With the win, the Rouge et Or (10-1) advanced to the U Sports championship game – the Vanier Cup. They will face the Wilfred Laurier University Golden Hawks this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern Time at Richardson Memorial Stadium in Kingston, Ont.

Earlier in the day last Saturday, the Golden Hawks beat the Bishop’s University Gaiters 48-24 in the Uteck Bowl, which is the other U Sports semifinal. The visiting Golden Hawks (11-0) built a 34-10 lead over the Gaiters (10-1) at Coulter Field in Lennoxville, Quebec, and cruised to victory from there.

For the Rams, they obtained way more success this season than few outside their players and coaches thought they would have.

After opening their U Sports regular season schedule with two straight wins, the Rams proceeded to lose five straight. On the cusp of missing the post-season, the Rams closed the regular season downing the visiting U of Alberta Golden Bears 29-22 in their final regular season contest on October 25 at Leibel Field. U of R was down 22-4 in the third quarter before rallying for the win.

That victory allowed the Rams to finish with a 3-5 regular season record to place fourth in the Canada West Conference and capture the conference’s final post-season berth.

On November 2, the Rams traveled to Winnipeg, Man., and knocked off the U of Manitoba Bisons 28-25 at Princess Auto Stadium. The Bisons had finished first in Canada West with a 7-1 mark. Down 25-21, quarterback Noah Pelletier hit receiver Nicholas Sirleaf with a 16-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Rams their 28-25 victory.

The Rams advanced to the Canada West final to face their provincial rivals the U of Saskatchewan Huskies at Griffiths Stadium. Playing in front of 6,355 spectators, the Huskies jumped out to a 14-1 lead early in the second quarter. The Rams rallied back for a 19-14 victory.

Following the victory over the Huskies, the Rams returned to Regina to face the Rouge et Or at Mosaic Stadium in front of a crowd of 4,532 spectators. Going into the Mitchell Bowl, it was near impossible to find a pundit that gave the Rams a chance against the Rouge et Or, who have won 11 Vanier Cups since first taking the field in 1996.

When the dust settled, the Rams basically needed to make one more play to pick up the win. One of those missed chances came on the Rouge et Or’s final scoring drive of the contest.

Scrimmaging on first down from the U of R 46 yard line, Desjardins threw a pass that was batted in the air by Rams star defensive end Tarick Polius. The ball deflected high in the air, and one of the Rams defenders in the second level just missed making a diving interception. Had that play been made, it might have preserved victory for the Rams.

The players on the Rams defensive line were some of biggest stars of the contest. A tone was set on Laval’s first possession when pressure from the Rams defensive line caused two Desjardins incompletions for a two-and-out.

Polius, fourth-year defensive end Jacob Dakiniewich and nose tackle Toryn Swystun-Bernes showed they were going to be handful for the offensive line of the Rouge et Or. That played a factor for the rest of the game.

After the Rams went up 4-0 in the second quarter on a 20-yard field goal and a 33-yard missed field goal rouge from kicker Isaac Wegner, the Rouge et Or got their only big play on offence in the first half. Desjardins hit receiver Olivier Cool for a 75-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors a 7-4 advantage. Outside of that play, Laval couldn’t get anything done in the first half.

Wegner hit a 14-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining before halftime to even the score at 7-7. That 7-7 draw lasted until there was 7:54 remaining in the fourth quarter when Rouge et Or kicker Felipe Forteza hit a 32-yard field goal to put the Quebec side up 10-7. That set the stage for the dramatics that followed with Erichsen’s touchdown for the Rams and Gaillardetz’s major that won it for the Rouge et Or.

The Rouge et Or coaching staff led by head coach Glen Constantin made some good adjustments at halftime to get around the pressure the Rams defensive line was bringing. On offence, Laval elected to rely on a lot of quick hitters and short passes in the passing game looking to put together eight to 10 play marches to score.

The Rouge et Or would change up their tempo mixing up going between no huddle, to quick huddle to regular huddle in order to cause disruptions to the Rams defence.

During the regular season, the Rams gave up 177 points against, which was the lowest points against total in Canada West. Tonnes of credit has to be given to Rams defensive coordinator Sheldon Gray for how well the U of R played on that side of the ball all season. Gray, who was once a Rams star defensive back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has turned into an outstanding coach.

Rams head coach Mark McConkey, who was a Rams receiver in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and his squad did a great job of playing to their strengths with their defence against the Rouge et Or.

Offensively, it feels like the Rams aren’t that far from having a big breakout where they consistently put up high point totals. The coaches will have to make decisions if they need to find and add a couple of playmakers via recruiting or believe they have the guys and keeping continuity will result in a breakout in 2025.

Against the Rouge et Or, gritty Rams quarterback Noah Pelletier completed 28-of-44 passes for 356 yards, while throwing one interception. After throwing his interception in the fourth quarter to Rouge et Or defensive back Jordan Lessard, Pelletier made a tackled with his injured left shoulder to take down Lessard.

While you don’t want to throw an interception, Pelletier’s effort in making his tackle on that play using his injured shoulder is one of those things that inspires teammates.

Playing his third year of eligibility, Pelletier began the 2024 campaign as the Rams backup, but he retook the starter’s role when Owen Sieben went down due to injury midway through the U of R’s first regular season contest. Pelletier started all eight of the Rams regular season games and their Canada West semifinal playoff loss in his first year of eligibility in 2022.

He started the Rams first two games in 2023 before being injured. The signal caller returned as the team’s backup and short-yardage quarterback for that campaign.

Having been an academic all-Canadian in the past, it has felt like Pelletier could morph into a big hero one day in his own style. In late September, the Canada West website put together a story about the journey Pelletier was taking off the field to build at stronger connection with his Metis roots. While those from Indigenous communities can relate to that story, it is also something anyone from any culture or ancestry can relate to.

Overall, the 2024 campaign was a huge success for the Rams, who were tied for last along with the U of Calgary Dinos in the pre-season Canada West coaches poll. They hadn’t won a post-season game since 2012 and last won the Canada West Conference title in 2000, when they made the Vanier Cup and fell 42-39 to the U of Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The Rams restored some of their luster.

They will likely hear less of, “Oh, they were great back in the day when Gord Currie and Frank McCrystal were their head coaches and Darryl Leason was their quarterback.”

Of course, that reflects back to the Rams days in junior football when they won 15 CJFL titles and initial campaigns in U Sports and spurts when Teale Orban , Marc Mueller and Noah Picton played quarterback for the team.

In 2024, the Rams provided hope that maybe their best days aren’t just “back in the day.”

Reider named Hilltops top grad

Trey Reider sets to throw a pass for the Hilltops.

Trey Reider piled up the individual awards in the 2024 campaign, so it was no surprise he claimed one last big honour from his Saskatoon Hilltops.

On Saturday, the Hilltops hosted the Saskatoon Hilltops Football Club Honours at the Roxy Theatre. For the second straight year, the Hilltops held an awards show similar in nature to awards shows hosted by the NFL and NHL.

Reider, who is the team’s star 22-year-old quarterback, was named the winner of the Drs. Landa-Doig Award as the team’s most outstanding graduate. In 2024, Reider also claimed honours as a CJFL first team all-Canadian all-star, a PFC all-star, the PFC’s most outstanding quarterback, offensive player of the year and most valuable player.

During the regular season, Reider completed 119 of 185 passes for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. His 119.8 quarterback rating topped the PFC.

In the Hilltops 24-19 loss to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder on October 20 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Reider did his best to push the Saskatoon side to victory. He completed 23-of-41 passes for 305 yards and one touchdown, while throwing one interception. He also topped the Hilltops with 102 yards rushing on nine carries.

Reider threw up a final Hail Mary jump ball pass on the final play of the game into the Thunder end zone from 22 yards out attempting to win the contest. His final pass was knocked down by Thunder safety Adam King.

Graduating right tackle, Cody Shumanski claimed the Ray Syrnyk Trophy as the team’s top lineman. He was a CJFL first team all-Canadian all-star, a PFC all-star and the PFC’s Most Outstanding Lineman.

The Don and Jim Seaman Memorial Award for the top linebacker went to graduating outside linebacker Noah Gedir. Gedir finished in the top eight for defensive points in the PFC with 92 points coming off of 22 defensive solo tackles, 16 defensive tackle assists, five special teams solo tackles, two special teams tackle assists, six pass knockdowns, two fumble recoveries and one interception in regular season play.

Graduating left guard Erik Barsness claimed the Ron Atchison True Grit Award. Barsness has been the model of consistency for the past two seasons with the Hilltops.

The Jim Courtice Inspiration Award was taken by graduating receiver Drake Douglas. Douglas was a CJFL first team all-Canadian all-star, a PFC all-star and the PFC’s Most Outstanding Receiver. The sure-handed pass catcher picked up nods as a PFC all-star on special teams and the PFC’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.

Justin Adamko, who is a graduating defensive back, claimed The Blue and Gold Award for dedication and commitment. Adamko had five pass knockdowns, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the regular season.

The Past President’s Trophy as the team’s rookie of the year went to running back Brody Komarnicki. Komarnicki was named to the PFC’s all-rookie team.

Argos Grey Cup run impressive, other notes

The Toronto Argonauts are the holders of one of the most unique and amazing runs in the history of sports.

On Sunday, the Argonauts downed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-22 in the 111^th Grey Cup game to become CFL champions playing before 52,349 spectators at B.C. Place in Vancouver, B.C. With the win, the Argonauts have won their last eight straight Grey Cup appearances spaced out over the last 33 yards.

During that run, they won the storied trophy in 1991, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2012, 2017, 2022 and 2024. The last time the Argonauts lost the CFL’s big game was in the 75^th Grey Cup played at B.C. Place. They fell 38-36 to the Edmonton Eskimos in an all-time classic that saw Eskimos icon Henry “Gizmo” Williams return a missed field goal 112 yards for a touchdown.

Speaking of icons, Argonauts icon Michael “Pinball” Clemons has been part of the Argonauts for all of their last eight straight Grey Cup winners. He was a player in 1991, 1996 and 1997, the head coach in 2004 and held an executive position in 2012, 2017, 2022 and 2024.

In Sunday’s win over the Bombers, the Argonauts held a slim 17-16 lead after Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo hit a 23-yard field goal with 12:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

From that point, Argonauts went on a roll and the wheels fell off for Winnipeg. Toronto scored 24 straight points to jump out front 41-16. The Bombers got a rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion from the CFL’s George Reed Most Outstanding Player Award winner in running back Brady Oliveira in “garbage time” to round out the final score.

Argonauts journeyman quarterback Nick Arbuckle was named the MVP of the Grey Cup game. Arbuckle completed 26-of-37 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. He was starting in place of Chad Kelly, who broke his ankle in the Argonauts East final win.

Argonauts receiver Dejon Brissett was named the game’s Most Outstanding Canadian. He caught three passes for 45 yards and one touchdown. Brissett was one of nine receivers Arbuckle completes passes to.

Bombers have played in the last five consecutive Grey Cups winning in their first two appearances and falling in the past three contests. At the moment, it seems like the majority of CFL followers are remembering the Bombers three straight losses more than their two wins at the start of their current run.

Still, the Argonauts are deserving of the spoils of victory. They have won more Grey Cups than another other team at 19 and have a 19-6 record in the biggest annual football contest played in Canada.

They are the sports team from Toronto that always wins. When the Argonauts make the Grey Cup game, you can almost start engraving their name on the trophy.

• On Thursday, U of Regina Rams graduating defensive back Jackson Sombach was named a second team all-Canadian all-star for U Sports football. Sombach played a key role helping the Rams win their second Canada West Conference title in team history and advance to the Mitchell Bowl, which is a U Sports semifinal game.
• On Thursday, U of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team senior advisor Jerry Friesen was named the winner of the Gino Fracas Award given to the volunteer assistant coach of the year in U Sports. Friesen has a long and storied history with U Sports football and the Huskies.
•  On Thursday, U of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team star running back Ryker Frank claimed the Russ Jackson Award. It is given to a player across U Sports football who best exemplifies the attributes of academic achievement, football skill and citizenship within the community. Frank also captured honours as a U Sports second-team all-Canadian all-star. Huskies linebacker Seth Hundeby and receiver Daniel Wiebe were both named first team all-Canadian all-stars in U Sports.
• Remember a year ago when it seemed like NHL superstar left-winger Alexander Ovechkin was done? The Washington Capitals captain struggled bad at the start of the 2023-24 campaign and finish the campaign with his lowest goal total for a complete NHL regular season at 31 and a tie for his lowest point total for a complete regular season at 65. He failed to record a point in the 2024 NHL Playoffs as the Capitals were swept in four games in the first round by the New York Rangers. This season the 39-year-old shot out of the gate recording 15 goals and 10 assists in his first 18 games. Unfortunately, Ovechkin’s momentum was stopped when he suffered a fractured left fibula that will keep him out four-to-six in the Capitals 6-2 victory over the host Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City. Ovechkin has 868 career regular season goals and he is attempting to Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 goals.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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