The White Out party on Winnipeg side streets was absolutely crazy as over 25,000 boisterous fans joined the 15,500 faithful inside MTS Bell Centre in trying to motivate their favourite team to victory. As the fanatic fans go bonkers on game night, this ritual is taking on a life of its own as the size of "Whiteoutville" continues to increase exponentially as the Jets continue to win. Let's hope Manitoba's newest "city" doesn't stop growing for at least three more weeks.
Unfortunately, the Jets could only muster a split with the Vegas Golden Knights and must now somehow squeak out a "W" when the series returns to "Sin City" for games three and four. This matchup has all the makings of a long, tough, drawn-out, last man standing affair which should favour the bigger and stronger Jets but the Golden Knights have been defying all the odds all season long and won't go down easily.
The other series is a little unusual and has left many people scratching their heads as the visiting team has won all the games, so far. The Washington Capitals, now that they have those pesky Penguins out of their way, won the first two games in Tampa Bay while the Lightning have reciprocated, winning the third in the USA capital. I still like a Tampa Bay-Winnipeg final.
A couple of local boys are ecstatic as they have been drafted by WHL clubs in the Bantam draft that was held recently. Braeden Lewis, in the sixth round by the Swift Current Broncos and Grady Lane, in the eighth round by the Spokane Chiefs, were both extremely happy to hear their names called out and can't wait to see what the future holds for them. Assuming they'll attend fall camp with their teams, both should be suiting up for the South West Cougars in the AAA Midget league next season. Hope I'm there to see them perform.
Strathclair's Morgan Geekie, a product of the Yellowhead Chiefs AAA Midget program, has realized his dream of a lifetime when he recently signed an NHL three-year entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, which included a $240,000 signing bonus. The third round 2017 pick has been with the Charlotte Checkers since his junior team, the Tri-City Americans, were eliminated in the WHL conference finals by the Everett Silvertips. There's no doubt he's hoping to crack the NHL club next year because he'll pocket $650,000 if he does but only $70 G's if he's sent down to the AHL.
The 100th Memorial Cup, named in honour for the ultimate sacrifice made by our fallen soldiers in WWI, begins Friday May 18 in the Queen City (Regina) with the usual representatives from the three major junior leagues plus the host team, in this case the Regina Pats. The Swift Current Broncos (WHL), the Acadie-Bathurst Titans (QJHL), and the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) are the three league champions hoping to add the Memorial Cup to their franchise's resume.
The struggling Blue Jays received some bad news as it looks like that closer Roberto Osuna's "holiday" for assault (allegedly domestic) has been extended another week by MLB. Toronto can ill afford to have their star reliever sitting on the sidelines when they desperately need him on the hill if they expect to win the close ones and contend for a pennant. Having said that, it's equally obvious and correct to presume that these charges are very serious and that the truth has to be investigated and the outcome dealt with expeditiously, if need be. There is no place for any type of assault in professional sports, or anywhere else for that matter, in this day and age.
Until next time....
