MJHL
Now that the MJ is in full swing it's rather interesting to see that there's been, so far that is, a dramatic changing of the guard in the league. Two perennial so called bottom feeders, the Waywayseecappo Wolverines and the Swan Valley Stampeders, have decided to raise their standards and rise up to the surface, surprising many people in the know. The Wolverines are currently the only undefeated team already having won six games, quite impressive considering that they only won eight games all of last season, while the Stampeders have only suffered one loss.
Our Oil Caps are putting out a solid effort in all their games but are not being rewarded in the win column. A lack of scoring seems to be the main culprit but remember the season has just started and a lot of hard work, determination and patience has a way of turning things around. Let's hope that this honoured and time trusted axiom continues to prove itself right.
NHL-AHL-WHL
Currently there are 24 Manitobans on the opening day roster in the NHL, highlighted by Elkhorn's Travis Sanheim in Philly, Binscarth's Cody McLeod in the Big Apple (Rangers) and Grandview's Ryan Pulock, also in NY but with my Islanders.
The AHL has 16 players from the Keystone province including former Oil Capital Zach Whitecloud (Chicago Wolves) and Strathclair's Morgan Geekie (Charlotte Checkers) while the WHL has 72 players from Manitoba on its roster including Elkhorn's Lane Toder (Calgary), Rossburn's Chad Nychuk (Brandon), Foxwarren's Dawson Barteaux (Red Deer) and Birtle's Parker Malchuk (Victoria).
MLB
We're into World Series playoffs with the last two teams in each league squaring off for the right to go to the big dance. We should see the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros tangle in the AL, with the Sox winning in six, while over in the NL the LA Dodgers will take on the resurgent Milwaukee Brewers, who will celebrate their coming out party by beating their much wealthier rivals, also in six games.
Olympics
The IOC (International Olympic Committee) has whittled down their list of potential host cities for 2026 Winter Games to a short list that consists of Milan, Italy, plus Stockholm, Sweden and our own, Calgary, Alberta. Host cities and countries used to fork over hundreds of millions of dollars to showcase these overblown, over-hyped boondoggles, now they spend billions. In light of recent doping scandals and bold face corruption, not to mention pitifully inadequate punishments (can you say Russia?), what a waste of good, hard earned money. Until major changes are made in so many areas, the IOC should just scrap the Games altogether.
U Sports
Congratulations go out to the Roach girls, Mackenzie and Brooklyn, who are members of the U of Regina fastball team that recently won the Canadian University Ladies National Fast Pitch Championship in Saskatoon. Parents Doug and Nicky should be very proud of their daughters and all the hard work they put in over many years to achieve this success, not to mention Papa's patience and coaching.
RMFL
The VCI Golden Bears football team, particularly the defence, turned in a very gritty performance on Oct. 8, under extreme circumstances to sneak by the Moosomin Generals 14-2 in a game that will be remembered as the Mud Bowl. The field was a disaster area with mud and water everywhere, making the turf slippery and holding on to the pigskin almost impossible. But the Bears persisted and prevailed and should be commended for their commitment, effort and intestinal fortitude.
Until next time....
