Pats make the Rebels yell

Was the Billy Idol reference too obscure? Sorry about that.

Anyway, the Regina Pats hammered the visiting Red Deer Rebels 7-3 tonight at the Brandt Centre. Defenceman Matt Delahey led the offensive onslaught with two goals and an assist. Super sophomore Jordan Weal had a goal and three helpers.

It's amazing how much better the Pats looked since the last time I saw them - which was two weeks ago. The return of Jordan Eberle in particular has provided an incredible spark for the offence - as evidenced by the Pats' 22 goals scored in the three games that Eberle has been back in the lineup.

The first line of Eberle, Weal and Brett Leffler caused havoc all night. And, the second line of Brayden Metz, Matt Strueby and Tomas Hrcina (likely only until Garrett Mitchell is back from injury) has some potential too. The blueline is considerably better too, thanks to the return of Delahey and Colten Teubert from their respective NHL camps. Young Brandon Davidson looks like a keeper on defence.

All in all, a very entertaining night at the rink. Hopefully there will be plenty more nights like that this winter.

Putting it all in perspective

People (including this blogger) that are inclined to wail and gnash their teeth over the Saskatchewan Roughriders' loss to the B.C. Lions need to pause and look at the bigger picture. Sure it was a tough loss, but I was saddened last night to hear of an even bigger loss.

I logged onto Facebook last night after the game only to learn that Barry Davies had died. For those of you who don't know, Barry was a long-time morning man on CKCK (62 Kool) radio in Regina. He was also my friend.

Barry and I actually worked together twice during our radio careers. He was the morning man/sales manager at the first radio station I worked at in Saskatchewan, the WKRP-esque (and long gone) SUN 102FM in Saskatoon. I arrived in 1992, and was the morning sportscaster and morning show sidekick. We worked hard and occasionally played even harder in those days.

We reunited in the late 1990's when Harvard Broadcasting took over the operation of CKCK radio, and brought Barry in for a second stint as the morning show host. He and I became the morning show team and worked hard to restore the once-dominant station to some small measure of its past greatness. Again, we worked hard and had some fun doing it.

As much as I enjoyed working with Barry, I enjoyed his friendship even more. He and and his then-wife Randene opened their home to me and were among the most supportive people in my life during the darkest days of my divorce in the early part of this decade. I will never forget their kindness, or the way they welcomed me and a very young J-man into their home and their lives.

I left the radio business exactly two weeks before CKCK disappeared from the airwaves. True to his nature, Barry was there right up until the bitter end. Unfortunately, our paths seldom crossed after that, as we went our separate ways in our professional and personal lives.

Having heard of Barry's passing, I'm kicking myself now for not keeping in touch these last few years. I only hope wherever he is today he knows how grateful I am to have known him. Rest well, old friend. Your struggle is over.

How the heck did that happen?

A few thoughts on the Saskatchewan Roughriders' 19-16 loss to the B.C. Lions tonight:

• Sorry, but this was a game a team with championship aspirations has to win.
  
• Is Glen Suitor on crack? Was he serious when he said (twice) that Riders quarterback Darian Durant was emerging as a league MVP candidate?
• Seriously?
• I'm sorry but Durant played like crap for the first 56 minutes of this game.
  
• He had some company, however.
• It's kind of sad when an offensive line can't open any holes against the worst run defence in the CFL.
• Andy Fantuz is a stud. The Riders desperately need to get him re-signed.
• While they're at it, they should extend Weston Dressler's contract.
  
• The defence couldn't cover Geroy Simon and Paris Jackson tonight. At all.
• Buck Pierce has heart, I'll give him that.
• Could the Riders blitz packages be any less effective?
  
• I wish the CFL officials would grow some nuts and flag Wally Buono for wandering onto the playing field ALL THE TIME!
• Do you think Jason Clermont will ask for his release in the offseason? He should.
• Am I the only person who knew WITHOUT A DOUBT that Travis Lulay was going to throw a play action pass on second and one? He was pretty well bouncing in the huddle.
  
• Quite frankly, if the Lions could convert on short yardage, they would have won this game easily.
  

Friday thoughts

Here's what passes for independant thought today:

• Okay, that should be enough rain for now. Thanks!
• So, Brian Burke's way of dragging the Maple Leafs back to respectabilty is to go with a no-name forward corps and glacial defencemen? And how did that work out last night?
• Ian White is not an NHL calibre defenceman. Sorry Swift Current fans.
• If the Leafs make Mike Komisarek the team captain, it would be....well, pretty much typical for the Leafs, actually.
• There's a fine line between being aggressive and being stupid. Somebody should show the Buds blueliners where that line is.
• What sort of goofy officiating and/or timekeeping will the Riders encounter at B.C. Place tonight?
• It shouldn't matter. The Riders should win this one by ten points. The operative word being should.
• I have to laugh at the mouth-breathers who described Wes Cates' 100-yard performance last week as "unimpressive".
• Unfortunately, when your fan base grows, so too does the number of knuckle-draggers who jump on board the bandwagon. Such is the price of success, I suppose.
• I'm starting to really dislike speechwriting.
• Given the weather the past week, I'm actually feeling pretty good about the atom Cougars' season coming to an end last Saturday.
• Hockey evaluations are on Sunday and Monday. And so it begins...
• Personally, I'd be just fine if David Letterman never discussed his sexual exploits on tv again. Ever. Yuck.

Thursday Cheers and Jeers

So, who has impressed or disappointed you this week? Here's my list:

Cheers

• Laser Quest Regina - especially the patience of their staff in dealing with 28 wild young football players (and a few coaches) at our team wind-up.
• Good Earth coffee shop in Hill Tower #2. Good coffee, and reasonably priced.

Jeers

• Level Corp. Latest in a series. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau this week. Let's see where that gets us!
• Laser Quest Regina. Why the hell would you put a light standard right behind a parking stall? Suffice to say, my rear bumper found one while leaving our team wind-up. Bloody hell.
• Walmart (Southland Mall). They won't replace your watch battery unless it's for one of their (crappy) watches. Okay, I'll walk down the hall to the jewelry store with my business then.

Okay, your turn!