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Good day to all.
This is how things work for me. Some weeks, good (entirely subjective) ideas for Behind the Bench accumulate over several days, jockeying for position in this brain of mine. Other times, they materialize with brute force Friday mornings, just when I need them most.
Other times — like today, for example — nailing down a newsletter topic is about as effortless as digging out a deep sliver with a bobby pin, tweezers, and an absence of reading glasses.
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I was impaled by a doozy last weekend, by the way, and had to perform some minor surgery over the bathroom vanity… but I digress.
Hope you don’t mind, valued readers, if I bandy about a variety of discussion points.
THE GREY CUP
I didn’t see that coming.
It’s been nearly two weeks since the stunner in Saskatchewan, when the overwhelmingly favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers fell 24-23 to the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL title match.
I was on the shelf last week, owing to an undisclosed injury (not the aforementioned sliver), and didn’t produce a newsletter, so this is my first opportunity to comment on the mess at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. Much has already been written about Winnipeg’s dethroning; thus, I’ll be succinct in my appraisal.
The high-flying Bomber offence stalled at the highest altitude, and the impact of the ensuing crash will sting the organization and its ardent fan base for many, many months.
Zach Collaros signed a three-year extension with the Blue Bombers in October. (Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press files)
Of course, winning the whole darn thing in 2023 would guarantee a full recovery. Crucial now is to get coach Mike O’Shea’s name on a new deal — which seems like a mere formality. And with QB Zach Collaros already locked up, plus one of his key protectors, Pat Neufeld, and defensive stars Willie Jefferson and Adam Bighill re-upping for next season, most of the band will be back for a shot at redemption. They’d be the favourites, too.
Three out of four Cups doesn’t sound so bad to me.
THE JETS
Connor Hellebuyck has been nothing short of brilliant. (Ellen Schmidt / The Associated Press files)
I was a total disbeliever prior to the start of the 2022-23 NHL season — and I’m still not quite convinced. The Winnipeg crew (a staggering 14-6-1) goes for a fourth consecutive victory tonight when the Columbus Blue Jackets pay a visit to the downtown arena. And all signs point to former Jets first-round pick Patrik Laine returning from injury to face his old ‘mates.
Look, I still think the team has some flaws. With Nikolaj Ehlers out for an extended period, there’s a hole that needs filling in the top-six forward group. Neither Morgan Barron nor Sam Gagner is the answer. The third and fourth lines are performing admirably but require some upgrades. That said, the defensive corps as it currently presents with Morrissey-DeMelo, Dillon-Pionk and Samberg-Schmidt, is quite sound, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck has been nothing short of brilliant.
Props to bench boss Rick Bowness for pulling the right strings to get the most out of his squad, one of the very best in the Western Conference and the entire NHL.
It’s going to be an intriguing winter.
SPECIAL STAFF
Last week, I came down with something that prompted me, as a last resort, to attend Concordia urgent care — not once but twice.
Yes, the waits were lengthy but acceptable, based on my condition. What struck me was not only the remarkable care I saw and heard being provided to everyone during my 20-plus hours ‘in the system’ but also the patience and respect shown to each individual, despite the fact several were of the major jerk variety — far more deserving of a swift kick than triage.
So, kudos to all the fine folks still working their tails off in a health-care system that, at times, appears to be tumbling down all around us.
They comprise a collective heart that just keeps on ticking.
Enjoy the weekend.
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