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Greetings, folks.
It’s a busy time of the year on the ol’ sports calendar, which might explain why today’s missive is filled with short shots that — like the colourful leaves starting to fall — cover plenty of ground.
Let’s get right to it.
Three down, three to go.
I’m talking about Winnipeg Jets preseason games, which can be filed under the category of “necessary evil.” Exhibition hockey doesn’t exactly get my heart racing, and I suspect I’m not alone.
Whether it’s rosters filled with players who likely won’t get a sniff of “real” NHL action any time soon, or veteran players just going through the motions trying not to get hurt, consider this a timely reminder not to put any stock in the actual results.
(That goes for you, Toronto media. One scribe actually asked Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube if a pair of pretend game losses so far “is reason to panic?”)
I’m just thankful the days of seven or eight pre-season games are now in the rearview mirror. Six is more than enough, thank you very much.
My biggest takeaways so far? The new sound system at Canada Life Centre is impressive, especially from my press box perch. I also love that True North has introduced a “house band” inside the arena, which performs during intermissions.
That’s a great touch, and one I’ve advocated for in print for a few years now. Several other arenas around the NHL do this, and it really helps increase the overall entertainment value and atmosphere.
Of course, the on-ice product is the main event, and I’m anxious to see what this year’s Jets look like once they start dropping the puck for real. That happens Oct. 9 in Edmonton, and I’ll be there covering Game No. 1.
I’m not ready to publicly share my predictions yet — I’ll be doing that on Oct. 5 when our weekly “Dump & Chase” debuts for the new campaign in the Free Press — but I’d love to hear what you think Winnipeg’s record will be.
Peer into your crystal ball and fire off your hot take.
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Speaking of the Jets and our coverage, thanks to all who sent story pitches and ideas my way. In case you missed it, I outlined our comprehensive plans for the upcoming campaign in last week’s newsletter and asked you fine folks to let me know what you’d like to read. Many of you responded. It’s truly appreciated. Keep them coming as the season progresses.
On that front: our monthly Jets mailbag is about to be opened again. Ken Wiebe and I will answer your questions for the latest edition, which will run online this Sunday.
It’s not too late to submit your query. Simply hit reply to this email and send your question my way in the next 24 hours and we’ll be sure to tackle it.
Was it something I said?
When defencemen Colin Miller and Ville Heinola were paired during the first training camp sessions, I wondered out loud (and on social media) if the duo might be dubbed “Milli VaVille” should they stick together.
(Insert audible groan.)
Then, medical tests showed Heinola is suffering an infection in his surgically-repaired ankle and will be out indefinitely.
Now, Haydn Fleury is a candidate to be paired with Miller, which had one reader asking me if they might be known as “Flour Mill.”
Turning to other sports, I’m pumped for the start of playoff baseball. There’s nothing else like it.
And while I sure wish the Toronto Blue Jays hadn’t laid a giant egg this season and were participating, I’ve got the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers meeting in an epic World Series showdown that will feature Aaron Judge versus Shohei Ohtani.
That would be quite the spectacle. And a TV ratings smash.
How about you?
We are three weeks into the Winnipeg Sports Media Fantasy Football season, and don’t look now, but yours truly has a perfect 3-0 record.
It likely won’t last, but this hockey scribe is taking great pleasure in looking down on 11 colleagues which include Jeff Hamilton, Taylor Allen and Josh Frey-Sam of the Free Press, Ted Wyman and Scott Billeck of the Sun, Ed Tait of the Blue Bombers, Darrin Bauming of Bonfire Sports, Andrew Paterson and Michael Remis of Winnipeg Sports Talk, Joey Slattery of the Winnipeg Sea Bears and John Hodge of 3DownNation.
How’s the view down there, fellas?!
Congrats to the good people over at Assiniboia Downs on a terrific season. The 50th and final race night of the year went down Tuesday, and CEO Darren Dunn says 2024 was the second-largest in track history when it comes to wagering.
I made a (very small) contribution to that while attending a couple nights this year with family members and friends.
“Double D,” Sharon Gulyas and the gang over at the Downs sure do it right, and I’m already looking forward to 2025.
Enjoy your well-deserved breather.
Turning to golf: how about the roll Manitoba’s Aaron Cockerill is on? He’s now cleared more than $1 million in earnings this season on the DP World Tour and has put himself in prime position to add on by sitting 38th on the current points list.
With just a handful of events left this year, Cockerill is in great shape to get into the final two tournaments of the year (for the Top 70 and then Top 50 players).
It’s been a lot of fun watching the 32-year-old come into his own. I had a front row seat two years ago when I went to Germany to watch him tee it up, then followed him to Toronto the very next week as he made his PGA Tour debut in the RBC Canadian Open.
Cockerill is not just a fine golfer, but a terrific human being, too. He’s easy to root for.
He’s in the field this week at the latest stop in Spain.
Last but not least, I played my 23rd round of the season earlier this week. With the forecast looking promising, I’m confident I can reach my goal of 25 rounds before the snow starts to fly.
While playing at Selkirk, I spotted this not-so-little critter in the trees and managed to capture a pretty cool shot of him, which has me wondering whether I should pursue a full-time job as a nature photographer…
My foray into wildlife photography. (Mike McIntyre photo)
I wasn’t initially sure what it was, but several friends have now filled me in.
Which leads to the obvious question: how much wood would this woodchuck chuck if this woodchuck could chuck wood?
Given his size, I’m thinking quite a lot.
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