|
đ JETS TRAINING CAMP: The action got underway today at the Hockey For All Centre and runs for the next three weeks before the puck drops on the 2025-26 regular season. My prediction? The team takes a slight step back from last yearâs magical campaign, ultimately finishing second in the Central Division behind Dallas with 101 points. That said, I wouldnât be surprised if they flip the switch in the playoffs, channeling some painful lessons from recent springs into a deep run. However it unfolds, Iâm looking forward to documenting the ride daily.
đŽ A FEW BOLD PREDICTIONS: Kyle Connor signs a three-year contract extension that pays him US$11 million per year. Jonathan Toews scores 15 goals and adds 32 assists, showing thereâs still some fuel left in his tank. Connor Hellebuyck is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for a sixth time but falls just short of winning a fourth. Mark Scheifele gets off to a great start and earns his way onto the Canadian Olympic team, ultimately skating away with a gold medal (along with teammate Josh Morrissey) in another thrilling showdown with the United States.
đ STANLEY CUP FORECAST: Florida vs. Edmonton, Part III? Wouldnât bet against it. But my money is on a Dallas vs. Carolina clash next June, with the Stars shining brightest.
Advertisement
 Why this ad?
Â
đ THUMBS DOWN: To Hockey Manitoba for its handling of Peter Woodsâ sudden departure. The longtime executive directorâs name wasnât even mentioned in the bizarre news release, and follow-up requests have been met with silence. For an organization with such a wide reach, the public deserves better. Staying tight-lipped only fuels speculation.
âž JAYS MAGIC: Turning to baseball, and itâs looking more and more like the Toronto Blue Jays will win their division and earn a first-round playoff bye. Already a special season, and I canât wait to see how October plays out.
đ THE SAVANNAH BANANAS: I recently caught a 60 Minutes feature on this baseball phenomenon, and my immediate thought was: I need to see them live. Theyâre bringing a Harlem Globetrotters vibe to the diamond, selling out MLB parks and even NFL stadiums. My favourite quirky rules? A batter is out if a fan catches a foul ball. And thereâs no such thing as a boring old walk â after ball four, the hitter sprints until all nine fielders have touched the ball, creating a frantic game of hot potato. Brilliant.
đď¸ PUTTERING AROUND: I just played my 22nd round of golf of the season the other day and have No. 23 set for next Monday when the Jets (and myself) have a day off from the rink. My goal at the start of the year was 25, so thatâs very much still in play as long as Mother Nature cooperates over the next month or so.
đ AN AI CURVEBALL: Moving away from sports, I was scouring social media the other day and came across an interesting post. It was about the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, and how the folks behind OpenAI quietly (and without permission) used millions of published books and papers to train various programs which are now becoming a more prevalent part of everyday life. This article, published in The Atlantic, mentions how the company could potentially go bankrupt if every impacted author were to file a lawsuit for unauthorized use of their subject matter. And it even included a helpful database in which you can enter a name to see if any of that personâs works were involved. Curious, I typed in âMike McIntyreâ and, admittedly, was rather surprised when two of my six true crime titles appeared: Devil Among Us, which was my fourth published in 2008, and Mike On Crime, which was my sixth and came out in 2014. Hmmmm. Time to call a lawyer?
đ° COMING SOON: Keep a lookout for a big Free Press feature Iâve been working on about homeless encampments. I hit pause on the sports beat for a brief time this summer to dig into a subject thatâs become a lightning rod in Winnipeg. I met with front-line workers, community volunteers, police, advocates and plenty of people living along the riverbanks. It was an eye-opening experience, and I canât wait to share the final story with you.
â¤ď¸ PARTING THOUGHT: Last but not least, a simple reminder to be kind to yourself â and to one another. No particular reason, other than it feels like a good time to say it. With so much heaviness in the world, a little grace goes a long way.
đ Take care, and weâll chat again in this space next week. And a reminder that if you enjoy receiving this missive in your inbox, feel free to share it with family and friends who might also be interested. They can sign up through the subscription box and start getting it delivered straight to their email, too.
|
