So long to one lousy year

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/12/2020 (1747 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Memo to 2020: goodbye, and good riddance. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. 

There’s no question the last year has been challenging, with a global pandemic turning life as we know it upside down and causing plenty of hardship and loss. Counting down until the clock strikes 12 tonight is something many have been looking forward to for months, hoping 2021 will provide a clean slate and a fresh start.

It hasn’t been entirely awful from my little perch. On a personal level, I celebrated my 45th birthday, my 25th year in journalism, my 20th wedding anniversary, dropped 85 pounds and got to spend increased quality time at home with my spouse, two amazing teenagers and our pair of rescue dogs. All of those milestones and moments are things I will treasure. 

On a professional level, despite the fact the sports world came to a screeching halt for several months I penned more than a half-million words for this newspaper in the form of more than 500 columns, stories and features, in addition to doing my weekly Jetcetera podcast with sports editor Steve Lyons and launching a weekly newsletter a few months ago.

Highlights included having a front-row seat to the NHL’s return to play as one of the few North American writers to cover the Stanley Cup playoffs inside the hub city of Edmonton, culminating in watching the Stanley Cup get handed out in September. I’m truly lucky to get to do what I love, and I don’t take any of it for granted. 

But enough about the recent past. Let’s look ahead to the future, and what we all hope will be much brighter days and a return to some semblance of normal. On that note, allow me to present some New Year’s Eve wishes for the local teams, leagues and athletes we follow:

For all hockey fans: an incredible seven-team race in the all-Canadian division that goes right down to the wire, providing no shortage of thrilling battles as they beat the poutine out of each other during the 56-game regular season that begins Jan. 13.

For the Winnipeg Jets and Patrik Laine: an olive branch. Not only is the Finnish phenom one of the best in the NHL at putting the puck in the net, he’s also a unique character who makes the team, and the city, a lot more interesting. It would be great if both sides can find a way to repair what appears to be a fractured relationship.

For the Winnipeg Blue Bombers: the opportunity to finally, properly celebrate the 2019 Grey Cup championship at a jam-packed IG Field prior to their scheduled 2021 CFL season home opener on June 10 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. I have no idea if this will be able to happen, but the three-down league can’t afford another lost season, so here’s hoping they can find a way to forge ahead.

For the Winnipeg Goldeyes: the familiar sights, sounds and smells of Shaw Park this summer. The Fish had to fly south last season, bleeding money in the process and depriving local baseball fans of one of life’s simple pleasures. I can’t wait to hear the crack of the bat again at the downtown jewel.

For Valour FC: a proper reintroduction to local soccer aficionados, of which there are many, after a strong 2019 debut. They were forced to play far from home in 2020, which may have led to a case of out of sight, out of mind for many. But there’s no question the future of the beautiful game is bright, and it will be nice to see Rob Gale’s crew back on the local pitch.

For Assiniboia Downs: continued success in the online wagering world that they experienced last racing season, but a return to normal for the coming meet beginning in May that includes full grandstands and concourses with horse racing fans able to watch these beautiful animals thundering down the track in person.

For Aaron Cockerill: another terrific season on the European Tour as Manitoba’s top pro golfer in two decades continues to climb the world rankings.

For all minor hockey players: some kind of truncated season later this winter. From Timbits to bantam, I know how hard officials worked  to set up safe protocols during tryouts in the fall, and they were just about to get going in late October when the provincial code red was declared. Many fingers are crossed to see what happens when the current restrictions are set to expire Jan. 8.

For Bryan Little: peace of mind. Little is one of the most classy athletes you’ll meet, and the Winnipeg Jets centre’s career was cruelly cut short after being felled by an errant Nikolaj Ehlers slapshot in November 2019. He’ll be placed on long-term injured reserve in the coming weeks, and I hope his post-playing days bring him great success.

For the Hawerchuk family: a chance to soak in the love from Manitobans in the form of a huge tribute to “Ducky,” preferably inside a sold-out Bell MTS Place. COVID-19 has sadly put such a deserving occasion on hold. But it will happen eventually for one of this province’s most beloved athletes, who lost his cancer battle earlier this year. 

For Jonathan Toews: a speedy recovery from whatever is ailing him. The Chicago Blackhawks captain and proud Winnipegger announced earlier this week he’s suffering from a yet-to-be diagnosed illness and will not start the season in the Windy City. Everyone around here is rooting for Captain Serious.

For local golf fans: great weather and even better greens, and the return of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada in the form of the Manitoba Open tournament.

For university student-athletes: a chance to get back to doing what they love. From basketball to volleyball, hockey to track and field, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on these grassroots programs. Here’s hoping they find a way back, and soon. 

For those with Olympic and Paralympic dreams: success as they try to qualify for and/or compete in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. From swimmers Kelsey Wog and Chantal Van Landeghem, triathlete Tyler Mislawchuk, gymnast Isabela Onyshko, rower Emma Gray and curlers such as Kerri Einarson and Jennifer Jones, among many others, it’s always a thrill to see Manitobans perform on the biggest sports stage of all.

For all my readers: comfort and joy, health and happiness, and nothing but the best for 2021. Happy New Year to you and yours!

 

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg