It’s time to play Good News, Bad News!
Let’s start with the positive.
Good: The Vancouver Canucks and many B.C. hockey teams have been given the approval to play at 100 % capacity.
Bad: The Prince George Cougars, PG Spruce Kings, and several other teams remain at only 50 % capacity.
Canucks Sports & Entertainment announce they will be at 100% capacity for season start.
DETAILS | https://t.co/3nnxriuoak pic.twitter.com/tlSrHCj1KZ
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) October 19, 2021
Sports team capacity starting Oct 25
Vancouver @Canucks – 100% capacity@BCLions – 100%@WhitecapsFC – 100%@WHLGiants (Langley) – 100%@PGCougars – 50%@blazerhockey – 50%@Kelowna_Rockets – 50%@abbycanucks – 50%@victoriaroyals – 100%#bcpoli— Richard Zussman (@richardzussman) October 19, 2021
Good: It was just 3 ½ months ago in early July, the Montreal Canadiens were competing in the Stanley Cup Final (which Tampa Bay won in five games).
Bad: The Habs don’t have Carey Price, or Shea Weber, or much of anything. Sure it is very early but not only are the Canadiens 0-5 but they have the worst goal differential at -15 (4GF and 19GA) in the entire 32-team NHL.
The Carolina Hurricanes improve to 3-0 after defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1.
The Canadiens are 0-5 this season, and skate off the ice to a shower of boos. #Habs pic.twitter.com/dEkvjuhT9C
— Sidelines Sports Network (@Sidelines_SN) October 22, 2021
Good: The Toronto Maple Leafs are worth more than any other NHL franchise with a value estimated at over US$2 billion.
Bad: The Leafs have set the record for longest Stanley Cup drought by any franchise in league history, approaching 20,000 days going back to 1967.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly valued at US$2 billion, the highest of any NHL franchise.https://t.co/v6fVythWA6
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 14, 2021
19,897 days since a Cup.
607 days since losing to an AHL Zamboni driver.#LeafsForever
— Since Leafs Last Cup (@LeafsIastCup) October 22, 2021
Good: The Buffalo Sabres are 3-0.
Bad: They are still the Buffalo Sabres (a team that has not been to the playoffs since 2011)
Good: The Sacramento Kings are unbeaten.
Bad: The (1-0) Kings, an NBA perennial punching bag like the NHL Sabres, have not been to the post-season party since 2006, that’s 15 years and counting.
Good: The PG Cougars penalty kill went 16 of 17 in their weekend sweep (3-1 and 4-2) of the Victoria Royals.
Bad: The lack of discipline was alarming. The Cougars got fortunate it wasn’t Kamloops, Vancouver, or Kelowna they were playing instead of the shorthanded rebuilding Royals.
Good: The UNBC men’s soccer team has been competitive for much of the season, tying half of their 10 games, with most of them coming from behind efforts.
Bad: While five draws in soccer can arguably be called satisfactory, the Timberwolves only have one win and are last out of seven teams in the Canada West men’s standings entering the final weekend of the regular season.
Good: The Jacksonville Jaguars got a win in their last game which was played in London, England.
Bad: The (1-5) Jags have lost their last 20 regular-season games played in the USA, dating back to last year.
Good: The Detroit Lions are the first NFL team to lose two games in a season on a last-play field goal in excess of 50 yards. For everybody else, this would not be good news, but this is the Detroit Lions we are talking about.
Bad: The Lions have not taken out any kneecaps and are the only winless NFL team left at 0-6.
Dan Campbell, same guy who talked about his players being tough&biting the kneecaps off opposing team’s players at his introductory presser as Detroit Lions head coach, is now literally crying at postgame press conferences about how bad his 0-6 team is. Life comes at U fast.
— Kenny BooYah! ?? (@KwikWarren) October 18, 2021
Good: The Houston Texans, 18-point under-dogs Sunday against Arizona, can be optimistic about their chances of victory against the Cardinals by looking at some history. It was 1969, only 52 years ago, the AFL’s New York Jets were 18-point underdogs against the NFL’s Baltimore Colts in the Super Bowl 3, yet the Jets won the game 16-7.
Bad: The Texans won’t have Joe Namath in the lineup at QB, instead will go with rookie Davis Mills, who has five passing TD’s, seven interceptions, two fumbles, and a 31st ranking out of 32 QB’s.
Houston Texans rookie quarterback Davis Mills looked more like a novice in the 31-3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. https://t.co/XDmEN0kvNM
— The Texans Wire (@TheTexansWire) October 18, 2021
#
This week (season four) on the Cat Scan podcast my guests are Prince George Cougars Captain and 20-year-old forward Jonny Hooker and defenceman Hudson Thornton.
During the episode, the many topics that are discussed include:
- BC Division hub experience in Kamloops
- Hooker on being named Captain
- Importance of special teams
- Cougars young nucleus of players
- Hudson on finally joining the Cougars after stints in the BCHL and USHL
- What they enjoy outside of hockey
CATS SCAN: @Hartley_Miller chats with @PGCougars captain @jonny_hooker91 and Hudson Thornton in this week’s episode of the podcast | https://t.co/LNV1R2tIih #cityofpg #sports #northernbc pic.twitter.com/k48btpDlrD
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) October 21, 2021
Taking Note:
Sillinger gets first goal as pursuit of his father begins . . . Canada West series postponed by COVID-19 . . . Royals add goalie from Chiefs https://t.co/De6x0XVkWO
— Gregg Drinnan (@gdrinnan) October 22, 2021
FROM THE QUOTE RACK
At the beginning of Thursday’s game against the Denver Broncos, injured Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb was limping around on crutches. After his replacement, D’Ernest Johnson pounded the Broncos for 146 yards in a 17-14 victory, Nick was seen running wind sprints.
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Yeah, I know we’re supposed to hate the Houston Astros. But it’s really impossible when you’re 5’6″ yourself in high heels to hate Jose Altuve.
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Cleveland Browns sack-master Myles Garrett has decorated his front yard for Halloween with tombstones featuring the name and jersey number of opposing quarterbacks. What’s he handing out this year, Nestle Crunch?
*Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/
In Case You Missed It:
A recent study found depression speeds up the aging process. In related news, the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to appeal to a younger audience.
*Western Canadian comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the news and sports director/supervisor plus morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT and Country 97fm. He also is the radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars’ home games.
Hartley has been on the Prince George airwaves since 1979 and is the author of You Don’t Say (sports quotes)