It is the most wonderful time of the year!
Sorry Andy Williams, I am not talking about Christmas.
This is your Public Service Reminder (PSR) that October is hands down the best sports month of the year…Cue the song by Andy Williams: ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ #OctoberSports 👍🏼🇺🇸⚾️🏉🏈 🏀 🥅 https://t.co/tQ4qVAdfQx
— Pete Frandano, CCIM (@pfrandano) October 6, 2021
For the sports fan, mid-October is usually about as good as it gets.
Welcome to the “real” best time of the year.
NHL:
The NHL’s regular season is just a few days old and with this being the first week, even the Buffalo Sabres believe they can win the Stanley Cup.
The Sabres, who have not made the playoffs since the 2010-11 season, some 12 years ago can be optimistic.
Buffalo has not lost going a perfect 1-0 after Thursday’s 4-1 victory over the ever-dangerous Ottawa Senators.
The Sabres’ season-opening 4-1 win over the revamped Ottawa Senators on Thursday night showcased how the youngest roster in the NHL wants to use its combination of speed, skill and competitiveness to surprise in 2022-23. https://t.co/48jQYNx0ab
— The Buffalo News (@TheBuffaloNews) October 14, 2022
I am not sure who the best of the seven Canadian teams will be this season, but (1-0) Edmonton and (1-1) Toronto believe that will be them.
And it might be until they crash and burn again in the playoffs.
The (0-1) Vancouver Canucks, in all likelihood, will be improved, but the question is by how much?
Will that be enough to boost them to the promised land of the post-season?
Hockey is back and nearly everyone has an opinion/and or prediction.
With a new NHL season upon us, 20 Sportsnet NHL experts share their predictions for what’s ahead, from Cup winner to individual award winners and more.https://t.co/n15DcBVW0A
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 11, 2022
NFL:
Thru five weeks and one game, one could argue parity has hit the NFL, at least among the top teams.
Does anyone, that is not a diehard Eagles fan, really believe the only unbeaten team (5-0) Philadelphia is actually the best going forward?
No team has been able to dominate week-to-week.
The winner of Sunday’s Buffalo at Kansas City game can make a claim of being on top in the AFC, but no trophies are handed out in October.
The Bills won last year in K.C., before losing there with much bigger stakes on the line in the playoffs.
Here is how News sports writers see Sunday’s game between the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. https://t.co/AsVs062z0e
— The Buffalo News (@TheBuffaloNews) October 14, 2022
14 of the 32 teams have a winning record and the list does not include either of the Super Bowl participants in February.
Both the LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals are among the 10 teams sitting at 2-3.
Every team has at least one victory so already the talk of an 0-17 season is out the window.
CFL:
It is the homestretch with most CFL teams having just three regular-season games left.
Already we know the B.C. Lions will play the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division semifinal in November.
Home-field advantage has not yet been determined but the (10-5) Lions hold the tiebreaker over the (10-5) Stampeders.
MLB:
The post-season is here and we are down to just eight teams.
By the way, did the Toronto Blue Jays actually make the playoffs?
It seems so long ago that they blew an 8-1 lead in their final game to make a quick exit with their heads down.
It does not look like the Mariners will be around much longer, trailing the Houston Astros 2-0 in the best-of-five with Game 3 Saturday afternoon in Seattle.
NBA:
Only four more nights of sleep before the NBA regular season tips off on Tuesday.
This league has enough off-court drama we do not even have to watch the games.
Draymond Green fined, not suspended for punching Jordan Poole. https://t.co/kxUv5EIJ4V pic.twitter.com/b9seW1BPKd
— theScore (@theScore) October 12, 2022
Prince George:
The (3-4) Prince George Cougars, (5-1) Prince George Spruce Kings, and (2-2) U18 Cariboo Cougars are not only underway but all three teams will be in action this weekend.
This season local hockey fans will have plenty of opportunities to watch the Cariboo Cougars and PG Cougars back-to-back.
Saturday is an example when Cariboo’s home game at 2:30 at Kin 1 is followed by the PG Cougars home game at 6:00 next door at CN Centre.
UNBC Timberwolves:
The UNBC Timberwolves are in the home stretch of their Canada West soccer seasons.
Both the UNBC men and women are on the cusp of making the playoffs but it appears they need at least another win or two to secure a berth.
The UNBC women entertain Thompson Rivers University tonight (Friday) at 6:00 and
UBC Okanagan Sunday at 2:15 in their final regular season games.
The (4-5-3) UNBC women are fifth out of eight teams in the Pacific Division.
The top five teams qualify for the playoffs.
The UNBC men’s soccer team will be home for a double this weekend against UBC Okanagan Saturday and Sunday at noon before wrapping up its regular season on the road next weekend at Fraser Valley on Oct 21st and 23rd.
The (6-4-2) UNBC men are in third place out of seven teams in Pacific Division.
The top four advance to the playoffs.
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If it is university basketball you are after, the UNBC teams are just three weeks away from starting their Canada West regular season at home on November 4th against Trinity Western at the Northern Sport Centre.
While temperatures in the near future will turn cold again, in Prince George and many other cities in the country, the sports feast is as hot as it gets.
Cat Scan Podcast:
In this week’s Cat Scan #podcast, Cariboo Hockey GM @Boston771 speaks out on: #HockeyCanada fallout, acceptable conduct for #CaribooHockey players, difficulty of breaking into Jr Hockey, low pay for coaches, relationship with @PGCougars & Winter Classic outdoor game in FS James. https://t.co/C2Qa9kPDsL
— Hartley Miller (@Hartley_Miller) October 13, 2022
Taking Note:
No Ray of sunshine for Mariners . . . Report takes aim at Hockey Canada’s operation . . . Time for MLB to get Rose into Hall https://t.co/PPd0ChvApb
— Gregg Drinnan (@gdrinnan) October 13, 2022
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
Minnesota Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson made major-league history by having the longest last name on the back of his jersey, supplanting ex-catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The team seamstress is now on the 10-day injured list with RSI.
*Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/
The Guardians and Rays went into the 15th inning of their playoff game in a scoreless tie
before Oscar Gonzales homered and gave Cleveland the win. One fan was heard to say that he went to a Major League Baseball playoff game and a Colts-Broncos Thursday night football game broke out.
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Truly painful collapse for the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday in losing to Seattle and having their season end after having an 8-1 lead. On the other hand, they’ve been made honorary Toronto Maple Leafs.
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
In Case You Missed It:
According to spotrac.com, Dallas offensive lineman Jason Peters actually has a base annual salary $30,000 higher than RB Tony Pollard. Might be time for the Cowboys to rob Peters to pay Pollard.
*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 is in his 10th season as the radio colour 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).