NFL refs don’t really favour Chiefs; NHL headshots continue; Regina Pats are misnamed
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A four-pack of mini-columns:
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ONE: Before the CFL released its 2025 schedule, Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Jeremy O’Day was asked if he liked Thursday games.
“Personally I’m not a huge fan of Thursday games,” said O’Day, whose team plays its only Thursday game this upcoming season in the CFL’s regular-season opener June 5 against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks.
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“I should take that back. I don’t personally like when we play Thursday games but I do love that you can watch our league on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s cool that you can watch football every night, so if we have to take our turn to keep it that way, I’m all in favour of it.”
It’s now evident most CFL teams don’t relish Thursday games. Or Sundays. Of the 86 games on this year’s schedule, 11 are on Thursdays and only six, plus the Nov. 16 Grey Cup, are on Sundays.
The CFL got innovative last season with Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday sets in 11 of its first 12 weeks, before surrendering late-season Thursdays and Sundays to the all-consuming NFL.
Although four-in-a-row was popular with TV viewers, it was evidently less popular with teams and their travelling fans. It’s happening only four times this season. Instead the CFL is again relying heavily on Friday and/or Saturday doubleheaders.
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TWO: It seems almost nobody likes the Kansas City Chiefs, except for NFL on-field officials.
That’s according to everyone who doesn’t want the Chiefs to win an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl. And it has become more of a hot-button, ridiculous, posteason topic than the Washington Commanders eliminating the top-seeded Detroit Lions or the entertaining victories Sunday by the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills.
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When Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff absorbed an unpenalized helmet-to-helmet smack against the Eagles, social media blew up with accusations that such a hit against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes would have initiated a senate inquiry. That’s not likely these days because, at the moment, incoming U.S. president Donald Trump is more infatuated with implementing ill-advised tariffs and conquering Canada, Mexico and Greenland than in meddling with the Super Bowl contenders.
A minor hit on Mahomes indeed drew a penalty against the Houston Texans. Even “Replay Assist,” the NFL’s version of the CFL’s “Command Centre,” didn’t over-rule the questionable call.
Video review was supposed to correct any obvious mistakes made by the officials. Isn’t it strange that since the invention and intervention of video review there has probably never been more fans whining about missed penalties, botched calls and lengthy delays?
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THREE: Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is getting a disciplinary hearing. So is Vancouver Canucks defender Tyler Myers. As of Monday morning, they were preparing for telephone meetings with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety to deal with their vicious actions during a game Saturday. They each cross-checked an opponent in the head.
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McDavid received a match penalty while Myers’ hit wasn’t penalized because it was only seen on video replay. Another case showing the uselessness of video review.
On Sunday there was a heavyweight fight between New York Rangers centre Matt Rempe and Montreal Canadiens defender Arber Xhekaj. It lasted 45 seconds. Rempe started it but Xhekaj, with a series of left-handed punches in an exchange of head-banging knocks, was the winner.
The NHL refuses to acknowledge any connection between hockey and brain injuries. We’re seeing why it should be called the No-Head Hockey League. It doesn’t care.
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FOUR: Now that this season’s WHL trading deadline has passed and general manager Alan Millar has completed 18 transactions, the Regina Pats can finally hold true to their name and stand pat, to the relief of their current players.
“You’ve got to have thick skin,” said 19-year-old defender Ephram McNutt, who said he’s happy about being in Regina but didn’t ask to be dealt in December from the Prince George Cougars. “The difference to me is when you’re 16 or 17 and still in school, they have to get asked to approve trades.
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“It can almost be tougher for guys who are older because you don’t have to approve it. It’s just, “You’re gone!’”
The Pats are 5-8 since McNutt arrived. Although they’re playing better and look to be adjusting to all the newcomers, the Pats remain 10th in the Eastern Conference (12-24-6) after losing 4-1 Sunday to the hometown Calgary Hitmen and 3-2 Friday to the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings.
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