It’s my Parting Shot for some Thursday Thoughts…..

       For as long as I’ve broadcast and followed hockey, I’ve noted…and even joked about…how hockey referees always seemed to find a way to end up wth the same number of “marbles” in each of their pockets. In other words, there seemed to be a way to ensure that both teams in a game had the same number of power play chances. The other thing about that phenomenon is that the officials seemed to, consciously, seek out calling a penalty on the team with a lead so as to give the opposition squad a chance to get back into the contest with a power play…or two or three. It was accepted that that’s the way it was…regardless of whether I thought it should be. Tim Peel was caught on a hot mic, that should’ve been off, saying that he wanted to give Nashville a penalty…essentially following orders of the N-H-L…yet he’s been fired and the scapegoat for a practice that everyone knows about, seems wrong but is accepted as the way it is. Tim Peel should be allowed to finish off his long officiating career on his terms and not be embarrased as he has been!

       As many of you know, I’m fairly “old school” when it comes to a lot of things in life and sports. I wasn’t sure about this mixed doubles curling hybrid of “The Roaring Game”…but it has grown on me in the last week. How can’t you like eight ends, five rocks per end, cluttered houses and spectacular shot-making…sometimes with limited to no brushing of the thrown stone?! It’s not the game of Ernie Richardson or Sandra Schmirler…but I like it!

       And, it won’t change anything for the immediate future of how Toronto Raptors’ games are televised…but, note how the Raps ended their nine-game losing streak last night with T-S-N utilizing an all-female on-air broadcast crew?! That was the ultimate sports version of “luck be a lady tonight!” And, it’ll happen again down the road…mark my words!!

       That’s my Parting Shot from the W-H-L’s East Division “Dubble” in Regina, I’m Les Lazaruk…..