It’s my Parting Shot to wonder if this great start to the Saskatoon Blades’ “Dubble” season is going to mean anything tangible…..

       Trust the Central Saskatchewan rivalry to stoke the fire between the respective fan bases.

       In the midst of yesterday’s 4-0 Saskatoon Blades’ victory over the Prince Albert Raiders, a Twitter debate ensued…sparked by a comment from a Blades’ fan towards a P-A supporter saying that he can’t be happy with the Bridge City Bunch being on fire this season. The responses ranged from, “too bad it’s for the COVID Cup. Doesn’t mean ‘shaving cream’,” to, “how many of these in Toon Town?” The latter refers to the two W-H-L titles that the Raiders have won while the Blue and Gold have yet to sip from the Ed Chynoweth Cup in their franchise history. That latter comment also tends to end the discussion because that’s what it’s all about and Prince Albert fans have that hammer over Blades’ supporters!

       Actually, on this occasion, the Saskatoon fan who instigated the discussion finished with, “big fat 0, but this may be the year.”

       But, will it be?

       There hasn’t been a definitive answer yet from the Western Hockey League, but a lot of people are taking, quote, development season, to mean all teams will play 24 games, then go home and get ready for the next season in the fall. No playoffs, mostly because of the rising COVID-19 numbers…fuelled by increasing cases of variant of concern.

       Don’t be so sure that will be the case. The W-H-L has all 22 teams started and the four divisions will be finishing their campaigns relatively close to one another…which would allow for some sort of playoffs and declaration of a champion before July!

       That could be biased, rose-coloured glasses thinking on my part, but I’m told the W-H-L is trying everything they can to have a playoffs of some kind and crown a champion. I wouldn’t bet against it!

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