FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

Some quick thoughts from the week that was before jetting to Toronto for another epic Rider showdown:

- Today's Press Box Sports Bar buffet courtesy Chef Sid:

"On this weeks buffet we will be having pizza, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cream corn, caesar salad, dessert and chicken mushroom alfredo. the dessert will be an apple crisp."

- The Pats are home to the Edmonton Oil Kings tonight at 7:00 at the Brandt Centre. I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Swift Current. The Pats are fast, and there's more talent there than I expected. And I noticed that the fans in attendance really love their Pats. The roof went off the place when Regina took the lead. It's nice to see.

- We had an NHL regular season draft last night at the Four Seasons Sports Palace and Jordan Eberle went in the 5th round. Jordan called the pick "a steal", but all he wanted to know was if he was selected ahead of Taylor Hall. Sadly, he wasn't.

- Apparently Regina's NHL team is the Edmonton Oilers. That's the result of the poll at the top left of this page. If you're voting, don't vote for YOUR team. I'm a Dallas Stars fan, but I know enough to realize this isn't a Dallas Stars town. The Sports Cage, based on these results, will be Oilers Radio Saskatchewan this NHL season.

- That was a very interesting interview with Jack Michaels of ESPN 710 Bismarck radio on the Sports Cage yesterday. He discussed at length a wide receiver at UND by the name of Ryan Dressler. Yes, he's the younger brother of the Riders' Weston Dressler and both call Bismarck, ND their hometown. I'll have to ask Brendan Taman today if the Riders may scout him.

- The Rider roster changes for tomorrow's game at Toronto are: IN - WR Obec Cetoute, DT Marcus Adams and LB Daniel Francis. OUT - WR Cary Koch, KOR Hugh Charles, DT Ryan Lucas.

- Congratulations to Andy Fantuz, the Riders and Co-op for donating $10,000 to the Childrens Hospital Foundation from the proceeds of Fantuz Flakes cereal. I bet that really makes Andy feel good, plus he made a personal donation. And the best news for you readers is that a second addition of the popular cereal is coming out due to consumer demand. It's pretty good cereal too. I had some at my Mom & Dad's.

- The Winnipeg Free Press is taking up a collection from its readers to pay for the fines to Bomber coach Paul Lapolice and three players. The total is $2500 in fines accumulated for criticizing officials after their Friday loss to Montreal.

- Help the Rider Pep Band get to Grey Cup! They're holding a fundraiser at Applause Dinner Threatre Saturday, November 13. You can catch the show "Blues Cruise - Christmas On The High Seas" for just $45. There will only be 300 tickets available. The Pep Band is one of the greatest attractions at Grey Cup, and really do us in Saskatchewan proud. Email riderpepband@accesscomm.ca or call 789-7318 for tickets.

- It's interesting to note that Edmonton Eskimos GM Eric Tillman may be in Regina as much as Edmonton over the next nine months. His wife and kids like the Queen City so much that they're staying until the end of the school year while Eric travels back and forth. The Eskimos have been nice enough to put him up in a hotel until then.

- I like Rider linebacker Sean Lucas a lot. He had an insightful quote about being fingered as the 13th man by TSN in last year's Grey Cup. Global's Warren Woods did the story. "This is the business we're in," Lucas said. "You're in the public spotlight so people are entitled to their opinions and they're going to make guesses. The media has jobs too and I have no problems with that. It is what it is and it's in the past. I don't have no hard feelings about it."

- Lucas came to the Riders in 2006, the last year year of the Roy & Danny era. So too did Durant, Fantuz, Congi and Frazier. Woodsy asked Lucas about the change in culture of the team from what it was then to now. "The culture is a little different," Lucas admitted. "The group of guys that was here before was a little different. We brought in some different character guys that to us to the next level, winning a Grey Cup in 2007. On this team, we're known for workin hard. If you're not a hard-worker and you want to be in the spotlight, you're not doing your job."

I wonder to whom he's referring.

- The U of R Rams host the Alberta Golden Bears Saturday night at 7:00 at Mosaic Stadium. The Regina Thunder host the Winnipeg Rifles Sunday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium.

- It's FOUR SEASONS FOOTBALL FRIDAY in The Sports Cage today:

Mitchell Blair and former Rider great Scott Schultz host the show from 4-6pm Sask time. They've got lots of great interviews lined up, and I'll join them from Rogers Centre.

- Speaking of Rogers and Toronto, it's been a rough year for Argo play-by-play men. First, the current voice of the Argos Mike Hogan was let go by the Fan 590 radio this summer (he's still doing Argo games, just not his talkshow) while this week former Argo play-by-play man Jim Lang was turfed by Rogers Sportsnet. That's really horrible for Jim and his family. He's a buddy of mine and was going to show me around the Sportsnet building today once I got to Toronto, but now that's off the table. Good luck Jim. You're one of the good guys!

- Is the Henry Burris stuff over yet? I don't understand why the same Saskatchewan media outlet who exposed the story is the same one running commentaries saying what Henry does away from the field is none of our business? Hopefully we can laugh it off and move on. Stampeders receiver Ryan Thelwell did on Calgary's Fan 960 this week saying: "I think Henry secretly wants to be a Victoria's Secret model."

- As I promised former Rider Mike Abou-Mechrek when he stepped into The Sports Cage this week, here's a plug for the Run For The Cure on Sunday, supporting breast cancer research:

From Abou:

"As you may or may not know, this Sunday October 3rd is the annual Run for the Cure and is held in every major city in Canada. The Run is a great day and it helps raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.‬‪

For the third year in a row my family and I will be doing the Run in Regina. It all kicks off at 9am at the Conexus Center and we would like to invite you to join us in a great day- and it looks like the weather is going to co operate as well.‬‪We have been raising funds for this event and if you'd like to help us out we need as much help as we can get.‬‪

Our web site http://www.abou67.com/ has some great Rider gear that we are auctioning off. There are items on there at every price point and if you still don't see anything you like there is an option to "donate now" which takes you to my donation page where you can place a donation with your credit card.‬ ‪Thank you for your time and please go to the web site to check out the items up for bid and lets put an end to this disease that is killing our mothers and daughters.‬‪

Abou67.com‬‪‬‪
Mike Abou-Mechrek‬‪
Investors Group Consultant‬‪"

---

Some more random sports thoughts that popped into my head while watching highlights, Sportscentre and Sportsnet Connected this week:

- Do you want the Phillies to win the World Series for former Blue Jay Roy Halladay? I do. But I wasn't big on A.J. Burnett getting a ring with the Yankees last year.

- Anybody catch Law & Order Los Angeles when it debuted this week? It was JUST okay. I was expecting much more.

- Great quote from Lebron James this week as the Miami Heat opened training camp: "Funny how a lot of people try to tell you how to run your life when they don't even have their own life in order."

- When and WHY did the Rogers video store on S. Albert close? We pulled up the other day to rent a flick and the place was as empty as a school on Sunday.

- Nature Valley cereal/granola bars are doing tons of advertising on the sports networks so let's reward them by buying their product. Companies who spend money advertising on sports networks and sportsradio keep us all in business.

- Having said that, RONA needs a new ad on CFL games. At least make it funny or something! The DQ ad where the guy races all over the city to get a blizzard cake home to his family is hilarious and it never get's old. So if you're only gonna run one ad, make it good! Thanks to RONA though, for buying ALL the ads they run.

- Speaking of advertising, Chilis' contract to sponsor Mondays on the Sports Cage has run out so we're looking for someone new. Chilis graciously donated gift certificates to the players for appearing on the show so if you're interest in signing up, be prepared for that. It's a great show and Mondays are a great day to promote Monday Night Football if you're a restaurant who shows the games!!

OKAY OFF TO TORONTO - HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
RP

THURSDAY SPORTS CAGE AUDIO

HOUR ONE: GARY LAWLESS, COACH MILLER, JACK MICHAELS ESPN BISMARCK, ANDY FANTUZ
http://www.mediafire.com/?x1mkx9lq18oqx1k

THURSDAY MILLER QUOTES

The Saskatchewan Roughriders held their final practice of the week Thursday at Mosaic Stadium. Saturday they face the Toronto Argonauts at Rogers Centre at 1:00pm Sask time on TSN and the 620 CKRM Rider Radio Network. Here's what coach Ken Miller had to say Thursday:

DO YOU NEED TO RUN THE TABLE TO FINISH FIRST?

We're really interested in playing well this weekend and that's really all we're looking at right now.

DOES THE STAMPS' RESULT FRIDAY NITE AFFECT THE TEAM'S MINDSET?

No not really. Again, when you pay attention to what other people are doing then maybe you don't pay as close of attention to what you need to do yourself. That's what you want to do. Like a game, we want to focus on the play we're on and not the ones that came before. We want to get the job done in the game we're playing.

ARE THE ARGOS A DIFFERENT TEAM WITH RB CORY BOYD IN THE LINEUP?

Certainly. I think they'll rush the ball considerably more with him in the lineup. If he weren't in the lineup I think they'd try to do other things to take up some of those carries. But with him in there I wouldn't be surprised to see him carry it an inordinate about of times.

IS THAT BECAUSE QB DALTON BELL IS MAKING HIS FIRST START?

Certainly it's Dalton's first start but Dalton is an athletic player who's very bright and he deserves the opportunity to start. He will play his best.

WHAT DOES JASON CLERMONT ADD TO THE RECEIVING CORPS?

He does what he always does with tremendous leadership. He provides a lot of guidance and now this week he has an opportunity to start and now we're able to see his skills. When you see him practice, he catches everything and he's very disciplined and motivated. He'll do well.

IS MOMENTUM ON YOUR TEAM'S SIDE?

In our locker room, the players have been really focused through the season but they feel there's a tightness in their focus and preparation. Like today, it got hot and it wouldn't been easy not to be on task but really they forced themselves to pay attention to detail and get the things done they needed to get done.

WHAT ROSTER CHANGES ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

It's pretty much what I said it would be yesterday. 91 (Montez Murphy) will play instead of 90 (Brent Hawkins) and other than that everything is the way I said it would be. WR Cary Koch and KOR Hugh Charles are off.

EAKIN RETURNS TO BRONCOS

Swift Current Broncos' captain Cody Eakin will return to the Broncos from the Washington Capitals of the NHL.  Last season he led all Broncos skaters with 47 goals and 91 points in 70 games. 

Eakin played in three pre-season games with the Capitals and recorded 2 goals in that time, including the game winner in a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins this past Tuesday. 

Eakin, who was drafted by the Capitals in the 3rd round (85th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, is expected to be in the line-up tomorrow night as the Broncos host the Prince Albert Raiders at 7pm at the Credit Union iPlex.

INCREDIBLE RIDER PRIDE PHOTOS

Hey Roddy,

Love the blog! Check it at least a couple times everyday.

My name is James Bartolf, im 23 from Oxbow, SK.....been going to Rider games since 1993 with my family and have had season tickets on my own with a group of friends since 2008 in good old Section 27 Row 11....haha..

This spring I travelled to the Asia for 4 months to the countries of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea....

Of course I had to pack my Rider Jersey and took it out a couple times to get some photos....got comments on it from people in pretty much every country I was in..
Cheers,

James Bartolf

Go Riders!

Pic 1-My friends Ashtyn, Nolan and Myself in front of the largest Religious Building in the world....Angkor Wat Temple near Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Myself, Nolan and Ashtyn standing in front of the Ancient city of Bayon, also part of the Angkor complex in Cambodia...an American who recognized our Rider jersies took this pic..

Myself in front of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.....since 2001 these are the tallest twin towers in the world......
Me in front of Borobudur Buddhist temple near Yogyakarta on the island of Java in Indonesia.....

The sun setting behind a Buddhist temple and also behind a volcano on the island of Java....


Nolan and me getting an Elephant ride near Ubud on the island of Bali in Indonesia...

Me sporting some Rider Green and enjoying some St. Patricks Day shenanigans on the Island of Ko Phi Phi in Thailand......I have absolutely no idea how I ended up wearing that pink wig.......rough night.....haha

And another:

Rod,

I gave my friend Nikki (above), who lives in England a Rider flag to take back with her and take it with her whenever she was travelling. Check out this picture of her in a Bedouin tent in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.

Rob Crone
Global TV Regina

PATS 4 BRONCOS 3

A three goal outburst in the third period propelled the Regina Pats to their first victory of the season, 4-3 over the visiting Swift Current Broncos Wednesday night in the Brandt Centre.

The Broncos jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Stepan Novotny less than a minute apart. However Regina's Colin Redden got the Pats on the board before the period was over cutting Swift Current's lead to 2-1 after 20 minutes.

Jordan Evans made it 3-1 for the Broncos at 6:42 of the middle frame on the powerplay however third period goals by Regina's Killian Hutt, Cody Carlson and Dane Muench lifted the Pats to the triumph. Jordan Weal and Thomas Frazee each notched a pair of assists in the win.

The Pats (1-2) outshot the Broncos (1-2) 30-24 in the game while going 0-2 on the powerplay and 1/2 on the penalty kill.

Dawson Guhle picked up the win in the Pats' net after replacing starter Damie Ketlo when the Broncos made it 3-1. The paid attendance was 3,123. The Pats' next game is Friday at home to the Edmonton Oil Kings at 7:00 on 620 CKRM.

CKRM WEEK 14 CFL PICKS

SKED:
FRI: MTL (9-3) AT CGY (9-3)
SAT: SK (8-4) AT TOR (5-7)
WPG (3-9) AT BC (4-8)
SUN: HAM (6-6) AT EDM (3-9)

ANNOUNCER/RECORD/PICKS
CURRIE (32-16): MTL - SK - WPG - EDM
LYNCH (31-17): CGY - SK - BC - HAM
REMPLE (30-18): CGY - SK - BC - EDM
PEDERSEN (29-19): MTL - SK - WPG - HAM
CARTERI (29-19): CGY - SK - BC - EDM
BLAIR (29-19): MTL - SK - BC - HAM

*WINNER GETS A $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE PRESS BOX SPORTS BAR

THIS WEEK IN COUGAR ATHLETICS

Home Events
Men’s Hockey – vs. Saskatchewan, Friday (7:00 p.m.) at The Co-Operators Centre
Women’s Basketball – vs. Lakehead, Friday (7:00 p.m.) at CKHS
Women’s Soccer – vs. Alberta, Saturday (12:00 p.m.) at U of R Field
Rams Football – vs. Alberta, Saturday (7:00 p.m.) at Mosaic Stadium
Men’s Hockey – vs. Saskatchewan, Saturday (7:00 p.m.) at The Co-Operators Centre
Women’s Basketball – vs. Lakehead, Saturday (7:00 p.m.) at CKHS
Women’s Soccer – vs. Saskatchewan, Sunday (12:00 p.m.) at U of R Field

Men’s Hockey – The Cougars play their first ever Canada West games in their new arena this weekend, as they’ll square off with the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday and Saturday at The Co-Operators Centre. The new-look Cougars – who feature 10 new players on their 25-player roster – will face off against the Huskies at 7 p.m. on both nights. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children and students and are available at the door.

Rams Football (CIS Ranking: No. 6) – The Rams (3-1) stayed steady at No. 6 in this week’s FRC-CIS Top Ten after scoring a 41-6 road win over UBC on Friday night. Chris Bodnar was named the Canada West and CIS Special Teams Player of the Week, while Bruce Anderson was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week and Adrian Charles rushed for two touchdowns for the third consecutive game – including a 90-yard touchdown run, the second-longest rush in U of R history. The Rams will square off with Alberta (2-2) on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

Women’s Soccer – The Cougars (2-3-1) split a pair of away matches over the weekend, losing 2-1 to Lethbridge on Saturday but recovering with a 2-1 win over Calgary on Sunday. Tegan Koroluk scored the game-winning goal for the Cougars in the 69th minute of Sunday’s match, while Megan Florizone notched her first CIS goal earlier in the contest. Tayler Firth scored her first career goal against Lethbridge. The team returns home this weekend for matches against No. 1-ranked Alberta (6-0-0) and Saskatchewan (1-4-1) on Saturday and Sunday. Both will kick off at noon at the U of R Field.

Women’s Basketball – The Cougars started off the season with a 115-26 win in an exhibition game against Briercrest College on Wednesday. They’ll start the non-conference schedule this weekend at home against Lakehead University, which finished in fourth place in the OUA’s West Division last season with a 13-9 record. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

Cross Country (Men’s CIS Ranking: No. 9) – Kelly Wiebe finished in first place out of 334 runners in the Division II category of the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis on Saturday, helping the Cougars to a sixth-place finish in the team standings. Iain Fyfe also had a strong race for Regina, finishing in seventh place overall. The Cougars will hit the trails again this Saturday at the University of Saskatchewan Open.

Men’s Basketball – Led by Paul Gareau’s 23 points, the Cougars came up with a 92-78 win over an alumni squad in an exhibition game on Friday night at the CKHS. The Cougars play their first non-conference games of the season this weekend, as they’ll fly to Thunder Bay to square off with Lakehead University on Friday and Saturday night.

Men’s Volleyball – The Cougars will be in action for the first time this season, as they’ll participate in the Super 8 Tournament in Brandon on Friday and Saturday. The team doesn’t open up its Canada West schedule until Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 against the Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg.

Women’s Volleyball – The Cougars finished with a 1-4 record at the non-conference University of Regina Invitational over the weekend. The team, which is playing without injured fourth-year setter Tiffany Herman at the moment, will continue its non-conference schedule this weekend at the Lea Marc Invitational hosted by the University of Winnipeg.

Women’s Hockey – The Cougars played in the 1st Annual Mandi Schwartz Challenge over the weekend at The Co-Operators Centre, posting an 0-2-1 record in the six-team tournament. The team lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Alberta Pandas, 7-2 to Team Saskatchewan Under-18, and 4-2 to Team Manitoba Under-18. The Cougars will have their final non-conference action of the schedule on Saturday afternoon, as they’ll take on the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in North Battleford.

WEDNESDAY SPORTS CAGE AUDIO

HOUR ONE: LES LAZARUK, PATS PREVIEW, MIKE ABOU-MECHREK, BLAINE SAUTNER
http://www.mediafire.com/?7if3jte6dfj69kz

HOUR TWO: RIDER COACHES SHOW WITH JIM DALEY
http://www.mediafire.com/?11u2gy8sk2cv3fg

CHL TOP TEN

1 Drummondville Voltigeurs (6-0-0-0)
2 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (1-0-0-0)
3 Tri-City Americans (2-0-0-0)
4 Quebec Remparts (5-0-0-1)
5 Kitchener Rangers (2-0-0-0)
6 London Knights (2-0-0-0)
7 Saskatoon Blades (2-0-0-0)
8 Saint John Sea Dogs (4-1-0-1)
9 Red Deer Rebels (2-0-0-0)
10 Acadie-Bathurst Titan (5-2-0-0)

Honourable Mention:
Oshawa Generals (2-0-0-0)
Brandon Wheat Kings (2-0-0-0)
Montreal Juniors (3-1-2)

BOMBERS FINED

Toronto, ON (September 29, 2010) - The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced today that it has fined Winnipeg Blue Bomber Head Coach Paul LaPolice $1,000.00 and players Phillip Hunt, Jovon Johnson and Ibrahim Khan undisclosed amounts for publicly criticizing CFL officials following their game against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, September 24.

DURANT, FANTUZ NAMED PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

Saskatchewan Roughrider quarterback Darian Durant and slotback Andy Fantuz have been acknowledged with Player of the Month awards for September. Durant was unanimously selected as the Gibson's Finest Offensive Player of the Month while Fantuz was unanimously selected as the Gibson's Finest Canadian Player of the Month. 

Durant wrapped up the month of September with a stellar game in Hamilton on Saturday, in the team's 32-25 victory over the Tiger-Cats where he completed 23 of 31 pass attempts for 418 yards and three touchdowns. The 28-year-old tallied 1,387 passing yards in September after completing 88 of 140 pass attempts and threw five touchdowns. In addition the quarterback added 19 carries for 152 yards and one rushing touchdown. 

Fantuz proved he is one of the CFL's elite receivers as he finished the month with 22 catches for 449 yards and one touchdown. Already this season the Western Ontario product has tallied 60 catches for 944 yards and four touchdowns, putting him just 56 yards away from his first 1,000 receiving yard season.

FLAMES LINEUP FOR SASKATOON

The Calgary Flames meet the N.Y. Islanders tonight in NHL preseason action at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon. Leland Irving starts in goal for Calgary with Mikka Kipprusoff backing up. Also in the lineup are: Backlund, Conroy, Giordano, Glencross, Hagman, Ivanans, Jackman, Kotalik, Kronwall, Moss, Pardy, Sarich, White, Brodie, Meyer, Nemisz, Armstrong, Cunning. Not playing due to injury are: Stajan, Bourque, Regehr, Langkow and Jokinen. Resting for Friday's game against the Oilers are: Tanguay, Iginla, Bouwmeister, Staios and Sutter.

RIDER PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD

Hey Rod,

Here is a picture of the sign out front of Knox United Church in Saskatoon last Saturday on game day.

Cheers,

Rob Swallow

Good day Rod

Please find attached some pics of us at a recent Minnesota Twins game ( the one where Jim Thome hit the game winning walk off home run). As soon as we bought tickets, the plan was to wear our Riders jerseys to the game. We were all surprised to hear all of the comments like Go Riders! And Riders Rock coming from the fans and even the ushers. In pic #1 is my 2 boys Brandon and Austin and myself beside the statue of Rod Carew. Obviously, Roughrider language is spoken across the globe and we were very happy to do our part. Love the blog and keep up the great work.

Jeff Sastaunik
Emerald Park,Sk

Pic #2 is myself beside Kirby Puckett...

Pic #3 is Brandon beside Harmon Killebrew...

Hey Rod

Just a couple of pics from Varradero, Cuba. The wife (Debra) and I at the beach bar and at the pool. Great weather (plus 30) Thank god for the internet and being able to listen to 620 CKRM and access to your sports blog.

GO RIDERS!

Randy and Debra Durovick



Hi Rod, this is a picture of Ron Swan on the left and Ken Pilon on the right. We were about 1 hour north of Santa Fe, NM and had just rafted on the Rio Grande for two hours. The picture was taken after we had stopped to enjoy some of the local cuisine on the river bank. This was taken on Saturday afternoon at about the same time as the kickoff for the Rider/Ti-cat game.

We followed your broadcast via Blackberry and later in the evening, we toasted their victory with some Coronas and margaritas.

Go Riders!!

Ken Pilon

MILLER ADDRESSES 13TH MAN PENALTIES

The Roughriders were at practice today for the first time since Saturday's 32-25 victory in Hamilton. In the game the Riders took two more penalties for having too many men on the field, the same infraction which cost them the 2009 Grey Cup championship. I asked head coach Ken Miller about it today:

MILLER: If there was an absolute way to stop those, I'd stop them. Because absolutely we don't want them. When we were on defense we had a player go on when he wasn't supposed to go on and it's really his responsibility to know not to go on. We don't want that to happen. On offense we had an illegal substitution penalty which can be classified as a '13 man' penalty. It was a situation where we didn't communicate clearly to the huddle what the personnel package was going to be.

Certainly we don't want those errors. If there was an absolute way to prevent them we would. If you watched the other games over the weekend you saw other teams have similar problems with that. When you change personnel groups, sometimes that's going to happen. We're doing our very level best to make sure that they don't happen.

I'm not willing to say 'it's just going to happen from time to time'. When I addressed the team this morning, that was one of the points that I made; it's in our self-accountability and our self-discipline. That's one of things we have to do -- to make sure we take care of those kinds of penalties in addition to offside penalties where we give opponents needless first downs. We just have to be accountable and demonstrate our self-discipline in those situations.

When you exchange personnel groupings or you have injuries or two that happen in personnel groupings, you make changes and there are possibilities for errors. That doesn't excuse them but that's how they come about.

ON WHAT CORRECTIONS CAN BE MADE BY THE COORDINATORS

MILLER: Because of the speed of the game and the 20-second clock, and the variety of changes, really it has to rely with the players rather than the coordinators. Because by the time a coordinator counts to 12 or 13, often it's too late to make a change. On offense and defense the officials put the gate up and if you make a change in that situation, it's too late. It's a process that we want to get better at and we will get better at.

ON INSTITUTING FINES FOR TOO MANY MEN PENALTIES

MILLER: I'm not into doing that. I don't fine the players much for anything because I believe the best discipline is self-discipline and the best accountability is self-accountability and when you exert outside force you take away from the team atmosphere and the pride that individuals have in how they go about their work and their day-to-day business. I'm not big on fines but I have levied about six or seven fines in the past three years.

TUESDAY SPORTS CAGE AUDIO

HOUR ONE: A MASH-UP. ROB VANSTONE JOINS THE PARTY:
http://www.mediafire.com/?nnai2bmzm9xw26b

HOUR TWO: COACH MILLER, AMBER HOLLAND, PLASTER, HUNCHAK & ERWIN KLEMPNER
http://www.mediafire.com/?s2m029a1jrjar29

SHOW THAT RIDER PRIDE

Hey Rod,
This is a pic we took when we were in Houston at the Texans vs Colts game a couple of weeks ago. I had several people recognize my Rider hat, and even ask if we had ever been to a Rider game! I think the CFL exposure on the NFL Network down there is great. We also went to a Texas A&M college game and were impressed to realize that Mosaic is louder than 80 000 fans at Kyle Field. Keep up the good work Rod.

Dave and Liz from Swift Current.

Duke Meyers sent this photo from Banff. It's a gentleman from Saskatoon atop Sulphur Mountain.

You MUST have some great Rider Pride photos. Send them to me at sportscage@620ckrm.com!

SJHL THIS WEEK

The Humboldt Broncos are the host team for the 2012 Royal Bank Cup. Many wondered at the start of the season what Dean Brockman's game plan for the upcoming season would be. Would he trade some of his better players like Andrew Bodnarchuk and Justin Buzzeo to get some young talent that he could use for next year, or would he take a run at the SJHL title this year. The answer may be the latter.

The season is still young, but the Broncos have shown they are more than ready to compete for the Credit Union Cup this year by winning their first four games of the season. They are the lone unbeaten team in the league after two weeks which once again shows the tremendous parity the SJHL has this season.

Hot on the heels of the Broncos are the Melfort Mustangs. They won all three of their games this week thanks to the play of goalie Charles Corsi. Corsi had been playing US college hockey at Dartmouth but decided to return to the ranks of Junior A because he was upset with the amount of playing time he was getting. Head coach Darrell Mann made a deal with Quesnel of the B.C. Hockey League to get Corsi's rights and so far it has proven to be an outstanding move.

In the Sherwood Division, the Estevan Bruins were expected to be at or near the top of the division ladder and they are on top with a 3-1 record, but they have some company on that top rung in the Yorkton Terriers. Big home wins over Nipawin and Kindersley leave Yorkton tied for first with the Bruins. The two teams will meet in Yorkton this Friday in what will be a big early-season game for both.

Speaking of the Bruins, one of their players revealed this week that an SJHL cancer awareness campaign made him realize he should visit a doctor. Kyle Johnson found a lump on his scrotum. He says he feels fortunate that he was educated by last season's campaign to raise awareness for testicular cancer and how if affects young men his age. As part of the campaign, a video was produced in which SJHL players were quizzed on their knowledge about the disease. While he still has some follow-ups, he has been given a clean bill of health. His battle may be behind him, but he is urging men his age to be aware of such a thing saying it can happen to anyone at any age.

Eight SJHL players were hoping to impress Hockey Canada brass at the World Junior A Canada West selection camp this past weekend in Penticton, B.C. The eight were part of 41 players who tried to impress the coaching staff including Kindersley's Larry Wintoneak.  

The league has issued one of its lengthiest suspensions in recent memory. La Ronge Ice Wolves forward Justin Ducharme has been handed a 16 game suspension after an incident in La Ronge earlier this month in which Kindersley forward Andrew Dommett suffered head injuries after what is being called a "late, blind side hit". Ducharme won't play again until November 19.

Two SJHL teams are in the Canadian Junior Hockey League's Top 20. The Humboldt Broncos move from number 17 to number 8 in the country while the Flin Flon Bombers fall from number 4 to number 11.

SHERWOOD PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Regan Nabseth-Melfort Mustangs – The 20 year old forward from Leroy, SK was one of three Mustangs to have a big week offensively. Nabseth had four goals and two assists in three games---all games that the Mustangs won.

SHERWOOD DEFENCEMAN OF THE WEEK

Zach McLellan-Battlefords North Stars – The Stars still haven't hit the win column this year, but the 18 year old rookie from Coquitlam B.C is making an impression for Ken Pearson's crew. McLellan had 5 points in 3 games this week.

SHERWOOD GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Charles Corsi-Melfort Mustangs – Mustangs coach Darrell Mann made a deal with the Quesnel Millionaires of the BC Junior Hockey League to get the 20 year old from Rosemere, Quebec who left Dartmouth after playing there last season. Corsi won all three of his starts this past week stopping 73 of 83 shots that he faced.

POWER RANKINGS 

1 • HUMBOLDT BRONCOS - The Broncos are the lone unbeaten team in the league after two weeks. The Broncos have shown that while their eyes are on the 2012 RBC that they host that they haven't forgotten about trying to be there in 2011.

2 • LA RONGE ICE WOLVES – Had it not been for a power failure Saturday night, the Ice Wolves may have had a chance to knock Humboldt off and keep the number one ranking. Travis Eggum, Marc-Andre Carre and Doug Lindensmith are making life difficult for opposition defences.

3 • MELFORT MUSTANGS – There may be no better trio in the league right now than Regan Nabseth, Brody Haygarth and Cole Gibson. The addition of Charles Corsi in goal is paying huge dividends early for the Mustangs.

4 • ESTEVAN BRUINS – The Bruins have jumped out into a tie with Yorkton for first in the Sherwood Division with very balanced scoring. The off-season trade that brought Ben Findlay and Joel Danyluk to Estevan from La Ronge is already paying off as both have had good starts.

5 • FLIN FLON BOMBERS – The Bombers had been flying until getting shut down by Weyburn Saturday night. Mike Reagan's crew is proving they will be very tough to beat if the first four games of the year are any indication.

6 • YORKTON TERRIERS – Clarke Breitkreuz and Robbie Ciolfi were expected to do a majority of the scoring, but rookie Zak Majkowski is showing he might be ready to step into a more prominent role with a couple of impressive performances. 

7 • KINDERSLEY KLIPPERS – The Klippers can't wait to get back into their home rink as the West Central Events Centre is ready to be used again after last year's tragic fire. Kindersley started 2-2 on the road and don't seem to be missing captain Andrew Dommett as much as some people thought they would.

8 • BATTLEFORDS STARS – If excitement level had a bigger role in these rankings, the Stars would top the list. They have lost a game in overtime and lost a shootout game this year. Once Ken Pearson's crew starts putting a 60 minute effort together, they are going to be tough.

9 • NOTRE DAME HOUNDS – The Hounds are having a tough time getting the offence going, but they have been strong defensively. If the goals come and the defence keeps playing the way it has started the season, the Hounds will start moving up the rankings.

10 • WEYBURN RED WINGS – While a lot of goals have been scored early on in the SJHL season, the Wings aren't. They are averaging less than 3 a game and Dwight McMillan knows that won't cut it. He has to be pleased with the first SJHL start by rookie goalie Lucas Feibel as it was a shutout.

11 • MELVILLE MILLIONAIRES – Head coach Jamie Fiesel had said he was upset with the play of his veterans. Captain Brayden Metz didn't disappoint with a 5 point evening against Nipawin. That performance could spur the other veterans to get their game going. 

12 • NIPAWIN HAWKS – Doug Johnson has his first point as an SJHL coach, but he is still looking for his first win.

BRUINS-RAIDERS TRADE

Mackenzie traded to Chilliwack for Draft Pick

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan – The Prince Albert Raiders have traded 17 year-old forward Marc Mackenzie to the Chilliwack Bruins in exchange for the Bruins 12th round selection inthe 2011 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Mackenzie, a listed player, appeared in the first game of the 2010-11 regular season Friday in Saskatoon.

MONDAY SPORTS CAGE AUDIO

HOUR ONE: MARTY YORK
http://www.mediafire.com/?ezekj28m4bm362q

HOUR TWO: WES CATES
http://www.mediafire.com/?t5jv7cf1c1itvwa

PATS WEEKLY

WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, September 24th, 2010 Regina 4 at Brandon 5
The Pats came from a goal behind 3 times to tie things up, only to see the Wheatties score a pair of power play goals late in the second to seal the 5-4 win. In the loss, Garrett Mitchell, Dane Muench, Colin Reddin and Myles Bell all had 2 points apiece, while Bell was also a +4.

Sunday, September 26th, 2010 Brandon 3 at Regina 1
It was a great start by the Regina Pats in their home opener, as Myles Bell's point shot threaded the needle through a crowd for his second of the season and a 1-0 lead after the 1st. The first also saw the rivalry heat up as Brandon Davidson took on Mark Stone in a battle of unlikely combatants; followed with a mini line brawl after a Ryley Miller hit from behind on Garrett Mitchell. It was all Brandon in the second as Brandon outshot the Pats 14-7 and outscored them 2-0 on goals by Brendan Walker and Paul Ciarelli for the 2-1 lead after 40. The Pats pressed in the 3rd, dominating on the shot-clock 12-3, but Mark Stone's goal at the 10:52 mark clinched it for Brandon. Ty Rimmer stopped 26/27 shots, while Damien Ketlo kicked away 27/30 shots.

In the Locker Room:

A “Ringing” Start:
Second year defenceman Myles Bell is the Pats leading scorer after the first two games of the season with a pair of goals and an assists. He has opened the scoring for the blue and white in both of the starts. He is also a team leading +4

A Dealing Day:
Friday saw the Pats play their first game of the 2010-11 season, but it was also a day that saw the Pats make a pair of deals. First, the Pats picked up Thomas Frazee from the Moose Jaw Warriors as well as Bantam Picks in exchange for a 2nd round Bantam pick in 2012 and a 5th in 2013. Frazee joins Colin Reddin as the two Pat 20 year olds. Later in the day, the Pats added 17 year old forward, Trent Ouellette from the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for a conditional draft pick.

Rookies in the Line-up:
The Pats have 10 WHL rookies in the line-up. Chandler Stephenson, Ricard Blidstrand, Trent Ouelette, Matt Hewitt and Michael Sagen are playing in their first WHL action in 2010-11, while Landon Peel, Tyler Pavkovich, Dyson Stevenson, Dane Muench and Mikael Jung have seen spot duty before the start of this season.

Firsts on Friday:
Chandler Stephenson played in his first WHL regular season game on Friday night in Brandon, while Dane Muench scored his first ever WHL goal. There was one more first with defenceman Tyler Borstmayer picking up his 1st WHL point in his 40 career game. Sunday saw Ricard Blidstrand and Trent Ouellette play in their first WHL action.

Prospect Watch – Ty McLean:
Forward, Ty McLean is a part of a 1995 Regina Pats draft class that already sees its top 4 picks sign Standard Player Contracts with the Pats. McLean is a 16 year old rookie with the Tisdale Trojans of the SMAAAHL, and in his first two games, he has picked up a goal.

A Royal Award:
The book “Junior Hockey’s Royal Franchise: The Regina Pats” won a First Place Award in the International Sports Heritage Association’s (ISHA) 2010 Communication Awards. Junior Hockey’s Royal Franchise: The Regina Pats was written by Darrell Davis and Ron Johnston. It represents the first comprehensive recorded history for the 90 year old Regina Pats Hockey Club. The awards will be formally presented at the upcoming ISHA Conference at the San Diego Hall of Champions in San Diego, California on October 13, 2010

In The Community:
September 29th – Raise A Reader Day
Coaches and staff will be all around the city, selling copies of The Leader-Post with all of the proceeds going to the “Raise A Reader” foundation.

September 30th – This is the official launch and Media Conference of the Canadian Blood Services “Life Saving Hat Tricks” program. Coaches and available players will be at Canadian Blood Services for the launch at 10am.

Purchase Season Tickets:
Get your season tickets now. Adult prices begin at just $199, which averages out to just over $5 per game! For more information, call 522-PATS, click on www.reginapats.com, or head to the Pats office located in the west entrance of the Brandt Centre. The deadline to purchase season tickets is just around the corner.

Fundraising Program:
If your team or organization needs a unique opportunity to raise funds, let the Regina Pats help. Your group sells tickets with a portion of the proceeds staying with your organization. Call Cody or Corey for more information at 522-PATS.

Schedule:
Monday Practice 2:30 – 5pm Brandt Centre
Tuesday Practice 2:30 – 5pm Brandt Centre
Wednesday Broncos @ Pats 7pm Brandt Centre
Thursday Practice 2:30 – 5pm Brandt Centre
Friday Oil Kings @ Pats 7pm Brandt Centre
Saturday Pats @ Blades 7:05 Credit Union Centre

DRESSLER LOVE ON YOUTUBE

THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

Random thoughts from a pretty good week around here...

- Welcome to the home stretch! The Riders and the CFL are 12 weeks through the 18 game schedule and now we head to the finish line with six games to go. It's shaping up for a photographic finish.

- The Riders were 4-2 in each of the first two 6-game segments of the season. They're on pace for a 12-win campaign or maybe even more. With Calgary faltering, first-place is very much within reach.

- The Riders got their confidence back! And wouldn't you know it, they found it in the last place you'd expect. The Stampeders had it! Rider GM Brendan Taman said on Saturday's pregame show from Hamilton that the win over the Stamps helped the club regain its confidence and then in the Tigercats game, it went to a new level.

- I predicted on Sportsnet two weeks ago that the 9-1 Stampeders' bubble was about to burst. I'm not sure if my head or my heart told me that, but the bubble's been blown to smithereens.

- How did the Riders get their "swagger" back? I asked DE Luc Mullinder that question upon our return from Hamilton on Sunday.

"Saturday was one of those games where you're on the fence," Mullinder explained. "You can either fall on the side of being a bad team and fall off from that point or you can go on the side of 'hey let's go!' and we really united. It was awesome seeing our offense start picking it up and being on the sidelines when our 'O' was scoring.

"So it motivates you to go out there and say 'we're in this together so let's get a 2-and-out and get our offence back on the field'. That provides the confidence that we all need and we inspire each other. We can't NOT do our part when the offense is doing theirs."

- So six games remaining plus playoffs are a lot of games. Can the Green & White keep it together the rest of the way? Time will tell but they've certainly got all the talent they require and the nagging changes they needed (Prechae Rodriguez, return game, o-line) have been made for the most part.

- So CFL Director of Officiating Tom Higgins has apologized to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the blown call which cost them Friday's home game against Montreal. Really, why even bother? Really don't bother. I was so mad FOR THEM. Not to mention I had Winnipeg picked to win the game. They deserve better.

- Actually it was a pretty good week of games. I had a nagging feeling B.C. would upset Calgary but picked an upset in another game. Gosh, that game was like a car wreck you couldn't take your eyes off. But I wouldn't say it means the Lions are all-world by any stretch.

- The Touchdown Atlantic game didn't exactly have sparks flying like the Ticats-Riders showdown but the hype around the game was excellent. So what if there's a rivalry between Halifax and Moncton as TSN's Brian Williams alluded to on the pregame show? Saskatoon and Regina don't like each other either, yet they both support the Riders!

- Are you at a point yet where you pull for players rather than teams? I chose Brett and the Vikings over my Cowboys at Houston on Sunday. Why? Because there aren't many games for Favre left.

- Weston Dressler and Marty York are our featured guests on the Sports Cage today on 620 CKRM from 4-6pm.

- Notes from a trip to southern Ontario: Hamilton Spectator writer Steve Milton is a good friend and stopped by the booth before Saturday's game. He asked if winning a Grey Cup THIS year would erase, and make up for, the pain of the 2009 Grey Cup. I was with two Rider staff members at the time and we looked at each other and said in unison "No".

- There is not one single day that goes by that the 13th man thing doesn't come up. EVERY SINGLE DAY. Some of the guys say it'll come up every day forever.

- I was somewhat astounded to see a guy who looked like Tiger Williams boarding our flight to Toronto on Friday. But he had a three-inch gray beard, camouflaged hunting cap, black wrangler jeans tucked in black cowboy boots and a huge belt buckle. Nah I thought, it looks a little like him but it can't be.

As it turns out, it WAS! Carm went up and talked to him for a bit. Then on the way home, he was on the flight back and he'd shaved off his beard and looked like the Tiger we know and love. I wanted to get a picture, but was too afraid to ask.

Anyways most of the Riders had no idea who he was and wouldn't believe me when I said he was one of the toughest fighters the NHL's ever seen and that he's from Weyburn, Sask.

The best was when I told DT Keith Shologan that Tiger used to turn his stick over and ride it like a sword or broom whenever he scored a goal. "No he did not," Shologan scoffed. So I dug up this picture on my Prairie Mobile BlackBerry:

They couldn't believe it.

- I thought this only happened in Milestone, Sask: while out for a walk in Burlington, ON on Saturday morning, a lady pulled over and asked if I was stranded. "Nobody goes for a walk around here!" she said. However I just asked for directions to the mall and away she went. In Milestone, you couldn't walk two blocks without somebody stopping and offering you a lift.

- It's great to see the WestJet staff in Regina wearing Rider gear when we roll through the airport. They say they only wear it when the Riders come through but I suggested they wear it everyday!

- I don't get why people bang on TSN's Matt Dunigan so bad. I like him on the panel and I think is colour commentary is great. And he's a wonderful guy.

- I'm getting so many bad rumours, it's sickening. One said the Ticats were going to scratch Jason Jimenez for Saturday's game as discipline for the hit on Brent Johnson. Of course as it turned out, he played. And if the story I got was wrong about Rider fans throwing beer cans at the Stamps, I'll apologize now and on the radio. In fact when the guy who told me about it phones into our show again, I'm going to ask him about it point blank.

- Sports fans of Winnipeg have a new option on the radio today. This morning Sports Radio 1290 launched on the AM dial in the Manitoba capital.

- Congrats to Regina born-and-raised Scott Clark who's coming home to manage the new Moose Jaw Multiplex. Scottie was the former sales/marketing director for the Pats, Kootenay Ice and Tri-City Americans before heading to Toronto to work for the Blue Jays. It will be great to have him hime.

- When do the Regina Pats win their first game? They are 0-2 after 5-4 and 3-1 losses to Brandon on the weekend to open the new season. The Pats welcome Swift Current Wednesday night at 7 pm on 620 CKRM.

- There were interesting results across the Dub on the weekend. Rich Preston's Lethbridge Hurricanes opened with a pair of impressive victories while the Calgary Hitmen are 0-2. Saskatoon swept P-A in a home-and-home series while Moose Jaw and Swift Current split theirs with the road team winning each night.

- Jordan Eberle had two goals and a helper for the Edmonton Oilers in an 8-2 drubbing of the Vancouver Canucks Sunday in NHL preseason play.

THAT'S ENOUGH. TALK TO YOU TODAY IN THE CAGE AT 4:00PM!
RP

WHEAT KINGS 3 PATS 1

The Regina Pats fell to 0-2 on the young WHL season on Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 loss to the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings. The announced attendance was 4219 for the 2010 home opener in the Brandt Centre.

The Pats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Myles Bell (set up by Dane Muench and Colin Reddin). It was Bell's second goal of the campaign.

However the Wheat Kings took the lead in the second period on goals by Walker and Ciarelli and the insurance goal came in the third frame from Stone. The Pats outshot Brandon 12-3 in the third period, but were outshot 30-27 in the game. Brandon was 1/6 on the powerplay while Regina was 0-7. Damien Ketlo took the loss in the Pats' goal.

Regina's next game is Wednesday when they host the Swift Current Broncos in the Brandt Centre at 7pm on 620 CKRM.

COLTS 31 THUNDER 21

The Colts put the wraps on a 3-game home stand hosting a Thunder club that was looking to rebound from a rout inflicted at the hands of their provincial rival Saskatoon Hilltops the previous Saturday. 

Calgary would jump out to 14-0 lead in the first frame thanks to an Andrew Fabian 23-yard field goal, a pair of safeties and a 37-yard Doug Long TD reception.The Colts increased their lead as Fabian connected from 38 yards out 5 minutes into the 2nd quarter, then made it a 24-point lead as Ryan McDermit reeled in a 25-yard pass from Clayton Masikewich with 2:36 left in the half.   

The Thunder rolled in the 3rd quarter as Kolten Solomon took the opening kickoff 109 yards to get Regina on the board 18 seconds into the frame. Jay Smith would pick up his 6th TD grab of the year from Reid Quest to draw within 7 at the 8:35 mark. Then Mike Scheinbein would take a 14-yard pass from Quest to cut the Calgary lead to 3 heading home. 

The Colts would seal the deal with 4:03 left as Masikewich scored from a yard out. The win gives Calgary a share of top spot with Saskatoon. Those two will duke it out next Sunday, while the Thunder host Winnipeg also on Sunday afternoon.

ESKIMOS 24 ARGOS 6

The Edmonton Eskimos defeated the Toronto Argonauts 24-6 in the CFL's first regular season game in Atlantic Canada. Edmonton intercepted Cleo Lemon six times, and Calvin McCarty ran for a pair of one-yard touchdowns as the Eskimos won just their third game of the season.

SUNDAY SPORTS

The Calgary Stampeders lost at home for the first time this season, 29-10 to the BC Lions. BC has won three of its last four games after starting the season 1-7. Paul McCallum kicked six field goals, and Jamal Robertson rushed for 140 yards, including a 55-yard TD for the Lions. The Stampeders' lone touchdown came in the final seconds.

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Turnovers were the big story in Hamilton, where the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Tiger-Cats 32-25. Hamilton's DeAndra Cobb fumbled twice inside the Saskatchewan-20, with his second coming on the one-yard line. Riders quarterback Darian Durant also fumbled twice, his second came in the final minute, allowing Hamilton one last chance to score. But Kevin Glenn was picked off in the end zone on the final play of the game.

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Ales Kotalik had a goal and two assists, and had the deciding goal in a shootout, to give the Calgary Flames a 5-4 win over Tampa Bay. Henrik and Daniel Sedin each had a goal and an assist in Vancouver's 4-1 win over Anaheim. Jason Spezza and Nick Foligno scored twice in Ottawa's 6-2 win over Montreal. Tyler Ennis and Rob Niedemayer scored 1:47 apart in the opening period in Buffalo's 3-1 win over Toronto.

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The Regina Pats welcome Brandon today in their first home game of the 2010-11 WHL season. Faceoff is at 2:00pm on 620 CKRM. The radio station is hosting a pregame barbecue beginning at 11:30am at Evraz Place.

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The Texas Rangers have wrapped up their first American League West title in 11 years. The Rangers clinched the title with a 4-3 victory at Oakland. Lyle Overbay hit his 20th home run in the 11th inning to give Toronto a 5-4 win Baltimore. His was one of four solo homers by the Blue Jays.

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The San Diego Padres moved ahead of San Francisco, and into first place in the National League West, with a 4-3 win over Cincinnati. The Giants lost 10-9 in 10 innings at Colorado. The Giants, meanwhile, are tied with Atlanta for the wild card.

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A 35-member Canadian advanced team plans to get settled today in the athletes' village at the Commonwealth Games. An official with Commonwealth Games Canada says all the necessary maintenance and cleaning has been done in enough rooms to accommodate the team. The New Delhi games have been marred by a number of organizational issues and health and safety concerns. The first Canadian athletes and coaches are to arrive Monday.

RIDERS 32 TICATS 25

HAMILTON -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders improved to 8-4 with a 32-25 comeback victory over the Hamilton Tigercats Saturday night at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

After spotting the Ticats a 15-0 lead in the first quarter, the Riders stormed back with a pair of touchdowns from Rob Bagg and one each from Wes Cates and Weston Dressler. Quarterback Darian Durant passed for 418 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Cates had 71 yards rushing and his league-leading 14th touchdown. The leading receiver was Weston Dressler with 138 yards.

The Ticats drop to 6-6 with the loss. The Riders' next game is next Saturday in Toronto.

WE'RE HERE

Let's win.

RIDERS AT HAMILTON TODAY

RIDERS (7-4) AT TICATS (6-5), 4:30PM SASK TIME, TSN, CKRM NETWORK

RIDERS: Road 1-4, Vs East 3-2
TICATS: Home 3-2, Vs West 1-2

RIDER OFFENSE: Rush 4th, Pass 1st, Overall 2nd
Darian Durant (3443 yards) is the CFL's top passer. Andy Fantuz (875 yards) leads the club in receiving and Wes Cates (684 yards) is the top rusher.

TICAT OFFENSE: Rush 8th, Pass 4th, Overall 5th
Kevin Glenn (3175) is 3rd in CFL passing. Arland Bruce (985 yards) leads the team and league in receiving while Deandra Cobb (664 yards) is their top rusher.

RIDER DEFENSE: Rush 5th, Pass 7th, Overall 5th
LB Jerrell Freeman leads the team in sacks (4) while S James Patrick leads the league in interceptions (7).

TICAT DEFENSE: Rush 6th, Pass 6th, Overall 6th
Geoff Tisdale and Jason Shivers lead the team with three picks each while DL Garrett McIntyre leads the team with six sacks. Stevie Baggs makes his Ticats debut at DE today.

RIDER SPECIAL TEAMS: K Luca Congi has the league's second-best field goal percentage (81.5%) while KOR/PR Ryan Grice-Mullen makes his Rider debut today.

TICAT SPECIAL TEAMS: K Sandro Deangelis is fourth in field goal percentage (74.2%) while KOR/PR Marcus Thigpen has two return TDs this season.

TURNOVER PCT: Hamilton is 3rd in the CFL in the giveaway/takeaway ratio at +3 while the Riders are 6th at -4.

RAMS 41 THUNDERBIRDS 6

By Happy Kreter, UBC Sports Info Assistant

VANCOUVER - The Regina Rams proved why they are the top ranked team in so many Canada West statistical categories during their 41-6 defeat of the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday. The conference’s top rusher, Adrian Charles, was at the forefront of the Rams attack, racking up 193 yards and two touchdowns against the ‘Birds.

Charles provided the highlight of the night with a 90-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter, the second-longest in team history and tenth-longest rush in Canada West history. Charles broke through the line with incredible speed and seemed to find another gear as he hit open turf. Deep in the UBC end, his stutter step caused two T-Bird tacklers to miss, and Charles picked up a block to allow him to score his second touchdown of the game.

The most glaring evidence of the discombobulated ‘Birds came on a Rams’ fake punt. Kicker Chris Bodnar hooked up with Matt Yausie for a 73-yard pass for a touchdown. Regina also converted a fake field goal for a first down, leading to one of four field goals from Chris Bodnar.

The Thunderbirds will be taking it one play at a time and trying to earn a touchdown for the first time in six quarters of football when they meet the #4 Calgary Dinos next week in Calgary.

BAD NEWS FOR HARDS

ST. LOUIS (AP) Minnesota goalie Josh Harding of Regina, playing for the first time since surgery to repair a partially torn hip labrum, was carried off the ice after a collision midway through the first period in the Wild's preseason game against the St. Louis Blues on Friday night.

Harding was bowled over by Blues winger Brad Boyes, who was checked into Harding by Wild defenseman Greg Zanon. Harding went over on his back, threw off his glove and blocker and began motioning toward his hip. He was down several minutes on his back before being carried off by teammates.
(http://www.versus.com/)

WHEAT KINGS 5 PATS 4

The Regina Pats opened the 2010-11 WHL season with a 5-4 loss at Brandon Friday night. Myles Bell, Garrett Mitchell, Hampus Gustaffson and Dane Muench scored for the Pats, who were outshot 41-28.

Damien Ketlo made 36 saves in the Regina net. The Pats were 0/3 on the powerplay and the Wheaties were 3/6. Attendance was 5287.

ALOUETTES 44 BLUE BOMBERS 40

Anthony Calvillo threw for five touchdowns as Montreal beat Winnipeg 44-40 in a CFL shootout. Brian Bratton caught two TDs for the Alouettes, including one with just over a minute to go give Montreal the lead. Bombers quarterback Steven Jyles tossed for 328 yards with four T-Ds and an interception for the 3-9 Blue Bombers. The defending Grey Cup champion Alouettes moved their record to 9-3.

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There's a double-header in the CFL today beginning with the Riders at Hamilton at 4:30 Sask time followed by B.C. at Calgary.

MADE IT TO SOUTHERN ONTARIO

GREAT NEWS FOR THE PATS!!

The Tampa Bay Lightning have returned FWD Carter Ashton to the Pats. He'll be in the lineup for Sunday's home-opener against Brandon (2:00pm on 620 CKRM).

PATS-WARRIORS TRADE

Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats are proud to announce the acquisition of 20 year old centre, Thomas Frazee, as well as a 4th round Bantam pick in 2011 and a 6th round pick in 2012 from the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for a 2nd round Bantam pick in 2012 and a 5th in 2013. 

Frazee had a solid regular season with the Warriors in 2009-10 scoring 20 goals and accumulating 55 points in 17 games. He broke out in the Warriors playoff series with the Hitmen last season with 10 points in 7 games. 

The 6'4" centre began his career with the Portland Winter Hawks as a 16 year old in 2006-07 and was a 1st round pick of the 'Hawks in 2005. Tomas was a free agent invitee to Dallas Stars camp this past month where he played in 3 games, picking up an assist.

MORE DUB NEWS

Cranbrook, BC --  Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club, today announced the club will unveil their new third jersey on Saturday, September 25 when they host the Calgary Hitmen at the Cranbrook Rec Plex. The third jersey is part of the Reebok EDGE jerseys that were unveiled last season. This jersey along with the existing uniforms was designed by Jack Santos of Visible Means Design in Sherwood Park, Alberta.

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Moose Jaw, SK.--- The Warriors have traded left winger Mike Forsyth to the Chilliwack Bruins for a conditional draft pick.  Forsyth is from Calgary, AB and was acquired by the Warriors last season for 19 year old forward Matt MacKay in an early season trade with the Medicine Hat Tigers. 

The Warriors would like to wish Mike all the best with the Bruins and with his future hockey career.  Mike will report to Chilliwack in the coming days.

FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

Here's a round of rapid-fire random thoughts from the week that was as we prepare to head to Hamilton:

- YOU IDIOTS - STOP THROWING BEER CANS AT THE VISITORS' BENCH!!

I've been waiting all week to get that out. I have no idea why this hasn't been publicized but I'm told Rider fans pelted the Stampeders' bench with beer cans Friday night and players Burke Dales and Dwight Anderson were among those hit. If this happened against the Riders on the road, I'd be screaming bloody murder! You know what that shows? That the Stamps have more class than the guys who are throwing the cans. Get it together! You're giving the rest of the Rider Nation a bad name.

- BIG NEWS: The L.A. Kings have returned Jordan Weal to the Pats and it sounds like he could be in the lineup for tonight's season-opening game at Brandon. Also, Pats fans can watch the game at the Press Box Sports Bar tonight via the WHL webcast which will be linked to the big screens. Faceoff is at 6:30.

- Will one of the four Wendy's Kick For A Million contestants on TSN elect to punt the ball through the endzone instead?

- WHAT! Too soon?

- Here's a quick tee-up for the sports weekend around here and the broadcast schedule:

Tonight: Pats at Wheat Kings 6:30pm (620 CKRM)
Rams at UBC 8:00pm (620ckrm.com, Access 7)

Saturday: Riders at Tigercats 4:30pm (TSN, CKRM, CJWW, GX94)

Sunday: Wheat Kings at Pats, 2pm (620 CKRM)
Regina Thunder at Calgary Colts, 12pm (No broadcast)

- Is there a place in Bismarck, ND that will show Saturday's Rider game on TSN? Is NFL Network carrying it? And for that matter, how about Las Vegas? I steered a friend to the Rockhouse on the Strip for the Banjo Bowl but they wouldn't show it for him. Lucky him.

- One last broadcast question -- what Sirius satellite channel carries CFL games? My oldest brother's in Billings, Montana for a horse sale this weekend and needs to know where he can catch the broadcast. Unfortunately he's not yet on Twitter to get score updates. And never will be.

- Eskimos GM Eric Tillman will be in Moncton for the Touchdown Atlantic game on Sunday despite a rumour in an Edmonton newspaper that he was told to stay away. "No there isn't, and never was, any substance to that rumour," Tillman told the Edmonton Journal. "I suppose that will be abundantly clear when I'm in Moncton this weekend."

- People got bent all out of shape over the travel schedule for the Riders' last road trip to Winnipeg. This roadie to Hamilton is much better. Canada's Team leaves at 10:30am today and lands at 3:21pm in Toronto and is staying in Burlingon rather than Hamilton the night before the game.

- Here's a tip for the cyber-bullies who are trying to take over this blog -- don't say anything online that you wouldn't say to a person's face. If people follow that rule, it would eliminate 90% of the comments on here.

- Fun and games at Rider practice this week. Check out this Tweet from Coach Miller:

"From @Coach_KenMiller
Yesterday a toddler escaped attention and wandered onto the practice field. Reid from our Communications Dept. made a nice scoop and save."

I was there, and the daycare workers watched in horror as the three year old bolted out of the stands and made it about 15 yards onto the field before "Speed" saved the day.

- There were no Rider plays in Sportsnet's Top 5 CFL Plays of the Week. That's too bad, but there were some remarkable plays across the league last week.

- Carter Ashton has scored in back-to-back preseason games for the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's looking less and less like he'll be back with the Pats.

- Pats President Brent Parker told a media luncheon/conference on Wednesday that the team is entering the final year of its lease with Evraz Place. He says they have no intentions of selling nor relocating the franchise and they would prefer to sign a new lease of a minimum five years.

- Former Pats captain Garth Murray is sitting in Regina playing rec hockey and hoping for a better contract offer than the ones he's received. He was drafted by the Rangers and later signed by the Canadiens, Coyotes and Flames but is now without a deal. I saw him play in Hamilton last year with Abbottsford and he never came off the ice. He was clearly their best player. A week later Brett Sutter was called up to Calgary. Sometimes life isn't fair. Good luck Garth.

- Another former Pats captain, Rick Rypien, is on the shelf with bruised ribs and it'll be 7-10 days before he laces them up with the Vancouver Canucks again.

- C'mon NHL Centre Ice on XM Radio!! I tuned to channel 204 at 11am yesterday and they were replaying Game 7 of the Caps and Habs from last year's playoffs. Let's get some talkshows and analysis on there!!! The NHL season is here.

- Mitchell Blair will host the Sports Cage today with Scott Schultz from 4-6pm on 620 CKRM. It's Four Seasons Football Friday.

- Scruffy is incensed that a story he wrote for riderville.com was plagiarized by the Canadian Press and run across the country on websites such as TSN.ca and CFL.ca. Personally I think he should be flattered! I've never been plagiarized.

- Why do fans boo the home team? If you do it, WHY do you do it? Carey Price was booed out of the net in Montreal the other night after allowing all four goals in a 4-2 preseason loss to Boston. "Carey knows he didn't play well," reported Canadiens D-man Hal Gill. "Fans don't need to threw boos at him in the first preseason game to get their point across."

- Broadcasters are still calling the hockey arena in Vancouver "G.M. Place" despite the fact it was renamed "Rogers Arena" this summer. Ironically one of the broadcasters is from Rogers Sportsnet.

- When are these TV announcers on the national networks going to get it right? It's Ebber-LEE not Ebber-LAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Thursday the Moose Jaw Warriors named Spencer Edwards captain and the alternates will be Collin Bowman, Quinton Howden, Kendall McFaull and Dylan McIlrath.

- The Parents of the Year Award goes to: The Philadelphia couple who picked up their 17-year old son from county jail the morning after he was arrested for running onto the field at the Phillies game wearing a full-body red leotard.

- The AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack is changing its name to the Connecticut Whale.

- I see a lot of NFL hats on the little boys when I drop the A-Train off at school. The NHL better look out, or the NFL's going to blow past them in this country like they did to MLB in the States.

- I've got a list of movies I want to see and at the top of it was The Town starring Ben Affleck and Blake Lively. It did NOT disappoint. As a matter of fact it's one of the best movies I've seen in years. Three thumbs up if that's possible. Next on the list are The American and The Expendables.

- And finally, I'm not pleased I'm going to miss today's Press Box Sports Bar Friday lunch buffet from 11am to 2pm at 909 Albert St. N. Here's what's on the menu courtesy the chef Sid:

Pizzas, roast beef, perogies 'n sausage, baked ham, scalloped potatoes, spaghetti and meatballs, cream carrots and dessert.

- THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY. TIME TO HEAD TO HAMILTON, THE MEDICHAIR CAPITAL OF CANADA! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND...
RP

THURSDAY SPORTS CAGE AUDIO

HOUR 1: WITH REMPLE, RIDER ROSTER CHANGES & WHY BOO YOUR TEAM..
http://www.mediafire.com/?pr2ayk3f7gqyyc3

HOUR 2: WHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
http://www.mediafire.com/?emh21cty1da52jx

THUNDER AT COLTS PREVIEW

REGINA THUNDER (3-1) AT CALGARY COLTS (3-1) SUNDAY SEPT.26 NOON

The other first place PFC showdown this weekend features the Colts, who close out a 3-game homestand, against a Thunder club who are anxious to overcome last Saturday's shellacking in Saskatoon. 

The Thunder passing game was simply blanketed in last Saturday's game. Camille Lagimodiere caught 5 passes for 47 yards while Reid Quest was held to only 100 yards passing. Running back Mark Coons had his hundred rushing yards/game streak stopped at 2 games, as he was held to 76 yards. Defensively, Philmon Bairu had 18 points in the loss, sitting a ½ point back of 1st in the DPTS standings with 57.5.

The Colts are eager to avenge their 59-10 week 2 loss to the Thunder. The Colts themselves are on a 2-game winning streak. Zach McNeill had 22 points in the win over the Huskies, scoring 2 touchdowns in 26 seconds, recording 2 interceptions and claiming the Defensive Player of the Week prize.

The Colts passers collectively had their best effort of 2010, throwing for 222 yards. Clayton Masikewich went 6 of 12 for 155 yards and a TD. The rushing game continues their great play, combining for 183 yards with Cuong Thai Lieu running for 85.

SILVERTIPS NAME FERARRO CAPTAIN

The Everett Silvertips announced Thursday that 19 year old center Landon Ferraro has been named Team Captain of the Everett Silvertips for the 2010-11 season.

Ferraro, of Vancouver, BC, served as an assistant captain with the Red Deer Rebels in 2009-10.

"It's a huge honor to be named captain of the Everett Silvertips," Ferraro said. "Joining this team as a new player and being named Captain is something that I will treat with the utmost respect. I look forward to working with Craig, Doug and the rest of the Silvertips as we look to bring this club to the next level."

Ferraro, 19, was acquired from Red Deer in exchange for center Byron Froese and a conditional 2012 5th round draft pick in a July 26th trade. He was selected in the second round, 32nd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings following a 37-goal season with the Rebels in 2008-09 and having been drafted second overall in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft. Standing 6'0 and weighing 170 pounds, the forward has accumulated 125 points on 66 goals and 59 assists in 179 WHL games and was a participant in the 2009 CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Game, earning the Fastest Skater Award at the 2009 CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Skills Competition.

NEW PRAIRIE MOBILE BILLBOARD

The official wireless provider to The Sports Cage!

RIDER INJURIES/CHANGES

The Riders will have some new faces on the roster for Saturday's game in Hamilton. Injured are DE Brent Hawkins, DT Marcus Adams and LB Daniel Francis. Coming onto the roster are DL Montez Murphy and DL Ryan Lucas. LB Kye Stewart will replace Francis at outside linebacker.

Also coming onto the roster are KOR/PR Ryan Grice-Mullen and OT Joel Bell. Coming off the roster will be OL Nick Hutchins.