MILLER RESIGNS

Following Monday's Rider practice at Mosaic Stadium, Ken Miller announced he is stepping down as Riders head coach and VP of Football. His last game will be Friday at Edmonton.

“Upon the completion of my duties after the end of the season, I am going to enter retirement,” stated Miller. “I thank my wife Maureen for her understanding, friendship and support in my coaching endeavors. I’m thankful to Roger Brandvold and our Board of Directors. I especially thank Jim Hopson for his supportive work environment, his cooperation and friendship we have shared.”

“Thank you to our coaching staff who have been unwavering in their support of me and our common cause. I am also extremely thankful for the opportunity I have had to work with the men who wear the Roughrider uniform and occupy our locker room. Finally, Maureen and I thank our personal friends across the province and the fans of Rider Nation wherever you are.”

Miller joined the Roughriders in 2007 as the offensive coordinator and helped lead the team to their first Grey Cup championship in 18 years. He was named head coach in 2008 and over the next three years led the team to three straight home playoff games and two Grey Cup appearances.

A three time Coach of the Year finalist, Miller’s 36 regular season coaching victories rank fifth on Saskatchewan’s all-time list.

“It’s difficult to put into words how much Ken Miller has meant to the Rider organization,” stated Riders President/CEO Jim Hopson. “I can’t begin to thank Ken for his passion, commitment and contributions to this team and to our province over his time here. Ken and Maureen have embraced this community and will definitely be missed.”

Hopson said he will answer all questions about the future of GM Brendan Taman and the organizational structure next week, once the season is completed.

Miller also announced Ryan Dinwiddie will be the Riders' starting quarterback this Friday at Edmonton.

WARRIORS' BEACH NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK

CALGARY, AB. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Moose Jaw Warriors' forward Cody Beach is the WHL Player of the Week.   Beach picked up eight points, scoring four goals and four assists to go with a +1 rating, in three games over the past week helping the Warriors to a 3-0-0-0 record.

MONDAY SPORTS CAGE PODCAST

Ken Miller announced his resignation as coach and VP of Football with the Roughriders on Monday and his last game will be Friday at Edmonton. In this podcast you'll hear from Miller, team President Jim Hopson and plenty of calls and text messages:
SportsCage 10-31-2011 5;09;03 PM by ridervoice

MANSON RE-JOINS RAIDERS

Prince Albert SK – The Prince Albert Raiders are proud to announce that Dave Manson will re-join the team as an Assistant Coach, completing the restructuring during which Bruno Campese became solely the General Manager and Steve Young was named the Head Coach. Craig Bedard will remain in his role an Assistant Coach.

Born and raised in Prince Albert, Dave Manson developed through the Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association’s East End Community Club and graduated to play for the Raiders from 1983-86. Manson played 212 games as a Raider with 24 goals, 71 assists and 657 minutes in penalties. Manson was part of the 1985 Memorial Cup Championship team that beat the host Shawinigan Cataracts 6-1 in the final.

Manson was a first round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, 11th overall in the 1985 entry draft and went on to a 16 year, 1103 game National Hockey League career, totalling 390 points and 2792 penalty minutes.

Manson was an Assistant Coach with the Raiders from 2002-09 before joining the Prince Albert Mintos of the Saskatchewan Major Midget League in the same capacity. Manson was inducted onto the Raiders Wall of Honour in the Players category on December 1, 2007.

“We are pleased to add Dave who brings experience as both a player and a coach. We believe he will compliment Steve and Craig very well,” said Raiders General Manager, Bruno Campese.

Manson will be behind the bench for the Raiders tomorrow night, but will be unavailable for the next two weeks due to prior commitments.

PATCHAT

This Past Week
Wed, Oct 26 Saskatoon Blades 5 Regina Pats 3
These two clubs met less than a week ago in Saskatoon where the Pats played 50 minutes of solid hockey on the road, but a 10 minute stretch where the Blades scored three times in the 2nd period in Saskatoon was their downfall in a 5-3 loss. Jordan Weal had a goal and an assist in the loss, while Lyndon Martell and Matt Marantz also scored for the Pats.

Fri, Oct 28 Regina Pats 4 Edmonton Oil Kings 1
The sixth annual Breast Cancer Awareness night this past Friday was on the pink Brandt Centre Ice. A big crowd saw the Pats take a 2-0 lead late into the 2nd period on goals by Andrew Rieder and Chandler Stephenson, only to see Dylan Wruck cut the lead in half late in the 2nd. Goals by Dominik Volek (ppg) and Lane Scheidl (en) in the third period were enough as Matt Hewitt was fantastic stopping 39 of 40 Oil King Shots.

Sat, Oct 29 Moose Jaw Warriors 3 Regina Pats 2
The Pats and Warriors met for the first time during the regular season at the newly opened Mosaic Place. Adam Beukeboom got his third start of the season and was fantastic stopping 36 of 39 Warrior shots, but it wasn’t enough as the Warriors were able to pull out the 3-2 victory. Chandler Stephenson scored both Regina Pat goals.

Looking Ahead
Tuesday, November 1st – Blades @ Pats 7:00pm Brandt Centre
This is the second time in less than a week that the Pats and Blades have met. The Blades have a lethal top line that is led by 7th round Maple Leafs pick Josh Nicholls who has 18 points in 14 games.

Saturday, November 5th – Hitmen @ Pats 7:00pm Brandt Centre
This is already the third time this season that the Pats and the Hitmen have met with the road team picking up victories in the first two games. With two goals and an assist as well as being named a star in the first two games, Cody Sylvester has been fantastic against the Pats this season

Sunday, November 6th – Tigers @ Pats 6:00pm Brandt Centre
The Pats were able to escape the Medicine Hat Arena in late September with a 5-3 victory over the Tigers. Since then the Tigers have been the hottest team in the WHL with wins in 11 of their past 14 games. Since coming back from Anaheim Ducks camp, Emerson Etem has goals in all but one game (21 goals in 15 games) and has a point in all 15 games he’s played in this season.


Community Appearances:
If it’s not a game day, the Regina Pats are out in the community. The players have already contributed hundreds of hours to programs across the city in the first month and a half of the season:

Monday
Wascana Rehabilitation Centre
Regina and Area Food Bank
Food For Learning – Coronation Park
Ehrlo Sport Venture Library

Wednesday
Wascana Rehabilitation Centre
Food For Learning – Coronation Park
Regina and Area Food Bank

Thursday
Wascana Rehabilitation Centre
Regina and Area Food Bank
Food For Learning – Coronation Park
Canadian Blood Services – Argyle Park School
Harvard Broadcasting Radiothon

Friday
Wascana Rehabilitation Centre
Regina and Area Food Bank
Food For Learning – Coronation Park
Safety Patrol – St. Timothy’s School

In The Locker Room
- Jordan Weal was named to play for Team WHL at the upcoming Subway Superseries. Weal is one of only six players to play in both games. The first will be in Regina on Wednesday, November 16th at 7pm. Tickets are available now at the Brandt Centre ticket office or click on www.ticketmaster.ca to purchase online.

- Adam Beukeboom has had three starts this season in three very difficult buildings to play in. He has three losses in Cranbrook, Red Deer and Moose Jaw, but in those losses, Adam has a save percentage of .906

- With two goals this season, Brandon Underwood has already doubled his career goal total.

Through the Looking Glass
Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup:
Team Alberta captured the Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup this past weekend and they had a Pat prospect on their club in defenceman Griffin Mumby. Mumby was the Pats 4th pick in the draft (3rd round, 47th overall) and in the tournament he picked up a goal and an assist in the four games.

Adam Brooks (2nd round, 25th overall) had a breakout tournament, he had four goals and an assist in the four games and was named a tournament all-star. While his team Manitoba teammate Dane Schioler (2nd round, 36th overall) was also strong with two goals and three assists for five points.

(Courtesy Dan Plaster)

THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

Happy Hallowe'en!

The photo above came in from Rider fan Bradford Kruger on Sunday with the title "I Still Have Pride" and he'll be displaying this pumpkin proudly in his home tonight for trick or treaters.

What's your costume going to be?  Or perhaps the better question is what was it, if you got your Hallowe'en celebrations out of the way over the weekend at the Rider game or in the nightclubs.

It was a treat watching all of the Hallowe'en costumes on the weekend sports broadcasts.  My favourite was the two guys dressed up as cheerleaders at the Alouettes game in Montreal Sunday afternoon.   Last year I dressed up as Brett Favre with a Vikings jersey, grey haired wig and crocs but showed up at a Hallowe'en party that night as the only one in costume.

Annnnyways, here are some Monday thoughts on the weekend that was:

- This week is starting off no better than last week ended.  People were downright testy last week, biting off each other's heads.  I was hoping the start of a brand new week would calm everyone down but that's not the case.  Maybe it's the notion that winter's coming that has people on edge.  But not likely.

- In Hamilton, Ticats players are fuming at coach Marcel Bellefeuille's decision to rotate quarterbacks in October games.  Ticats beat writer Drew Edwards has a story on it in today's Hamilton Spectator where tailback Avon Coburne said "I have no comment on that.  No comment at all."  However one Ticat who requested anonymity told Edwards "It's garbage and the players hate it.  Bellefeuille is killing the confidence of both quarterbacks by doing what he's doing."

-  Anonymous quotes from players are always great. I may use some from the Riders once this season is over.  That would be revealing.   Man, have they told me a lot.

- In Winnipeg the Bombers are fuming over Twitter remarks by Argo players who are threatening Winnipeg defensive player Johnny Sears.  If you recall Sears was called for a late hit on Toronto quarterback Steven Jyles Friday night.  Injured Argo offensive lineman Rob Murphy wrote on Twitter "#0 is lucky I'm not in the Province of Manitoba tonight.  They would need the jaws of life to pry me off him ... I have a good memory."    Toronto lineman Taylor Robertson wrote "I don't know who the hell this #0 guy is but I hope to hell he's in the league next year ... I'll take the ejection I don't care."

Bomber coach Paul Lapolice told reporters on Saturday that this doesn't fly in the CFL because it's not "an eye for an eye" and that he's requested the league look into it.  Personally I feel if you live by the sword, you should die by the sword.  It's a centuries-old mentality which still works.

- Congrats to Jamel Richardson who set a CFL record with a twelfth 100-yard receiving game in Sunday's loss to Calgary.  That eclipses the former record of eleven 100-yard games held by Stampeders legend Allen Pitts.

- Rider SB Chris Getzlaf was unable to crack the 1000 yard barrier on the weekend but likely will Friday night in Edmonton.  Imagine how many yards he'd have without all those dropped passes?  I'm sure he's thought about that.

- The Leader Post's Murray McCormick referred to this as an "Up Week" because of the Rider win.  Quite frankly, even though I coined the phrase, I wouldn't refer to this as an Up Week.  More of a Sideways Week.  There's not real reason to be up, but no real reason to be down either.  Just sideways.

- It's odd but I was hoping the Riders would lose to Hamilton on Saturday to help secure the #1 overall draft pick.  TSN's Duane Forde told me on Saturday that U of Saskatchewan lineman Ben "The Brain" Heenan is a slam-dunk #1 pick, although it's likely he'll get an NFL look before coming here.  But eventually they always come back, right Scott Schultz?   Heenan, I'm told, could come in and start as a rookie.

- On the other hand I'm quite glad the Riders beat Hamilton 19-3 on Saturday.  The positives are that we got to see Gene Makowsky lead his team out of the tunnel for what appears to be his final home game.  We got to see rookie Chris Milo set a Rider record -- and tie a CFL mark -- with a 108-yard punt.  And we got to see the fans give their beloved team a standing ovation when Ryan Dinwiddie knelt down and ground-out the clock.

- The most upsetting thing?  The attendance was 29,073 which snaps the sellout string at 19 games.   Instead of scorning the fans who stayed away, I'd like to congratulate and thank the fans who showed up.   That's a tactic Regina Pats owner Russ Parker told me about years ago and it's a good one.

- Remember it was just one year ago Mark Cohon gave the Rider Nation the Commissioner's Award at Grey Cup.  Doubt that will happen this year.

- "They are still the world's greatest fans," Rider FB Neal Hughes told the Leader Post after Saturday's game.  "I have a lot of family and friends who are always behind us.  I know that there are thousands of fans who are the same way."

- A guy told me at Gold's Gym on Saturday that he was skipping the game even though he had season tickets.  "I would sit in -40 to watch the Riders if they were contending" he told me.  Unfortunately they're not.

- The biggest chuckle I got on the weekend was long-time Rider Director Doug Rogers being heckled by his section for leaving Saturday's game with 3:00 to go.  "PART-TIME FAN! PART-TIME FAN!" they were chanting.  The catcallers were led by Doug's son Tim.

- One more Rider note:  the Plaza of Honour committee may be well-served to consider Rider assistant coaches for the Hall of Fame.  There are many deserving assistant coaches who come to mind but first and foremost, I'd induct Alex Smith.

- Although Rider assistant coach Bill Macdermott said "If we're not in the Grey Cup, I don't care who is", I don't have the same approach.   I'd like to see BC in the Grey Cup in Vancouver for obvious reasons (it'll make it one of the greatest Grey Cups ever) and from the East, probably Hamilton or Winnipeg for a couple of reasons.  1) Montreal has simply been there too much but will likely be there again this year and 2) I've got several friends with the Bombers but a TON of friends with the Ticats and I'd like to see them contend.   Hamilton didn't appear in one single Grey Cup last decade so they're due.

- The Lions, by the way, have the best chance at finishing first.  BC, Calgary and Edmonton are all 10-7 with one game to go but the Lions hold the tiebreaker on the other two.  The Lions host Montreal this weekend, Edmonton has us at home and Calgary hosts Winnipeg.

- It's astounding that the Lions started the season at 0-5 and could finish first.  If they do, Wally gets my vote for Coach of the Year.  And that's why I don't buy the excuse that the 1-7 start for the Riders cost them a playoff berth.  They imploded while at the same time, BC rose from the ashes with some shrewd personnel moves.

- Lions defensive end Brent Johnson missed Saturday's home victory over Edmonton because his wife was having their baby.  That ended his consective games streak at 184.

- Saturday night I dreamt that Marty York was doing colour commentary on TSN's CFL broadcasts.  As Joe Rockhead said on The Flintstones "I gotta stop eating at those cheap restaurants."

- Rod Smith did a great job of the play-by-play of the Riders and Ticats on TSN Saturday.  I believe he played University football, and knows the game inside out.

- Rams QB Marc Mueller will join us on the Sports Cage tonight at 6:30 to discuss the playoff-bound Rams.  For his appearance Marc will get a $50 gift certificate from the Four Seasons Sports Palace.

- I would suggest the Pats-Warriors rivalry is back.  Moose Jaw trimmed the Pats 3-2 Saturday night in Mosaic Place in the first of eight meetings this year.  Fans from both cities have been sniping back and forth at each other in the comments section under yesterday's Sunday Sports post.   Ahh good times.  Can't we all not get along??  That makes rivalries so much more fun.

- Can you imagine if we had blogs and message  boards back in the 90s (or even 80s) when the rivalry was white hot?!  Somebody would have been killed   Likely me.

- The scoresheet shows 4410 took in the Pats' 4-1 victory over Edmonton Friday night in the Brandt Centre.  To me, it looked like there were over 5000 on hand.   And the Pats dominated.  The crowds will grow for sure.  Tomorrow night the Pats host Saskatoon.

- The thing I respect the most about Pats GM Chad Lang is that if he has an issue with you, he'll come to you.  We may not always agree, but at least we'll have a discussion about it.  For those that want to gripe but won't come to you, well, it's hard to take their concerns seriously.

- The Prince Albert Raiders' next win will be the 1000th in franchise history.  The trouble is, it's taking a long time to get it.   We've heard about the financial struggles of the Swift Current Broncos but how much time is left on the clock for Prince Albert's beloved Raiders?

- Hopefully the Raiders will respond under new head coach Steve Young, although they lost his debut to the Blades Saturday night.  He's a good guy who knows what he's doing, and just needs time to get it done.

- Family friend Craig Button wrote on Twitter this weekend that while it's flattering to be mentioned in connection with a possible Blue Jackets GM job, he has not been contacted by Columbus.  Also Scott Howson still has the job!!   Button wishes him well.

- Congratulations to Regina Red Sox skipper Rob Cherepuschak for being named Baseball Saskatchewan's Manager of the Year and to Red Sox volunteers/parents Leo and Jean MacDonald for winning the builder's award.

- Congratulations to Leader Post sports editor Rob Vanstone for once again being voted Regina's sports reporter of the year by Prairie Dog Magazine readers.   However that's about the only award I agree with.  Who ARE these people casting ballots?

- Don't forget it's All-You-Can-Eat Soup & Salad today at lunch at the Press Box Sports Bar and tonight you can catch San Diego at Kansas City on Monday Night Football with a $5.99 full rib dinner.  Also you can get a schooner of Canadian and wings everyday for just $12.99 at the Press Box.

SEE YOU IN THE CAGE AT 5:00 ON AN SGI RIDER MONDAY!
RP
@sportscage

STAMPS 32 ALS 27

Johnny Forzani caught two touchdown passes and Jon Cornish scored on a pair of one-yard runs as the Calgary Stampeders beat the Montreal Alouettes 32-27 on Sunday, to create a three-way tie for first place in the CFL West Division. The Stampeders, B-C and Edmonton are all 10-7 heading into the final week of the regular season.
(CP)

SUNDAY SPORTS

BC moved into a first place tie with Edmonton in the CFL West, as Travis Lulay threw three touchdown passes in the Lions 29-20 win over Edmonton Saturday in Vancouver. The Lions' defence held Jerome Messam to just 17 yards on nine carries. The Eskimos' running back came into the game needing 36 yards to become the first Canadian to rush for over a thousand yards since Sean Millington in 2000.  Calgary can move into a three-way tie for first in the West with a win Sunday in Montreal

---

A sellout crowd at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw watched the Warriors knock off the Regina Pats 3-2 Saturday night.  Brett Lyon scored the winner for the Tribe at 2:02 of the third period on the powerplay.  Chandler Stephenson scored both Pats goals.  The Warriors outshot the Pats 39-24.  Adam Beukeboom took the loss in the Regina net.  The 10-6 Pats host the Saskatoon Blades Tuesday night.

---

Alex Edler, Chris Higgins and Maxim Lapierre each scored twice, and the Vancouver Canucks ended a two-game losing streak by dumping Washington 7-4. Henrik Sedin snapped a 4-4 tie in the third period, and 34 seconds later, Higgins made it 6-4. It's the Capitals second loss in a row after starting the season 7-0. Carey Price made 26 saves as the Montreal Canadiens extended their winning streak to three with a 4-2 win over Boston. The Bruins have lost three straight.

Phil Kessel scored his league-leading tenth goal midway through the third period to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh.

Milan Michalek capped Ottawa's three-goal comeback in the third period and had the only goal in the shootout as the Senators won their fifth in a row, 5-4 over the New York Rangers.

Dwayne Roloson made 28 saves and Vincent Lecavalier scored a power-play goal late in the second period for Tampa Bay in a 1-0 win over Winnipeg. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 26 shots for the Jets, who were coming off a 9-8 win Thursday at Philadelphia.

Chris Pronger has blurred vision in his right eye, and the Philadelphia Flyers' defenceman doesn't know when he'll return to the ice. Pronger feels lucky the injury was not worse because serious eye injuries have ended careers in the NHL. The tough blueliner was hit in the eye by Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski.

---

Canadian boxer Mandy Bujold won the gold medal in the 51-kilogram class at the Pan American Games. Canada's men's field hockey team came up short in securing a place at the 2012 London Olympics, after
losing the gold medal game to Argentina, 3-1. Richard Dalton took gold in canoeing and Ryan Cochrane and Hugues Fournel finished first in kayak.

(With files from the Canadian Press)

RAMS PLAYOFF BOUND

WINNIPEG, Man. – The University of Regina Rams punched their ticket to the Canada West playoffs after holding on for a 31-22 road win over Manitoba on Saturday afternoon at University Stadium in Winnipeg.
 
The Rams (3-5) finish in fourth place in the conference standings with the victory and will now prepare for a Canada West semifinal game at top-ranked Calgary next Friday at McMahon Stadium. Manitoba finishes with an identical 3-5 record, but end up in fifth place and out of the postseason.

The Rams will face Calgary on the road in the Canada West semifinals for the second consecutive season and the third time in the last four years. The Dinos won all three of those postseason contests and have an eight-game winning streak overall against Regina. The two teams will kick off on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in Calgary.

RIDERS 19 TICATS 3

REGINA -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders won their final home game of the 2011 season, 19-3 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium.  The Riders led 7-0 after the first quarter, 17-0 at halftime and 17-3 going into the fourth quarter.  The game was not announced as a sellout and the club's sellout string likely ended at 19 games.  As you can tell by the photo, there was nowhere 30,000 on hand although close to that many tickets were sold for the contest.

Quinton Porter played the first half at quarterback for Hamilton while Kevin Glenn played the second half and threw four interceptions.  The Riders won the turnover battle 5-0.  Ryan Dinwiddie saw most of the action at QB for Saskatchewan with Cole Bergquist rotating in at times.  Tailback Brandon West had 96 yards rushing for Saskatchewan.

The Riders improve to 5-12 with the win and will finish their season Friday at Edmonton while the Ticats fall to 8-9.

Phone your postgame comments into the Sports Cage After Hours Hotline at 546-CAGE and we'll replay the best calls on Monday's show.

GAME DAY!

HAMILTON (8-8) AT SASKATCHEWAN (4-12)
1 PM TODAY, MOSAIC STADIUM
TSN, CKRM RIDER RADIO NETWORK (Pregame at 10:30am)

RIDERS: HOME 2-6, VS EAST 4-3
TICATS: ROAD 2-5, VS WEST 4-3

RIDER OFFENSE: RUSH 8TH, PASS 6TH, OVERALL 7TH
Ryan Dinwiddie starts at QB for the Riders (37/67, 55%, 515 yds, 3 INT, 1 TD) ... Weston Dressler is the club's lone 1000 receiver while Chris Getzlaf is 83 yards away.

TICAT OFFENSE: RUSH 7TH, PASS 4TH, OVERALL 5TH
The Ticats have not named a starting quarterback for today's game.  Kevin Glenn is the CFL's 6th leading passer at 3642 yards.  Quinton Porter has thrown for 561 yards.

RIDER DEFENSE: RUSH 7TH, PASS 5TH, OVERALL 6TH
LB Jerrell Freeman is tops in the CFL with 96 tackles and leads the team along with Barrin Simpson, each with five sacks.  LB/DB James Patrick leads the club with 4 INTs.

TICAT DEFENSE: RUSH 6TH, PASS, 7TH, OVERALL 7TH
DE Stevie Baggs returns to Regina for the first time since leaving the Riders after the 2009 season.  He is third on the team with five sacks.  CB Bo Smith leads the team with 3 INTs.

RIDER SPECIAL TEAMS:  Chris Milo will handle the punting (42.5 yard average) and field goals (17/21).  Regular returners Brandon West, Tristan Jackson and Stu Foord are all on the roster.

TICAT SPECIAL TEAMS:  Justin Medlock will handle the punting (41.5 yard average) and field goals (45/51).  KOR/PR Marcus Thigpen is second in the CFL in combined yards.

INTANGIBLES:  The Riders are a league-worst -21 in the turnover ratio while Hamilton is fifth at +2 ... The Ticats beat the Riders 33-3 in Week 3 in Hamilton ... The Ticats are the second-least penalized team in the CFL while the Riders are 5th ... The forecast calls for 7 degrees Celsius, a 30% chance of rain and wind gusting to 80 km/h.

ARGOS 27 BOMBERS 22

WINNIPEG -- Jeff Johnson and Chad Rempel each had touchdowns as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-22 on Friday night.

Toronto (5-12) had a 24-3 lead in the second quarter and 24-6 at halftime, including Parker's interception of a Buck Pierce pass that he ran back 48 yards for the touchdown.

The game marked the seventh straight sellout at Canad Inns Stadium (29,751) and helped Winnipeg set a single-season attendance record of 266,008.  Toronto improved to 5-12 while the Bombers fell to 10-7.

PATS 4 OIL KINGS 1

Regina, SK - Dylan Wruck tallied the lone Oil Kings goal as Edmonton fell 4-1 to the Pats on Friday night in Regina. Regina tallied early and held the lead on the strength of a first star performance by goaltender Matt Hewitt as the Oil Kings out shot the Pats 39-28.

The Oil Kings Power play was 0 for 3 on the night while the penalty kill struggled allowing the battalion 2 for 4. Chandler Stephenson, Andrew Rieder and Dominik Volek all tallied for the Pats while Lane Scheidl added an empty netter.

The Pats are 10-5 on the season and visit the Moose Jaw Warriors Saturday night at 7 pm on 620 CKRM (Press Box Sports Bar pregame show at 6:35 pm).

FOUR SEASONS FOOTBALL FRIDAY PODCAST

On Friday's show I was joined by Rider great Scott Schultz.  We heard from Ticats quarterback Kevin Glenn and Rider linebacker Barrin Simpson.  You can listen to it here:
SportsCage 10-28-2011 5;11;10 PM by ridervoice

KEN MILLER PREGAME NOTES AND QUOTES

Here are the thoughts of Rider coach Ken Miller from his news conference prior to Saturday's home game against Hamilton (1:00 on TSN and CKRM):

- I wanna see them em play with great energy and see them win. Play cohesively in all three phases.

- Every man in the locker room has individual dignity and pride. Winning would reinforce individual pride and collectively as a team.

- I have talked with the QBs about playing time but I won't share that at this point.

- Cole took a third of the first team reps this week. We'll make next week's decisions next week.

- This game means the same to the rookies as it does to the others but it gives them a chance to prove they can play.

- Dinwiddie is cohesive with the QBs and running backs. On the field and in meetings.

- 2-6 at home. We haven't won here and I haven't evaluated why yet. I've been preparing the team to win games. Maybe somebody else can give you a better reason why that is.

- I wasn't aware Getzlaf was so close to 1000 yards but we're playing to win and hopefully we achieve milestones in the process.

- I really want to win the last two games so I don't know what makes it looks like there was a mindshift otherwise.

- Hamilton gives any QB problems. They've put good pressure on and play good man-to-man defense. They're really aggressive on defense.

FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

TRUTH & RUMOURS
- Going to the Regina Pats game tonight?  This is what you're going to see:

For the first time in Pats history - maybe in fact WHL history - the ice has been painted pink in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Tonight the Pats host the Edmonton Oil Kings on their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night and lots of things are planned (details are in the post below).

The voice of the Pats Dan Plaster was nice enough to forward these pictures of the ice crew preparing the surface for tonight's game..

That looks a little like a brain, or perhaps a giant gumball, but it's actually the paint which was used for the ice.  If you can't make it to the game tonight, you can listen at 620 CKRM or 620ckrm.com.

Also tonight Regina recording artist Kal Hourd will be performing his hit song "Pink" in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness.  The Regina Whiskey Saloon is also featuring Kal Friday and Saturday night and invite all Pats fans to come down to see Kal perform live after the game.

ON TO THE OBSERVATIONS:

- So what was the big news in Canadian sports this week?  It must have been the Montreal Canadiens firing assistant coach Perry Pearn.  With the team mired at the bottom of the NHL's East Conference standings, Pearn was made to be the scapegoat.  That same night the Canadiens went out and drilled Philadelphia 5-1 in the Bell Centre.  Was it Pearn's fault?  Of course not, but someone had to pay.  That's the way it goes in Montreal.

- It goes that way here too, in Riderville.  I'll examine the pressures faced in Montreal, Regina and even Green Bay in a moment but first let's look at our Roughriders.  We're a scant two weeks away from examining what exactly went wrong for the 4-12 Riders this year but as my partner Carm Carteri said this week: "This season's been like two years ... the Greg Marshall season and the Ken Miller season." 

Yah, I'm ready for it to end, which I'll get to in a moment as well too.

- So was Greg Marshall simply a scapegoat for the team's 1-7 start or was he in fact the problem?  That's for others to decide but Miller said this week on 620 CKRM's Coach's Show that he'd do it again.

"Shoot, given the circumstances I think it was the right thing to do," Miller explained.  "But I'm so involved in it emotionally right now that I'm not sure I'm giving you an absolute good answer."

- And so goes the pressure of losing.  It's pretty clear Ken Miller is not himself these days.  We've come to know him over the years as an easy-going, up-front, shoot-from-the-hip sort of guy but lately he's been tight-lipped and a tad short-tempered.  He was asked how he's doing on that same radio show this week:

"Coaching does consume me," Miller admitted.  "Win or lose it consumes me but to lose in this fashion is not something I anticipated happening.  It has been disappointing and difficult to deal with but sometimes you don't get what you want in life but you have to continue to work and battle and scrap around and that's the mode I'm in now."

- When Lorne Molleken was coaching the Regina Pats, fresh off his stint as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, we went for a walk around the streets of downtown Calgary and he was telling me all the crazy stories of what went on in the offices of the Blackhawks.  One time a team executive came down and smashed a hockey stick into pieces on Lorne's desk in the dressing room.   I asked him, where's the reward?  Is it worth it to put up with so much pressure?  Molleken replied "The reward is every two weeks when you look at your bank account."

- And I guess that's where I'm going with this.  As John Lynch mentioned off-air this week, "These aren't $30,000/year jobs."    That's why they get the big bucks and we don't.

- We examined this a little bit on the air this week and I will again here today; the pressure of living in a sports fishbowl like Regina or Montreal.  A buddy of mine in Minot texted me and said maybe some of these Riders aren't cut out for the pressure of living in Regina.  He compared it to Montreal where some Canadiens had to be traded away because they just couldn't hack it.   I would suggest the pressure is at least ten times greater in the Queen City simply because the town is so small (200,000-ish) and players are immersed in the Rider culture up to their eyeballs.  I'm sure there are a few spots in Montreal where Carey Price could go and he wouldn't be recognized.  Or P.K. Subban.  That's not the case here for the Riders.  Ask any of them.

- Green Bay, WI is just that much worse.  Former Packers punter Jon Ryan of Regina tells us that Green Bay's population is 100,000 and the players simply couldn't leave their house.  If Brett Favre needed a can of Copenhagen, he called someone to go get it for him.  Green Bay is another world of pressure.  And YET, the Packers survive and thrive.

- Anyways the fans here are inconsolable right now.  Their team will miss the playoffs and it's a calamity.  It hit an all-time high (or low) this week when I was in the shower at Gold's Gym and a guy stood on the other side of the shower curtain wanting to talk about the team.   Is that snap-worthy?   The guy wasn't crazy either.  He's a City Transit bus driver.   Depressed Rider fans are even calling the CKRM newsroom just wanting to talk.  Our Ag Director Jim Smalley has been taking the calls.  These people don't know which way to turn.

- It would seem most people will be using their tickets for Saturday's Rider-Ticat game even though it's a meaningless game and the forecast calls for 6 degrees Celsius and an 80% chance of rain.  It'll be a perfect ending to a perfect year!  But staying away - and leaving your seat empty - isn't the way to send a message.  I'm not sure fans staying away in 1999 when the team was 3-15 even sent a message.  GM Alan Ford guaranteed before the season started that if the team missed the playoffs, he'd resign.  The team missed the playoffs, and he resigned.  The crowds of 16,000 had nothing to do with it, in my opinion.

- But I'm ready for this season to be over.   More than ready.  In one ear I've got people yelling "You're not keeping it positive enough!" and in the other ear people are yelling "You're not telling it like it is!  You've got no credibility!"   Enough.  Let's get it over with.

- The season isn't even over yet and the coaching carousel rumours have started.  Sportsnet's CFL Insider Adriano Belli predicts Mike O'Shea will be coaching the Toronto Argonauts next year and he figures Ken Miller likely doesn't even want to come back to Saskatchewan.   I'd like to keep a running tally on all of Belli's predictions and see how many turn out right. Belli is also predicting Richie Hall will coach the Riders next year.

- It's Drew Tate vs Anthony Calvillo on Sunday as the Stampeders visit the Alouettes to close out Week 18 in the CFL.  Tate was 10 years old when Calvillo began his CFL career.

- There has been considerable debate over how Drew Tate left the Roughriders so this week I looked into it.  Tate spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the Riders (a portion on the practice roster and a portion on the 9-game injured list) but never appeared on the roster.  Before the 2009 season, Tate became a free agent and signed with the Stampeders.  He was never released here.

- It's safe to say we're all dying to see Cole Bergquist get some action for the Riders at quarterback.  He comes to Saskatchewan with a great resume out of Montana.  But he's only in his second year and while he has a right to be impatient, Drew Tate waited FIVE years for his first start.  Cole's chance will come, even if it isn't this year.

- What we're most anxious to see is how Bergquist performs in live game action.  He looks great in practice but games are another story.  Part of Calgary Stampeders lore is the career of Jeff Garcia who Roy Shivers wanted to cut due to an unremarkable training camp.  However once Garcia got into a game, he led the Stamps on a late-game touchdown drive and that was enough for Wally Buono to see.  The rest is history.

- Rumours suggest David Braley would like to see Wally Buono in charge of his Toronto Argonauts.  However that likely won't happen.  Buono was reportedly approached in the 90s by Argo President Bob Nicholson about coaching the team but his reply was "I'm not a Toronto kind of guy."  That's interesting because Wally was raised in Montreal, but he certainly seems like more of a western Canadian for sure.

- Speaking of Toronto the Buffalo Bills will face the Washington Redskins on Sunday at Rogers Centre.  Think the NFL is excited about it?   Not so much.

"I was really looking forward to doing this game, but was hoping it was in Buffalo," Fox NFL analyst Troy Aikman told Sportsradio 1310 The Ticket in Dallas on Thursday.  "Instead we're going to Toronto."

Toronto, wake up from the dream.  You're a CFL town.   My CFL includes Toronto.  Perhaps that should be the Argos' next ad campaign: MY TORONTO INCLUDES THE ARGOS!

The NFL doesn't want you.

- I'm getting very confused between BC Lions receiver Paris Jackson and Michael Jackson's daughter Paris Jackson.  Both were in the news this week.

- It's too bad the Riders aren't in these fabulous playoff races.  "I've been in this league since 1995 and I've never seen it as close as this," Eskimos coach Kavis Reed told the Toronto Sun this week.  Oh well, you can't be on top every year.

- If you're going to Grey Cup, scoop up your tickets for Damon Allen's Night of Champions ahead of time.  You can get yours at www.damonallen.ca/nightofchampions.

- Damon was on the air with us this week to promote the event but declined the offer to make a prediction on who will be playing in the Grey Cup.  So too did Rider running backs coach Bill Macdermott who said on CKRM's Coaches Show "If we're not in it, I don't care."

- Winnipeg Blue Bomber coach Paul Lapolice will fine his players $5 each time they say "Grey Cup", "First-place" or "East Final" in the media or locker room.  How much do they have to pay if they say "Swaggerville"?  That's the only triumph the Riders have had this season; killing Swaggerville.

- Montreal receiver Jamel Richardson will likely get my vote for CFL MVP.  He was a waste of space when he was with the Riders (circa 2005) but something happened to him with the Dallas Cowboys.  He's grown up and he's a player.

- 37-year old Terrell Owens held an open tryout in LA this week however no NFL teams showed up.  He did, however, receive an offer from the AFL's Chicago Rush.   I'd like to see the Riders give him a shot.

- If Head & Shoulders is the official shampoo of the NFL, who's the official hair dye of Major League Baseball?  Tony LaRussa and Joe Torre go through a ton of it but they look YOUNG!

- Currently at 2970 followers on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sportscage.  Hoping to reach 3,000 by the end of the day..

- There's not much hockey in today's column.   We have allllllll winter for that.

- If you know someone who's interested in getting into radio, here's the job for them:

Rosetown, SK's Classic Hits 1330/1210 is looking for an evening and weekends person.  The job duties include op'ing hockey games, doing weekend news runs and voice tracking when needed.  Call On-air Supervisor Kris Hussey at 306-463-2692 to apply.

So many aspiring broadcasters have asked how I got started.  I got started right there ^^^^^^^^.  But it was in Weyburn, in high school.

- Today's Press Box Sports Bar lunch buffet menu from Chef Trent: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, season vegetables and gravy, BBQ chicken wings, baked macaroni and cheese, garlic bread, caesar salad, baked taco casserole and pizza.

SEE YOU IN THE CAGE AT 5.  HAPPY WEEKEND!
RP

PATS READY FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT

Regina, Saskatchewan – After a long night of work, the Brandt Centre ice surface is now pink! Breast Cancer Awareness Night is set for this Friday night against the Edmonton Oil Kings and for the first time ever the rink will be pink.

Regina Pats Vice President of Operations, Cliff Mapes, "Every year we try to push the envelope and make this night (Breast Cancer Awareness Night) special. It began with pink sticks, then pink jerseys and scarves. Now this season we have pink mittens and of course, the pink ice."
 
General Manager Operations, Sport and Recreation, Andrew Higgins, "I think it's a great initiative the Regina Pats and Evraz Place (making the ice pink) have taken on. I think the fans will get a kick out of it."
 
Making the rink pink is just a small part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, culminating with "Breast Cancer Awareness Night'. The jerseys that the players will wear on Friday night have arrived, and they look fantastic.

Pink mittens are available for $20 +tax at the Pats Office located in the West Lobby of the Brandt Centre and during the game Friday night at the Neutral Zone. All the proceeds from the jersey auction and pink mitten sales will go towards the Canadian Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Research.
 
You can also help by just purchasing a ticket to the game as a dollar from every walk up ticket sold will go to the Canadian Cancer Society.
 
Puck drops on Breast Cancer Awareness Night this Friday as the Pats host the Edmonton Oil Kings. It's a 7pm start at the Brandt Centre on 620 CKRM. Tickets are available now at the Brandt Centre ticket office or any Ticketmaster location in Regina. You can also call 543-7800 or click on www.ticketmaster.com.

THIS WEEK IN COUGAR ATHLETICS

Women's Volleyball – Featuring a veteran-laden lineup that returns its entire roster from last season, the Cougars open up the Canada West schedule at home this weekend. They'll host UBC, which enters the conference schedule as the top-ranked team in the country. Match times are scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on Friday and 8 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Men's Volleyball – The new-look Cougars start the conference season at home this weekend against the No. 5-ranked UBC Thunderbirds. The two teams play on Friday night at 8 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's match and on Saturday night at 6:15 p.m.
 
Men's Hockey – The Cougars (1-5-0) opened up last weekend with an impressive 6-1 road victory over No. 3 Manitoba, but settled for a two-game split after losing 5-1 to the Bisons on Saturday. The Cougars return home this weekend for games against UBC (2-0-2) on Friday and Saturday night at The Co-operators Centre. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. on both nights.
 
Men's Basketball – Facing a CIS opponent for the first time this season, the Cougars dropped a pair of games to defending OUA champion Lakehead last weekend at the CKHS. The Cougars, who lost 84-68 on Friday and 105-79 on Saturday, continue their non-conference schedule with a rare Thursday night game against Williston State College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the CKHS.
 
Rams Football – It comes down to the last game of the Canada West schedule for the Rams (2-5), who will make the postseason with a road win over Manitoba on Saturday but will see their season end with a loss. If the Rams defeat the Bisons, they'll head to Calgary next weekend to face the No. 1-ranked Dinos in the Canada West semifinals.
 
Women's Hockey – The Cougars (1-3-0) registered a home split last weekend against No. 7 Manitoba, winning 2-1 in a shootout on Friday and losing 4-2 on Saturday. Three Cougars scored their first CIS goals this weekend, including Courtney Mish during Friday's win and Stephanie Sawchuk and Shalyn Cowan on Saturday. The team travels to Vancouver this weekend for a pair of road games at UBC (1-1-0).
 
Women's Soccer – The Cougars (1-9-2) finished off their home schedule last weekend with a 1-1 draw against Lethbridge and a 2-0 loss to Calgary. Fifth-year players Michelle Anderson, Tiffany Gyurek, Tegan Koroluk, and Dana Renneberg will finish out their CIS careers this weekend as the Cougars face Saskatchewan (5-5-2) and No. 9 Alberta (8-4-0) on the road.
 
Women's Basketball – Michelle Clark was named the tournament MVP as the Cougars won the team title at the McGill Redbird Classic in Montreal over the weekend, defeating Carleton and host McGill before losing to Brock on Sunday morning. The Cougars, who have a 7-1 overall record this season, continue their non-conference schedule this weekend against Cape Breton, Calgary, and Windsor at the University of Calgary Invitational.
 
Cross Country (Men's CIS Ranking: No. 8) – The U of R's cross country teams return to action this weekend at the Stewart Cup on Saturday afternoon in Edmonton. After this weekend, the Cougars will prepare for the CIS Championships on Nov. 12 in Quebec City.
 
Men's Wrestling (CIS Ranking: No. 3) – Led by first-place finishes from Steven Schneider (57 kg), Kirk Ackerman (65 kg), and Connor Malloy (76 kg), the Cougars finished in second place in the overall standings on Saturday at the Dinos Open in Calgary. The team will have two weekends off before returning to action with a trip to the Dakotas for three duals and an open tournament.
 
Women's Wrestling – Camille Leonard (55 kg), Wendy Marcotte (59 kg), Kristine Longeau (72 kg), and Rihab Birama (82 kg) all wrestled for the U of R at the Dinos Open on Saturday. The Cougars return to the mats on Nov. 4 at the Hargobind Invitational in Burnaby, B.C.

(Courtesy Cougar Athletics)

THURSDAY SPORTS CAGE PODCAST

Lots and lots of Rider talk on today's show plus Sportsnet's Arash Madani live from the World Series. You can check it out here:
SportsCage 10-27-2011 5;11;05 PM by ridervoice

REGGIE OPENS UP

What a revealing interview I had with Reggie "The Reaper" Hunt Thursday morning.  It will air on 620 CKRM's Sports Cage tonight and on Saturday's Rider pregame show but here are some of his quotes from Dallas:

ON SIGNING A ONE-DAY DEAL TO RETIRE A RIDER

"I've always felt like Saskatchewan was my second home so it was an obvious decision for me to go out a Roughrider.  I called Jim Hopson and really expressed my interest in retiring as a Roughrider because it meant so much for me to play there so we talked about it about two weeks ago."

ON COMING TO REGINA IN 2002

"That's funny 'cause the only team I ever heard of in the CFL was the Toronto Argonauts.  I don't know why that is.  Edmonton had my neg rights but somehow my agent worked it out for me to come to Saskatchewan.  The next thing I knew I was on a plane to Regina and I made it my second home."

ON WHY HE LEFT AFTER THE 2007 GREY CUP SEASON

"I don't wanna harp on anything bad because I have no hard feelings but that was a learning lesson.  After the Grey Cup year, I became a free agent.  I wanted to stay there but unfortunately the organization and I couldn't come to an agreement.  That happens in pro sports.  And I had a feeling that would happen.  So much so that after the semifinal at home when we beat Calgary in 2007, I went back out into the stadium in my equipment and had a moment because I knew it would be my last home game as a Rider.   Playing there meant a lot to me and I really wanted to make that work.  It was an emotional day for me when I had to leave but you live and you learn."

ON HIS CFL RECORD 16 TACKLES IN WINNIPEG

"That's one of the best memories of my life!  I gave so much effort in that game that I was kinda, well you know I wear my heart of my sleeve, so I got emotional in that game too.  I was trying so hard!  And when they announced during the game it was a record, I was real proud.  But we were losing the game!  So it was kind of bittersweet for me but I take a lot of memories from that game.  That was one of the greatest moments of my life.  We lost, but it was a great moment in my life."

I will post the audio of this interview shortly, and Reggie has requested it be added to his Facebook page (you can find him at Reaper Reggie Hunt).  As for what Reggie's up to now, he's finishing his degree at Texas Christian University and then plans on joining TCU's football coaching staff.  He is unable to join the staff until he completes his degree.
RP
(Photo courtesy Facebook)

CRAWFORD, SHEDDON & YAWNEY TO COACH AT SPENGLER

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Thursday that Marc Crawford (Belleville, Ont.) will be head coach of Canada's National Men's Team at the 2011 Spengler Cup, scheduled for Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. In addition, Doug Shedden (Wallaceburg, Ont.) and Trent Yawney (Hudson Bay, Sask.) will serve as assistant coaches.
 
Marc Crawford, 50, has been behind the Team Canada bench on two previous occasions, serving as head coach at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games and as an assistant at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. He has spent parts of 15 seasons as an NHL head coach with Quebec, Colorado, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Dallas, compiling a 549-421-100-77 record, becoming one of just 15 coaches in NHL history to win 500 games. Crawford won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996 and received the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach with the Avalanche in 1994-95. He was also named AHL coach of the year with the St. John's Maple Leafs in 1992-93. Crawford played parts of six NHL seasons with Vancouver from 1981-87, recording 50 points in 176 games.
 
Doug Shedden, 50, will make his third appearance as an assistant coach at the Spengler Cup with Canada, having served in the same role at the 2009 and 2010 tournaments. He also coached Finland to a bronze medal at the 2008 IIHF World Championship in Halifax, N.S. Shedden is currently the head coach of EV Zug in the Swiss A League. He has NHL playing experience, totaling 325 points over 416 games with Pittsburgh, Detroit and Toronto from 1981-91, and has previously coached in the Finnish Elite League, AHL, CHL, UHL and ECHL.
 
Trent Yawney, 46, returns to the Team Canada bench for the first time since leading Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team to a fourth-place finish at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. He was also an assistant coach with Canada at the 2006 IIHF World Championship. Yawney spent parts of two seasons as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, and was head coach of the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals from 2000-05. He spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks from 2008-11 and currently serves as a scout for the Anaheim Ducks. As a player, Yawney played 208 international games for Canada, including the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, 1991 and 1992 IIHF World Championships and three seasons (1985-88) with Canada's National Men's Team, recording 68 points. He spent 12 seasons in the NHL, finishing with 129 points in 593 games with Chicago, Calgary and St. Louis.
 
Canada's team will be made up mostly of Canadians playing professional hockey in Europe and could also include American Hockey League players on loan from NHL teams. The roster will be announced in mid-December.

BLADES 5 PATS 3

This time the Regina Pats' comeback fell short. Wednesday night in Saskatoon the hometown Blades, who sported a 5-0 home record going into the tilt, built up a 4-1 lead after forty minutes and held on for a 5-3 East Division victory before 3950 fans at the Credit Union Centre.

Josh Nicholls opened the scoring for Saskatoon in the first period and they led 1-0 after 20 minutes. Brent Benson made it 2-0 Blades early in the second but Pats newcomer Matt Marantz got his team on the board at 9:37 making it a 2-1 game. However two goals 46 seconds apart in the middle frame (from Matej Stransky and Duncan Siemens) gave Saskatoon a 4-1 lead going into the third.

Regina got goals from Lyndon Martell and Jordan Weal in the last period to make it 4-3 however an empty-netter from Nicholls with 14 seconds remaining capped the scoring at 5-3 in favour of Saskatoon.

Saskatoon outshot the Pats 23-21 while going 0/3 on the powerplay. Regina was 0/2 with the man advantage. Matt Hewitt took the loss in the Pats' goal making 18 saves. With the loss Regina drops to 9-5 overall and they now return home to face the Edmonton Oil Kings Friday at 7 pm on 620 CKRM (Press Box Sports Bar Pregame Show at 6:35 pm). It's Breast Cancer Awareness Night in the Brandt Centre.

*Earlier in the day the Pats were ranked 8th in the CHL Week 6 Top 10. The Tri-City Americans are the top-ranked Dub team at 5th in the rankings while the Kamloops Blazers are 10th.

CKRM WEEK 18 CFL PICKS 2011

SKED
FRI: TOR @ WPG
SAT: HAM @ SK, EDM @ BC
SUN: CGY @ MTL

ANNOUNCER/RECORD/PICKS
ANDREWS 35-29: WPG - HAM - EDM - MTL
REMPLE 34-30: WPG - HAM - BC - CGY
CARTERI 32-32: WPG - HAM - BC - MTL
SCHULTZ 31-33: WPG - HAM - BC - MTL
BLAIR 29-35: WPG - SK - BC - MTL
PEDERSEN 29-35: WPG - HAM - BC - MTL
LYNCH 28-36: WPG - SK - EDM - MTL
COIN 10-10: WPG - HAM - BC - MTL

**WINNER GETS A $100 GIFT CARD TO THE PRESS BOX SPORTS BAR, 909 ALBERT ST N, WHERE LEGENDS ARE MADE**

WEDNESDAY SPORTS CAGE PODCAST

Rider coach Ken Miller and Coach Mike Kelly in today's podcast:
SportsCage 10-26-2011 5;11;47 PM by ridervoice

BRONCOS/WINTERHAWKS DEAL

Swift Current, SK – Swift Current Bronco General Manager and Head Coach, Mark Lamb has announced that the club has traded veteran forward, Dillon Wagner to the Portland Winterhawks in exchange for Winterhawks' prospect forward Adam Smith.
 
Smith was selected 178th overall by the Portland Winterhawks in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft.  The 6'2", 180lbs. product of Nanaimo, BC has played in six games with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL so far this season where he has recorded one assist.  Last season, he tallied three points (1G, 2A) in 30 games played with the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BCHL.
 
Wagner will be leaving Swift Current after playing over three seasons with the Broncos.  He was drafted 125th overall by the Broncos in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft.  In 163 games played so far in his WHL career he has recorded 28 goals and 25 assists.

WARRIORS/HITMEN TRADE

Moose Jaw, SK. ---  The Warriors have acquired 20 yr old Kenton Miller and 19 yr old Justin Kirsch from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for 20 yr old Collin Bowman, 18 yr old Joey Kornelsen and a 4th round pick in the 2012 Bantam Draft.

Standing 6'0" and weighing 191 lbs, Miller hails from Redvers, SK. Last season with the Spokane Chiefs Kenton notched 10 goals and added 18 assists in 28 games before being acquired by the Hitmen in July of this year. This season Kenton has managed 3 goals in 11 games with Calgary.

6,2", 173 lb Justin Kirsch played in 66 games for the Hitmen last season racking up 25 goals and 17 assists for a 42 point total. This season in just 10 games, Justin, who hails from Chilliwack, BC, has registered 3 goals and 2 assists.

Both players will be joining the tribe immediately and are expected to practice with the team tomorrow.

T-BIRDS/BRONCOS TRADE

Kent, October 26, 2011 - Seattle Thunderbirds general manger Russ Farwell today announced the team has traded defenseman Erik Fleming to the Swift Current Broncos for future considerations in the 2012 Bantam Draft.

Fleming appeared in 156 games for the T-Birds over the last three seasons and had 15 points career point on two goals and 13 assists with 62 penalty minutes.
The T-Birds also reassigned defenseman Austin Frank to the Calgary Mustangs of the Albert Junior Hockey League today.

The T-Birds travel to Victoria to take on the Royals in back-to-back games this weekend. They play Friday and Saturday nights at 7:05pm at Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena.

BUCK'S OFFICIALLY A GOOD GUY!

WINNIPEG, MB – Winnipeg Blue Bomber quarterback Buck Pierce has been named the 2011 recipient of the Ed Kotowich Good Guy Award, which recognizes a Blue Bomber player for their excellence in combining football ability, team camaraderie and extraordinary effort in the community.

Since signing with the Blue Bombers in April, 2010, Pierce has made a commitment to the city of Winnipeg by putting up permanent residence year-round and has been very active in the community, giving back whenever he can. He has donated his time to organizations such as the United Way and has participated in many Blue Bomber appearances with the I Love to Read program at various schools throughout the city and province. Pierce has also taken the time to reach outside of Winnipeg and has travelled to many different rural towns throughout Manitoba for public speaking events.

“I am very humbled to be receiving this honour, but to me, there is nothing greater than giving back to the community that you get the opportunity to represent,” said Pierce. “I really enjoy everything about the city of Winnipeg and am proud to call myself a Blue Bomber.”

The award honours Ed Kotowich – a former outstanding offensive lineman who played for Winnipeg from 1955-1961, playing in three Grey Cup games (’58, ’59, ’61).

After retiring as a player, Kotowich worked with the Winnipeg Rods as an offensive line coach and later with minor football programs at Winakwa and Windsor Park Community Clubs. He also served as an alderman for the city of St. Boniface between 1968 and 1977 and worked on a number of community boards, including the St. Boniface Parks Board, the St. Boniface Museum and the Knights of Columbus.

Kotowich was an outstanding player on the field and was even more outstanding in the community and this award goes to the Bomber player who best represents what Kotowich was all about.

Ed Kotowich Award Winners:
2011 – Buck Pierce
2010 – Doug Brown
2009 – Jon Oosterhuis
2008 – Obby Khan
2007 – Milt Stegall
2006 – Chris Cvetkovic
2005 – Milt Stegall
2004 – Matt Sheridan
2003 – Moe Elewonibi
2002 – Dave Mudge
2001 – Brett MacNeil
2000 – Troy Westwood
1999 – Dave Vankoughnett
1998 – Glen Scrivener
1997 – Wade Miller
1996 – Wade Miller
1995 – Miles Gorrell
1994 – Matt Pearce
1993 – Matt Dunigan
1992 – Darryl Sampson
1991 – Matt Pearce
1990 – Rod Hill
1989 – Perry Tuttle
1988 – Trevor Kennerd
1987 – Vernon Pahl

TICATS SIGN PORTER

Hamilton, Ontario - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has added import running back Daniel Porter to the practice roster. 

Porter, a 5-10, 197-pound native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was named the Edmonton Eskimos Most Outstanding Rookie in 2010 after running for 603 yards and two touchdowns in six games.  The Louisiana Tech product registered 89 rushing yards, 12 receiving yards and three touchdowns this season before he was released on September 12. 

The Ticats also announced that the team has released non-import defensive back Michael Carter.

REAPER RETIRES A RIDER

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today that import linebacker Reggie Hunt has signed a one-day contract with the team and will subsequently retire as a Roughrider.
 
Hunt played six seasons with the Roughriders (2002-2007) before leaving the team to sign as a free agent with the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos.
 
"Reggie was very athletic, made big plays and was always all over the field," said Defensive Coordinator Richie Hall. "He was very quiet and caring off the field and had a great sense of humour."
 
In his time with the Green and White, Hunt tallied 452 defensive tackles, 45 special team tackles, 27 quarterback sacks, 26 tackles for a loss, eight fumble returns, seven forced fumbles and five interceptions in 106 regular season games.
 
The Texas Christian product was named a West Division All-Star in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, a CFL All-Star in 2007 and was a member of the 2007 Grey Cup Championship team.
 
Nicknamed "The Reaper", Hunt has recently moved back to his hometown in Texas after spending the last few years working for SaskTel in Regina.

PATS AT BLADES TONIGHT

The Regina Pats (9-4-0) visit the Saskatoon Blades (7-4-0-1) tonight at 7:00 at Credit Union Centre. The game will be broadcast live on 620 CKRM (Press Box Sports Bar Pregame Show at 6:35pm). The Pats are first-place in the WHL East with 18 points while the Blades sit three points back in third.

The Pats are a whopping 6-2 on the road this season which carries a winning percentage of .750. Only the Kamloops Blazers have been a better road team this season (.800). However Conacher's Crew will have their work cut out for them tonight in the Bridge City as Molleken's Men are a perfect 5-0 on home ice this season.

Go Pats!

DINWIDDIE TO START SATURDAY

The Roughriders confirmed on Tuesday that Ryan Dinwiddie will start at quarterback on Saturday when the club hosts the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at 1:00 pm.  Regular starter Darian Durant will sit out the remaining two games to get healthy for next season.  Dinwiddie says he's eager to atone for his last start, the 17-1 loss in Edmonton where he threw three first half interceptions before being pulled at halftime.

"Obviously my last start didn't go the way I wanted it to," Dinwiddie admitted.  "I thought we'd move the ball on them but it was a tough time.  Obviously you can't turn the ball over.  I'm definitely excited for this.  Any chance you get to prove yourself, you look forward to it.  I'm playing for my job every day I come out here.  In pro football your job is always on the line."

Durant says it's disappointing to sit out the rest of the year.

"It is," Durant said.  "This is the best place to play.  The fans have been behind us all season, even through the tough times.  It's always exciting getting out here on Mosaic field.  It's disappointing but at the same time we have to do what's best."

Rider coach Ken Miller discussed the decision after Tuesday's workout.

"Really it's an opportunity for Ryan to expand his role and also Cole Bergquist," Miller explained.  "Darian's foot is well on the mend.  That was not a factor."

Miller was asked if Durant underwent concussion tests and if so, what the results were.

"I'm not going to comment on that today," Miller said.

On Saturday Miller generated considerable discussion when he said he would meet with Rider GM Brendan Taman and President Jim Hopson about how to approach the final two games.  On Tuesday, Miller was asked how he feels about including Hopson in the decisions.

"Really, the decisions are made in football operations," Miller explained.  "But it is prudent to let the President and CEO know what the heck is going on and so that's primarily what the meetings throughout the entire season have been like, to keep him informed.  Sometimes he has an opinion.  The Board, the President, have really let football decisions be made in football operations.  Certainly Jim does know a lot, and when he asked questions they are questions that are informed.  A lot of time his questions bring about thought patterns that are valid."

TUESDAY SPORTS CAGE PODCAST

You can listen to Tuesday's show right here. We discussed the Riders starting Rider Dinwiddie at QB on Saturday and heard from Coach Miller and Dinwiddie himself. We were also joined live by CFL legend Damon Allen.
SportsCage 10-25-2011 5;08;30 PM by ridervoice

CFL NOTES

TORONTO - EDM QB Ricky Ray (offense), WPG DL Jason Vega (defense), HAM K Justin Medlock (special teams) and EDM RB Jerome Messam (Canadian) were named the Gibson's Finest CFL Players of the Week for the 17th week of the 2011 season.

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WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have released import defensive end Quentin Davie and import defensive back Leslie Majors from the practice roster. The club has also released import wide receiver Tim Brown.

CATCHING UP WITH SEBASTIAN CLOVIS

FROM THE TORONTO STAR:

TORONTO -- Clad in barely-there blue bikinis, players for the Toronto Triumph attracted attention for their uniforms on the field. But off the field they were more concerned about their helmets and shoulder pads than bras and panties.

Sixteen of the 26 players on the team, part of the U.S.-based Lingerie Football League, resigned this month over concerns about the lack of proper coaching and "shoddy" equipment, say four ex-members.

The Triumph, one of 12 teams in the lingerie football league, has played only one game so far.

Sprained ankles, concussions and pulled hamstrings were among the injuries sustained by Triumph players in their first game against the Tampa Breeze in September, Sandra Dalla Giustina said, adding their team had no medical staff.

Most team members felt head coach Don Marchione and offensive coordinator Mary Kennedy did not have enough professional knowledge to teach them proper football techniques, said Dalla Giustina.

In an anonymous email to league chairman Mitch Mortaza, a few Triumph members requested that Sebastian Clovis, the Triumph's defensive coordinator and a former Canadian Football League player, take over coaching duties.

The entire team also expressed their grievances to Marchione.

"Hands down the most experienced person on that staff is Sebastian," said Dalla Giustina. "He's the one person that we need, need, need on that team — No. 1 — just for knowledge and for safety."

To their surprise, Clovis informed the team in mid-October that he was forced to resign amid rumours that Marchione was displeased with their request.

Mortaza dismissed emails from Triumph players that urged him to reinstate Clovis.

"You are in no position to be making demands of my office or making ridiculous statements such as 'We are not going to let Seb go,' " said one email dated Oct. 14.

"I have one bit of simple advice for you and everyone on this roster … it is SHUT UP AND PLAY FOOTBALL," said another email to Michelle Crispe.

The ex-players' complaints amounted to "sour grapes," Mortaza said.

"Most of these women have never touched a football prior. Now they're critiquing on who's qualified to coach football. It's almost laughable," he said. "Ultimately you trust in your coaches, the management and ownership. And if you don't feel that's a good fit, then just walk away from it."

THE YORK REPORT

BY: Marty York for Fantrax.com

TORONTO -- Allow me to share something personal with you.

I'm depressed, extremely depressed, because of the sudden passing in Ottawa the other day of one of my best friends.

Earl McRae was a legendary columnist/writer/broadcaster in Canada because of the way he told stories, verbally and in print. I am in no way exaggerating when I tell you that Earl was by far and away the very best story-teller I have ever known.

I could never write like Earl the Pearl, not even close, so I cannot possibly do justice to him in a written tribute. Click on to this story to get an idea of what Earl meant to Canadians in general: http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/15/rest-in-peace-earl-mcrae-2.

To me, however, Earl the Pearl was more than a story-teller or another media guy. Earl was tantamount to a brother. He was an advisor and my No. 1 media supporter. He persuaded me to hang in when others suggested I quit. He was, as I reflect on this, the biggest booster I had in the Canadian media. His voice was to my ego what oil is to an engine.

I miss him so much already that it aches.

Even though I left the mainstream media a few years ago, Earl and I kept our friendship alive with frequent, private calls to each other. We talked about everything imaginable, and we confided in each other about details I will never divulge. Suffice it to say that he knew virtually everything about my personal life and never once did he turn his back on me or let me down. Earl cared about privacy -- it mattered to him a lot -- and he cared about providing friendship to those of us who felt from time to time that perhaps we were devoid of an abundance of good friends.

Earl loved mavericks. He cared about J.I. Albrecht, for instance. Earl and J.I. struck up a friendship during the decades that J.I. was at odds with his fellow general managers and owners in the Canadian Football League.

The more unpopular J.I. became, the more friendly Earl became with him. Earl would visit J.I. in the hospital during the latter's dying days, when few CFLers gave a hoot or took the time to say hello to him. Earl tried to pep up J.I. almost daily, and would travel to Ottawa from Toronto just to see J.I., and J.I. ended up telling me that Earl was his closest pal and the only friend on earth he trusted completely.

J.I., on his deathbed, revealed to Earl what he told no one else since joining the CFL in the 1960s -- that J.I. were the initials that stood for his real first name, given to him by his parents. Just Incredible. He wanted Earl to report this in his column.

And it was a tear-jerking column by Earl. Like virtually every column Earl wrote, it stirred emotion in his readers. Earl did this with ease. Like J.I.'s first name, Earl truly was just incredible.

Earl thought Albrecht should have been in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame because of the many, many players J.I. had discovered and/or recruited (including Johnny Rodgers, Marv Luster, Larry Smith, Terry Evanshen, Wally Buono and countless others) and wrote that. J.I. had the guts to make Michael (Pinball) Clemons his head coach when so many others scoffed at the idea.

Earl the Pearl admired people with guts and gumption, and he felt it was his obligation to publicly defend those of us who crossed others by telling the truth, regardless of how unpopular the truth was.

And Earl loved the CFL. He wrote about the league lavishly in magazines and newspapers. He talked about it a lot on the airwaves. Not only did he have a nose for news -- he broke every story imaginable about the CFL ownership days of the Gliebermans in Ottawa -- but he had a great ear, too.

He could hear someone talk once or twice and impersonate them perfectly. And, wow, was he funny.  Funniest person I've ever known. Could make you laugh like no one else on the planet.

If I were depressed or upset about something, Earl could quickly say something to make me laugh. Oh, he'd never laugh at his own humour. In fact, he had an incredible way of keeping a straight face during his utter nonsense. But he would crack you up. He was hilarious and fun-loving.

He was a prankster without equal. He once called an editor in The Toronto Star newsroom, from the back of the newsroom from his desk, to tell the editor in some phony voice that he had left the lights on in his car. So the guy put on his coat and walked about half a mile to shut off lights that weren't left on. And the few he shared the joke with howled with delight because, well, the editor wasn't exactly the reporters' favorite dude.

"But I did that for another reason," Earl would tell me years later. "I didn't want him to handle my copy. I had just submitted a good story and I knew he was going to get it. But the guy was a butcher. He should have worked at a deli, not a newspaper."

The story went to another editor, and it was one of the front-page scoops that Earl kept in his files and treasured.

I loved Earl's stories. Even those crazy ones that he made up about having lunch with Elvis Presley in Tweed, Ont. on a regular basis. Heck, he told me about his get-together at some club with Elvis only about a month ago. I'd laugh, and he'd ask "What's so funny? Why are you laughing? I'm serious." And I'd just laugh some more.

And because I'm so depressed right now, I wish I could hear Earl's voice right now, this very second, telling some ludicrous story. I need his silliness right now. I need a laugh.

Earl, rest in peace, my dear friend.  Put smiles on the faces of J.I. and all of our buddies up there in heaven with you, like only you could do.

You left us too soon, way too soon, Earl, but no one who knew you will ever forget you. You were the funniest, the best and the greatest. There will never be another one as gifted as you. Of this, I'm sure.

(Visit Marty's website at http://www1.fantrax.com/newsColumn.go?id=4pr6wbuagu08qyzo)

PATCHAT

This Past Week
Thurs, Oct 20  Hitmen 3 @ Pats 1
Thursday night the Regina Pats ran into a red hot Hitmen club that led by goaltender Chris Drieger, who won his 3rd straight game, stopping 23 of 24 Regina Pats shot en route to the 3-1 victory. Calgary took a 3-0 first period lead and the Pats were not able to claw their way back in time as Colton Jobke’s second of the season in the second period was the only goal the Pats were able to muster in the loss, which was the team’s second in a row.

Sat, Oct 22 Pats 4 @ Raiders 1
After a scoreless first period, the Pats were able to score three times in a 3:22 span in the second and that helped them to the 4-1 victory on the road in Prince Albert. Jordan Weal scored twice Chandler Stephenson picked up a pair of assists and Lane Scheidl notched a goal and an assist. Matt Hewitt continued his strong play with a 26 save effort for his 8th victory of the season. The win upped the Pats road record to 6-2 to begin the year.

Sun, Oct. 23 Raiders 2 @ Pats 5
A pair of Brandon Herrod goals in the first pushed the Raiders to a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes of play. From there it was all Pats, scoring five straight times for the 5-2 victory. Matt Marantz picked up a goal and two assists while Lane Scheidl, Lyndon Martell and Colton Jobke had multiple point nights.

Quote of the Week
“We play a simple game on the road, and the key is to stick to the same game plan on home ice. If we do that, we will have success.”
-Assistant Coach Malcolm Cameron prior to Sunday’s game against Prince Albert.

Looking Ahead
Wednesday Oct. 26th – Pats @ Blades 7:05pm Credit Union Centre
This will be the first of eight meetings between these two long time East Divisional rivals. The Blades will be hosting the Memorial Cup in 2013 and this season, they already have the tools in place to succeed led by Colorado 1st round pick in 2011, defenceman, Duncan Siemens.

Friday, Oct. 28th – Oil Kings @ Pats 7:00pm Brandt Centre
The Edmonton Oil Kings will be the Pats guests on Breast Cancer Awareness Night. The pink ice will be host of a matchup of two of the top 16 year old forwards in the WHL in the Pats Morgan Klimchuk and the Oil Kings Curtis Lazar

Saturday, Oct 29th – Pats @ Warriors 7:00pm Mosaic Place
This will be the first regular season meeting between the Pats and the Warriors at the brand new Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw. With Dylan McIlrath and Kendal McFaul, the Warriors have one of the strongest defensive cores in the Eastern Conference.

Community Appearances:
Even with the busy schedule on the ice, the Pats will be busy off as well with programs and events across the city:

Tuesday
Wascana Rehabilitation Centre
Regina and Area Food Bank
Food For Learning – Al Ritchie School
Marion McVeety School – Read to Succeed

Thursday
Wascana Rehabilitation Centre
Food For Learning – Coronation Park
Canadian Blood Services (Life Saving Hat Tricks)

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast cancer Awareness Month is in its final week and the seventh year of this great initiative will culminate with Breast Cancer Awareness Night this Friday, October 28th against the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Pats will be wearing special pink jersey’s that are currently up for auction right now by clicking here.

Pink Pats Mittens are also available right now for $20, available on-line at the Pats store or drop by the Pats office. All the proceeds from the jersey auction and mittens sales goes to the Canadian Cancer Society for Breast cancer research in Saskatchewan.

This season, the Pats will play Breast Cancer Awareness Night, for the first time, on Pink Ice! Get your tickets now at any Ticketmaster location or head to www.reginapats.com for more information.

In The Locker Room
- Matt Hewitt continues his strong start to the season. He is 1st in the WHL in wins (9), 8th in goals against average (2.25) and 9th in save percentage (.922)
- Morgan Klimchuk is 6th in WHL rookie scoring with 12 points.
- Jordan Weal Is currently tied for 9th in WHL scoring and has points in 11 of his 12 games this season.
- Brandon Davidson is tied for 3rd among WHL defencemen scoring with 13 points and tied for second in goals by a defencemen with 5
- The Pats are one of the strongest teams on the road this season. Their six wins already this season is just three less than the nine they won all of last season.

Through the Looking Glass
Adam Brooks:
The Pats 1st pick (2nd round, 25th overall) in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft was just selected to represent Canada at the upcoming Winter Youth Olympic Games from January 13th to 22nd in Innsbruck, Austria. In just 10 games this season with the Winnipeg Thrashers of the MAAAHL he has 4 goals and 7 assists, good for second on the team in scoring.
(Courtesy Dan Plaster)