It’s my Parting Shot for my Monday Musings…..

It was interesting to see a news release from the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday, shortly after David Lewandowski (pictured) was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 N-H-L Entry Draft by Edmonton, talking about how the German import forward made it eight straight years in which a Bridge City Bunch Prospects Draft choice had had his name called by a team from The Show.

It was nice to hear from former Blue and Gold goaltender, now radio play-by-play announcer for the Oilers – Cam Moon – after Lewandowski was picked by Edmonton. I gave Mooner my scouting report on the skilled winger and then realized that there are good people with the Oil that give me pause to consider liking them! That pause was gone shortly thereafter, of course!!

There were 93 players from the Canadian Hockey League – 37 of them, specifically, from the Western Hockey League chosen in the seven rounds of the N-H-L Entry Draft over the weekend. My question now is, with the eligibility rules for young men tempted to go the N-C-A-A route once they’ve graduated from high school, how many of those 37 players will finish out their W-H-L eligibility before heading south of the border and how many will bolt at the first opportunity?

I can’t resist taking a stab at the whole Major Junior to N-C-A-A situation where many fans are pulling a “chicken little,” and claiming the sky is falling on Major Junior hockey with so many 18 and 19-year-old stars having committed to U-S Colleges. The key thing to remember for those players is that you have to attend a regular complement of classes and maintain a grade point average of 2.3 out of four. I can see some of these young hockey players finding that tough to do and return to Major Junior with their tail between their legs, having lost their scholarships!!

And, for a second straight year, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are 4-0. Last year, injuries started to hit the Green and White around this time and they were 5-8-1 the rest of the way. This year’s Riders are already dealing with injuries, and are overcoming that with solid depth – seemingly – at all positions. So far! It helps that the defence and A-J Ouellette are having banner starts to 2025!!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!