It’s my Parting Shot for my reactions to the headlines in today’s Star-Phoenix Sports Section…..

First headline…Huskies head into national playoffs on two-year, 50-game win streak – U of S women begin defence of national title at home this Saturday at 5 p.m. My reaction…not sure how many more Darren Zary by-line stories are to come, but this one is excellent as always by the now retired Saskatoon wordsmith. The article makes a compelling case as to why the P-A-C should be packed for the quarter-final game on Saturday – no matter who the opponent is. Once again, Lisa Thomaidis has re-tooled her team into a championship contender!

Next headline…McDavid has only one goal in mind and it’s the gold. Reaction…it’s that kind of single-minded focus that is making Connor McDavid into an iconic Canadian hockey star – following in the footsteps of Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. He’s not quite up to their stature, but a gold medal in a couple of weeks in Milan, Italy, will get him real close – and I’m not betting against him and Canada, of course! Once he has an Olympic gold medal, all McDavid needs to win is a Stanley Cup – hopefully he does that with another team after his current three-year commitment to the Edmonton Oilers ends!!

Last headline…Can Olympic hockey tournament be best-on-best without Russia? My reaction…the obvious answer to that question is no! Alexander Ovechkin and other great Russian N-H-L players should be playing in Milan, but they only have to look at their country’s leader and his mis-guided attempt to wipe out a country and its people for his political and territorial-slash-imperialistic gain! I agree with people when they tell me that politics and sports shouldn’t be factors in who gets to compete and who doesn’t. But, as a proud Ukrainian, I stoutly defend the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation’s decision to not allow Russia and Belarus to play in any of their sanctioned events! Does it demean the hockey tournament in Milan? Absolutely – but there has to be consequences for improper and immoral actions like Russia invading Ukraine and if athletes being collateral damage is the result, so be it – I’m good with it!!

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