It’s my Parting Shot for my Monday Musings…..
I wish today was April 1st because I could’ve had some fun with listeners – both fans and critics. Considering the news from the last few days – the retirement announcements of Vic Rauter as the lead play-by-play voice of curling on T-S-N and Scott Oake as the host of “After Hours” following the late Saturday night game on Hockey Night in Canada – wouldn’t it be something if I took this moment to announce that I was calling it a career once the present Saskatoon Blades’ playoff run ends! Okay, okay, for my fans – have no fear, and for my critics – don’t crack open the good bottle of your favourite spirits just yet! The contract between the Blades and the Saskatoon Media Group, the parent company of CJWW, still has two more years to run. But, the devious and devilish side of me wants to pull that kind of prank off – maybe as early as next April 1st!!
As for the retirement announcements of Vic Rauter and Scott Oake – it had to happen at some point! Both are in their 70s, both have been in sports broadcasting for 50 years or at least close to that! They both have their health and it’s time to relax and enjoy what time they have left – don’t begrudge them that! Congratulations gentlemen and thanks for being the sound track for so many of our memories on ice!!
It’s totally a co-incidence – or is it? On a day where the 2026 version of the Saskatoon Blades were left heart-broken, disappointed and frustrated by a double overtime loss at SaskTel Centre, who do you think was in attendance? None other than Tim Tisdale as a W-H-L officials’ supervisor! Yes, the same Tim Tisdale who broke the hearts of the Blades and their fans with the overtime winning goal for Swift Current in the 1989 Memorial Cup final! You decide – co-incidence or not?!
I see where the Toronto Blue Jays are hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers this week in a series that is a re-match of last fall’s World Series in which L-A won in a Game 7 that went 11 innings. The Dodgers are off to a 7-and-2 start and come into the Big Smoke playing a Jays’ team that was just swept by the Chicago White Sox and has lost five of six games! Can you say get the brooms out again?! I say, yeah, except don’t be surprised if it’s the Blue Jays that utilize the device! You just never know in the world of sports!!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk in Edmonton…and it turned out nice again!
