It’s my Parting Shot for my reactions to the headline in today’s Star-Phoenix Sports Section – plus a couple of answers to questions from the T-S-N website…..

The only headline from the only story in a one-page section today…Meet the Pool A contenders for Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Campbell returns as skip for first time in 10 years with Number 9 ranked Saskatchewan. My reaction…this is an interesting Scotties because of the Winter Olympics. The Rachel Homan foursome, who would’ve been in the field as the defending champions, chose to pass on this event – scheduled for just before they head oversees to Milan, Italy. By rights, the new – so-called Team Canada, skipped by Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Manitoba, should be the favourites to win a fifth Canadian Women’s Curling Championship, but I’m looking for a different skip and a different team to win. It won’t be Jolene Campbell’s Regina squad. They’re seeded ninth, meaning they aren’t expected by the seeding committee to qualify for the Championship round once their Pool A round-robin schedule is done! The Saskatchewan gals have to beat at least one of Einarson, B-C, Kaitlyn Lawes’ wild-card team from Manitoba or Ontario while not losing to Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories, Quebec or Yukon. Let’s put it this way, a 4-4 round-robin record won’t get the job done for the Campbell foursome! They may not even get to 4-and-4. As for a winner, since I have my heart set on Einarson not winning, how about quartets skipped by Christina Black from Nova Scotia or Selena Sturmay of Alberta?!

First T-S-N question…Could crowded crease help Maple Leafs. Answer…as much as Toronto is my second-favourite Canadian-based N-H-L team, I fear that having three goaltenders in the dressing room, once Anthony Stolarz returns from injury, will be more of a hindrance than a help! Dennis Hideby should be the odd man out and Stolarz will need to find his form, and fast, if the Buds are to make the Stanley Cup playoffs! Joseph Woll doesn’t give me a lot of confidence!!

Second and final T-S-N question…Can the Jets go on a run and make the playoffs? Answer…they can and they will try to do that, likely coming up short – which will upset their fans who want them to tank it the rest of the way and get a high pick for the upcoming N-H-L Draft! Problem with that is, I don’t know of a coach or player that thinks about intentionally losing and tanking and Winnipeg’s team is too good to finish in the bottom three of the league!!

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