It’s my Parting Shot for a reminder of what my sign-off to this commentary is – and why it’s relevant going into Game 3 of the W-H-L’s Eastern Conference final, in my humble opinion…..

“And, it turned out nice again” is how I’ve finished off The Parting Shot commentary ever since I introduced my daily take on sports in the summer of 1995. I am paying homage to the late, great Winnipeg sports broadcaster Jack Wells. I grew up watching him do the sports at supper time and late night, when I was allowed to, on CJAY-TV – the Winnipeg affiliate of CTV. “And, it turned out nice again” was “Cactus Jack’s” sign off. When I had the privilege to work with him at CJOB Radio in Winnipeg during the 1980s, he continued to finish off his 5:25 sportscast with that phrase. When I asked him what it meant, since it didn’t have to do with the weather – obviously on some days – he gave me a very philosophical answer…

…”Laz, my boy, I woke up today and I was alive and well and for that I am thankful. As a result, it turned out nice again – didn’t it?!”

I took that to be a strong, powerful message and told myself that when Jack Wells couldn’t use that phrase any longer, that I would use it in his honour – which I have for 31 years!

In a sense, I feel that the message that Jack Wells had with his sports sign-off was a mini prayer of thanks. As a Ukrainian Catholic, who has lapsed when it comes to attending church, saying a mini prayer at the end of the Parting Shot – along with taking time in the morning to read a couple of bible verses and saying my prayers before falling asleep at night keeps me in good stead with God, something that is very important to me!

Now, all of this ties in with the Prince Albert Raiders-Medicine Hat Tigers’ hockey series because at the end of Game 2 at the Art Hauser Centre, some of the victorious Tigers wanted to kneel and pray – but a couple of P-A players prevented them from doing so where they have liked to during the season after a win – within the centre ice circle (pictured). I get that the Raiders’ players were defending their logo in the circle of the victorious team prayer, making ssure their logo wasn’t being disrespected. The Tigers players prayed inside one of the blue-lines not that far away. As a man of faith in God, I think the players praying in public is wonderful – but I also think they should be doing it after losses as well as after wins, which I don’t believe they do!

Because God wants to hear our prayers when we are doing well and also when we are not doing so well, either!

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