It’s my Parting Shot to let some “keyboard warriors,” with loud and ill-informed opinions how the world really works…..
I’m going to admit to making two mistakes in composing this commentary right off the hop – one, I shouldn’t read on-line comments or on-line fan forums and, two, I shouldn’t respond to those comments or forums, be it directly or on-air, because there really isn’t anything to be gained by me in doing so!
Except for explaining some truths and debunking some obvious lies!
The biggest, most laughable conversation has centred around the four-game suspension handed to Easton Armstrong of the Saskatoon Blades following his Game 2, third period goal-crease collision with Red Deer goaltender Chase Wutzke that knocked the Rebels’ star puck-stopper out of the remaining two games of the series.
On-line comment myth – the incident cost Red Deer the series. Truth – The Rebels may have won one game, but that’s it! The Bridge City Bunch were far and away the superior team and Game 4 showed it! Even Wutzke in goal couldn’t save Red Deer!!
A second on-line comment myth – Easton Armstrong tried to run over Chase Wutzke and knock him out of the series and deserved at least a four-game suspension. Three truths about that – one, with the puck laying in the crease a few feet away from Wutzke and an open net, what was Armstrong supposed to do? Jump stop and jab at the puck?! There wasn’t time for that kind of thought, nor was there time to stop from going after the loose disk in the crease. Two, if Easton Armstrong played for Red Deer and did what he did, Rebels’ chief cook and bottle-washer Brent Sutter would’ve applauded the effort and said he had to do that! Third, I had three different N-H-L scouts tell me before Game 3 in the media/scouts room in Red Deer that the charging major and game misconduct plus four-game suspension was excessive for that play. One of those scouts was a two-time W-H-L Executive-of-the-Year as a team General Manager and scoffed at the call!!
It’s one thing to be a fan and be passionate about your team, no matter which team that may be – even the Blades, but take the time to look at situations with a hint of objectivity and reality before becoming a buffoon on-line!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!…..
