Head coach Viveiros excels on all fronts for Swift Current
Robservations ...
The Swift Current Broncos’ Manny Viveiros is the Eastern Conference finalist for WHL coach-of-the-year honours, but let’s not forget the superlative job he has done from a talent-acquisition standpoint. In January, Viveiros — who moonlights as the Broncos’ director of player personnel — consummated a blockbuster deal in which Swift Current obtained goaltender Stuart Skinner from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Skinner registered three shutouts in an Eastern Conference semifinal as the Broncos outlasted the highpowered Moose Jaw Warriors in seven games.
The outcome of the Warriors/ Broncos series served as a form of validation for the Regina Pats, who extended Swift Current to seven games in the first round. If the Pats can challenge a team of Swift Current’s calibre, they should prove to be a credible host for the Memorial Cup.
The Estevan Bruins and Nipawin Hawks are very fortunate to be coached by Chris Lewgood and Doug Johnson, respectively. Lewgood and Johnson helped their players deal with the trauma resulting from the Humboldt Broncos’ bus accident, providing compassionate counsel. It is not surprising that the Bruins and Hawks are in the SJHL’s championship series.
Kudos to the Hawks for the manner in which they handled the deluge of media Saturday for Game 1 of the league final. The team established a nice balance between providing access and respecting the interests of the coaches and players. Rare is the occasion when the national media covers a junior A playoff game. The Hawks made everyone feel welcome at a difficult, stressful time.
What is the point of assigning two referees to an NHL playoff game when there is a clear disinclination to make obvious calls? Cross-checking, it seems, is now permissible. Ditto for checking from behind. NHL operatives keep bleating about player safety, but the laissez-faire officiating is not in line with the propaganda.
Email of the week/month/year — a punctuation-free response to a recent column about Saskatchewan president-CEO Craig Reynolds’ promise to make Humboldt the first stop on a Grey Cup tour if the Green and White wins it all in 2018: “Sask needs a QB before you start making promise like that wow Collaros will be boooooed out of town real quick he fumbles hangs on to the ball to long throws pick sixes every game.”
Zach Collaros, it says here, will be the solution to the Roughriders’ revolving-door approach to the quarterbacking situation. For the first time since becoming the Roughriders’ head coach, Chris Jones has abundant faith in a quarterback. That should make a difference.
Now for the predictable, inevitable self-promotion: The Christmas Cheer sports memorabilia sale is scheduled for April 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Conexus Arts Centre’s Jacqui Shumiatcher Room. All proceeds will go to the four Regina women’s shelters that are supported by the Regina Leader-Post’s Christmas Cheer Fund. If you would like to donate some memorabilia, please call me at 306-781-5216 or email me at the address below.
Nice people who deserve a plug: Russ Herold, Matthew Chekay, Arthur Miller, Doug Johnson, Chris Lewgood, Jess Moskaluke, Sawyer Buettner, Blake Buettner, Renee Verge, Landon Kozior,
Matt Culling, Wanda Harron, Janet Schellenberg, Shane Salisbury, Darrin McKechnie, Red Dawson, Rhett Dawson, Lorne Harasen, Lonny Haas, Gord
Hahn, Cami Kepke, Marshall Johnston and, having just completed her first Boston Marathon, Patti Sandison-Cattell.