Extra Ericsson - February 5th, 2021

a little francis for your friday, is that a thing?

by Francis Ericsson (@EricssonFrancis)

I get it.

Sometimes, as a Canadian, you have to apologize for doing nothing wrong.

The world is full of haters, and I as a bigger man can move on.

I shall not be discussing Johnny Gaudreau this week, even though everyone’s favourite boy wonder sure picked a convenient time to stop putting up points and hurting his teammates.

I guess it’s a shame your sister can’t defend you on the ice or else you’d force Brad Treliving to sign her too.

I would never bring in family, unless someone was turning down the chance to be a hero for Canada but wouldn’t go to a very meaningful tournament because they were weak and their wife had the sniffles or whatever.

That’s not why we’re here though.

I was out at a coffee at one of the few remaining Starbucks with a fellow PHWA writer, and we sat down to hash out our ideas for just what the heck is going on with this hockey season, as covid was apparently not happy to just ruin a perfectly good golf season.

Take note millennials, there is still value in face-to-face interaction at a classic brick and mortar store with your colleagues, instead of ignoring the zoom calls of the man who raised you to be better.

Thanks for killing Starbucks too.

Anyway, my colleague Fruit Of The Loom - who rest assured has no problem seeing great action from any distance if you know what I mean - and I were commiserating about this season, and we’ve both had it up to here with American teams cancelling all these games.

Athletes right now are frontline workers in the fight against mental health (and the boredom it brings), and they have a responsibility not only to the fans to stay healthy, but to the other essential workers like myself who report on their heroics and failures.

This week saw five teams postpone their games because they don’t know how to stay out of each other’s rooms when they’re playing Fortnite.

At least, so far.

It’s sickening to take something as sacred as our country’s great game for granted.

And that’s when it hit Fruitsy and I - it is our game.

It’s time we took it back.

Mr. Gary Bettman, sir, we implore you, to cancel the rest of the 2021-2021 National Hockey League season….but only for the Americans.

That’s right.

You heard me.

Bring hockey back to the people who show it the respect it deserves.

Canada.

Now, before you start writing my editor, I think you should take the time to agree with me instead.

The Scotia North Division has been an unparalleled success this year, and it shows once again that Canadians have been robbed of seeing championship teams while the league foolishly expands to markets like Anaheim and Tampa Bay, who don’t appreciate the gift they have.

Some markets, sure, we should send in teams as ambassadors to welcome in different people to hockey, because Hockey Is For Everyone.

Nashville is a great example, it’s like the Houston of Tennessee.

But it’s time to assert Canadian dominance once again, and Mr. Bettman can make this official by rewarding the teams who take it seriously.

This wouldn’t be a charity case to just hand Lord Stanley’s hallowed Cup back to Canada after an unprecedented drought.

Trust me, I recognize charity when I see it, because I give to it.

If Canadians teams want to follow the advice of their wise Premiers and Elected Officials, they should be rewarded.

We’ve seen what this league does to people who don’t appreciate the riches they have.

They get sent snivelling to Columbus instead of joining illustrious company like Ron Wilson, Moe Mantha, Keith Tkachuk, Gord Donnelly, Shane Doan.

The list goes on.

They take those unappreciative ‘stars’ and they sent them packing.

So let’s go on step further.

Mr. Bettman should send all the Americans back to those United States as well.

Sure, there will be losses for all teams.

It will be hard to replicate Buddy Robinson’s size, and don’t even get me started on what Keith Tkachuk’s son means to the people of this city and also Winnipeg.

But it also means that we would rid ourselves of the American selfishness shown in some players who I promised not to mention, and show that the Calgary Flames are better off without them.

Time to give shining prospects like Glenn Gawdin and pride of Manitoba Justin Kirkland their chance that has been denied to them for a kid who, let’s be honest, they should be taking lunch money from to build some character.

You know I’m right.

In this age of political correctness, wouldn’t it be right politically for that valued expat Stanley to return from his tour of duty?

And no sisters can tell me otherwise.