CKSTAM

Andi Petrillo of One Soccer joined Matt and Blake to talk about the spectacle that was Edmonton last night. Talked about why she wasn’t as bundled up as her fellow panel members. Talked about this match being better than Costa Rica. As much about the field, the opponent played into that. Mexico was much more difficult, more tactical. That created the better game. Talked about the big takeaways from this game. The country coming together, the belief that something special is happening and people wanting to be a part of this. You are seeing the twinkle in peoples eyes that started with the first bronze medal for the women’s team. Talked about how good of a team this is now. What in the world is going on with this team when you have the top goal scorer in France to bring on as a substitute. The team is now bigger than some of the parts. A guy like David understands its bigger than him. Maybe deep down he has a problem but would never say. Talked about the weather. Would never give weather the credit for the win. They did that all on their own. Talked about where we might see the next match. Thinks we could know in the next 48 hours. Right now everything is on the table. Talked about how many more points Canada will need. Won’t even try to predict but KJ says 21/22 points. Panama is not going away, they are nipping at everyones heels. Nothing is safe right now, the team needs to get back to work. Four of the next six are tough road games. Talked about where Soccer falls into Canada’s sport hierarchies. This game is accessible to everyone.

Darren Dreger, NHL on TSN Insider and host of Ray and Dregs Podcast joined Matt and Blake for the latest on the front office saga with the Canucks. Started off talking about the meeting between Aquilini and GMJB went. Doesn’t think that any promises were made. You have to take a look at the construction of the Canucks, and if that is the problem, there isn’t a whole lot that you can do with that.* Every game is going to be a must-watch. If they don’t respond favourably, then you will have to take a look at that. Changing a manager won’t often change the product on ice. An experienced GM would come in and want to observe the roster. We’ve been talking about the future of Jim Benning for awhile now. Not forecasting any sort of massive change here. There is a lot of accountability around to spread.* Ran down who needs to step up and do more. This is the reason Linden probably isn’t with the team anymore. He saw some of the flaws. The fix will take a long time. Dregs doesn’t get the sense that Travis has completely lost the room. Talked about Petey. Dregs sense is that he isn’t handling his situation as maturely as he should be. Darren doesn’t get the sense that anything would happen, even if it were a blowout. Talked about Francesco not speaking to the media. DD says it is normal. There are some owners that are more approachable than others. MTL media went hard after Habs owner. Talked about why Chipman talked recently. 

Sekeres and Price Canucks Reporter, Jeff Paterson joined Matt and Blake ahead of an early start due to Canucks vs Avs being a national broadcast. 

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TSN’s Vancouver correspondent, Farhan Lalji joined Matt and Blake. Started off with a road report and the highway. Followed that up with what he is hearing from the Canucks lately. Says it’s interesting there was a meeting today. Thinks that a head coach change is a better way to make a bigger impact. Doesn’t think that Travis has lost the room but might have lost one or two players. Coaching is harder than it’s ever been before. EP40 is a shell of a player that he has been before. Seeing him getting knocked off the puck as easily as he does is an indictment. Also that opposing coaches aren’t hard matching up with him. Talked about the Lions. Talked about Michael Reilly. Farhan thinks Rourke will be a starter in this league. Need to get Reilly contract down to about half, but restructure it with incentives. Thinks that Rourke can be what Reilly was in this league.

Patrick Johnston of the Province joined Matt and Blake. Says he knows what everyone else knows, the Canucks are in limbo. What happens tomorrow will have a lot of bearing on what happens with GMJB. Talked about the Aquilini tax case that will have to make them pay the entirety of their taxes. It’s a pretty big ruling against them. This is the way the global system is set up. Doesn’t think it’ll have an impact on the bottom line. Doesn’t think penny-pinching is affecting the bottom line, they hired a lot of people back. Talked about why they might not want to move on Travis. The Michael Forde angle is interesting.

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Charean Williams joined Matt and Blake in her regular spot, to chat about week 10. Talked about some of the more interesting results. We’ve seen so many underdogs win and it just continued to bleed into this weekend. Hoping we don’t have many more of these blowouts. Thinks that you can explain, in some cases, as covid related. Some of it can not be explained. The Raiders had a chance at home and they laid an egg, to KC. The Raiders have had a really tough year emotionally. Some crazy scores and upsets over the last 2 weeks. Talked about the Seahawks. They are in tough to make it to the playoffs and in even tougher if there were to 

John Shannon, NHL Insider joined Matt and Blake from the Hockey Hall of Fame proceedings. Talked about Tony Gallagher and that he always told the truth. It’s what made him an original. Talked about what he has heard about the future of Canucks coach and GM. Says he has reached out and getting silence. That usually means things are in the works. It could very well depend on the success of this upcoming home-stand. Talked about the way the Canucks lost on the road that is part of the problem. Not the same thing as losing 4-3 in OT.

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Gregg Bell of the News Tribune in Tacoma joined Matt and Blake ahead of Week 10. Started off talking about the Kraken. Says he hasn’t heard much buzz since the opening weekend. Talked about what else is going on in Seattle and what is taking away from its attention. Says there is still a very enthusiastic group and a group that are waiting for the team to be better. Got on to Seahawks. Getting RW3 is a big deal. Carson will remain on injured reserve. Thinks we will see a different Seahawks. Talked about the importance of this game. History said they’re not going to the SB and that they can’t even win at home. Their belief is that if they can just get into the playoffs. Gregg believes that this week isn’t a must win but that they need to win 1 of the next 2. Talked about who is the bigger diva in the game coming up. Rodgers has that trophy retired. Wilson will play like nothing ever happened on Sunday. Talked about why they didn’t get OBJ. They didn’t move heaven and earth because they didn’t want to take the 7+ million for a receiver who would be 3rd on the depth charge. DK is happy, RW3 is not. 

Rick Dhaliwal, host of Donnie on Dhali joined Matt and Blake and didn’t take too kindly to being referred to as Travis’ boy. Talked about what he is hearing in regards to what the coach is thinking about his team. He won’t survive with EP40 as an average player. He has heard as much about the owner has to go as the coach and GM.  Talked about who is easier to get rid of. Thinks that there isn’t a ready to step up AGM right now. Will be tougher to find a GM. There is a ton of coaches right now. The general feeling is that Travis can’t go on a losing streak. He needs to get on a heater. Talked about the potential of the Sedin’s taking over the GM role. Talked about Hamonic in Abby. He is out tonight with a LBI

Ian Bagg, Comedian and all around nice guy joined Matt and Blake ahead of him hosting the Canucks Alumni Luncheon. Talked about how he ended up getting the gig. Friends with Corey Hirsch and Corey urged him to come up and do an event. Talked about watching the Canucks from afar. He lives in LA. Watches and listens games in his car on the way to shows. Talked about what it’s like to get back into shows in front of live audiences. Says that people need this. Talked about the kind of comedian he is. Says he pushes the line but people get upset. That’s how you find out exactly where the line is.

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Andi Petrillo, host of Canada Soccer on One Soccer joined Matt and Blake and started off with a weather update. Its cold!! This was sort of the idea. They have to make sure the players bodies are ready for the cold. They have to get the players ready for turf. A lot of guys don’t play on turf in Europe. These are top level players who are used to be treating as such. This is also providing FIFA the chance to check out Commonwealth stadium for the World Cup. Talked about Costa Rica playing at the stadium for the first time after practicing elsewhere. Whereas Canada is practicing at the stadium in all thirds of the field. That is the advantage. Nobody is pleased with this field. Talked about the level of concern that some European clubs might have with sending their prized players over here in these conditions. This shouldn’t surprise anyone with the money at stake in the game now. This is a team that relies on their goal scorers. They don’t get down on themselves after giving up the first goal because they have the players to counter that. Talked about the goaltending. Talked about the new guy and getting him cap-tied in. Herdman has made it perfectly clear that he wants to get him in. 

Our new Thursday regular, Scott Rintoul made the first of his many weekly appearances today. Says that the PK needs to get better or anything else that changes won’t matter. Thinks that Motte will be a great addition but that doesn’t mean they get to 90% on the kill. Talked about Travis Hamonic and how the Canucks handled that situation. Talked about Whitecaps. The atmosphere was fantastic. The best sporting event in Vancouver in forever. Was a lot of fun to be in that building and to see how much the players appreciated the fans. They have never been this good in the MLS, ever. Talked about the latest off-field scandal. Says they deserved better at the time and they deserve better now. Says Schuster deserves more time for judgement. It takes time for an executive at his level. People need to be proud to be a fan of a team. Talked about the BC Lions. The team is frustrated. Look no further than the QB. Talked about Seahawks and the return of Russell Wilson. Followed that up with NFL playoff talk. 

Jeff Paterson joined for a full hour of pre-game before Canucks faced off vs the Avalanche.

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