AS I SEE IT COLUMN: Congratulations Pistons, good luck Nighthawks and other random thoughts

Pistons – Congratulations to the Steinbach Pistons. While the organization is obviously disappointed that their season is over, their ability to consistently make the playoffs is remarkable. Since Paul Dyck took over the reigns as permanent coach in 2012, the team has never missed the MJHL playoffs. That is simply amazing.

Disappointed Pistons fan can take some solace that our team isn’t the Winnipeg Blues. The last time the Blues participated in the MJHL playoffs was way back in the 2016-2017 season. Yikes.

As is the case year after year after year, the biggest impact the Pistons have happens away from the rink, thanks to all the great community work the players do. Well done boys!

Jets – So Connor Hellebuyck can stone Team Canada in the Olympic gold medal game but he can’t lead the Jets into the playoffs. How disappointing and yet utterly unsurprising.

The Jets 7-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in a must-win game was brutal. I admire his bravery but when coach Scott Arniel said that pathetic effort “falls on me” (for the umpteenth time this season), it just doesn’t make any sense. The Jets are professional athletes. If they cannot get themselves ready for the biggest game of the year – in a sold-out home barn – something is wrong with them, not the coach.

UFC – It is beyond disgusting that last weekend Trump found time between attending a UFC fight and golfing to post an image portraying himself as Jesus, instead of working to end his unprovoked war in Iran. How does anyone – especially those who professes to be a Christian – still support someone so profoundly deranged and depraved?

The Masters — Great to see Rory McIlroy win his second green jacket. He took a lot of heat standing up for the PGA when rival LIV Golf got going. Nice to see him get repaid by the golf gods for standing up for honour, integrity and human rights. Not great to read runner-up Scottie Schefler crying about the conditions on the course. Umm Scottie, two things: 1) everyone else played on the exact same course you did and 2) no one else felt the need to whine to the media.

Men’s World Championships – Hopefully we’ll get to see Mark Scheifele centre Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard at the upcoming Worlds in Switzerland in May. With Scheifele having the best season of his career, a big showing at the Worlds would go a long way to giving him a chance to make Team Canada’s roster for the next Four Nations or World Cup. Playing with two legitimate superstars should help him make his case that he belongs on future versions of Team Canada.

Vilardi’s focus on mental health – As great a season as Gabriel Vilardi has had for the Jets (with career highs in goals, assists and points), a strong argument can be made he’s had an even bigger season for his work off the ice. Vilardi does a lot of community work advocating for removing stigmas around mental health. He’s been nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which honours players who have “made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.” Great job!

Niverville Nighthawks – With the Pistons and Jets done for the season, hockey fans in southeast Manitoba can unite behind the Niverville Nighthawks. They’ve got a strong roster that has the potential to make a very deep playoff run. Go get ‘em!