Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Best of Halford and Brough 9/26/25

Episode Date: September 26, 2025

Mike & Jason look back at the previous day in sports, plus they preview tonight's Canucks preseason matchup versus Seattle, as Donnie & Dhali's Rick Dhaliwal joins the show. This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. You're listening to Halford and Brough. The kick is on the way, and the kick is up, and the kick is good, and the Seahawks win the game. And he's hit it high. Indeed to write. Grand slammed Dolan Varsho.

Come after me. I'm a man. I'm 40. Got too far. There's too much to lose. It's got to keep our composure. Good morning, Vancouver. 6.1 on a Friday.

Happy Friday, everybody. Sweet, sweet Friday. It is Halford and his broth in his SportsNet 650. We are coming live from the Kintech Studios and beautiful Fairview Slopes in Vancouver. Jason, good morning. Good morning. Adog, good morning to you.

Good morning. Laddie, good morning to you as well. Hello, hello. Halford and Brought for the morning is brought to you by Sands and Associates. Score a debt freedom hat trick. No more interest, much lower payments, and financial peace of mind. Visit them online at Sands dash trustee.com. We are in hour one of the program.

Hour one is brought to by North Star Metal Recycling. Vancouver's premier metal recycler pays the highest prices on scrap metal. North Star Metal Recycling, they recycle. You get paid. Visit them at 1170 Powell Street in Vancouver. We are coming to you live from the Kintech studio, Kintech, footwear, and orthotics working together with you in step. Can you feel it? That's how we start every ad read here at the Halford & Brough Show.

Or can you smell it. Can you smell it? Oh, I can smell it. Sports are going crazy right now. Already 6 o'clock in the morning. We are well underway at the Ryder Cup at Beth Plage Black in New York. We're actively tracking one of the first. our guests today coming up at 7 o'clock. Adam Stanley's going to join us live

from Beth Page for the Ryder Cup. We'll get right into the guest list here. I mentioned Adam's going to join us at 7. Nick Shook's going to join us at 630 this morning. NFL.com, one of their writers. He is going to join us to talk about the Seattle Seahawks yesterday. Moved to 3 and 1 last night with a walk-off field goal win, as you heard in the intro, against the Cardinals in Arizona. So we'll talk to Nick about that. We can look ahead to some of the big stories from this weekend in the National Football League, including Micah Parsons return to Dallas on Sunday night football. That's at 6.30.

7 o'clock, I should mention before we get Adam Stanley on the show, AJ from AJ's Pizza is going to join the program. Another reminder, a $100 gift card to AJ's pizza is up for grabs. Today's best ask us anything. We'll get the gift card. Hashtag at AUA. Put a pizza emoji into your text and text to the Dunbar Lumber text line at 650, 650. The premise, as it always is, very simple.

you ask us something, we answer it. If it's a really good one, you win some pizza. At 7.30, Bob the Mojumarjanovich is going to join the program. Play-by-play voice of the BC Lions. So much happening this weekend, including the Lions back at home tonight, 7 o'clock at BC Place against Nick, don't call me John Arbuckle and the Toronto Argonauts. Lions looking for their third straight win tonight to get them one game over 500.

Last time the Lions played Arbuckle. Made them look like normal. It's true. Odie, if you will. Odie, yeah. Nirmal was a winner. They were devoured. They were devoured.

They were devoured like a big tray of lasagna. There we go. 8 o'clock Rick Dollywall from the Donny and Dolly Show on Czech TV. Intrepid Connect's reporter. As per usual, here's noted Rick Dollywall handler, Jason Brough, to tell us what we're going to talk to Rick about today. The Holglander injury is probably going to lead the way. And also,

Sherwood's contract status. All right. Working in reverse on the guest list. 8 o'clock, Rick Dollywall, 730. Bob Marjanovich, 7 o'clock, Adam Stanley. AJ's in there as well, so too, as Nick Shook. That's what's happening on the program today. Laddie, let's tell everybody what happened. Hey, did you guys see the game last night?

No. No. What happened? I missed all the action because I was. We know how busy your life can be. What happened? You missed that? What happened is brought to you by?

the BC Construction Safety Alliance Making safety simpler by giving construction companies the best in tools, resources, and safety training. Visit them online at BCCSA.ca.ca. We are going to begin with the Vancouver Canucks who, for the first time this season, skated at Rogers Arena on Thursday morning for practice.

Yeah, they're all like, hey, look, black seats. 90% of the seats have been switched over to black. Yeah, that's what they said. They were, like, hey, look, black seats, almost entirely, almost. Tyler Myers counted every single one yesterday. He didn't do that. The Kinects skated in two groups yesterday.

2048, 20, Tyler, we've got to practice. 49. As I mentioned, two groups skated yesterday. The early group was the one that is going to play in tonight's preseason contest against Seattle. A reminder, that one, puck drop 7 o'clock. You can hear the call with batch right here on Sportsnet 650. You can also watch the game against the Crackin tonight on Sportsnet.

none of this streaming nonsense. It's just on good old-fashioned, regular TV, John Shorthouse on his first call of the year. But if you prefer the radio call, Brendan Batchelor, on at 7 o'clock as well. So it looks as though we're going to get not the entire full lineup, obviously, of NHL veterans from the Vancouver Connects,

but we're going to get a chance to see, it appears the first line of Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pedersen, and Brock Besser. And we're going to get our first look at Evander Kane and a Vancouver Connect's uniform tonight as well. And he's going to be centered by Braden Coom. with Lecker-Mackie on the right wing. So he gets the young guys.

He gets the babysitting job of Vander Cain tonight. I hope he's got his certificate and everything. So I'm going to throw this out to the listeners. If you're going to watch the game tonight, what are you most curious about? Pedersen is probably going to lead the way to see what he looks like. And if he doesn't look very good,

we'll say it's just the preseason. And if he looks great, say he's back. Evander Kane, first time in a Canucks uniform. Braid and Coots, the young guy who's making a push to make this team. Craftsoff's going to be in the lineup. I don't know if

anyone's curious to see what he looks like. And then Hughes and Hironic, yes, they're always entertaining but we know what they are. There's a defense pairing of DPD and VLANDR. Love it. Love it. Is that exciting for

anyone? I would love to hear your thoughts along with your askus anythings into the dunbar lumber text line at 650 650 metro Vancouver's trusted choice for contractors and renter warriors for over 50 years visit them at one of their three locations to serve you or online at dunbar lumber dot com I'm not going to overthink this one I just want to see what PD looks like the juice index everyone will be monitoring it tonight to see how much he's got in his step so again the lines from practice last night de brusk Pedersen besters the first line cane coots and lex Romacki as the second.

Cravesoff, Teddy Bluger, Kiefer Sherwood is the third, and then Vilmer Ulrichson, Atu-Ratoo, and Mackenzie McKeckern is the fourth. I want to go around the room here. I want to go around the room here. Guys, expectations for Pedersen tonight. I think that despite it being a preseason game and all the caveats that come along with that, I think that there should be some real energy for him in the building tonight.

I don't think it's naive to suggest that after as bad as last season was and the amount of questions that were left in the air and all the changes that there's going to be some pressure external and internal on EP40 and everyone is waiting to see

what you've been talking about for months what does he look like what does it look like? Because so often last year the eye and the smell test were both fails. I mean we talked about it like there'd be these games where we were going

bending over backwards to look for some sign of something some sign that he was back and it was the old PD or maybe not even necessarily the old PD but someone that looked like he was energized and engaged and wanting to drive play that's it that's the perfect way to put

wanting to drive play and able to drive play continue to go around the room I stole the thunder of every else three putt Shane Texan I'd like to see Pedersen get a cross-ice pass and without hesitation, just fire the puck. A-Dog, expectations for tonight, for Pedersen.

Gets a couple points, looks engaged. So points, of course, lead the way for A-Doh. Even if it was like a second assist on the power play where he didn't do anything on it. No, but he did. He set up the play. He made a pass that anyone could play. Second assist on an empty netter to seal the game.

I love it. But he really, really tried hard for it. You are a model of consistency. No, no. Like, I expect he'll look engaged, and I think he'll probably pick up a What high expectations we have for our players in Vancouver, I expect he'll look engaged. Baby steps, man, that's what I'm expecting to this point. You know what, A dog, honestly, that's like. It is funny, though.

As long as he looks engaged, I'm like, okay, cool. That's a crazy thing to say. After the last year and a half he's had, I want him to look engaged. Well, he hasn't for so long. So look engaged. You're being negative. You're being negative. Have some jump in your.

step, look engaged, look happy to be there, you know, have good energy, pick up a point or two. I prefer Halford so far. Halford's winning this around the horn where he said, like, I want to see him want to drive play. That's what I just said. No, you said

he said he looked engaged. Same thing. You can be engaged without driving play. No, you can't. It's physically impossible. So you think like... Well, for him, when I say engaged, that's what I mean. Okay. Driving play, setting things up, getting in assist, maybe scoring a goal. It's all the same.

Laddie, you're just like, I want to see Tolopilo. Yeah. Oh, I do. That's a good point. I didn't think about that, but yes. I just hope he stays healthy. Honestly, I want him engaged in doing all the things like you guys said, but at the end of the day, it's a preseason game. I want him to come out with all of his bones intact. Okay, so a couple follow-ups here. One, Adog, I think what you should, I want you to stay committed to this, the point total thing. I think you should have, before the, before puck drop on the first game of the year. You should have a goal in mind that you want him to hit where

it's a success or failure. And then we will monitor that all year long. 93 points. Okay. It's set. Let's lock it in. To some notes, because you mentioned the goalies, Thatcher Demko got a maintenance day yesterday, so he's not going to play today. Obviously he played last game, so nobody expected that. Kevin Lankinen

absent from the group sessions yesterday because he became a father on Tuesday. Congrats to Kevin Lankin. And as such, he's excused from the next couple days. Remember Woodley's last hit? Yeah. about babies eat and safe percentage yeah I sure do yeah I know I didn't want to bring it up I'm sure glad you did

no update on Nils Hoaglander's health we'll get something from Dollywall later in the show and Connor Garland returned to practice yesterday as well he skated with group two so he won't be in the lineup tonight either but it sounds as though he's nearing full health given that he participated in practice yesterday another thing I'd like to see as it pertains to our earlier conversation about Pedersen

chemistry with DeBrusk because that is also been a talking point in the early stages of the preseason. I know DeBreskes mentioned it a few times that year one, as of Vancouver Canuck, he didn't get a great read on Pedersen as a linemate. He said, you know, he didn't have a good feel on what the right spots were to go to, to go to on the ice while he was playing with Pedersen. He was like, I thought he was better. I thought he was going to give me the puck in better spots.

I think it was part of it. Well, Besser as well, too, on that line because Pedersen and Besser haven't really been a thing for a while. Bester's been floating without a home ever since J.T. Miller left. Yeah. I mean, not physically. Like, he has a house, but we're talking about... I would be funny if he lost his house. You live with J.T. He's got a stick. What am I going to do? Bindle on a stick walking around. Like, where am I going? No, but that's a, if that trio is going to stick and it's kind of been written in pencil since the way we were up in training camp in Penticton, that line's going to need

to be highly effective for this team. Because scoring is already going to be a problem for the Canucks. I think we can all kind of suggest. that scoring might be an issue. That top line is going to be leaned upon heavily, and they're going to need to find some chemistry straight away. Okay. So that's the Canucks side of what happened. Let's talk about the Seahawks last night,

because for most of that game, they looked like clearly the best team. It looked at times like they were going to get a comfortable victory. It was a victory, but anything but comfortable. It was a little too close for comfort last night. The Seahawks were, Up 20 to 6 midway through the fourth quarter. But they needed a Jason Myers walkoff, 52-yard field goal at the death to win it.

The Seahawks did withstand a late rally from Kyler Murray in the cards to beat Arizona 23 to 20 on Thursday night football. Here's what the game-winning kick sounded like, courtesy Westwood won. Seattle lining up from the left hash, 52-yard field goal try for a win on the road. They're ready. Proud in a frenzy. Good snap. Good hold. The kick by Myers on the way, and it is good.

And the Seattle Seahawks get a 23-20 win. The last second field goal by Jason Myers propels Seattle to their eighth straight win over the Arizona Cardinals and a three-in-one record to start this young season. What a kick. What a kick. You know what? We need that as a drop. What a kick.

It was a good kick because Myers had missed the 53-yarders earlier in the game, which I think would have probably put the nail in for the cards. But that miss, you could see it was a real turning point in that fourth quarter. Anyway, go ahead. Most of the night, that crowd was booing the Arizona Cardinals' offense. And the Seahawks defense looked, yes, it looked good. And I'm sure it was part of the equation. But it was mostly the cards looked just.

super disorganized. There were plays where the receiver would go the wrong way and Murray would throw it to like nobody. He threw an awful pick to start. Now the Seahawks fumbled it right back to the Cardinals

on the return. It just looked awful for the Cardinals but the Seahawks let him hang around and Halford mentioned the missed field goal that allowed them to score a late tying touchdown And, man, if the C, you know what, I was thinking, like, during that game, that's the type of game, like, the Seahawks would play, but they were, it was the Cardinals last time.

Do you know what I mean? No. Okay. But, like, how many times, how many times did the Seahawks have a game like the Cardinals did, but they ended up pulling out the win? Oh, okay. You were like, what is wrong with these guys? What is wrong? And then they make some plays in the end and they find a way to win and you're like, oh, well.

Right. So in this scenario, the Seahawks kicker wouldn't make a boneheaded play on the kickoff with seconds remaining thereby giving. Let's talk about that too. Okay. So the Seahawks. I love these new kickoff rules. They've helped the Seahawks in two wins this year. I love the new kickoff rules because I'm pretty sure half the NFL doesn't understand them.

This is as much as I can take from the early stages of the season. So yesterday, after Kyler Murray throws a touch. touchdown pass and they kick the convert to tie the game at 2020. Cardinals line up for the kickoff and Chad Ryland's kick, a squib kick lands short of the landing zone. You have to get the ball inside the 20 and Chad Ryland's kick hit about the 20 and a half yard line. He didn't miss it by much, but it was short. And once again, the broadcasters weren't exactly sure what was going on because as soon as the ref blew the whistle, I was like, oh, where does that ball come out to?

I don't, I admit, I did not know the rule. Yeah, I was like, is it the 30, the 40? And then, man, what a big mistake to make, though. So the Seahawks get the ball on the 40. They marched the ball down the field on a couple of plays, including a big play from Sam Darnold to Jackson Smith and Jigba. They line it up. And it was interesting listening to Mike McDonald in the post game, because after missing a 53-yarder, you thought there might have been some hesitation

with trotting Jason Myers-older from the distance that they did. I couldn't believe they ran right before the kick. Mike McDonald said, we knew he was going to make that kick. And I don't know if that was just like clever coach-speak in the aftermath. He is a very good kicker.

Yes. And the 53-yarder was a rare miss for Myers, to be honest. He's good from that distance. And, of course, he was good at the end of the game. So kickoff rules have aided this Seahawks team because we remember they had a crazy touchdown in Pittsburgh off a kickoff as well. It's been one of the narratives of this season.

Sam Darnold, another very, very efficient performance from Sam Darnold, who is starting to look like a guy that can engineer a team to the playoffs, not unlike what he did with Minnesota the year prior. Now, the questions are obviously going to be what happens when he gets to the playoffs is he going to take 12 sacks again. But doesn't make a ton of mistakes. I know he had the two picks earlier in the season.

season but very calm and collected ground game not great didn't love the way they ran the football yesterday no and they they probably learned something yesterday about the importance of closing out games because what they did to new orleans two weeks ago beating the living snot out of the saints early and not letting them off the canvas they didn't do it yesterday they couldn't put the final nail in the coffin you know when they were up they had a big lead at half time they had chances on offense to put scores in the end zone. They put one in the end zone, but it got called back on a JSN hold,

which I don't know if you, he got caught on a hot mic sharing his thoughts on the holding penalty. Did he agree with it? He probably agreed. He was like, shockingly, he did not. He did not agree with that.

Yeah, okay. But overall, the Seahawks are 3 and 1. If not for some self-inflicted mistakes in week 1, they could be 4 and 0. Mike McDonald is now 9 and 1 in his first 10 road games as Seattle Seahawks head coach. Yes.

it was a soft schedule and we kind of went through this last season, didn't we? Can only beat the teams that are in front of you. Coming up, they've got Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield. And that's in Seattle. In Seattle. Then they go to Jacksonville. Then they host Houston.

And then they've got the buy week. What record do you think they'll be? So we talked about this on our Seahawks group thread last night. Sorry you're not on it. It's just different people. It's not a bad thing. It's just different people. Okay.

there is a very real chance that they could be five and two going into the buy that look I know Tampa Bay is 3 and O but Tampa Bay's got Philly this weekend and they got all kinds of injuries on offense and Lumen is back yes well Texans are bad and that's in Seattle and that's in Seattle the road game in Jacksonville I don't even know what to make you know it's good on the road they're automatic they are they're nine and 100 Mike McDonald on the road. That's a long trip. You're playing a Jacksonville team that I can't really make heads or tails of, but

here's the thing. If they get to five wins by the by, suddenly you're talking about a team that's got like a really good shot at making the playoffs, and all of a sudden you're looking at, well, double digit wins and how far into double digit wins could they get? So it's been a good start to the season for the Seahawks. Hey, are we back on the Seahawks?

Are we excited about the Seahawks? Are we willing to go there? They've sucked me in for sure. I knew it. Deke and Squamish, we need to know if Halford jinx the Seahawks, and if they gave up a rushing touchdown. They did not. They absolutely did not. No rushing touchdowns allowed for the fourth consecutive game.

The only team in the NFL that is not allowed a rushing touchdown. Laddie wants to know when we're going to talk about the Blue Jays. Yeah. Because they won last night. You're back, baby. Okay. He's like, you jackals only talk about them when they have a disaster. That is true.

Here's a question for Laddie. And I know it's late in the season and I know that they've already clinched the playoffs, but how profound was the Dalton Varsho Grand Slam last night in the grand scheme of things? Oh, I listened to the Nesson broadcast of it, and even they were like, that's got to be such a weight off their shoulders. And it's like, yes, the Santander almost grand slam earlier in the game. And then that moment, it's just, you can't, you can't sum up baseball better than what happened. And how about, how about a round of applause for the bullpen? Yep. Bullpen day. Bullpen day. Yeah, I mean, pitch pretty well. You know, that's what they need.

And now the starters get an extra, extra day of rest. And, you know, hopefully, who so is Gossmann right now scheduled to start the final game? Or how does it go? I'm not sure how the, I'm not sure how the lineup is going to shake out. I think it depends on if they get the buy. Yeah, they want to line it up. That's what I'm talking about. That's what, like, you want to get it as soon as possible.

Yes, he is for, so tonight they start their final series of the season against the Tampa Bay raid. who've given them a little bit of trouble. Fits, if you will. Especially the pitchers that are lining up to face the Jays. Beber, you savage, the young guy, and then Gossman. Those are the scheduled starters, but what you would hope is that they've got the first round by clinched by at least the last game so they can roll Gossman and the,

well, they can just rest everyone. They're going to have a break then. New York, the Yankees, of course, also won last. night 5-3 against the White Sox so the Yankees have now won five straight and eight of nine with that win yesterday the Yankees clenched home field advantage in the wild card should they get there because they can still win the ALE East for the over the Jays for the division title they both have the same record right now 91 and 68 the Jays hold the tiebreaker and it should be noticed that it noted sorry that Baltimore's in last place in the division they've had a bad year it's not good. The J's play at home against Tampa Bay. You mentioned the starters. They haven't had a great record against Tampa Bay this year.

It just comes down to what you basically got to, I think you have to win two or three at a minimum. Baltimore has been better. But I think you've got to win two or three. Baltimore has been in a better shape the second half of the season. But yes, there's not a lot to play for it on the stretch. But hey, maybe they'll enjoy being the spoilers. Okay, the Ryder Cup is underway,

and there are some very interesting scores out there. Colin Moracawa for the Americans was kind of a controversial selection to the team and a lot of people were saying well he's not really playing that well maybe that's a spot that Keegan Bradley should take Colin Moracawa along with

Harris English He should be on the European team with that kind of thing but he's on the American team he's a traitor Rory McElroy and Tommy Fleetwood are five up through eight holes That's bad, right? That's a dog walking. Yes. There's another one too.

And it involves the number one player in the world, Scotty Sheffler, who along with Russell Henley, is four down to Ludwig Oberg and Matt Fitzpatrick. The Americans are only up in one of the four matches. They're one-up, Zander Shoffley, Patrick Cantlay, over the Scottish guy that won the Canadian Open, Robert McIntyre. Oh, yeah. And one of your favorite guys, Victor Hovland.

Love the Hovland. And then the scary duo of John Rom and Tyrell Hatton are one up through 10 on Bryson Deschambo and Justin Thomas. So a very encouraging start for Europe at the Ryder Cup. I love that they put the Husky Lads together. That's that pairing, that group's name, Rom and Hatton. The Husky Lads, that's what they call them. I just made that up on the spot.

They don't call them that. that's when they got their clothes for the Ryder Cup, they were husky-sized. Why do we have to shop in this section? All right, we got to go to break. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. Rick Dolly Wall.

Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. Wall, Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Dolly Wall.

Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Dolly Wall. Rick Dolly Wall. It's time for Rick Dolly Wall. 8.1 on a Friday. Happy Friday, everybody. Halford and Brough of Sportsnet 650.

Halford and Brub in the morning is brought you by Sands and Associates. Score a debt freedom hat trick. No more interest, much lower payments, and finance. Peace of Mind. Visit them online at sands dash trustee.com. My eyelid is flickering. Can you see it? It's flickering like crazy. You're okay? Am I having a medical? From all those texts we've been getting in about stand wiping. I'd be having a medical moment related to stand wiping. I get that sometimes. Yeah. I like the one text there that was like, you guys wipe? Yeah. I was like, all right. You can do that? The discourse this morning. It's thrown me off guilt. Or the reverse guy. He

realized after 20 years of standing and white. that you could sit down and do it. That was an amazing. I love that. It just occurred to him last minute. West from Nunimo and it was like, my buddy told me about sitting. Yeah. Have you tried the sitting and wiping things?

And it's like, it's like, how did that conversation come up? Yeah. Yo, bro, you got to try this. Just discovered it last night. Blew my mind. So you know the toilet that you're sitting on, right? And you stand up afterwards? You could sit back down on it.

You could sit the whole time. Yeah, you don't have to get up. Cut out the standing part. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Just saved you like 20 seconds. What it, nuts. We are in hour three of the program. We're from Nanaimo.

We don't do that. Isn't a Nanaimo thing? Hour three of this program is brought to by Campbell & Pound Real Estate Appraisers. Trust the expertise of Campbell and Pound. Visit them on the internet at Campbell-Dashpound.com today. We are coming to you live from the Kintech studio, Kintech Footwear and Orthotics, working together with you in step. The lucky guests on this show and on SportsNet 6.

650. Call in on the hotline powered by Power West Industries. Don't get caught in the dark when it matters most. Visit them at powerwest.ca. Today, they keep the lights on in the bathroom. Yeah. So you don't have to stand to the Power West Industries hotline we go. It's Ricky D. Rick Dollywall from Donnie and Dolly on Check TV here now, live on the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. What up, Rick?

Alfred, I want to actually start with you. Okay. I couldn't find the white caps. game on TV the other night. Please tell me for the playoffs, it's going to be easier. This is the best Caps MLS team of all time. It's a gong show trying to find these guys on TV. It's ridiculous.

The Caps are blowing it. Such a good team, and they can't get to the general population. Never mind the rest of the province. I don't know how people in the Kootenies are up north or in the Caribou are getting finding these games. Like I spent 30 minutes the other day trying to find it. I'm not going to do that anymore. I'm not going to waste my time.

but please tell me, Hoffer, that they change the way they're doing things on television. It is beyond ridiculous. Caps have no control over what games get put on linear and what don't. They have control over, you know, maybe the board of governors passing this crap. I know where the lines are. I'll tell you this, they're not the only MLS team that is voiced concerns about the Apple TV deal. And I know right now there's a bunch of codes that are floating out there right now for free Apple TV MLS. package for the remainder of the season because

I know that the buys aren't there. We've had a couple different guys on from the athletic that cover the MLS business at large. And your criticisms and your concerns are not alone. There's a lot of people that are in the same the vocal majority, almost I would say, that it's very difficult

to find these games. You're losing out on casual viewers. I know that the Canadian Championship on Wednesday is going to be broadcast on linear, but that's because it's not an MLS property. It's an individual property. I know one soccer and TSN are working together to get more games on TSN, like more linear television.

But that Apple TV deal, it has not been a ringing success for the league because you've pointed out. It's kind of ahead of its time, don't you think? People weren't ready to watch like that. The games feel hidden is the problem. Is the games feel hidden to beat people? They're lucky.

Hold it, guys, guys, they are very lucky. The 7-0 win was on TSN. because that was the game like everybody in this city should have been watching. And I haven't been excited about a whitecaps team like this since 1979, the soccer bowl. These guys have got your attention. You know, despite what stupid people think the Canucks are the only team in the market, they're not. The white caps and lines offense, there's a lot to like. There's a lot of good stuff happening with the lines and the white caps.

But the white caps, you've got to spend an hour to find out where the hell they are on TV. Okay, this might screw you up, but since you mentioned the Lions, do your Nathan Rourke rant now. You want the, you want Rort first? I want the rant first. Yeah, yeah. Okay, listen to me, rough. Okay, that's why you're on the show. I loved his emotion.

I loved his passion when ripping the CFL rules. He's a proud Canadian who loves the Canadian game. We need more Canadians sticking up for Canadian products like the way Nathan did. There's nothing wrong with what he said. It was one of the most raw, honest, from the heart speeches I've ever, ever heard from any athlete. And I've been covering athletes for 36 years. Humans don't like change because we get into a comfort zone. We get used to things a certain way, and we want those to remain that way forever.

But change is necessary. It's called innovation. Look at our industry. I hate the changes. I grew up with radio TV newspapers in the 80s. That's the way I wanted it to be for the rest of my life. I hate social media. We have no choice.

Things are changing. We either accept it, adapt, or get the hell out. These changes are not going to stop Rourke from being the MVP of this league. He is still going to go on to become the next million dollar per year player in the CFL. The Americanization of the CFL is not happening. That day comes when the CFL goes from three to four downs. That's the day they lose me. When that happens, you can call it NFL 2.

We're not there yet. The CFL still has 12 players. They got the wider field. They got the tons of motion. That's not American. That's Canadian. The CFL won this week, Prof, in Holford, because I have never heard so many people talking about the league like I heard.

And with passion, too. Yeah, with passion, too. Like, they were there. Yeah. Can I jump in real quick? I do have a temporary answer to your question. of the next two Whitecaps games are going to be on, they're on TSN, right?

They're on TSA. So hold on. Saturdays, which is a big match, it's in Seattle, it's the Derby. By the way, Ryan Gould might play on Saturday, which is amazing. Also, Mueller's going to be back in the lineup, too. And then Wednesday's the Canadian Championship, which is the Vancouver Derby between Vancouver FC

and the Vancouver White Cups. That's also going to be, again, I'm talking up another network, but it's on TSM. Yeah, but I need the playoffs on TSN. I don't need to go, you know, spending 40 minutes trying to find a playoff game offer. I will lodge my complaint or your complaint with the powers to be, many of whom I don't know, but I'll try my best, okay? Okay, let's talk about the Canucks.

Do you have an update on Nils Hoaglander's injury? Yeah, okay, so I was told last night that they're still evaluating, waiting to see what it is. They may or may not have answers today for Hoaglander. We'll wait and see. but the worst fear for any player that leaves a rink in a walking boot is either high ankle sprain or a broken foot. Remember Chris Anav? Well, he did it quite a bit,

but remember the one time he walked out in a walking boot? Many years ago, it was five months out. He was out with a high ankle sprain. Hoglander got hurt on an innocent play, second period in Abbotsford. It didn't look like a dangerous play at all. Boy, if this kid's out, it's the last thing you need. He's coming off a disastrous eight-go-year. did you hear him this week in an interview go out of his way to say it seems like I have a new coach every year

he's correct this kid's he's 24 years old and adam foot's going to be his fourth head coach in five years and i thought he was coming on late in the season too like he played way better in the second half of the season than he did in the first half it's insane what this kid's gone through he has gone through so many ups and downs the 24 goal season a couple years ago was great but then he got parked in the playoffs, right? And his ice time was limited, got healthy scratch. Okay, so listen, the Canucks don't have the strongest forward group to begin

with, and if Hoaglander is out long term, boy, this is going to hurt, okay? That's when I, if he's out long term, I would not surprise me if the Canucks pick up the phone and call the agent for Jack Roslovak. You can get him cheap now, right? You can get them cheap because last check, Roslovich

was getting PTO offers. He doesn't want that. Wow. PTO is for Roslovich? Yeah, yeah, and you know what? What's the deal with this guy? He had a pretty good year last year in Carolina. He overplayed his hand. He was looking for term in July and August, didn't get the term.

A lot of teams called. There's always one guy that does that, isn't there? Well, every year there's one guy that wrote. Well, Tyler Mott did it in Vancouver. The Canucks made him a really nice offer. He hits the market. Instead of getting a raise, he had to go backwards. So sometimes you misread the market.

But here's what. what I've been told. Unless something comes to them, the Canucks I'm talking about, or they have to make a move because of Hoaglander, the general feeling is the Canucks want to wait for the 15, 20 game mark to see what they got and go from there. But if Hoaglander's out long term, that could really change and alter the Canucks thinking. It really could. Okay, let's talk about Sherwood. He's got a year left on his contract, then he's an unrestricted free agent. There's been, and I know you have reported that there's been some activity is what's the status right now? Okay, so Patrick Elvin talked about Sherwood this week, the fact he's a UFA. Sherwood has picked up where he left off.

He works really hard in practice in games, looks like the same guy who scored 19 goals, led the NHL and hits by a large margin. One thing that Adam Foote is going to harp on this year is proper practice habits. That was an issue last year. That's not an issue for Sherwood. he's one of the hardest working guys 24-7.

He's a culture carrier. You don't want to get rid of guys like this. The Canucks probably need to see Sherwood a bit more in the regular season before they engage in more serious talks. Sure, the two sides touch base. They touch base in July and August as well. Now, as a rare type of player who supplies skill and physicality, the more the Canucks wait, the more that price is going to go up.

Now, let me take it back to what happened in Dakota Joshua's UFA season. He kept scoring, was a big physical presence, and the number got to a place where the Knox didn't want to go. Oh, boy, they didn't want to go there. But they had to go there because he was about 10 days away, or sorry, like five or six days away from being a UFA on July 1st. I can see the same thing happening with Sherwood. This is a player I can see getting significant term, and I'm not talking about two or three years. All Sherwood has to do is replicate last season's totals, and he's going to do really fine on his next contract. Okay, let's talk about a couple of the youngsters trying to crack the team.

We'll start with Braden Coots. What are his chances? It's pretty rare than an 18-year-old center especially sticks in the NHL, but maybe the Canucks are in a unique position to give them that opportunity. That's a great point. And I think what you just said right there is going to be very interesting in the next 10 days to two weeks. So after the Seattle game, I had a pro scout tell me that Cooch looks like a young Boor Horvatt to him. He's got Bo's maturity, composure, and just like Bo, he's getting trust from the coaches in their early age. Then I got two more scouts that backed up the comparison about Horvatt.

They really think this is a younger version. Not there yet. He's got a long way to go. I know that. But that's what we do. You know, we play the comparison game all the time. Pretty high praise for a kid who is going to make it hard on the connect to cut him. That's all you want from draft picks at camp.

make it hard on us to send you back to junior. Oh my, is he ever doing that? He's done everything right. Defensively strong, good offensive instincts. You saw that on the Mancini goal in Seattle. Okay, you saw that on the power play. He wins face-offs. There's a trust factor.

He's going to be a hard cut. Just may hang around, Jason. I don't know. Now, if you're the Seattle Thunderbirds, you can only wait for your captain. when the Canucks drafted Coots, Seattle's biggest concern was Coots going to the NCAA. Schools with Deep Pockets were throwing money around. So many schools were after him, but he said, you know what he said?

No, the Western Hockey League is the place for me. Coots thinks the quicker route to the NHL is the WHL and not college. And plus, he loves the Thunderbirds. He likes that setup in Seattle. Now, I'm going to tell you, my guy in Seattle, he has told me on that, this on more on one occasion. Cooch is the first guy at the rink, first on the ice, last off the ice, last to leave the rink.

This guy is an absolute amazing character pick. I can't tell you how they rave about him in Seattle. Seattle's going to be a good team this season. They'll be a whole lot better with Coots. They did lose Kevin Kourchinski to Chicago at a very early age, seventh overall picked a few years ago. They're obviously hoping that's not the case. with Coots, but they did lose

Kortinski at a Chicago. He went right from Seattle to Chicago into the Blackhawks lineup. But I do... Yeah, he shouldn't have. And exactly, now where's he's in the minors? So there's the mistake of putting kids in the NHL. We saw that with Vertanin, and we saw

that with... McCann. Yeah, exactly. We saw that, the Canucks put them in in 19, and it backfired. So at some point, most people do expect Coots to return to Seattle. Yeah, I always remember Willie Dajardin, and he turned out to be absolutely correct

because remember the decision around McCann came around. Well, McCann was scoring goals. He was scoring a ton of goals, and I was the one that asked the question. I was like, what is your big worry in keeping him? And he said, well, the NHL season gets long. And, you know, and it's basically it's hard for these younger guys to keep it up. They come into camp in the preseason in the first few games,

running on adrenaline, and then it gets hard. and that's exactly what happened. And physicality, why Coots isn't, he's not 6, 4, 2, 20. And, you know, Kinnock's already made a big mistake with Klamovic. After his draft year,

they put him in the... Yeah, you should have gone back to the juniors. Yeah, you should have gone back to juniors. That was a big mistake. And now that poor kid is staring at his fifth year in Abbisbert. Think about that. Fifth year, right? And if he doesn't get a sniff with the Kinnock's this year at the NHL level,

he hasn't even had one game with the Kinnock's. What's he thinking? Like, do I go back to Abbottford for a sixth year? So these NHL teams fall in love with draft picks at camp, but very few can make the transition. But the great thing for the Canucks is you just can't find anybody. This is anything bad about Coots. He really is, I think, is going to be a turnout to be just a splendid draft pick for Vancouver. For those who are going to watch the game tonight, Coots is expected to center Evander Cain and Lecker-Mackie.

So all three of those guys will be interesting to watch, even though it is just an exhibition season. Pedersen between DeBrusk and Besser. There's another line that you're probably going to be wanting to watch closely. No Mancini in the lineup tonight. It'll be D.P.D. and Vilander, still getting used to saying it that way. What's the latest on Mancini? Because Adog loves him.

Adog is just like, that's his favorite player right now, I think. Canucks love him too. Okay, so when the Canucks made the J.T. Miller trade, the trade took a little bit longer than expected. Do you know why? Because the Rangers didn't want to put Mancini in the trade. Now we know why, right? So he worked his ass off this summer. He worked on his hands, his skating, his fitness.

He came in the camp, by the way, in great shape, great focus. He went to Sweden. He's obviously an American-born player. He went to Sweden to train for two or three weeks this past summer. So I asked why Sweden. well he played there in Sweden during COVID liked it there he's got some the good friends, good trainers and all that stuff

so he went out of his way to go to Sweden to train and this guy's on a mission he's looked great in the first two games he has things to work out he has things to work on guys if you ask people in Abbisford in the Calder Cup he's great they loved him last year

but he can get reckless on the ice at times right but he's six three he's a 200 pounder right shot D you can skate like the wind But those guys don't grow on trees, but what's amazing is the Canucks have two right-shot defensemen right now fighting to make the team, Mancini and V-Lander. So, you know what? When is the last time that happened? You know, go look at the right-shot defenseman in the last 15 years.

They haven't drafted well. I think Kevin Biazza was the last one. Well, and if it wasn't for Chris Tanna, you know, showing up, every single year the right side, of the Canucks is there because of either trades or free agent signings. Yep. Right? Right? So how nice to have two, well, they do have two right-shot deep fighting,

but how nice to have a guy like Wellandry, a guy you drafted. They haven't drafted right-shot defensemen in the city in a long, long time. Rick, it's exciting. It's an exciting time of the season, lots of things going on. Anything else? Yeah, I got one more thing. I'm going to be, Brock, are you ready for this? I'm going to be in the Moulson suite.

at the BC Lions game tonight Braggar No hold it, hold it Hold it, hold it Those Molson guys Yeah They love Donnie me That Colin and Brandon

Good guys, good guys Two years ago I'm gonna tell you guys A story I was in the Molson suite At the Lions game With Donnie Brough shows up

And he's got a rum and coke In his hand Yeah, I was having a good night It's a beer suite Yeah No wonder The people are looking at him Goal what the hell's this guy doing

First of all It wasn't a rum and Coke It was a Ryan Coke Which you should appreciate Okay, anyways, read the room brough. Okay, well, I also grabbed a few beers on the way out. But if you're in a BMW suite, are you going to show up in a Mercedes-Benz hat? Sure, no.

Read the room. Well, they should try and sell me on making a change. Ron Toygo, if I walk into his suite, he invites us to the lot of Giants games in the suite. If I walk in with a red deer rebels hat, am I not going to look stupid? I walk in with McDonald's. Read the room, bruff. the room. Read the room for a better.

All right. Well, enjoy all your beers tonight. Have a good time. The Lions, I'll tell you, if they fix their deed, they're going to win the Great Cup, that's the best offense in the CFL, Nathan Rourke, good Canadian. And last thing on Rourke, start to appreciate, he's a Canadian quarterback. Start to appreciate what this family means to Canada, him and his brother. Appreciate the fact.

I've been watching the CFL since the late 70s. Russ Jackson, what's his name? Rourke just broke his record last. he did. He did. The last great Canadian quarterback was Greg Vabra in the 90s with Calgary. Start to appreciate what this kid's doing. This kid is going, there's some kid playing football, minor football right now in Lower Mainland, who's telling his mom and dad, I want to be the next Nathan Warc. Be proud of the fact this guy's Canadian. Be proud of the fact this guy is lighting it up. This is an American-skilled position in Canada for decades. He's going to change that.

And then there's going to be another Nathan Rourke Canadian quarterback do this in about five to ten years. Oh, Canada. There you go. Rick, you're going to be at a CFL game tonight, watching a Canadian quarterback, drinking a moulson Canadian, and probably hugging a moose or something like that. Yes. Yes. You need to wear a lumberjack shirt tonight. Just, brof, if you come in the suite tonight, act accordingly.

Bye. Bye, Rick. Rick Dollywell, everybody. Nobody does it better. Nobody should try. Okay, we got a lot more to get to on the Halford and Brough show. Who brought the moose? It takes up the entire sweet.

They're bigger than you'd expect. They are huge. We're going to do what we learns and ask us anything's on the other side of the break. I'm going to throw out a quick while we learned just to get things rolling and kind of mow and laddie's lawn over here. I have NHL goaltending news, Laddie. Of the full circle variety. Nearly a decade, actually more than a decade after he left Toronto, full circle. James Reimer is back with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The James Reimer signed a PTO with the Maple Leafs this morning. I assume this has something to do with Joseph Wall leaving the team to deal with a family issue. Correct. So I went back and it's been just over a decade, 2015. In the spring of 2015 was the last time that James Reimer played. Remember what he was supposed to be the next guy in Toronto? And then they brought in Jonathan Bernier. Well, you know what they did with Reimer?

Nelson Mandela, nowhere, Jonathan Bernier. I think they ruined him by putting too much pressure on him when he was young. And he had some concussion issues too. And remember he came back and I think Berkey was still the GM there. Yep. A long time ago. It was like, yeah, I was like, he's our guy. I'm like, that's a lot to put on a young guy.

Was his last season the collapse? Was that his final year? Did he play another one after that? Which collapse? There's so many classes. The one where he's laying on the ice, the Bruins scored an overtime. He's kind of laying in there. He played after that.

He played after that. So the securitus route back to Toronto took him through Florida. San Jose, Carolina, Detroit, Buffalo, and Anaheim. And now Optimus Rhyme is back. I forgot Anaheim. Yeah. I thought he was in Buffalo still.

Grand total of two games for the Anaheim ducks. And now he's back. What's old as new again, James Rimer is, for now, a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mookalmy. You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough.