HodgePodge

By Charlie Hodge

I’m back, or at least most of me.

There’s a chunk of me over there in the spare writer parts drawer called ‘politics – local.’

I  can’t go there.

I never intended to do that anyway.  Regardless, I have been reinstated into my regular column slot as long as I make no comments about the October 20 municipal elections events. So I won’t write stuff about how you need to be heard, should make your mark, lead don’t just follow.

I won’t write about all the advance polls you can go to ahead of time, save stress, get the job done without a lineup, and then how much fun it is to hassle everyone else to vote.

Nor how shall I wax prose on how important it is to vote.

I won’t even suggest it is wise to only vote for those candidates that you like and not to try and fill your ballot card like it is the ole fashioned dance card. Just vote for who you like and thereby not devalue your vote by giving it to someone you do not know.

Anyway, I  promise not to write about any of that stuff.

Hmm there must be something else senseless  can babble about this time of year besides local politics? Hmm.

I can go after that dangerous, deranged person running the show south of the border however HodgePodge reader Mike P.i s still furious at me for the last tongue lashing I gave The Donald and let the paper owners know it.

Hmm other senseless stuff about stuff… ‘B.C politics’ . No to easy and boring – almost as absurd as Donald.

Trudeau and broken pipe line promises …. too easy.

Well, it is early October so that leaves the good old standby hockey predictions,

Okay – let’s play that one.

I will start with the end in case I run out of space

Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup.

Yup – that’s it.

The Maple Leafs will edge out the Nashville Predators in seven games to win the Cup in a furious series that keeps the country fixated to the screen.

The final four teams from the Eastern Conference will include: Toronto, Tampa Bay, Columbus and Pittsburgh, while the West will boast Nashville, Winnipeg, Calgary and Los Angeles.

Teams that will advance to the Eastern playoffs but not much further include, “Boston, Washington. Philadelphia, and Buffalo while out of the West watch for Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and San Jose.

Connor McDavid will win the scoring race.

John Tavares will finish fifth overall in league scoring,  a few spots ahead of Auston Mathews who will win the Conn Smythe award. And just to put a full bow on the package – Vancouver will have a good year with rookies and rebuilds and finish near the bottom of the pile. Which is okay provided we pick well next year.

Meanwhile on the local Rockets’ scene it appears some fans are concerned with the current version of the on ice club. Relax folks. First off it is a young season and rebuild is the word. After so many successful seasons  behind us a few slower seasons are not only understandable, but expected. That aside there is no doubt that management have some plans for the near future. We will have a much different club on the ice at Christmas.

Now that I am ‘reinstated’ and my hockey prediction column out of the way I will be ready for next week’s Podge – sans hockey, Trump, Feds and the Province. Hmmm. Can’t wait to see what I come up to pick on.

Perhaps media coverage of the election?