"U Sports", formerly the CIAU (Go, U Sports!!), is our pathetic version of the NCAA.

As far as I know, we don’t offer real financial or scholarship incentives for student-athletes. If anything, they’re more like small honorariums than actual scholarships.

Hockey: @grayruby is right on the money here. Our young players chase opportunities in the CHL — that’s the WHL, QMJHL, and OHL — for ages 16–20.

It might not be as much of a sure thing as it once was with the growth of USA Hockey, but when I was growing up, most NHL late-round picks or undrafted older kids from the CHL could reasonably expect to keep their hockey dream alive with a big scholarship or a free ride to a very good U.S. school.

I honestly can’t think of a single player from U Sports/CIAU hockey who went on to the NHL. GPT-5 found a few — but with the exception of Joel Ward, “notable” should probably be in quotes:

Derek Ryan, Logan Thompson, and Joel Ward – recent standout examples making the jump from U Sports to the NHL. Dr. Randy Gregg – University of Alberta Golden Bears alum (and actual doctor) with a solid NHL/AHL career. Bernie Wolfe – goalie from Sir George Williams University, 119 NHL games, MVP at the university championship. Andre Hidi – University of Toronto, 7 NHL games with Washington after earning U Sports national accolades. Kent Ruhnke – University of Toronto, brief NHL and WHA career, university championship MVP.

Football: I’ve never played a down of competitive football, but I know it’s… complicated up here. High school and community teams generally play some variation of Canadian Amateur Football rules.

• Some use 3 downs.
• Quebec uses 4 downs, but still with the 1-yard line of scrimmage.
• Younger kids often use 4 downs to keep things moving.
• Community teams in Toronto and Vancouver sometimes use a hybrid of U.S. and Canadian rules.

I have no idea how it all works, but it clearly hasn’t been a great recipe for producing elite players.

We didn’t have football at my high school, but the one next door did. It was basically rugby with pads — 99% run plays and lateral passes. I don’t think I saw a single forward pass in all the time I lived there.

Though most universities have teams: we have about eight “big” football schools in Canada that use the same rules as CFL: Laval, Western, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Ottawa, Wilfrid Laurier, Alberta, and more recently Montreal Carabins. Simon Fraser University in Vancouver did have a D2 NCAA football team but I think they recently closed the program.

Anyway, great pod this week. Long day, so you’re getting a copy-and-paste on Fountain.

Appreciate you!

AI Generated SummaryAI Generated Summary

Below is a concise summary of the podcast transcript you provided. The episode, identified as Episode 44 of the Stackersports podcast, features a casual, banter-filled discussion between two hosts about various sports topics, with a focus on NFL, NBA, and brief tangents into MLB and CFL. The conversation is informal, mixing analysis, personal opinions, and humor.

OverviewOverview

The episode kicks off with technical glitches during recording, leading to an unpolished intro. The hosts dive into sports discussions, primarily NFL preseason games, NBA player redrafts, and team rankings, while touching on other topics like retirement accounts and crypto. The tone is light-hearted, with recurring themes of debating player performances, team strengths, and "absurd records" for comparison.

Key Discussion PointsKey Discussion Points

1. NFL Preseason Analysis:
   • The hosts discuss recent NFL preseason games, focusing on the San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks.
   • Key highlights include:
     • Criticism of 49ers quarterback Carter Bradley's poor performance (e.g., 3-for-6 with an interception), linked to his background as the son of a coach (Gus Bradley).
     • Positive notes on the 49ers' defense early in the game, with mentions of blitzes and sacks, contrasting with last year's strategy.
     • For the Raiders, disappointment in their offense and tackling, but optimism about rookies like Cam Miller, who drew comparisons to Brock Purdy.
     • General agreement that preseason games are unpredictable "toss-ups," with the hosts sharing betting strategies and observations on team depth and injuries.
   • They express mixed optimism: the 49ers showed promise despite losses, while the Raiders need fixes in their running game and quarterback play.
2. NBA Redraft and Team Tiers:
   • The hosts revisit the 2008 NBA Draft (dubbed the "Kevin Love Draft") and debate the top picks, particularly Derek Rose vs. Russell Westbrook. They ultimately side with Rose as the better hypothetical pick due to his potential before injuries, though Westbrook had a longer, more accomplished career.
   • Other players like Kevin Love, DeAndre Jordan, and Brook Lopez are ranked in the top three, with discussions on their adaptability and team roles.
   • They also cover Eastern Conference team tiers:
     • Contenders: Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks.
     • Play-in Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, others.
     • Debate on teams like the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets, with one host optimistic about the Raptors' potential and critical of the hosts' own rankings.
3. Other Sports and Tangents:
   • MLB: The Milwaukee Brewers are praised for their strong record despite lacking superstars, attributed to solid pitching, defense, and base running. The hosts speculate on how rule changes like the pitch clock might be influencing the game.
   • CFL: A brief mention of a BC Lions vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats game, noting its excitement and rule differences (e.g., receivers can move before the snap).
   • Absurd Records Comparison: The hosts compare LeBron James' streak of over 1,200 consecutive games with 10+ points to NFL records, like Jerry Rice's 274 straight games with at least one reception and Tim Brown's 147 games with two receptions. They conclude Rice's record is likely unbreakable due to the demands of NFL longevity.
   • Miscellaneous: Side discussions include retirement accounts (e.g., 401(k) tax benefits), a crypto meme coin promotion tied to a WNBA incident (involving thrown objects), and light-hearted beef with another commentator ("Coward") over NFL predictions.

ConclusionConclusion

The episode wraps up with the hosts reflecting on their discussions, inviting "Coward" for a debate, and expressing excitement for the upcoming sports seasons. They sign off casually, noting the fun of speculative talks and promising to continue in future episodes. Overall, the transcript captures a fan-driven, engaging conversation that blends in-depth sports analysis with humor and personal insights.

FanDuel voided my ML bet on Atlanta vs Detroit which I had Atlanta winning

You were right the 49ers and Raiders play this coming Saturday. It's an afternoon game so that will probably take up the entire show next week. Much to the dismay of our audience. Haha