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• Trent Fraser, a former director of marketing and corporate development with the Green and White, is the special guest on the latest Rider Rumblings video podcast. His visit was so enjoyable that we will bring him back for next week’s edition. The podcast is available on leaderpost.com, iTunes or Google Play Music.

• The Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors used to have one of the great rivalries in major-junior hockey. Now a Pats/Warriors matchup is simply another game on the schedule. Ditto for the Pats versus the Saskatoon Blades. Sigh.

• Why are hockey referees so oblivious to obvious cross-checks? On Friday, for example, the Pats’ Logan Nijhoff was cross-checked into the Brandt Centre boards by Dakota Krebs of the Calgary Hitmen. No call. The Hitmen proceeded to score a goal when they should have been killing a penalty. The laissez-faire officiating was also on display when Nijhoff gave Kaden Elder an extra shot after finishing a check. No call (repeat). Why employ two referees if they are going to ignore penalties?

• There isn’t any justification for fighting in hockey — not when player safety is supposedly an area of emphasis.

• The new year dawned with the announcement that the Winnipeg Jets would oppose the Calgary Flames in the NHL’s Heritage Classic at Mosaic Stadium on Oct. 26. Great news! Now, how about getting around to announcing the ticket prices?

• I am not a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, but nonetheless enjoy listening to the team’s radio broadcasts. Why? Nobody calls a hockey game better than Joe Bowen.