What should or should not happen in 2024

To begin with, Happy New Year everyone! Health, happiness and may your desires be fulfilled. It’s also the time for predictions.

Is the new Professional Women’s Hockey League here to stay? Will the Stanley Cup return to Canada this year? What should we expect from the Canadian? Who will win the Super Bowl? Do you see the Dodgers winning the World Series? Will the Olympic Games take place in peace? Can the Alouettes win a second consecutive Gray Cup? And what can we expect from CF Montreal?

Let’s go!

The LPHF: great start!

The Montreal and Ottawa teams gave a very good show in their first match in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. There was a great atmosphere at the Place TD arena. It is to be hoped that attendance will continue in terms of attendance. This time around, the foundations of the new league seem solid. The players didn’t steal it. They showed patience and perseverance. The media give them great visibility. Just one thing: it would be nice if all six formations had nicknames.

What if it was the Canucks?

I’m almost embarrassed that I picked the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup. Why this prediction? Because it’s time for a Canadian team to bring the cup home and the Oilers seemed the team with the best elements to achieve what appears today to be an achievement for a Canadian club. Notice that they are getting back on track. The Maple Leafs? Who wants to see them win? But what about the Vancouver Canucks? They are ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings at the top of the Pacific Division. Could this finally be their year?

CH: not before 2026, at the earliest

The Canadian returned from his holiday trip in one piece. His .500 record after 37 games represents an improvement of four points compared to last year. The Habs are only five points from a playoff spot, but it would be the surprise of the year if they qualified. And, come to think of it, that might not be a good deal. We would start to dream of the cup. The team is far from there. I maintain that the Canadian will not reach the playoffs before 2026, at the earliest. But when it happens, no amount of backsliding will be tolerated.

Super Bowl: watch out for the Ravens!

With one game left in the regular season, Las Vegas oddsmakers still pick the San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl in February. But they only give them a slim margin to defeat the Baltimore Ravens, who are also having a thunderous season. However, like many fans, I have a weakness for teams that have come a long way. The Miami Dolphins could win a first division championship since 2008. The resurgence of the Detroit Lions, assured of a first division championship since 1993, and the Cleveland Browns, second behind the Ravens, is positive for the NFL. These three teams probably won’t make it to the Super Bowl, but their success provides hope for years to come.

Anyone but the Dodgers!

To conquer without danger, we triumph without glory. That’s what we’ll say about the Los Angeles Dodgers if they win the World Series in the fall. But you know what? I hope they screw up! I have no sympathy for teams trying to buy championships. I know, it’s part of the game, especially in baseball, a sport which has long since lost all sense of values. We can say that 97% of the 700 million contract for 10 years granted to Shohei Ohtani will be paid to him after his career and that he will sell tickets wherever he goes, that is madness! This is without forgetting the 325 million contract for 12 years granted to rookie pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. At least it’ll bring in a lot of tax money.

The Fear Games

Due to the international situation, Paris will be on edge during the Summer Olympics. Security will be a major challenge during the opening ceremonies, which will be held on the Seine. The athletes will parade there in boats. There is no doubt that the spectacle will be a delight for the eyes, but the police risk having their hands full. Crowd control is already complicated in a large stadium, imagine along a river. Last November, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, indicated to the daily The world that 35,000 police and gendarmes will be on duty on the day of the event, which will take place on July 26. Throughout the Games, which will continue until August 11, and the Paralympic Games, which will take place from August 28 to September 8, 30,000 law enforcement officers will be mobilized daily to ensure the safety of athletes and participants. spectators.

Why not a second Gray Cup?

The Alouettes repositioned themselves on the map of Quebec sport by winning the Gray Cup in 2023. By defeating the Toronto Argonauts, in the East Division final, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in the Gray Cup game, the Alouettes Alouettes demonstrated that their success was not a question of luck. They say it’s harder to stay at the top than to get there, but the Alouettes will still have what it takes to go far. A second consecutive championship is not a mirage.

Let’s pray for Messi!

A word, in closing, about CF Montreal, the most anonymous team in town. The good news is that Lionel Messi is due to arrive at the Saputo stadium with Inter Miami on May 11. Let’s pray he doesn’t suffer an injury before then. As for the Montreal team, two questions arise. The first: who will be the coach this year? The second: what does Joey Saputo intend to do with his team? Does he want to make it a competitive team or continue to sell his good players left and right?