There’s a cool little side note to Monday night’s Game 7, winner-take-all NHL Stanley Cup final. Two grads from my high school, Michael Power-St. Joesph’s in Etobicoke — Connor Brown who plays for the Edmonton Oilers and Evan Rodriquez for the Florida Panthers — are facing off opposite one another. One is about to see his name etched onto the Stanley Cup.
Neither is a hockey superstar. Rodriquez, 30, was never drafted. He’s played for four NHL teams. Brown, also 30, went 156th overall in the 2012 draft.
Both, however, have made key contributions with timely goals during these playoffs. Rodriquez had seven goals and seven assists. Brown potted two goals and four assists.
Both are about to fulfill every young hockey players lifelong dream. Just one of the fascinating storylines heading into Monday’s game in Sunshine, Florida. Expect robust ratings, as there generally is in Canada whenever a Canadian team makes it to the final round.
The elimination of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Roud One at the hands of the Boston Bruins topped the four million mark in terms of estimated audience, remaining the most-watched game of these playoffs up till now. Expect that mark to be shattered with mre than five million viewers probably a low ball prediction.
Watching of course will be the Browns and Rodriquezs of Etobicoke. One of their hockey sons could score the winner. See the game live starting at 8 p.m. ET on Sportsnet National, CBC, ABC, ESPN and TVAS.
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