last word on sports
From December 2018–October 2020, I worked for Last Word On Sports. The majority of my time was as managing editor of their CFL department, and then I finished off as a hockey editor from June 2020–October 2020.
I interviewed several CFL players, created Nik’s Picks, published over 110 articles, edited over another 100, and did my very best to do one thing = write about what other people aren’t. I believe that’s how you separate yourself these days.
BEST OF - CFL
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Chris Streveler and the Fur Coat
While awaiting the pre-game ceremony at the Dallas Stars–Winnipeg Jets game last December, I grinned knowing I had insider knowledge few others had: Chris Streveler would not be walking onto the ice in a fur coat… because it was in my basement.
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Top 20 CFL Pass Defenders of 2019
I’ve attached a name to every single pass thrown in the CFL in 2019, ranking the best defenders. Is this perfect? No. Does it paint a damn accurate picture of who is doing their job right? You bet.
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CFL Revisit: BC vs. Winnipeg – 2010 Thanksgiving Thriller
Interviews from Jovon Johnson, Alex Brink, O’Neil Wilson, and Greg Carr re-calling one of the wildest CFL decades from the 2010s: BC at Winnipeg on Canadian Thanksgiving. Travis Lulay started for B.C., Alex Brink for Winnipeg. Neither finished the game.
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How the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Went Wrong in Montreal
It’s not often a CFL team sits atop their division come late September while having multiple blown 20-point leads on their resumé. It reeks of a team that finds a way to lose when it matters; a team that lacks focus in crunch time.
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Nik’s Picks Grey Cup 2019
The Tiger-Cats are loaded without any glaring weaknesses under the leadership of Orlondo Steinauer and quarterbacking of backup turned starter Dane Evans. The Bombers are full of unsung heroes that Kyle Walters and Mike O’Shea have brought in and coached up.
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Predicting the CFL 2020s All-Decade Team
Sick of 2010s’ lists? Well, we have good news — this is a 2020’s list! Totally different. In all seriousness, there are a ton of CFL players under 30 — an unofficial cutoff age for this team — who deserve some recognition for their greatness to come.
BEST OF - NHL
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Overtime Power Plays in Stanley Cup Playoffs Not So Successful
Over the past 5 NHL seasons, the average team’s regular-season power play has converted at a rate of about 19.4 percent. In the past 5 Stanley Cup Playoffs, that % slightly raises up to about 19.56-percent. When it comes to overtime power plays in the past five Stanley Cup Playoffs, the success rate dips to 15.9-percent.
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Jake Guentzel has Most Value as Stanley Cup Qualifying Round Top Goal Scorer
After months of speculation, playoff hockey in August is coming. So I did what I know best: looked at every single player’s history against their Qualifying Round opponent to find the slight upper hand when it comes to predicting the round’s top goal scorer.
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Calgary Flames Matthew Tkachuk Hit Lacked Intention, but Warranted Response
Matthew Tkachuk finished his check on Jets star forward Mark Scheifele, who went down in agony while clenching his left leg. Scheifele did not return with what’s expected to be a serious injury — but was the hit dirty