Oftentimes, after I finish and email my column, I think of something else I should’ve mentioned. The latest example occurred with my most recent diatribe published in the Wednesday edition. I failed to mention one of the greatest victories in recent history for the USA men’s hockey team in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

The goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, deserves special mention for his otherworldly play for the gold medal winners. He only stopped 41 of 42 attempted goals by Canada, making himself an impenetrable force while defending the net for the USA.

There were other players who contributed mightily to the upset win, including 24-year-old Jack Hughes, who slapped in the game winner in overtime to give the Americans the 2-1 triumph.

Another prominent storyline surrounding the gold medal performance was that the win occurred on the same date as the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980, when the USA toppled the heavily favored Russian team. In addition to that, a heartwarming celebration ensued following the game when Team USA honored Johnny Gaudreau, who, along with his brother Matthew, was tragically killed by a drunk driver while riding their bicycles on Aug. 29, 2024.

The team included the family members of the former Columbus Blue Jackets star known as “Johnny Hockey” in the gold medal celebration. It was an extremely touching and memorable gesture by the players, with many of them noting that Johnny would’ve definitely been a member of Team USA as well.

I must admit I am not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to the sport of hockey, but I have long admired the athleticism and sheer toughness of the players who excel on the ice. The gold medal game was intense and exciting throughout, and when Team USA held up his jersey while celebrating, while honoring his memory, that was a moment that will forever be cherished when one thinks of the Olympics. Recognizing Johnny’s children and parents transcended the game and was a remarkably classy gesture.

Very few roster spots up for grabs in Reds camp

Spring training used to be a time for players to get into shape for the long grind of the season, but these days players stay in shape year-round, so one of the primary objectives in Florida and Arizona has shifted to filling out rosters and taking a look at prospects.

For the 2026 Cincinnati Reds, the team’s manager, Terry Francona, has already set what he feels will be the opening day lineup. That means he’s focusing on what the club’s strongest bench options will be heading into the campaign. Francona is a shrewd judge of talent, and improving the Reds’ bench production will be essential to the team’s success. In recent years, the team’s reserve players have been less than productive, and yes, that is an obvious understatement.

The future Hall of Fame skipper appears to have legitimate options who will help the Redlegs immensely, and there is healthy competition for those spots. In the outfield, the likely starters from left to right are Spencer Steer, TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte. But when one of the trio needs a day off or gets banged up, replacing them with a reliable backup is critical.

Among those competing for those outfield spots are a pair of similar lefthanded hitting hitters, Will Benson and Vanderbilt product JJ Bleday, who came over from Oakland as a free agent signing. Both have displayed power in the early going in the Cactus League, and both players also appear to be entering their prime at this point of their respective careers.

On the other side of the plate, Dane Myers and Rece Hinds appear to be the best options. The speedy Myers was acquired from the Miami Marlins in the offseason, and Hinds has shown he can crush the baseball, but needs to cut down on his strikeouts. Another righthanded hitting candidate is Blake Dunn, a player who possesses tremendous speed, but has had trouble in the past making consistent contact.

Adding depth to the outfield positions are lefthanded hitting Tyler Callihan and Hector Rodriguez, who will both likely be starting at Louisville, the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate. Speaking of the Bats, they look like they will have one of the best teams in the International League, with several top prospects mixed with a few reliable veteran players.

Francona always prefers to have a solid utility player on the roster as well, and that may end up being Steer. He is an adequate outfielder and became a standout defender at first base last season. Steer can also play third base and second base, and he will be a key player for the Reds.

An interesting recent signing was when the Reds inked Nathaniel Lowe to a minor league deal, and the former All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner could see significant action as a part-time first baseman and pinch hitter. Another possibility is former Colorado Rockies first baseman Michael Toglia.

The only other battles in camp include the fifth starter in the rotation, but it looks like Chase Burns is ahead of the competition. Burns has been impressive in his early outings. There is also a battle for the final spots in the bullpen, with lefty Sam Moll and youngsters Connor Phillips, Zach Maxwell and Luis Mey fighting for a spot.

The majority of the Reds roster appears pretty well-set heading into the season, as they look to be legit contenders in the NL Central. That always comes with the caveat of remaining healthy, for the most part, and players fulfilling their potential.

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“Does the human being reason? No, he thinks, muses, reflects, but does not reason… That is, in the two things which are the peculiar domain of the heart, not the mind – politics and religion. He doesn’t want to know the other side. He wants arguments and statistics for his own side, and nothing more.” – Mark Twain