He lives half-way around the globe, in Qatar the place he’s been for years working with the School of the North Atlantic.

However then once more, it’s a small world, isn’t it?

Even calling the Center East residence, by this bizarre pandemic time, no much less, Mount Pearl’s Greg Scott has used social media and a deep-rooted ardour for sports activities to remain in contact with the oldsters again in Newfoundland, and it’s confirmed to be a success with hockey followers pining for some Stanley Cup motion apart from the “classics” broadcast in the present day to replenish air time on the cable networks.

For the previous whereas, Scott has been polling Fb pals and others on previous and current hockey greats. The concept’s easy sufficient. For instance: Who would you quite have on defence? Nick Lidstrom or Ray Bourque?

Questions which elicit quite a few replies and often-times vibrant and emphatic feedback.

“A number of weeks in the past,” Scott wrote not too long ago in an electronic mail, “I occurred to see a good friend’s submit on Fb doing an identical ballot on film stars.

“I assumed it might be a great way to maintain pals and sports activities followers engaged throughout these pandemic days. I initially began with the NFL and polling quarterback matchups. The matchups had been effectively acquired by Fb pals and I garnered a lot suggestions.

“I then thought as a result of the NHL playoffs had been supposed to begin, why not evaluate NHL all-time greats and present stars of the sport?”

The concept has confirmed to be loads of enjoyable. Anybody who follows sports activities with fervor will acknowledge a part of the enchantment is the controversy and banter that comes with the sport.

Like this week’s query during which Scott requested, who would you are taking: Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon? Or Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic? Pavel Bure or Alexander Mogilny? Brent Burns or Victor Hedman?

The newest query little question stokes the hearth of the followers who loved (previous tense, now that preventing has all however been eradicated from the NHL) the pugilistic a part of the sport.

Bob Probert or Tie Domi?

He’ll maintain a operating tab on the “votes” and launch a “winner” after a number of days a query was posted.

“You alluded to the (Brett) Hull and (Teemu) Selanne comparability,” he mentioned. “This one ended up being extraordinarily shut. Each had been exceptionally gifted snipers, however I believe the “Finnish Flash” obtained the nod due to his exceptional rookie marketing campaign of 76 tallies!

“Opinions are what make these matchups fascinating,” he mentioned. “True followers have their favourites, however I believe to chime in a single ought to objectively weigh all aspects of a participant’s profession.

“Championships, playoff performances, productiveness (statistics), worth to his crew and to the league as a complete, and so forth. ought to be thought of when formulating a rivalry.

“For instance, whereas I don’t take problem with nearly all of hockey followers exalting “The Nice One” over “Tremendous Mario”, I personally favoured Mario Lemieux’s uncommon mixture of velocity, energy and finesse.”

When developing with ballot questions, Scott will attempt to evaluate gamers inside their respective eras and positions.

Additional to the hockey polls, he’s now wading into baseball surveys. For 11 days, he says, he’ll do 11 matchups – 9 positional gamers, designated hitters and aid pitchers.

“Sports activities followers historically relish this time of yr,” he mentioned, “when the NHL and NBA playoffs are in full swing and the “Boys of Summer time” have taken to the ball area for the beginning of MLB.”

Within the meantime, he misses enjoying hockey within the desert, within the ‘Q’ – the Qatar Worldwide Ice Hockey League.

“Though our season was misplaced, I sit up for the day after I can lace ’em up once more,” he mentioned. “Right here’s hoping to higher days forward once we can all get again to a brand new regular, which incorporates the return of sports activities.”

He’s doing a fairly good job himself holding the curiosity alive.

Robin Quick is The Telegram’s Sports activities Editor. He may be reached by electronic mail robin.short@thetelegram.com. Comply with him on Twitter @TelyRobinShort