If Brent Henley returns to the lineup this weekend -- sort of like Marvin Harrison, I will believe nothing in this regard until he actually suits up -- I wonder if he'll ever be able to live up to the high expectations.
Seriously, in my 11 seasons covering the Komets, I've never seen a player's appearance more eagerly anticipated or fantasized about.
I believe Henley is a very good player. Let me reiterate this, because I know it will be misinterpreted: Henley is a very good player. But he played 43 games last season, including seven playoff games, and in that time he tallied no goals, four assists, 204 penalty minutes and an even plus-minus rating (minus-5 in the regular season).
That he is hyped by some as the second coming of Scott Stevens is a bit perplexing to me, just because we don't have enough evidence to support it. I'm a bit amused by the suggestion that he is the toughest player in the International Hockey League, given that he's never played a game in it.
I say all this to suggest you temper your enthusiasm. First of all, he's coming off a very bad knee injury. He hasn't played in eight months. There's simply no way he's going to live up to the lofty expectations, at least not right away.
He will improve the toughness of the Komets, and they certainly need some hitting out there. His solid play in the defensive zone will also improve on an already good defense. He will take the pressure off of Kevin Bertram, in particular, as a policeman. And, perhaps most importantly, his return will probably signal to some other under-performing veterans that they need to kick it in gear.
Let's leave it at that -- this will be the addition of a good player. He may end up being the guy some are hoping he'll be, but we need more than 43 games to determine that.
- The Muskegon Fury has its replacement for broadcaster Terry Ficorelli, and he's never called a hockey game.
- Click here to read a positive story on from The Port Huron Times-Herald regarding the state of things McMorran Arena. Too bad I've been hearing nothing but dreadful things about the state of hockey up there, where the attendance is worst in the league at 1,305 per game. There are many who don't think that team will make it beyond this season.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
I don't need Henley to fight everyone in the IHL, I don't need Henley to score 60 goals this season, I don't need Henley to be the next "Great One!" I need Henley to be the player he was last year when he put fear in the other team and everyone looked to see where he was on the ice. Just that little bit of fear of, "Oh crap he's big and he's coming this way!" is enough to make a player caugh-up the puck and have it go the other way. This is what Henley brings, his size and his hits, not his points and his fights!
PS Bert is a fireman, not a police man...lol
Posted by: Hoss | December 12, 2007 at 05:35 PM
Hoss,
You do realize that Justin was talking about policeing the ice...right?
Posted by: Brandon | December 12, 2007 at 06:01 PM
No, I was waiting for Websters/BeatenHorse/Scoops/KW or any other made up person to tell me...lol
Posted by: Hoss | December 12, 2007 at 06:06 PM
My mistake...carry on :)
Posted by: Brandon | December 12, 2007 at 06:18 PM
"I'm a bit amused by the suggestion that he is the toughest player in the International Hockey League, given that he's never played a game in it." -Justin Cohn
C'mon Justin. It's the same steaming pile as the UHL with a different name. Who's going to beat Henley up? Let's look at each teams toughguy.
Muskegon-Segal... No match for Henley.
Flint-Mallette?... He'll put up a decent fight in the beginning.
Port Huron-Snowball... Henley's disposed of him before.
Bloomington-Ewasko... LOL...
Kalamazoo-Richlitcz... Kid may give Henley a run for his money, but its doubtful.
AS OF TODAY, Henley has as many goals this season as Pence, Bertram, and Hansen. His plus/minus is better than Colin Chaulk, and he's 4 goals away from being tied for 5th on the team in goals scored. Stats can be skewed to fit their purpose... Henley's impact on the ice can't be soley measured by goals scored.
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | December 12, 2007 at 06:39 PM
I agree. Does anyone know about morrinson of muskegon? Also HENLEY beat everyone last year!!!
Posted by: mightbite | December 12, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Morrison was getting his face beat in down in the SPHL according to their fans. He's got more size than Segal. Morrison did the number on Clay Lewis in the pre-season when he was on Kalamazoo's roster. I don't know if thats saying much....
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | December 12, 2007 at 06:51 PM
The only person that gave Henley a good battle last season that I can recall was Steve MacIntyre from Quad City.
Posted by: scoops | December 12, 2007 at 07:04 PM
I heard and have seen videos of Morrison doing very well in fights. Morrison did own Lewis but if you look at Lewis he is a big fighter but has stepped it up since he has left here. Morrison also fought Bertram in preseason but it was a hugging match. People say they like him but he hugs way to much. I think Rechlicz could beat Henley. Really any of those guys mentioned could beat Henley. It all depends on how the fight goes really. Snowball would be a good one though. There is alot of anger between those two and we all know Snowball will be going for him tomorow and I hate to say it but Henley is going to have to watch out with that injury and make sure that if he is going to get very physical quick that he could hurt himself again.
Posted by: lovelost | December 12, 2007 at 07:07 PM
Henley is the character guy...the on ice hero...the blue collar guy...The bad-arse...He is the guy that provides the fans some excitement and anticipation every night he goes onto the ice. Everyone knows when he is out there, and everyone is buzzing waiting to see what might happen. That is why the Komet marketing machine is advertising him about every 10 minutes on the radio for this weekend. He fills seats.
And he can play his position. He was one of our best D-men on the penalty kill last season.
If the worry is he is hurt still...Then why would he risk it and why would the Frankes risk it? That makes no sense to me.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 07:11 PM
He might just be enough to take other teams out of their game-plans and off their game worrying about his antics rather than playing hockey. He can change the game in that respect.
No one really thinks he will score goals at will or lead the team in assists. He will agitate and beat-down the villains as needed.
Or he will become Kevin Kotyluk or Mario Larocque after one goal and stop the physical stuff and become a "wanna be" goal scorer? I doubt that one...LOL
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 07:17 PM
I'm not expecting Henley to be the second coming of William Wallace (as someone else here so eloquently put it) or anything like that. I'm just looking forward to watching the opponents spend the whole game watching over their shoulders and and running away from him all night! He's fun to watch, he can play his position unlike some other "tough guys" in this league, and he seems like a nice guy. That being said, can you imagine how nuts The Jungle will go if/when Henley scores a goal?
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | December 12, 2007 at 07:48 PM
Henley is not an "antic" guy Hit. We may all have our eyes fixed on him on the ice because he is fun to watch play. But he's also so big, we can't help it. We have to look around him to see anything. Seriously, he plays the game straight up and if something would need to be handled then it gets handled straight up. He is not some Big Snake or Brad Wingfield nut job, at least from the 43 or whatever games he's been here.
I do question the notion he gets everyone nervous or takes everyone off their game. On every roster there are guys who fight and guys who don't. The guys who don't could care less about where he is or what he is doing. The only guys who may be thinking about him, will think twice before doing something stupid, or will take that extra look over their shoulder will be the guys who are looked upon to answer the bell. As Hoss said above, he could create a turnover because he bearing down on them. To be honest, you can create a turnover on anyone in this league if everyone on the team is taking the body when they should/can.
Posted by: scoops | December 12, 2007 at 07:50 PM
Not an antic guy? He did get tossed out of the ECHL for hitting a guy with a helmet.. LOL..
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | December 12, 2007 at 07:56 PM
u kno...i think alot of people are just ready to have some one fun around...like pascal last year...we have really great players out there now..but no really "fan favorite" yet. kno what i mean? :]
Posted by: Lindsay | December 12, 2007 at 08:01 PM
Think about Mitch Woods' first game at the MC. He took Port Huron off their game because they decided to chase Woods around and take stupid penalties and forgot about playing hockey. So you really think that when Brent roughs someone up in the corner, in front of the net, or checks someone thru the boards, that the other team might not be taken off their game a bit?
Have your opinion I guess. Nothing wrong with that.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 08:12 PM
I wasn't saying he is an "antic guy". Lack of a better word, his act, his role, his job, etc. He is on the ice to do what? Score? Not really. He is out there to add physical play, toughness, scare the shat out of the other team, mix it up, enforce the law, lay down the beatings, play his position, entertain the crowd, etc. Willis is an "antic guy"...Henley is the guy that skates over to him and knocks his head off when enough is enough.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 08:15 PM
And if a guy like hmmmmmm, Nick Bootland gets checked into the boards, and turns around and slashes Brent leads us to a powerplay...is that not taking K-zoo off their game? Or is that apart of what their gameplan is?
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 08:18 PM
Rob Guinn scores for Bloomington 3:28 into the first period vs. K-Zoo.
Posted by: Henley67250 | December 12, 2007 at 08:31 PM
Good for him. Maybe he will be MVP this year.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 08:32 PM
*Sigh* And just I thought you would come around to be a "I get it" guy.
Checking someone into the boards is a chapter in the book Hockey 101. Its not something invented by Brent Henley, Brent Henley is not the best at it, or Brent Henley is not the only one who does it. If anyone (underlined) on this team would consistantly take the opposition into the boards, it would probably take the opposing team off their game, create turnovers, gain PP's, scoring chances, ect. Receiving hits all game is not something most players go into the game enjoying.
And no JM, he is still not an antic guy. I've seen the clip and it was not intentional. If you once received a speeding ticket, does that make you a criminal?
Posted by: scoops | December 12, 2007 at 08:42 PM
I am an "I get it" guy. *Sigh*
Scoops is right...Everyone else...well you know.
And I agree with Justin, Henley is not the toughest guy in the IHL. That title belongs to the toughest guy in Minor League hockey (self-proclaimed), you know him, he plays for the IHL Paper Champions of 2007. He is a cousin of one of our very own bloggers.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 08:49 PM
Scoops is right...checking players into the boards cannot take the other team off their game, so Brent Henley cannot take the other team off their game. Nor did Mitch Woods because he did not invent the body-check that is highlighted in Scoop's hockey 101 book that he wrote.
Remember....Scoops is right!!!
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 08:52 PM
Well I'm glad someone finally said it!!!
I was tired of him saying it all the time about himself...lol
Posted by: Hoss | December 12, 2007 at 09:03 PM
hey buckos! king kong henley will be the mvp of this team just cuz he fights everyone
Posted by: ABEATENHORSE | December 12, 2007 at 09:04 PM
I am beginning to wonder who the ABeatenhorse really is? That was a famous phrase or line from the same blogger that is a cousin of the self-proclaimed toughest player in minor league hockey that plays for the 2007 IHL Paper Champs...HMMMM
I am not an "I Get It" guy, someone else might have to put this one together. Any thoughts Jungle Monkey....Hoss....Chuckitt?
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 09:07 PM
I was kidding about the helmet incident. Thanks for setting me strait, Scoops.
While Brent didn't invent the body check, he WILL do it on a regular basis which is more than we can say for a lot of this years team.
Just out of curiousity Scoops... Whos is your favorite player this year, and who is your all-time favorite Komet. I still think BeatenHorse is Dumbkiwitz.
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | December 12, 2007 at 09:11 PM
This ought to be fun!!! LOL
Dumbkiwitz is Komet Warrior...MAN!!!
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 09:12 PM
wise man once said " your hands are connected to your arms, your arms are connected to your shoulders, your shoulders are connected to your body, your body is connected to your head, your head is connected to... nothing... and that explains a lot."
Posted by: ABEATENHORSE | December 12, 2007 at 10:10 PM
Once again...Scoops is right!!!
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 12, 2007 at 10:12 PM
A reference to Kotyluk Hitsomebody???? is that even allowed ?
actually your head is connected to your neck abeatenhorse... maybe not for someone like you whose head just seems to float there and light up like a bulb everytime you hear henleys name.
Posted by: JW | December 12, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Scoops is in the zone!!! Couldn't agree more with you. Now get me one of those mini bean bags,and make me happy.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 12, 2007 at 11:01 PM
I said that as a joke kinda ( GF wants some Ice Cream), but I have loved your comments recently. Good work!!!
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 12, 2007 at 11:11 PM
It really doesn't matter what I say. You process the information with a preconceived opinion when you see who posted it. It doesn't matter if I agreed, disagreed, or just looked at things from a different prospective. Your response will be against my own which is prefectly fine. It adds to the discussion. But all the predictable, futile attempts to try to get under my skin are a waste of everyone's time here.
I stand by my opinion that Henley's asset to this team would be the hope that his addition boosts our level of physical play as a team more than deminishing the opposition's play because they are scared of his mere existance.
Look at it this way. Who would notice (or care) that Derek Boogaard is dressed for a game, Sidney Crosby or Georges Laraque?
Posted by: scoops | December 12, 2007 at 11:25 PM
jw to you a wise man once said "A word to the wise aint necessary its the stupid ones that need the advice"
Posted by: ABEATENHORSE | December 13, 2007 at 12:04 AM
GEORGE LARAQUE
Posted by: mightbite | December 13, 2007 at 04:15 AM
Henley's actually starting at guard for the Mad Ants tonight, Cohny. You going?
Posted by: Turner | December 13, 2007 at 07:11 AM
Henley and Earl Calloway. That's a NASTY backcourt!!!
Scoops, how that wasn't intended for me. I was actually agreeing with you.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 13, 2007 at 07:43 AM
Toughness, eh!!!!!!
WHo do you guys think is the toughest player to ever play in the IHL?
Posted by: jkmess11 | December 13, 2007 at 08:25 AM
Jerad, will you be in section 215 for Saturday's game against Muskegon?
Posted by: Teresa | December 13, 2007 at 08:31 AM
You guys really crack me up sometimes. and turner, henley will be the mvp of the mad ants also this year...ha anyways. like most, i enjoy henley's presents out on the ice. but im not going to get to worked up about it. It will be what it is. all in all, still no complaints. Just cant wait to see some hockey in the jungle again!! also, i cant wait to see what the lines will be. very interesting. Keep up the good work cohn! Thanks for puting up with some of these "blogs" GO KOMETS.
Posted by: booner | December 13, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Teresa, will you send me an email when you get a chance. I'll explain ... [email protected]
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 13, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Unfortuantly no. I will be down a lil bit in 211 I believe. If those seats are empty, I might swing down for a period or 2.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 13, 2007 at 01:55 PM
Kukulka placed on waivers. Brent will play tomorrow in Port Urine.
Posted by: Henley67250 | December 13, 2007 at 03:11 PM
The toughest in IHL all-time was Tony Twist & toughest Komet was Shawn Cronin !!!!
Posted by: mightbite | December 13, 2007 at 04:17 PM
Its is Georges Laraque, a french thing.
Hey Jerad, try to let me know where you might be Saturday.
Posted by: scoops | December 13, 2007 at 05:35 PM
It is Georges Laraque, a french thing.
Hey Jerad, try to let me know where you might be Saturday.
Posted by: scoops | December 13, 2007 at 05:36 PM
I will be in 211 Row 3 on Saturday. I won't be with the girlfriend, so I'll probably be out in the hallway during intermission. I might be up in the lounge before the game. Not quite sure yet!
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 13, 2007 at 06:21 PM
Or you might be asking Bouchards wife out again...since he always plays the powerplay every shift and we were short handed 11 times last week to Muskegon she won't get to see her husband much...guess that frees her up to talk about the Lions or something. Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Tom | December 14, 2007 at 12:50 PM
I think Van Druen might be the verbal punching bag tomorrow night. As a team captain, he hasn't notched a point this season. Also, on my last study session, he was still third in the league in minors. I would say something to Segal, but I am impressed with him going toe to toe with a few heavyweights. He gets much respect for that. Alot like when Ramsey gave me the eye, and I turtled with him being about 15 feet away.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 14, 2007 at 03:58 PM