Hitting their stride? Nope.

I won't claim that there's nearly enough hitting in the International Hockey League. But I went to the Detroit Red Wings' game Wednesday night -- they defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 -- and I probably saw six hits the entire game. That's pathetic. The IHL would probably have 10 checks, also pathetic, but at least better. I'm a little disgruntled that I have to turn on the NHL Network just to see some good old-fashioned hitting. There also isn't all the nauseating advertising in the classic games they show. Such is life in the new world of pro hockey, though. Thanks, Gary Bettman.

• The Detroit Free Press reported what many were whispering about last weekend at Perani Arena: The Red Wings are offering Darren McCarty a tryout with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League, after his short stint with Flint of the IHL.
• Former Komets player Rob Weingartner, now coaching Wichita in the Central Hockey League, had quite the tantrum in a recent game.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments

[David]

I was watching a classic on NHL newtwork Boston vs Philly...You had Bobby CLark, Moose Dupont, Espo, Bobby Orr playing and as I was watching I realized that Orr's D partner was none other than Al Sims...Now that would be an interesting article to write Justin..Sims and his playing days with Bobby Orr and by the way Sims did not take the body that much either...

[jo]

Why do you want to see all this hitting and fighting? I want to see a hockey game with good passing and skating.

[scoops]

You will get a good game here and there that has all the goods but for the most part, you won't see alot of anything until its playoff time. NHL hockey has been like this for a long time. Its called evolution. Regardless, I think you are underselling the IHL.

[FWKRTJ]

McCarty will be with the Generals through the weekend I'm hearing.

[FWKRTJ]

Well, now according to someone at PoHo's radio show McCarty will not be in Fort Wayne but will play in PoHo on Saturday. Apparently McCarty had a prior commitment for Friday...?

[mightbite]

I would like a lot more hitting & fighting along with GOONERY= spearing-boarding-etc.

[Mrs. Mightbite]

Mrs. Mightbite here ...

Although I don't share my husband's spearing, boarding opinion I do believe our team could show more 'stand up' for their team mates. I want our team so tough that other team quake when they play Fort Wayne. I want our fans to put the pressure on the other teams too. They should hate coming into our building.

[Mrs. Mightbite]

Mrs. Mightbite here ...

Although I don't share my husband's spearing, boarding opinion I do believe our team could show more 'stand up' for their team mates. I want our team so tough that other team quake when they play Fort Wayne. I want our fans to put the pressure on the other teams too. They should hate coming into our building.

[Jungle Monkey]

I share Mrs. M's opinion. We ask a LOT from our team, but do we do our job when it comes to being loud and making "the jungle" a place the opposition hates to play? I say no. Not the way we used to anyway...

[kometfan]

Will someone keep me updated on the game situation, if it is going to be played or postponed...we live in north manchester so itd be nice to know something before we left tonight to come!

[Junior]

I got the day off so I'll be checking back and forth kometfan.

[booner]

every team has fans who come for fighting and hard hits. also fans that come too see a hockey game. i go to see all. i love hockey as it was, as it is, and how it would be. i love a good pass through the crease finding a winger puttin it in the net and i love a hard hit to break up a play! also love a fight when someone takes a cheap shot or maybe when we are down a goal or two and we need some excitment to work with:)

[Greg]

Quite the tantrum, huh Justin? It's not like we've never a coach empty a rack onto the ice before.

[Hoss]

Unless the MC caves in with all the snow, they will not call the game. They never cancel Komet games.

[booner]

if the other team makes it to town, game on. they wont cancel if they make it. I heard flint had an 80 some person brawl...at chuckychesse!!!...hahaha. no wonder attendance is low, they find their excitment at chuckycheese:) what's the world coming to. between euro hockey and chuckycheese...wow, what will we do.....

[Justin Cohn]

Why would I want hitting? That's like asking why I would want to see tackling in football. It's part of the game!!!

[Junior]

What do you expect from the Wings Justin?? That's probably why McCarty will end up making the team. You can't rely on Downey to make up for it.

[jkmess11]

Any update on the IHL board meeting on adding Chicago and Indy to the league next year?

[Justin Cohn]

Yeah, but I didn't even see Kirk Maltby throw a check. Now that's weird.

[booner]

it is weird for maltby to not throw any hits. and i cant complain about downey. when he's out there, he throws some hits. he knows what his roll is on the team. To be honest... this years redwings team is alot ruffer than it has been the past few years. i think babcock (bird man) :) knew what they were lacking last year. I know they dont compare to past wings like in 96 or 97. but they did improve. also it depends who they are playin i guess.

[Junior]

Yeah, Winnipeg isn't tearing up the league right now.

I've seen the Wings a few times and they're tops in the better conference in the league, nuff said. They're always good, must be nice.

[Hoss]

Has anyone looked at the Komets website today? It says "Game ON" under tonight game so I guess Flint must have made it to the Fort.

[booner]

go redwings!GO KOMETS!!! we are in for a good game tonight buckos...!

[booner]

and oh how i would LOVE to hear thuderstruck, say, i couple minutes before puck drop....oh i bet we might hear a little roar from the jungle...just a small one :) if you read this larry, do it for me man!!! that would be pretty darn sweet!

[Andrew]

I'm sure it says "GAME ON" because Flint is going to come down for the game. Why would Flint already be in Fort Wayne for a 8:00 game when the roads would be worse now then they will be in 3 hours?

[gerry]

Justin, many open seats at the joe? I heard someone on x.m. home ice talking about how detroit was"nt filling the building because of the lack of physical play.

[Junior]

....and ticket prices.

[Mrs. Mightbite]

OK, somemore suggestions for the music ....
an absolute necessity is Tim McGraw's 'I like it, I love it, I want some more of if it' when there's a goal or a fight ... and I expect the fans to join in with 'we like it, we love it, we want some more of it'!!!!

[mightbite]

BLA-BLA-BLA just a jackin there jaw!!!! We NEED GOONERY = sell-outs-$1 BEER nights-all out BRAWLS-all weekend games.

[mightbite]

music= LET THE BODYS HIT THE FLOOR!!! & MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

[joehockeyman]

nice story on Mitch Woods today in the paper.

[Justin Cohn]

Yes, there were open seats, about 2,000 of them. Years of raising prices have caught up with them, me thinks. ... Thanks for comments on today's story, too.

[joehockeyman]

shaf. goal, have i mentioned that i'm glad we didn't vote him off. as for woods, do an article on the guy and he gets a hat trick in 2 periods. heading up to k-zoo tomorow, can't wait.

[TGP]

The Red Wings are very hard to watch. Not only are they good, but they are very boring. They remind me of the nonphysical Komet teams we had for years in the UHL. Sure they won, but the games were incredibly stale. That's what Detroit has at the NHL level. When my NHL team plays the Red Wings, I dread it. My team will probably lose and the game is going to be a yawner.

Hockey needs to be fast and physical. BOTH!