Fort Wayne Komets defenseman Brent Henley admitted to cross-checking Tyler Willis. And Henley expected a suspension. The five-game punishment handed down by the International Hockey League on Tuesday, however, he didn't feel was just.
"I did cross-check him and I did so high. I admit that," Henley said of an incident late in Sunday's 4-2 road victory over the Kalamazoo Wings. "But I didn't hit him in the face. If I had, I would be OK with this. And he's not injured. ... (The suspension) is definitely too many games."
The ruling was made by Brad Jones, the International Hockey League's vice-president of hockey operations, after reviewing videotape that showed Henley delivering a few cross-checks to Willis, a notorious agitator, with less than one second on the clock at Wings Stadium.
"Throughout the game, he had his regular act," Henley said. "When we went into the corner, I got slashed in the groin area, and I have a bruise to prove it."
Komets coach Al Sims, however, didn't have a major gripe with the length of the suspension.
"Everything considered, he's close to being right on the amount of games," said Sims, whose Komets lead the IHL by 18 points. "I'm not up in arms about it."
The Komets will have to skate one man short of a full 19-player lineup in the next five games, Sims said, though defenseman Brandon Warner should be back in the lineup from his knee injury beginning Friday against Bloomington, Ill.
Check Wednesday's editions of The Journal Gazette for more on the Henley suspension.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
SO if Warner comes off IR who goes on? I am sure they will extend Legualt's IR by moving him from the 10 to 14. He is scheduled to come off on the 28th.
Posted by: David | February 26, 2008 at 01:20 PM
First Henley said he was speard, now he says he was slashed. Which is it? And, this suspension is consistant with NHL rulings regarding head shots which is apparently Henley admits to.
Posted by: Greg | February 26, 2008 at 01:29 PM
seems steep, he didn't get hurt and it wasn't unprovoked
Posted by: Ryne Gurney | February 26, 2008 at 01:39 PM
I think henley needs to start using his head more! He seems to do something dumb every few games and it's gonna cost us in the playoffs sometime if he doesn't do something about it. Maybe the franke's need to look for somebody out there to replace him.
Posted by: Komets fan21 | February 26, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Sure, 6' 6" D-Men just grow on trees. I had one of them in my driveway under all the snow today.
Henley has always been a target by the UHL/IHL since he is one of the biggest players. How many times has someone tried to check him and get knocked down on their butt, only to have the ref call Henley for something? Does Brent have a hot head sometimes, yes. Does he need to stay away from the ref and the door to the box? Yes. But is he a damn good D-Men? Heck Yes!!!
I think the team will be fine for these 5 games and I think Henley will rest his knee and come back with more fire in his tank! As long as he can play in the playoffs at full go, the Komets will be happy to have him!
Posted by: Hoss | February 26, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Henly will be back from the 5 games in time for the March 14th game agains Kalamazoo.
Posted by: Shawn | February 26, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Hey Justin with the Trade Deadline on Friday at 3:00 PM what is the "rumors" are out there? Port Huron and Bloomington made a deal today Sending Neil Clark to Bloomington for our belove Don Margetti. Will the K's be active or on the sidelines. With only six teams in league really not much to deal for and I don't see the K's making any deals.
Posted by: David | February 26, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Ha Ha.
yeah I tried to take his head off, but he's touching me mom!
McCalister was the same size, if not bigger and he was not a target for the UHL, so maybe Henley is just a goon!
Posted by: BigBlue | February 26, 2008 at 08:33 PM
Do I think that a player s/b suspended for a high crosscheck? - Yup.
Do I think that a player should get less of a suspension for doing it to an constant instigator such as Willis? Yup.
Is that a double standard. Yup. I'm comfortable with that.
Posted by: Canuck | February 26, 2008 at 09:37 PM
I like Brent Henley. I think he is a good player and an awesome person. He has had a lot of pressure put on him and a lot of high expectations since May when he was injured. It has to be very flattering, yet tiring. But, like life, we are all responsible for our actions, and a double cross-check deserves punishment. I remember a few punishments last year too. His size is against him when it comes to dealing with little ones like Willis. But Henley has always been a big guy, so he needs to play the game accordingly. I try to support all our players because they are a part of our team and I love our team. But let's look at it like this- the team has a great lead and it's not like he's missing the playoffs. And he will think twice before making a move next time- which will take us into the playoffs. Go Komets!
Posted by: KrazyKometFan | February 26, 2008 at 09:48 PM
Did Willis bleed? Could he stand up for himself or just flap his jaw? PLEASE! So you put a Komet out for five and that player gets 1 A Komet gets 5 and that player is'nt even going to miss one!!! Things that make you go Huh.
Posted by: ds214 | February 26, 2008 at 09:54 PM
if you want to go at Willis just drop the gloves, don't wack'em in the head with your stick FOUR TIMES, it just wasn't a "high crosscheck" it was a attempt to injure. I don't know whats worse- him doing it or SOME FW fans backing him up!
Posted by: BigBlue | February 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Big blue, no one is backing him up, what he did was stupid, I just disagree with the 5 games, two games would have been enough.
Posted by: Ryne Gurney | February 26, 2008 at 10:26 PM
ok so i dont agree with what brent did. even tho i cant stand willis, what brent did was wrong. however, he gets a five game suspension for a double cross check- willis is fine, he's not injured or anything. but when Hansen was sent to the hospital from being hit from behind, that guy only got what? one or two game suspension? how is that fair?
Posted by: Abby | February 27, 2008 at 08:06 AM
I guess thats the world we live in.
We have a great tradition and so do you, all of the FW and K-Zoo fans are very passionate, you couldn't ask for two better minor league hockey towns. thats what has made the rivarly so good. I hate to see this happen between these two teams, why couldn't have happened with Musky a team I have very little or no respect for.
I don't like that Mr. Cohn's name was brought into this mess, he's just a journalist doing his job, covering his local hockey team that he probably loves to watch and cover.
Henley got 5 games, is that a little to much? I don't think so but I also think MLB/NHL/NFL/NBA should be more stiff on there suspentions.
everytime I see all the FW fans in the Zoo I think "what great fans the Komets have", I've never had a problem with any of you in anyway. keep coming up and helping us get our attendence up!
Posted by: BigBlue | February 27, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Don't think that it was an attempt to injure. If Henley wanted to injure Willis - he'd be injured.
Posted by: Canuck | February 27, 2008 at 09:30 PM