Sims, 60, guided the Komets to five championships between 1993 and 2012, with a stint coaching the NHL's San Jose Sharks in between.Check out this photo of Jason Lawmaster squashing the Komets' Konstantin Shafranov.
This is what set off Brad MacMillan so much that he left the penalty box to fight Saturday night.
If you haven't see the game story from the Komets' fight-filled 3-1 victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks: Click here.
The Journal Gazette's Sam Hoffman has a slew of great photos from the fracases: Click here.
As I've had the night to mull over the events, I have some second-day thoughts:
- When the Komets saw that Robin Big Snake was out there jawing at Colin Chaulk, and that there were some enforcers on the ice against skill players, coach Al Sims could have adjusted. He did have the last line change at his disposal. Just a thought. But it was a bit crazy out there.
- I'm still a little amazed at Lawmaster bolting 40 feet or so to jump on Shafranov. It was very premeditated. This isn't to say "eye for an eye" isn't just in hockey. But if this all started with Robin Bouchard getting cheapshotted, he can stand up for himself to an extent. Just like I don't mind the Lumberjacks going after Chaulk; he's a fairly chippy player himself. I just thought going after Shafranov, the most gentlemanly player in the league, was a bit out of bounds.
- This is going to continue to get uglier, I think. I'm sure there will be massive suspensions for MacMillan and Big Snake. They both left the penalty box and were physical with officials, so they might not see one another for awhile. But based on my interviews, and what I've read elsewhere, I have a suspicion there will be more things settled when these teams meet next, Nov. 15 in Michigan.
