Komets lose 2-1

I don't wish injuries on anyone but Stayzers could be a blessing in disguise. Maybe while he's injured they will get a legit tough guy. I'd like to see Stayzer used as an offensive player. He's very good in front of the net. I'm just tired of watching him get beat up on, and I'm tired of watching our good offensive players get beat up on.

Posted by Jeremy Mapes at 11/15/09 10:05:00 PM

Hmm, it sounds like you did just wish an injury on someone. Tonight's fight was a draw. Give him credit; no one else is policing the ice for the team right now. Schrock is to some extent, but he's one of the Komets' most effective players and needs to stay out of the box.

Posted by Justin Cohn at 11/15/09 10:44:00 PM

If it comes across that way I apoligize. I like Stayzer as an offensive player and from what I hear he's a stand up guy. I'm just thinking that if he's out the line-up, maybe they will replace him with a legit tough guy. Like I said I'd like tosee him stay on the team as an offensive player, which he's pretty good at. Just not as a fighter. Stayzer got beat tonight. Like it or not that's the truth. I give him credit for trying, but there comes a point in time when you just need to realize that it's not meant to be, and this is one of those times. He's not a fighter, plain and simple.

Posted by Jeremy Mapes at 11/15/09 10:52:00 PM

As far as "enforcers" go compared to what is in the league as a whole the K's lack on that front big time. Having just Mac and Stayzer is not enough in this league this year. And to say that Bertram will fill that role some you are kidding yourself. When they lost Jimmy to the AHL that hurt but I heard he was release so maybe they can get him back. While Stayzer is not a "brawler" that everyone wants him to be, he never was that last year, but what he does do at least he will keep guys honest on the ice. I give the guy a lot of credit he never has back down from anyone, but the problem right now he has to be the one who takes on anyone and everyone with Mac out of the line-up.

Posted by ToeBlake at 11/16/09 12:12:00 AM

From where I sat at the game Stayzer/Lawmaster was a draw. I wouldn't even call it a fight.

All the hype Muskegon made about $5.00 tickets for the game is just that HYPE. They have all the Sunday games for $5.00. L.C. Walker was about half full 2,900 people. I don't think that promotional hype made a lot if difference.

Posted by Dennis Schebig at 11/16/09 10:37:00 AM

Toe Blake - Jimmy Bonneau was not released. In fact he just signed a full contract (he was on a temp contract). The Pres/GM of the team was talking about how great of asset he is to their team. So you will not see him in a komets uniform this year. as far as the Komets not going after the guy who hit Shaf with the elbow, there is a time and place for everything and a tie game in the 3rd period is not the time or place. If it would have been 3-1 then i think you would have see retribution. I think that guy will get his when Mac came back.

Posted by BigSnakeisacrybaby at 11/16/09 11:07:00 AM

BSL a big thanks, Finally a response from someone who understands the game. I just wish there were more of you out there. I'm really sick of the goon thing. Just win games.

Posted by Komets win at 11/16/09 11:23:00 AM

I agree there is certainly a time and place.. tie game is a tricky spot to be in when something like that happens. I don't think anyone is calling for or wanting goons on the ice "Komets win".. that is simply something you keep manifesting in order to try to form some sort of an argument..

I will say this BSL -- maybe waiting until December to have mac go out and start picking away at the list of players who cheap shot the komets is too far off.. Komets need someone out there able to handle business on a game to game basis.. This isn't Goonery "Komets win" this is SIMPLE hockey.. go watch North American hockey for a little while and put the Euro model away.. Komets need an enforcer.. not a goon.. nobody wants a cheap hitting, no skating, worthless hunk of meat of the ice..

Shaf will be out a while with a concussion perhaps now.. who is next?? someone going to get hurt worse maybe? Will our goalies start getting run as well?? Without someone to police these things, then they ALWAYS do happen.. always.. what did Rcokford do to us when we lacked physical players??

Nice theory to tell the komets to just win games.. forget about the rough stuff until Mac comes to save you. hard to do with 4 of your scorers on the IR.

Posted by komets123 at 11/16/09 01:28:00 PM

Komets 123 - I agree with you 100% that we need someone to protect our players, and i do think that waiting for Mac to come back is our only option. It is clear that he is the only one we have that will do it. When Shaf got hit, someone should have stepped up and taken care of business. Teams are taking advantage of the Komets not having a tough guy right now. Mac can't be on the ICE the whole game, he needs help but who do you waive to bring in another tough guy????

Posted by BigSnakeisacrybaby at 11/16/09 02:55:00 PM

BSL - that is a heck of a question.. I have no idea who to get rid of if we were to bring someone else in..

Sad but true, Stayzer may be the best option.. only reason i say that is b/c he was intended to be part of the muscle portion of this team.. he fails as an enforcer IMO.. However, his play in front of the net makes me cringe at the thought of getting rid of him. He really is a good hockey player and one that will come back to make us pay in the future..

So i dont know.. it is a good problem to have when your team appears to be this loaded.. Only aspect of this team i worry about it toughness.. so IMO it has to be addressed..If we dont take care of it, i am worried Mac will leave the stands to take of business next time.

Posted by komets123 at 11/16/09 04:13:00 PM

even stayzer says he's not a "fighter"... but he wont back down. one thing i like about Legs is he had a ton of heart. just like stayzer, and he makes up for it skating. good D and offense so far IMO.

Posted by Booner at 11/16/09 04:33:00 PM

I think that for right now the Komets do have the roster spot for an enforcer .... Whitehead playing hurt to fill the roster not a great idea....use his spot for a enforcer (not a goon)... at least for now.... I talked to Bertram on sat night and he said he will be back for Friday nights game ... but is that going to be enough.... I dont know .... but someone needs to step up so are players are healthy enough to come back......

Posted by Brauja at 11/16/09 06:46:00 PM

I do not believe Bert is the answer to our toughness problem, but i will say this.. When the time calls he has always been there in the past.. I think that is only a temporary band-aid though.

Brauja - good call on the whitehead situation.. i didn't even think about the fact he was nursing an injury. .

still with everyone healthy we have too many on the team as is.. unless we keep playing the numbers game with IR and such.. makes you wonder about the salary cap though... /sigh .. frankes sure do have a fun job..

Posted by komets123 at 11/16/09 07:30:00 PM

Waiting to see if you have to stick for somebody like Shaf has to be taken care of right then and there not at the next meeting. Just like what Mac did with Lawmaster sure it cost him games but the statement has to be made right then not a game or two later. Is Stayzer going to win a lot of fights, NO, but most of his fights are draws. He at least plays the game fair and square no cheap stuff. He was that way last year with Kzoo. But in the mean time other players have to step into that role with Stayzer. Rodgers is a guy who can do that and I would like to see Phillips do something. He really has not been a phyiscal player. With Bert coming back a d-man is going to have to go. We have to many at this point. I would not be surprise to see Vince be let go off of IR. I don't know why the keep the guy around. We got plenty of D talent with out keeping him around.

Posted by ToeBlake at 11/16/09 07:41:00 PM

So far i am not that impressed with several players that are on the roster and are getting ice time because of the injuries ....(Whtehead and woodward and especially Stayzer) I know that Stayzer has a dominance in front of the net , but so does Huck and Mac when they are put in that position.... So is that a good enough reason to keep him???? (glad its not my call)the other 2 I mentioned well is it true talent or just the right place at the right time? But I do agree that phillips need to show more toughness or he could go as well .... Rodgers needs to " cowboy up" and take care of his TEAM..... as do the rest of the guys really .... there is plenty of talent around and no one is irreplaceable.........

Posted by Brauja at 11/16/09 07:57:00 PM

Every player keeps a mental list of players that they need to "pay back" or "even things up" with. Just because a guy doesn't get dealt with right away doesn't mean he won't be dealt with.

I have a 55 year old former hockey playing friend who could tell you today who is still on his list from when he retired.

And getting even doesn't always mean a beatdown. Sometimes the payback is taking the player to school on a goal or making them pay with a check.

Regarding the hit on Shaf, I don't believe any of the players saw what happened until after the replay. Had it been seen in the flow of the moment, I am sure someone would have immediately went to his defense.

Posted by writes right shoots left at 11/16/09 08:00:00 PM

I don't think that they would have. They all seen the replay and Labenski was still on the ice at the start of the next shift. Nobody did anything. Frankes if your listening, "We need a legit tough guy", sombeody to help Mac out, and fill in when he's not playing.

Posted by Jeremy Mapes at 11/16/09 08:13:00 PM

I will not debate the toughness of players with any of you. Weather we have enough or need more. You are all intitled to your oppinion. I will tell you in talking to the referee after the game he never saw the hit on Shafranov neither did the linesmen. I have talked to enough officials I believe them. They will never make a call off of the scoreboard video. Now about Labenski, Check out his record, He is not that kind of player. He has no history of those kinds of hits. Labenski is Dayton's Captain. He has been a round a while. I still do not think he did it intentionally. He missed the shoulder hit and caught Shaf with the elbow. Pa Larry was yelling it was knee to knee so he didn't see it correctly. It wasn't until the replay that we all knew it was the elbow. The game is tied 1-1. You do not retaliate at that time. The guys want to win. There is a time and place for everything and all things in due course. That was just not the time. And that is my oppinion.

Posted by Dennis Schebig at 11/16/09 08:48:00 PM

So the altercation that happen vs Muskegon in 1-0 hockey game shouldn't have taken place. You see there is no right or wrong time to "stick" up for a player that may or may not been given a cheap shot. What is the right time? There is no right or wrong time. The K's were up 1-0 vs Muskegon when all you know what broke loose. I agree Labenski is not a "dirty" player but you can't let that type of hit happen to one of our skill players. But to say it will be taken care of the next time these two teams meet is stupid. It is after the fact. Just like Lawmaster that was taken care of by Mac and really all the talk about Lawmaster getting his the next game to me was a bunch of bull since Mac took care of it right then and there. TO me toughness and having the ability to "police the ice" are two different things. Do we have toughness and grit I believe we do, do we have enough guys to police the ice at the present the time, no unless some of the young guys start to step up in that department and to me that is Rodgers and perhpas Phillips.

Posted by ToeBlake at 11/16/09 10:47:00 PM

maybe its time the K's call woods and see if he's got a couple weeks free to come down. you know he wouldnt put up with this stuff. and he can stay on his feet.

Posted by Gibson at 11/17/09 01:03:00 AM

Boy all this talk about toughness and Stayzer not filling his role is making me dizzy. Lets not forget we have Schrock. He certainly is a rookie and isn't the toughest we've ever had, but he seems to handle himself pretty well. For Gods sake the guy looked like he was trying to start a lawn mower in his fight with Jason Goulet. The guy is 7 inches taller than him and Schrock landed more punches to his melon then Goulet did.

Posted by YouWanna at 11/17/09 02:31:00 PM

Labenski gets 5 games-- Seems fair to me! I just hope the message they are sending gets to the players. Most will get it. Cement heads like Big Snake will totally miss it.

Posted by Dennis Schebig at 11/17/09 06:20:00 PM

Dennis-I had asked a question in the "No offense" thread that I thought you might know the answer to, but I think it got lost in all of the enforcer non-sense. On the only goal in Muskegon, 2 Ft. Wayne area natives were credited with a point. Do you remember that ever happening before?

Posted by dennylemuix at 11/17/09 06:30:00 PM

5 games seems pretty fair indeed.. happy to see something come of it.

Posted by komets123 at 11/17/09 06:38:00 PM

dennylemuix--To the best of my knowledge the only way that could have happened is if John Balassari 81/82 & 82/83 also 86/87 and Colin Chin 86/96 hooked up on a goal. I don't think Chris Wright 89/90(who was goaltender) ever had any assists with Chinner. I think 1-0 Joe Franke had 1 assist backing up as a goaltender but I do not remember who scored the goal. That would be the just about the best I can help you with. You would need to talk to Bob Chase because he is older than dirt and I am just a young whipper snapper. Chuck Bailey may have it in a record book someplace.

Posted by Dennis Schebig at 11/17/09 07:19:00 PM

Thanks Dennis. My memory only goes back to about the early 80's too, but I couldn't remember if Bladassari and Chin ever played together.

Thanks again!

Posted by dennylemuix at 11/17/09 07:52:00 PM

dennylemuix--With a little help actually a lot of help. Those of us who witnessed the goal by Schrock from Warner in Muskegon saw history made. This will be a great trivia question. Who were the first two Fort Wayne natives to get a point on the same Komet goal? Part #2 for bonus points. When and where did they do it? Answer: Nov. 15, 2009 in Muskegon, MI. Part #3 for extra points: What was the final score of the game? Muskegon 2 Fort Wayne 1.

Posted by Dennis Schebig at 11/18/09 05:15:00 PM

That's cool Dennis. Thanks for looking into my question. I thought that might have been the first time it happened.

As someone who grew up playing in Ft. Wayne Youth Hockey, and now has a son playing Ft. Wayne Youth Hockey, I hope it happens with more regularity. With the new rinks being built I think the chances of it happening again are good!

Posted by dennylemuix at 11/18/09 08:36:00 PM