Direction of fighting

AA hockey leagues need fighting to keep fans in the seats, that's just the way it is. I would dare to say that about half the fans that show up aren't happy if they dont get to see some fist fly.

Posted by Jeremy Mapes at 11/22/09 12:16:00 AM

Was Rodger at forward or defense when he scored the goal?

Posted by JungleMonkey at 11/22/09 12:46:00 AM

Maybe Hextall she relize the only reason they take the helmets off is so they don't bash their hands on the sheilds. Not good when the commish has a different idea then the owners....oh wait....doesn't that happen already with the NHL???

Posted by Charlie Itt at 11/22/09 01:30:00 AM

This is nothing new, really. Last year they were talking about the same thing in the NHL. And while it seemed at one time like they might pass some new rules to deter staged fighting, in the end, nothing seems to have come of it. These days they are far too busy debating how to deter dirty head shots that are, strictly speaking, already illegal.

I do agree with what I think Hextall is trying to say. I really don't care for fights that don't take place in retaliation for something. To just go out and pick a fight because your team needs some energy or the crowd is expecting it doesn't seem right to me. But I also realize that I'm no doubt in the minority there, and I'm okay with that.

Posted by Wendy at 11/22/09 06:28:00 AM

I also agree with Hextall on this.I go to Komets games to see the hockey skills the players have.To me,a goalie making a split second save is very exciting to watch.Not to say that fighting should be done away with,but I also dont pay money to watch something that resembles professional wrestling.If that is the way the governors want it,they should have hired Vince McMann.

Posted by Kfansince68 at 11/22/09 10:04:00 AM

JungleMonkey,
According to the gamesheet, Danko and Phillips were on the ice at the time the goal was scored, so I'm guessing Rodger was playing forward. I wasn't there, but it's an educated guess since we all know Danko and Phillips are pretty much strictly defensive d-men.

Posted by Nathan Eddy at 11/22/09 12:09:00 PM

yeah that outta put butts in the seats for Flint, Port Huron, and any other organization in hockey that is already on its heels. The casual fan wants to see the fights.. it IS part of the game.. take it out and lose many many young fans.. staged fights or heat of the moment..

Agreeing with it or not is kind of out of the question here.. what is best for the fan? the league? The teams whose attendance already suffers?

The hardcore hockey fan is going to attend games regardless of the rules governing fighting.. so forget about you "real" fans for a moment.. is the casual fan going to go to any games if you take that aspect of the game away from them??

Keeping the success of hockey in mind, I believe all forms of fighting need to stay in tact.. North American hockey DEPENDS on it for success..

Posted by komets123 at 11/22/09 12:10:00 PM

one more thing.. before someone comes out and says ...

"well if all the casual fan wants to see is fights, then they can go to a boxing match or something" ....

That is precisely the point.. they will go somewhere else to see their fights... then they wont be attending our hockey games and supporting the league.. they would kinda suck don't ya think??

Posted by komets123 at 11/22/09 12:14:00 PM

Right on 123!!

Posted by Tim Hoke at 11/22/09 01:04:00 PM

komets 123!

Can any one tell us just what is a "Casual Fan"?

Posted by Dennis Schebig at 11/22/09 01:49:00 PM

casual fan being someone who catches 5 - 10 games a year when nothing better to do that night.. not everyone goes to 30 games a year.. did this really need an explanation? i was under the impression we all knew the difference between a causal fan and a hardcore hockey nut.

There are a ton of hardcore fans in fort wayne.. we are truly blessed. can other cities say the same thing?? didn't think so.. Flint has about 500 steady followers. maybe... the rest of the city is made up of people who will catch a few games a year.. better make it interesting for them or they WILL NOT GO...

Posted by komets123 at 11/22/09 02:11:00 PM

I agree 100% komets123. Ft.Wayne has the fan base to thrive no matter what league they're in or how tough the team is. Most minor league hockey cities don't have that same stability. I noticed the other day looking at some the AHL tema sites that they really push the fights. A lot of the sites are promoting their toughness to sell tickets. I don't see why the IHL isnt doing the same.

Posted by Jeremy Mapes at 11/22/09 02:58:00 PM

I don't think it is only casual fans who want to see the fights, staged or not. The fights are one of the aspects of hockey that gives it character and makes it unique amongst major sports. Take that away and you're cutting your own throat. Like I said, I personally don't care for those kinds of fights, but I don't expect them to ever go away regardless of what I, Hextall, or anyone else may think. I wouldn't worry about it.

Posted by Wendy at 11/22/09 05:22:00 PM

Not sure anyone has noticed, but more and more of the people attending games in Fort Wayne are casual fans (Throwing crap at opposing team players....). The quality of play and the lack of knowledge of many of those fans have pushed some of the real fans to their sofas. They can stay home and watch high quality play in HD.

Business is business. The Frankes choose to stay at the AA level because they can make money marketing this level of play. Fort Wayne has always been a hot spot for "professional" wrestling so staged fights are nothing new. Just don't be surprised if you see an ambulance circling the Coliseum with it's lights and siren on before game time. hahahaha

Posted by Okikibi at 11/22/09 07:55:00 PM

I appreciate when they do take the helmets off. Who wants to keep slamming their hand into plastic so hard enough to take slap shot? Saves some hand injuries I would think.

Posted by deuce at 11/22/09 08:02:00 PM

Casual fan is the one that can't stay seated for five minutes during play.

Posted by scott schlibski at 11/22/09 08:35:00 PM

I definitely enjoy the fights as well (weather they are completely spontaneous or if they're yapping at eachother at the faceoff), but when they skate to to center of the ice, take off the helmets, elbow pads, crank up a song, etc - It just has that WWF feel and it seems kind of low rent - just my 2 cents...

Posted by Hazel at 11/22/09 11:06:00 PM

In an interview with Donald Brashear, Brashear described how Kocur had cracked his helmet with his punches, and though his helmet had absorbed most of the blow, he still felt serious pain in his gums, even on the other side of his face, leaving him unable to eat for a day or so... And that's your useless information for the night.

Posted by Hazel at 11/22/09 11:09:00 PM

I agree with Okikibi. The "casual" fans are why I don't even get excited about going anymore. And the level of play is not what I would call AA. It's more like A and a half. This past weekend, I missed the entire last 2 minutes of the game because of some of these casual fans that couldn't decide whether they wanted to leave or not, so they all stood up and argued about it until the game was over. They didn't watch but maybe 5 minutes of the game. Some say Ft. Wayne has the best fans in Minor League hockey, but I'm starting to dissagree. Throwing stuff, and not knowing anything about the game is not a fan.

Posted by CBJ71 at 11/24/09 09:20:00 AM

Also, the staged fighting sucks!

Posted by CBJ71 at 11/24/09 09:21:00 AM

That's the real reason for taking the gear off, deuce, or so I've read. It's a courtesy, but it is also reminiscent of the duels of old.

Posted by Wendy at 11/24/09 07:37:00 PM