There's been a debate going all spring about the validity of changing the United Hockey League name to the International Hockey League. The owners may have disbanded the UHL and started fresh with the IHL, though the fans see a different name but the same teams, coaches and players.
Many fans believe the renamng is an insult to the former IHL which folded in 2001 (the Komets left in 1999) and tarnishes those players' accomplishments. No matter what the name, they say, this new league will never equal what the IHL was and what it stood for.
There are some people who know something about hockey who disagree with that. On Thursday The News-Sentinel contacted all the on-ice Komets -- nine players and one coach -- who have had their jerseys retired for their reaction. Instead of being insulted, all 10 said they like the change and see the renaming as a sign of respect for what they did.
“It's almost like looking at the IHL as it went through its different eras,” said Colin Chin who retired in 1996. ``The league was a lot different back when Eddie (Long) and Lenny (Thornson) played versus the years in the 70s when there were more teams and it was a tougher brand of hockey. Then there's the era between then and when I came in and then another when it became the NHL affiliates era. I think it's almost fitting to name it the IHL and the way I see it they are just starting a new era.''
Long, who retired in 1966, agrees wholeheartedly.
“I think it's really good,” Mr. Komet said. “If it wasn't for the founding fathers of the league there wouldn't be hockey here, I think this is going to bring back some of the old rivalries amd that will stimulate things. I hope they have learned that more franchises are not the answer. I like this a lot.”
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As a Komet fan for many years, I am very excited with what I hear about the new IHL. My congrats to the Frankes for keeping hockey in Ft. Wayne. Come on October and Lets Go Komets.
just kiddin ya tony. after the yanks the cubs are my second fav team. afterall theyve got seet lou and soriano.
I thought Al Sims was known for his hiring and tough players? He didn't do a very good job on the draft inless he knows something we don't about all the players, but we will see, big disappointment. dupuis or richardson sign yet? i thought they were suppossed to be signed by now?
I know Chuckitt I was just giving a razzing back at you lol.
Folks, the draft means little to nothing. Mostly it is about keeping these players off of other rosters. Look at the last 3 or 4 dispersal drafts and find out how many players actually signed with the teams that drafted them! I don't know what some of you expect the Komets to do but if you are going to base the fate of this or any team on the results of a dispersal draft you have your head in the sand.
same with the old college draft. very few ever stick or even sign for that matter. if we get one or two guys it will be considered good. and we keep littlejohn and johnson off of opposing teams rosters unless they give us something in return. anyone who talks negative about it reallly doesnt understand it. now lets sign some guys and see where the toughness is!
David: The new IHL has never claimed that it would be the AAA resurrection of the old IHL. In your post you say that you will "attend some of the games to see what kind of hockey will be played." That's all I've ever asked people to do here before they trashed the league. Maybe your opinion might change, who knows?
Marv: These type of drafts are not like the NHL free agent junior draft where the player is bound to that NHL club and, really, has no other option on where to play.
On a draft of this kind, you have to combine the skill level of the player along if he will report to, and sign with, your club. If the IHL were the "only game in town" would the Komets have taken Durdin #6? Would Parsons have gone #1? Steve Parsons, maybe. Who's to say?
But you can't simply look at the draft from a player talent standpoint and criticize the cloices. If none of the top 5 picks sign with their drafting clubs and Durdin signs here, who looks smarter, then?
Our picks can't be any worse then Flint. Almost all the picks for them have signed in Europe or are commited to going to the echl.
Anyone who thinks this IHL will be just the old IHL is just nuts. Hockey was different even back in the 90's.
Greg hit that one on the head. Its just not the same. Where can I find out where people have signed to play overseas or anywhere else???
Eurohockey.net. Pay attention to it a least once a week and you'll find out who goes where.
It will be like the IHL in some respect. Somewhere along the line it will be, as Colin Chin said, like one of the eras of the IHL. The IHL was up and down in terms of talent level during different decades. It was not consistently AAA hockey.
Really, does it matter what they call the league? No. It really is immaterial. It's simply the Midest minor league that plays hockey, and that's all it is. It has achieved one thing, though. It sure has been a discussion topic, and this league has gotten a ton of attention out of this.
And I'm sure we'll be talking about it weeks from now. The Komets couldn't buy advertising this effective.
And if they are going to Europe, they better be going soon. Somebody told me their training camps start in early to mid-August.
One nice thing about the name change is that they certainly have a higher standard to live up to than what the UHL had. I know the owners have put in minimum standards for future owners and their buildings. That's a start.
the whole thing is a fresh start . and why not, the old model was slowly going down the toilet. now try something different. theyve listened the fans unlike the harrison square people, so now its time for the fans to get behind it and see what happens.
I will watch the K's, have been for years. It will be interesting to see what type of product and league this will be. We all are on the same page now. There will be no more negative comments about the league extra from me. Lets see who signs and who doesn't. You know who could come back and play for the K's now or maybe even Flint, Jimmy D. He sat out last season to have his ankle repaired and I am sure he has one year left in him. I am sure Dupuis will be in the mix, I am a not as sure with Richardson. Hansen and Hukalo would also be nice signings. Blake any more word or rumor on signings?
I have a headache this BIG! I just read ITB...big mistake. Everyone on there is fired up about Super Fan quoting Ex-IHL-Komets. Some horse's behind named ZELMO from Alaska claims that the Frankes somehow screwed over Quad City. He even called Blakes a Sock Puppet. What a jerk. Super Fan is not a Sock Puppet. His article was well written and I guarantee that if he asked Eddie Long or Steve Fletcher a question about the IHL and if it offended them with the new name-change they would say as much. I don't understand why fans of Quad City, Rockford, Peoria, etc. are trashing the concept of the IHL when they really have no dog in the fight. Why do they even care? It totally sounds as if they are jealous of the great prospects that this league is showing. A league that is entertaining, tough, tumble, and fun. What a concept. They are going to be stuck with boring, sleepy, and boring AHL games that scares them because they know that the attendance and interest level will suck. I would be bored to death watching Euro Hockey of the AHL because just because there might be a few possible NHL players there...does anyone think they would body-check or show any physical play at all with the way the NHL rules forbid that style? How many of you truly get geeked up about an NHL game anymore anyway before the playoffs? That product is stale. You watch....the NHL will notice the IHL this next offseason and adjust their product accordingly due to the mass lack of interest in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL product. So the Frankes and Lismans will be pioneers of revitalizing hockey in these parts.....but do you think anyone will give them the credit....heck no. ZELMOS and SUCH will continue to bash them with their ill-informed notions that make absolutely no sense.
I still think that the IHL will succeed greatly and it gives us all something to finally look forward to. Goodbye UHL...drop the puck on something new and exciting. "I" for one, can't wait.
Sign players!
i like the name change! but,, if port huron, flint, and bloomington suck again that will be brutal!
I would not wipe my hind end with ITB. With a few exceptions the people who reside there are of very little quality.
HIT finally sounds like himself. Thought I was going to have to instigate a fight and stick up for the old guys lol. What I think is probrably going to blasted or ignored which is normal for me everyday.
If this works out and everything we have been told isn't crap then I feel that the UHL/IHL (like I told my dad years ago when he got pissed they were going to the UHL) will be competing with the AHL!! Look when more fans come to the games ( I think they will) and attendance goes down and down in the other leagues other teams are going to want to join our league with the rules changes and such which will get fans in the seats. The NHL will notice and teams will begin having affiliations with our teams. All the I needs is to dump the Vet rule. They would be the only league that doesn't have one. The AHL is only allowed 4 vets and thats why more will come here to the IHL. People will come here to play in this league so stop fooling yourself people.
When the NHL was violent (even in the early 1900's) scorers still scored. Look at Gordie Howe...he would score then beat your butt(god i hate the redwings) and even Wayne Gretzky was able to score 200pts with goons all over the place. Oh wait thats because he had the 3 goons who if you even thought of touching him you were dead (Marty Mcsoreley anyone). Look I know we don't have this talent but think of if Chaulk was out there and Henley was on D...do you think anyone is going to try something. Scorers are still going to come especially if they know they will be protected. Case in point Rockford. You really think some of their skill guys would be as dirty as they were if they didn't have the enforcers they had to protect them??? Nope.
Oh and something else on my mind. Anyone who thinks our league is on the same level has the SPHL makes me laugh. Tell 50 goal scorer KJ Vorhees that. Which brings up something I think should happen. There are 7 teams in the SPHL. The IHL and SPHL should work out an affiliation agreement. I think it would work. Look at Kelly Miller....he went to our affiliate and we called him back up as an example. By the way SPHL go back to the old rules. They tried to start NHL type rules and their attendance blundered.
Ok this is what happens when an Insomniac is at the computer at 4:13 am and completly bored.
http://www.notickettax.com/
Hope Rich Mitch doesn't see this. LOL!!!
Hey Hit I left a little headache reliver over there on ITB for yeah.
THe thing with the AHL is that the NHL needs it. THey need a place to develope their young talent and a good core of veterans to help with that. If cities like Rockford, Quad City, & Peoria think they can make it more power to them. As a fan of the NHL I do pay attention to the AHL.
That being said, I just don't think that comparing the Now IHL to the THEN IHL makes any sense. THe players were different back then, Hockey was different back then. Really it's only a name.
I got a kick of out somebody accusing me of only asking the Komets veterans who were positive about the move. I talked to all the retired numbers guys. There aren't any more left.
Any word on Dupuis and Richardson yet? I thought they were supposed to sign by the end of last week.
More in tomorrow's paper.
http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070701/SPORTS/707010332/1006
I might get in trouble with the Komet Warrior MAN
DTG great find in the article. Interesting comments by some fans as well.
So we don't get a jump start on the blog anymore with your "next day" articles? What a bummer!