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.”
MORE
Comments
Sure, especially since we're making so much money off the blog, and so many of you subscribe to the paper anyway.
Bruce has a seroius offer from Wichita of the CHL he's considering. The Komets expect Guy to sign when he gets back from vacation.
blake, you should know by now that some of the bloggers only read and only see what they want to believe. your article made it quite clear you talked to all the living members whove had their numbers retired, it was pretty black and white, yet some people want to argue that. duhh! maybe as a follow up to the naysayers you can contact the guys who havent had their numbers retired and see what theyve got to say. like rigler baldwin and that group..
The CHL seems to be coming at our guys with some pretty serious cash.
Richardson bette be signing for the Komets.
It's amazing to me how the CHL can give players better contracts when their salary cap is I believe $2,000 or $3,000 less than the UHL. Thinks that make you go Hmmmmm.
Hey DroptheGlove you need to talk to ME first about any hockey NEWS on here MAN. I was the one who reported Coach Puhalski being in Fort Wayne 2 weeks ago. Don t forget that MAN. And for Richardsen he better come back to the komet hockey team if he is smart. Do you have any tough guys to sign yet Blakes that you now about?
Just means lower talent to play around those guys if you ask me (I know you didn't, but I'm saying it anyway). Nothing says they can't pay those guys all that money, I think, all it means is they can't get quality talent around them.
Hey Warrior, can you confirm the rumour that Gary Kurt is going to come out of retirement to play goal for the Komets next year?
I think we need to look for that special goalie who is continuing his great "rookie see-sun," none other than Denny Lemieux. Maybe he's finally found a cure for his allergy to those ------- fans. At least he won't have to ask "who own the Komets" (I mean "owns, owns.")
I have suggested this before: rather than having a team to team agreement with the SPHL, I suggest the IHL contact them to see if they would be interested in having a pool, of players who would be willing to play in the IHL on a fill-in basis.
Once a guy committed to the pool, whichever IHL team called him, he would be bound to play for them. No cherry picking allowed. If you agree to being in the pool, you play where needed. So what if he played 5 games in FW, 3 in MUSK and 2 in BLOOM? Not all SPHL players want to leave where they are at, so having a team to team relationship might not work.
ALSO, maybe we should change Blakes nickname from Super Fan to Mr. Socko, if what we read in ITB is true.
Hmmmm. I remember an old tv show called I think Mr Socko and his flying robot. It was a Japanese show dubbed into english where they battled monsters trying to destroy cities.
I don't understand why Richardson hasn't signed yet? Is it the money? Cause I thought we raised our salary cap?
I read this blog almost daily but I rarely post on it so probably no one here is familiar with me except Blake. This is one of those occations where I do want to comment on a couple of things.
I was one of the fans critical of naming the league IHL and also came out against mixing the old records with the new. After reading the comments from former players that Blake published I'm ready to eat crow. With A-1 sauce please, it tastes horrible by itself.
I hope Chief does well, I have a lot of respect for him.
Thanks for the news on Richardson.
I do subscribe to the NS, to prove it..... Did anyone else catch the photo by Chad in Saturday's of Tom King making that diving catch? What a piece of work! Chad's good, I wonder how long he will be here?
Does the IHL have the same agreements with the Euro Circuit that the UHL, CHL, ECHL, and AHL have with players bolting for one league to another not honoring their contracts? IE Mark Smith? Reason I ask this, I saw the GM in Flint mentioned that the players they drafted that were signed with Euro teams might leave those situations to play for Flint? Cloutier was one that was mentioned.....Can we beg Chaulker back if Big Bad Bruce decides to play in the CHL? Chaulker is 10 times better than Bruce skill wise anyway. He is a true center. We might actually win a face next season...unlike this past season.
That going to Europe to play really confuses me. It seems the UHL/IHL changes the rules every year on that. I thought that if a player originally signed to play in Europe and decided to leave they could play in the U/I. If a player signed to play in the U/I then bolted for Europe i.e. Mark Smith, then they are ineligible for that year and the next.