Flint will try to become the fourth IHL team to win the Turner Cup after finishing the regular season with a losing record. The Generals were 33-36-3 this season... This is only the third time where both teams advanced to the Turner Cup Finals by winning series that lasted seven games. The other two times it happened, in 1975 and 1999, the finals also lasted seven games... This is only the third time Flint and Fort Wayne will meet in the playoffs. The Komets won the 1973 semifinals series 4-1 on the way to their third Turner Cup, and they won a 1983 first-round series 3-2... Both teams were 5-1 at home against each other this season... The Komets scored less than three goals per game against the Generals this season... Though Fort Wayne took 80 more shots in the season series, the Komets scored two fewer goals against the Generals... Tim Haun vs. Flint: 5-1-1 2.03 goals against average, .930 save percentage... Rob Nolan vs. Fort Wayne: 4-3-1, 2.02 goals against average, .941 save percentage...There have been seven IHL clubs which won back-to-back titles since Cincinnati won five titles from 1953-1957. Of those, St. Paul in 1962, Port Huron in 1973, Kalamazoo in 1981, Toledo in 1984, Salt Lake in 1989 all reached a third straight finals before finally losing.
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Okay, I really felt sorry for the musky fans reading some their posts. But then the 'real' fans came out and wrecked it for everyone. The whole we got off the sinking ship thing is stupid. It was all for financial reasons and we all know it. Poor Bouchard and Robby cried for 45 minutes after the game. Couldn't happen to two nicer people.
Final schedule is up on IHL-Hockey.com:
ORT WAYNE VS. FLINT
Game One- Saturday, May 8 Flint @ Fort Wayne (7:30 PM)
Game Two- Monday, May 10 Flint @ Fort Wayne (7:30 PM)
Game Three- Wednesday, May 12 Fort Wayne @ Flint (7:00 PM)
Game Four- Friday, May 14 Fort Wayne @ Flint (7:00 PM)
Game Five- Saturday, May 15 Flint @ Fort Wayne (7:30 PM) If Necessary
Game Six- Monday, May 17 Fort Wayne @ Flint (7:00 PM) If Necessary
Game Seven- Wednesday, May 19 Flint @ Fort Wayne (7:30 PM) If Necessary
As we anticipate the start of the Turner Cup finals, it seems to me that this may be a good place to pause and reflect on the season.
In October, with seven teams, the IHL began a trek that was steeped with uncertainty. Many fans believed that a league with just seven teams was not bonafide. They pointed to other leagues with more member teams, less drama with ownership, and thus a more stable structure. On the outside looking in, they were correct. The IHL did change ownership in Dayton. The IHL does have a big question yet to be answered in Flint and took the hit with the announcement of Muskegon leaving after 50 years of professional hockey. The CHL and ECHL, while having their own franchise problems, are in a much better position to absorb any defections. They are also spread out all over everywhere.
No one knows the future of the IHL, or for that matter, "AA" minor league hockey. Much will be determined during the off season. It will be interesting.
One thing I do know, though, is that the 2009-2010 IHL season has been exciting.
Port Huron took charge of the league early and was caught and passed by Muskegon who won the Huber Trophy. The Komets also passed Port Huron and finished just two points behind Muskegon. Bloomington showed great improvement and had a strangehold on fourth place till the last seven games. Flint, awash in problems both financially and talent wise most of the year, caught fire and passed a faltering Bloomington for the final playoff spot. I happen to think that Flint was the best IHL squad during the last twenty games of the season. Dayton and Quad City both fielded young exciting hockey teams. Both teams were blessed with speed and I never saw them "quit" during games against the K's at the Coliseum.
Now we are approaching the finals with a team (Flint) that took out Muskegon. If you would look at the IHL regular season final standings you would call this an upset. Not me. Flint deserves to be here.
If this is the final IHL season, then let's look at the good, positive, things that occurred. There has been a lot of excitement, on ice drama, nightly parity amongst the member teams, and a lot of surprises along the way.
Not bad for a seven member league that has tried to bring some sanity back to minor league hockey. In a short time the Turner Cup Final series will be completed. With the final buzzer at the deciding game the 2009-2010 IHL season will be completed whole.
Something many people would have betted against in October.
Agreed...It will be a very competitive series...at least on paper.
Blake - I loved the notes you posted to start this thread. They were very interesting! Great job.
I am excited that we are playing Flint for the Turner Cup. Flint will be a tough competitor for our Komets. I appreciate that and I am looking forward to a very competitive, hard-fought series.
LETS GO Ks.!!!
Great summary of this season Alan......very good.
Blake--Be careful Alan is going to have your job. Well done Alan.