Just for you, Hit Somebody! I tried to ask Ryan Jorde all the questions of yours that I could remember.
Blake Sebring: What's the fighting etiquette out there?
Ryan Jorde: I think that's just the fights I've had where I've beat on some guys pretty good and my reputation from the “A'' and stuff. I don't think too many guys want to mess with me. Actually it works in my favor anyways because then they don't run around and I can actually worry about playing then.
BS: How often do you ask a guy to go?
RJ: It depends on the situations. Most nights I have to stay on the ice, me and Neumie and Guy and Rob are on the ice quite a bit so Coach needs us on the ice as much as possible some nights. It all depends on the score. Tonight was a night where possibly if something could have happened it would have, but the only chance was at the end and that Stewart guy got kicked out of the game anyways.
BS: Wilcox was buzzing around.
RJ: He never even said a word to me. I was waiting for him to. I kind of gave him a little hook and he looked back at me and skated out of it. I thought as soon as he got on the ice with me he was going to start something, which would have been fine with me. I'm always up for a little tussle, even at 6-1. He didn't even say two words to me or look at me.
BS: How frustrating is it when you want to go and you can't get somebody to go with you?
RJ: I'll give you two cases, the two nights against Rockford. Big Snake won't go near me most nights. I've been trying for him all season. I beat him up pretty bad in junior, and he remembers it I think. And he got kicked out of the game in Rockford, and then sat out the game here. There are nights when I definitely want to have some fun, but I have no dance partner. That's been the case a lot this year. Then you just worry about playing good defense and helping the team win.
BS: You've been doing that. I think you are plus-12 for the month (March).
RJ: I think I'm plus-24 right now. Things have been going better for us. The last two years I've been injured and I haven't played a lot. It was taking me a while to get back in the swing of things. I think I'm definitely ready to help this team make a run in the playoffs.
BS: Some of the fans have been ripping on you because they want you to fight more. Do you want to fight more?
RJ: Oh, yeah. I'll fight every night, but there's either circumstances where no one will fight me, or the situation is not right. I can't fight in a 2-1 game. The five minutes I lose might be three shifts out there for Neumie and I. Otherwise there's no one who will fight me. The last game at home against Rockford there was nobody there. Stewart is a middleweight. Wilcox
Comments
Awesome Inteview Blake.
I'm guessing that people don't understand that yes fighting is part of the game, but only when the situation warrents it. I think thats the biggest think that people don't understand. If a fight happens, I hope it happens for the right reasons and not the wrong. Tonight it wouldn't of mattered. Other nights probably, just depends on the situation.
Five Five, we appreciate ya.
Great stuff Blake.
Nice interview Blake. You are way too good at your job!!!
I respect Jorde. He is a damn fine D-man and has fought when he needs to, and fights well. The only thing I will question is this. Chaulker took a pretty bad hook/highstick around the neck that happened right in front of where I sit. Everyone, I mean everyone in the section wanted to know why someone didn't grab ahold of that jerk and give him some knocks. That was our MVP and captain that took that cheapy, and nobody even skated near that guy.
I guess it is just philosophies of the game that we all disagree on. Most teams would have killed our guy if say Robin Bouchard took the same type of cheapshot, and I bet it wouldn't have been just one of their fighter types. It would have been the other 4 guys standing out there.
As for Domber. Man, it's either he's afraid, or he is a freaking genious. Makes people question just a little as to why he has jumped from team to team. He has tons of talent. He is an excellent player. I just hate watching a Komet player run from the other team. We all mocked Tibbetts earlier this year when Worlton challenged him and he turtled up, just like Domber did. And that wasn't Worlton, that was Stewart. Jorde called him a middleweight!
Good article though. Kudos. I know why you don't understand us on here now, you aren't a fan!!! Correct...not so sure.
I'm not sure that retaliation plays that big a role in the game anymore. Otherwise Chaulk would be dead by now with the way he carves guys up. He'll even admit it. LOL. My point is, nobody goes after him from other teams when he does it, either. It just doesn't seem to happen in today's game. I'm not sure why.
Rockford did. Remember the kneeing penalty this year at home? The whole team was looking to go with him. No big deal.
I'm surprised you didn't wet yourself standing so close to Jorde. Weren't you scared like the rest of the league. He didn't slap you with his stick and ask you to go did he? I'm sure Cohn would have jumped in there for you. Right?
Also Blake, very happy to see Kurk play tonight. Did Frenchy let him, or did Greg make that decision? Only joking. I still contend that all of the guys on the team need to be both ready to play, and a bit fresh, too. I hope he gets 2-3 more starts this season. I happened to think he isn't as bad a goaltender as people may think. With the right opportunity, he could be adequate or even good. He just needs some PT, baby....so he could be a PTP'er. That would be some of that Vitale language. I'm sure you love it.
Hit you are right. It is just a difference in philosophies. Everyone wants to see the Komets win. Fans just like coaches, have different ideas of how that should be accomplished. I don't think the folks who want to see more fighting are wrong just because I think the game should be played a different way. There really is no right or wrong. It does make for some fun debate though :-)
Nice article Blake enjoyed reading it. See Jorde's point if no one will dance with him then there isn't much he can do. Although I will say is if he wanted it to happen he could make it happen, my take from the article is he feels he has earned the respect not to have to call guys out and that they should challenge him. And when he has been challenged he has taken them on. The only guy to challenge him was Fels and the only guy I seen him challenge was Goody after he got ran from behind into the boards.
I think he also has a point about needing to be on the ice. He's been great this last month or so, as have all the Komets defensemen. More often than not, when there's a breakdown, it's because the forwards aren't getting back to pick up their man.
Here's the plus-minus for March. Guinn 3, Dupuis -1, Neumeier 8, Jorde 12, Lindsay, Dombkiewicz and Bozoian all 2. That's pretty darn good considering the schedule they played. And they went 10-4 as a team.
why does every physical game have to happen on the road? why do the ks have to play a boring style of no hit hockey at home all the time, as for jorde,, quit asking and do!!drop the gloves!! big snakeis tough as nails and would surely take on a rematch at antime,,,oh wait,, but im sure if that happend it would be in rockford and not in the fort, dont get me wrong as a grouchy fan but i just absolutely dont enjoy the hockey anymore around here! 6 to 1 boring victory against a pathetic team with nothing! that sucks! i know that there are good long time hockey fans on here that feel the same as me and surely there are fans that think im a crank and enjoyed that pitifull of an excuse of a hockey game tonight! LETS HERE YOUR THOUGHTS?
why does every physical game have to happen on the road? why do the ks have to play a boring style of no hit hockey at home all the time, as for jorde,, quit asking and do!!
drop the gloves!! big snake
is tough as nails and would surely take on a rematch at antime,,,oh wait,, but im sure if that happend it would be in rockford and not in the fort, dont get me wrong as a grouchy fan but i just absolutely dont enjoy the hockey anymore around here! 6 to 1 boring victory against a pathetic team with nothing! that sucks! i know that there are good long time hockey fans on here that feel the same as me and surely there are fans that think im a crank and enjoyed that pitifull of an excuse of a hockey game tonight! LETS HERE YOUR THOUGHTS?
If he drops his gloves and jumps someone he risks getting tossed out of the game and depending on the league rules for instigator could face suspension. You want a guy to do that? Pound on the Komets door and tell them to get Andy Bezeau out of retirement. I say the same thing I said the other night. You are beating a team 6-1. There is nothing to be gained by initiating a confrontation or in many cases, even giving into one. The Komets do not need to win fights. They need to win games. And say what you will but more nights than not, their method is working. You don't want Jorde or Domb joining Big Snake on the suspended list. They are not goons. They bring more to the table than their fists and do us no good in the penalty box.
Tony Big Snake brings it all to the table take a look at his stats. The right time to "start" something is when you have a game in hand. Look at box scores from all of the U and it happens a lot in the league. It happen in the Rockford and Muskegon game with the score only being 3-1. It has happen on with Muskegon and Kzoo this year. There is truly no "right" time or situation and it takes 3 game misc. before you get suspended.
I would never want Big Snake on my team. How many times has he been suspended this year? At least 3 that I know of. What good is what he can bring to the table if you can't count on him from one game to the next. You also have a constant fear of him taking a dumb penalty at the wrong time. People got on Lance for that early this year. Like I said in another post, we have a difference in philosophy. The coaches I played for taught the game a certain way which was you are selective of your battles. Unless someone is taking liberty with one of your teamates, you don't allow yourself to be goated into confrontation. They can't beat you on the ice, you don't give you a chance to beat them with your fists. I played for coaches that preached class and discipline and now when I coach I teach the same thing. So I have that ingrained in me. If I had ever played for a guy like Robbie Nichols, I might feel differently. There is really no right or wrong answer.
you take a guy like big snake and yu "coach" him. teach him when and how to use his skills. id take a sure 30 goal scorer who is physical and may miss a few games any day. as far as time and a place to fight, id say after turtling on a friday at home and then being challenged at home two days later with a five goal lead that might be the right time. it sends a message out to the rest of the league that you dont mess. i guess all it sent out was the ks will back down and anybody can come into the former jungle and do whatever they want. i was really dissapointed and i guess if dombo wanted to endear himself to the fans, he didnt get er done. hes a good defenseman but...
you take a guy like big snake and yu "coach" him. teach him when and how to use his skills. id take a sure 30 goal scorer who is physical and may miss a few games any day. as far as time and a place to fight, id say after turtling on a friday at home and then being challenged at home two days later with a five goal lead that might be the right time. it sends a message out to the rest of the league that you dont mess. i guess all it sent out was the ks will back down and anybody can come into the former jungle and do whatever they want. i was really dissapointed and i guess if dombo wanted to endear himself to the fans, he didnt get er done. hes a good defenseman but...
This may sound a little convoluted, but it's a hockey fact: If you don't want to fight alot, then go a few times right off and word will get around that you're not afraid to go and people will leave you alone.
Does anyone think that Dave Stewart will think twice about going after Dombkewicz the next time they meet? Do you think he respects Dombkewicz? He knows Dombkewicz will just absorb shot after shot.
Jorde is used as an example in the blog all of the time. He fought a couple of times earlier and now get certainly gets his space out there.
And, Blake (I know this "sounds" insulting but it's not intended to be), everyone who posts on this blog (except you) pays to see the games. Reporting on them in your job. You will be there, regardless. The rest of us are telling the Komets what will keep us coming back.
I've been attending games since the 1950's and used to live and die with the Komets. I hate to say it, but in each year of the Puhalski reign, my interest has waned.
BTW, for posted on BOTH blogs: The word you want is "GOAD" not "GOAT."
Note to Tony E: If Big Snake were on the Komets he would be the most popular player on the team.
I understand that Skate, I'm just not sure that style is around hockey that much anymore. I'm sure fans in other cities are saying the same things. Shoot, I pointed out the reduction in hitting over 10 years ago. The owners know it, and I really think the coaches know it, but they can't force the players to hit. Isn't that one reason why we all love the playoffs so much?
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind going back to say 1992 or so, but I don't think the sport is ever going to go back to what it was no matter how much we beg, plead, demand for it. Nothing is ever the same, in this case to hockey's detriment.
Part of that is the schedule, especially in the minors. Playing four in five nights, there's no way it's going to happen again, but there's no other way for the owners to make money. Monday night hockey would draw flies compared to a Sunday.
The other thing is there are so many teams that there's not that much competition for jobs anymore, either.
Anyway, we've all ranted this into the ground and nothing is going to change other than we'll get more blisters on our fingertips.
I've said it before...Ft Wayne is the only place where you can win 6-1 and they 'still didn't play the game right'. Not bashing anybody so please don't take it that way! It does show very passionate fans, I just find some humor in it. On a side note about the Big Snake discussion, I think every team has one spot for a player like him, but I'd much rather have a player like Galbraith or Jorde. It really is just a different philosophy. That's what makes hockey above the other sports in my opinion. On the final side note...let's give Domber a bit more of a chance. He came here with a reputation of being willing to throw down. Plus we don't know the whole background between Stewert and Domber. For now I say let's give him the benefit of the doubt. He's a player we need for the playoffs, no ifs ands or buts about it, so let's re-evaluate him after then and see if we want him for next year.
dnlkomets, I agree with 99.9% of what you said. My only question, where was it said that Domber had a reputation as a fighter? I posted his stats and he was by no means high on the penalty minute list anywhere he played.
I disagree Skate on your assumption
Big Snake would be popular here. People here wanted to run Lance out of town for his penalties earlier this year. I also would say to you that Fort Wayne has never liked players who had a reputation as being dirty and this guy is as dirty as they come. He has a track record of knee on knee checks, checking from behind, spearing or sucker punching guys. Your popular fighters in Fort Wayne never did things like that. Fletcher would stand face to face with a guy and fight. He wouldn't sucker a guy when he wasn't looking or use his stick as a weapon.
Again, different philosophy on how the game should be played. I see from your perspective why you would want him. I grant you that he would be entertaining and you never know what you are going to see with him on the ice. I can tell you I would be scared to death to have him on the ice in a close playoff game where he might do something stupid and put the team down a man.
P.S. In Canada people say Goat. Lol I spend too much time there. I catch myself typing offence and defence at times too.
an interesting article about Mr Big Snake
http://www.winterhawks.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=275&Itemid=2
Just a thought on players not fighting for jobs. The UHL should goto keeping 20 on the roster to keep compaetion up. Look at Lindsay out there. He relizes he is playing for time with Domb coming in. You add some roster spots guys start wondering if they will be around.
I think they keep the roster number down to save the teams money
I was just saying that as an idea. I never said they had to keep that many guys if they wanted to save money. If they did raise the limit to 20 no team that wants to spend the money doesn't have to follow it. Thats why it makes no sense to limit to 19. It really has cost some younger guys jobs. I think the IHL allowed 22 on the roster but not all teams kept that many to save money. There is no reason not to raise it especially with the salary cap and other rules in place. If teams want to save money they can. Raising the number of roster spots isn't going to cost a team money if they don't want to spend it.
I agree Charlie. I don't think your idea is bad at all. I am not even sure if my reason for the current number is correct. I think being able to have 18 skaters and 2 goalies on the active roster might not be a bad thing. I wouldn't even mind teams being able to carry a 3rd goalie.
But they really would have to rework the salary structure to make that happen.
Not necessisarily. They had a 20-man roster last year with the same salary cap.
I was at Sundays game and thought Flint was a terrible team. Do we have teams like Flint in the league as sacraficial lambs for the better teams in the league?
Our ticket price should include admission to watch two good teams play hockey not just one. I don't want to watch one good team play (the Komets). This league is half full of good teams and half full of really bad teams. This makes for poor hockey.
If everyone likes Jorde so much and enjoy watching him play and fight then why wouldn't you want the Komets to play in the AHL. Thats where he came from and thats probably were he's going next year. He is signed with Buffalo? This will put him in Rochester NY, in the AHL.
If Komet fans want to see more hockey players like Jorde then you would see a whole team of them if we went to the AHL, not the UHL. Then you could see two good teams play in one night NOT just one.