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Tailing the Komets

More notes from the game

I was talking to Bob Chase and Komets PR director Chuck Bailey before the game about the difference in officiating this weekend and someone, I wish I remembered who, came up with the thing that summed it all up. ``There's calling penalties and then there's calling a hockey game. Anybody who can skate and blow a whistle can call penalties, but can they call a game?'' That makes all the sense in the world.

Which kind of leads me to coach Pat Bingham's post-game press conference. Here are some excerpts:

``The guy hit Hansen from behind and three guys don't see it... I have a problem with that. I don't want to harp on officiating, but there are some things that are considered the dirtiest plays in hockey, hitting from behind, the leg check that happened to Goodwin, and hits to the head when you leave your feet (like with Voorhees). It sure looked to me like the guy who stepped up on... Sure, he was in a vulnerable position. He was reaching for the puck and everything, but from my perspective on the bench, the guy left his feet to hit him in the head, and he literally went overtop of him. I would think if he didn't leave his feet he would have stood him up or bowled him over, but he went ove the top.

``They're not going to see everything, but I do want them to enforce those... along with the new agenda of the hooking and holding and all that stuff to clean up the game and open it up more. When you do open up the game, you saw it tonight with big open ice hits as a result. People who are critical of new rules or whatever it really prevents you from holding people up and the whole idea was to stop them from running the crap out of you. I think we made the mistake a few too many times of throwing passes up the middle, trying to get cute, and their D guys took every opportunity to step up in the neutral zone and we paid the price for that. Like I said, it's up to the referee to take care of checks from behind, hits from behind, leg checks when you're trying to take somebody's knee out and hits to the head, jumping to take a guy's head off.''

Bingham also heaped praise on players such as David Hukalo, Pascal Morency, Martin Gascon and, Kevin Hansen for doing the little things better such as aggressive forechecking, hustle and getting the puck deep on line changes.

``All the other guys who have scored a lot of points know what they are doing for the team,'' Bingham said.

Posted in: Komets

Comments

Tony E
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 12:48pm

Let me be the first to say, PATRICK ROY SUCKED!! How is he going into the hockey hall of fame!?!?!?!!? Want proof?????
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid%5B%5D=58002

Greg
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 12:53pm

If my wife ever sees this...well, all I can say is it's been nice knowing you!!!

Nice one BTW (God I hope see doesn't see this)

Tony E
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 12:55pm

Lol! Can you imagine that poor guy having to try to make a name for himself with that name?

Tony E
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 1:17pm

Greg is your wife a big fan of the QSPHL ?
This guy was like 8 when the "real" Roy broke into the league. I wonder if his parents forced goalie pads on him because of the name.

Stripe-11
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 1:19pm

Does Flint have a trainer this year?

Blake
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 2:23pm

They did have a trainer on the bench Saturday. I looked.

I went to lunch with Richardson and Larocque today and they were talking about how some fans didn't think they stood up for each other. They were pretty ticked about it, actually.

Richardson had an intersting point. When he got nailed, they scored on the power play. When Goodwin got nailed, they scored on the power play. When Hanson got hit, he said there were three big hits on the Flint player the next shift. After Ondrej hit Voorhees, he got punished the next shift by about three different guys.

``What better way is there than to hurt them on the scoreboard,'' he said. ``The other thing is we were asking them the whole game to go and no one would. At that point, I can't take an instigator penalty when we're only up by one goal or two goals. I know a lot of people wanted us to go after them at the end of the game, too, but I'm not stupid enough to take a major penalty then and take a chance on missing the next game at Rockford. That would be really stupid.''

An instigator in the last 5 minutes means an automatic suspension for the next game. His point was, the Generals didn't want to dance so the Komets did the best they could without getting nailed with extra penalties.

Another point, and this is not necessarily one that Bruce or Mario made, was that this stuff doesn't get forgotten, and it's a long season.

Tony E
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 2:33pm

It sounds like they confirmed what I said about the cheap shot guys not being willing to fight.

Not that I know it all or anything ;-)

dnl
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 2:56pm

Thanks for the quotes from Richardson. I think it clears up alot about what the team's thoughts were. To say the Komets this year isn't physically tough (not saying anyone is saying that..) is ridiculous. Everything from checking and grinding down to even the way the Komets handle the puck is very physical. If we have a team that is willing to stand up for each other and fight if needed but not put the team in jeopardy, what more can a hockey fan ask for?

scoops
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 6:27pm

I love it..... Thanks Blake.

JungleMonkey
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 6:35pm

When the Puhalski camp said the same things, you people jumped up and down like you were on fire. Print those quotes in the paper and I will mail a copy to the Generals to let them know that they are gutless and won't fight. Maybe they'll change their minds next time.

Holy Moley
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 7:38pm

Ok, I'll buy what they say.

It does sound like a carbon copy of what number 55 saif last season...

Tony E
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 8:36pm

I thought of something kind of funny (at least to me).
How would that game against Flint have gone had Duhart been in the lineup for the Komets?

chuckitt
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 8:46pm

great reporting blake! since the guys wanted to go and the flint cheap shotters wouldnt, then it does change my opinion of our toughness. tell the guys not to be upset cause we can only blog with the info we have.

dnl
Mon, 11/13/2006 - 11:02pm

I agree with Chuckitt.

Greg
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 6:05am

Too add to that point, remember the Port Huron game. Richardson asked the Flag to go in the last two mins and was obliged. The Komets are a very smart team in regards to when to fight.

ilovehockey
Tue, 11/14/2006 - 6:59am

Thanks Blake. Hopefully, this will help with the people that think that we are not a tough team. I think it works out so much better to use your heads than take the stupid penalties. I have watched somebody get close to Frenchy this season and have 3 K's right there in a heartbeat. Don't ever say that they don't stick up for each other. If and when the need arises, they'll be there to take care of things. I absolutely love this team and always count the days till the next game. Bring on Rockford, Elmira, and the Hounds.

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