This one comes from Ronn, who wants to know who everybody thinks was the best fighter(s) the Komets have had, and who they have fought against. Now it's easy for everybody to say Fletch, and who could argue, but try to think of specific incidents maybe that stood out for you. Think of opponents as well.
I'll start. Though I didn't see it, Bob Fitchner challenging the entire Flint team in 1973 should have been something, especially when no one had the guts to immediately accept the challenge. Now that's tough.
The other one was seeing Shawn Cronin take on about three Indy Ice players after Prokopec hit McBain in Indy. I have NEVER seen a great show of strength than seeing Cronin the barbarian throwing Jeff Buchanan around. The whole place got eerily quiet. Funny thing was, I'm guessing word must have gotten around pretty quick, because no one came near Shawn in the remaining games he was able to play. What a warrior. And a class act.
As for opponents, Mark Major was by far the classiest of a class bunch. Enrico Ciccone was always a favorite to despise.
Comments
Memorable fights and fighters? Are you "...puttin' on the foil..." Blake?
Since we're talking "ol' time hockey", I'll agree with Skate about D'Arcy Keating. Never saw him fight much, but never saw him lose. I remember one night in the early 80s against Dayton when he and a big defenseman from the Gems (Dwight somebody? who's going to help me?) stood in the faceoff circle in front of old section 11. They held each other's collar with their left hand and traded right hooks for what seemed close to five minutes before the linesmen could get in to break it up.
Memorable fights and fighters? Are you "...puttin' on the foil..." Blake?
Since we're talking "ol' time hockey", I'll agree with Skate about D'Arcy Keating. Never saw him fight much, but never saw him lose. I remember one night in the early 80s against Dayton when he and a big defenseman from the Gems (Dwight somebody? who's going to help me?) stood in the faceoff circle in front of old section 11. They held each other's collar with their left hand and traded right hooks for what seemed close to five minutes before the linesmen could get in to break it up.
Don't know if this qualifies but, the night Larry DePalma sucker punched Robin Bawa then a 12 man maylay took place with Kaminski, Butters, Karalis, Fletcher going at it with the K-Zoo guys.
This is in response to Eric:
The Dwight you want is Dwight Schofield - that was the year Dayton wore the Houston Astros rainbow jerseys (See Drop the Pucks website - IHL page for an idea). Schofield also played for Kalamazoo and for a brief time with Fort Wayne if I remember correctly.
Jeff
While we're talking old-time fights, does anybody remember the stick fight between Dave Norris and Kalamazoo's Jerry Rollins? This was the first home game of the 1977-78 season - it happened near the penalty boxes and both players were suspended from playing against each other for several games after that one. That was the first stick fight I've ever seen, and I've never forgotten that.
JEFF: I was there, the most sicking thing that i have ever seen in hockey, i din't like it at all
Another one from the season I mentioned earlier was also one of the most electric fights I have seen. That would be Fletcher's fight in his one game comeback.(If you can call that pummeling a fight) Once I found out it was a work it kind of ruined it, but at the time it was magic.
I stand corrected that was Rick Dorman not Hartman...Their was a Hartman in the league, but he was with Saginaw. I can still see Irons pounding him with his blocker....
Another thing that comes to mind this is such a hot topic because these guys are the ones that made Komet hockey, KOMET HOCKEY...That is what is sad about this years team because we do not have anyone close to the guys described above. Not all these guys were great goal scorers and had a lot of points. Some of them did, but most did not. We have lost that here in Fort Wayne with this year's squad. With all these post man it brings back some exciting memories. Yes the good old days of Komet hockey!!!
Another thing that comes to mind this is such a hot topic because these guys are the ones that made Komet hockey, KOMET HOCKEY...That is what is sad about this years team because we do not have anyone close to the guys described above. Not all these guys were great goal scorers and had a lot of points. Some of them did, but most did not. We have lost that here in Fort Wayne with this year's squad. With all these post man it brings back some exciting memories. Yes the good old days of Komet hockey!!!
I think the most horrid display of stick work I saw was between Kevin Kerr and I believe Jim Playfair of Indy. Kerr was goin behind the Indy net with Playfair behind him and it looked like Playfair speared Kerr from behind and Kerr turned and swung his stick about head high with everything he had. They then proceeded to swing their sticks back and forth at each other for awhile before the gloves came off....that was ugly. Then there was the fight that I am convinced got Kotyluk traded...Virag had just laid a huge hit on a Rockford player and Eric Labelle was gonna jump dustin but Kotyluk got to Labelle first and whipped him pretty good by virtue of surprise. Kevin got 2, 5, and a 10 and you could see him and Pulhalski screaming at each other when Kevin was in thew box....about a week later Kotyluk was traded to K-zoo.....
Probably the dirtiest play I ever saw was when a big guy (for that era) Duane Bray of Des Moines blindsided Ivan Belise and hit im in the left eye area with a downward-chopping buttend. Terry Pembroke, then an aging vet, dropped the gloves and challenged Bray as a Captain should.
Bray then proceded to pound Pembroke. Too bad. Terry did what he was supposed to do.
Blake, this is an absolute riot. I mean with so much written lately about how fighting is a thing of the past and how the game has moved past it. Seems like there are more than plenty examples of what fans enjoy and remember the most. I'm right there with them. I am thoroughly enjoying everyone's comments.
Whoever in Hockey decides to try and remove fighting from this beloved game, should get a lifetime game misconduct, that's for sure. Maybe we could deport them to Europe where they belong. Mess with our game, and we will send out the GOONS!
The one brawl I'm suprised none of the other oldtimers has mentioned is Game 5 of the 1966 series with Dayton. It was so out of control that Jack Loos played the National Anthem to try and get it stopped. He did not succeed.
European leagues is where alot of goons are now playing.
name a few
And the reason the Goons are in Europe right now is that they are tryin to get better at the finesse side of the game cause the rough and tumble part of the game is goin bye bye....And who knows maybe those goons will transform the euro fan and young players and in ten years we will be thanking euro players for bringing toughness back into the game....lol
Hey, speaking of fighting,
I'm fighting mad that Channel 33 would rather show college basketball or Country music infomercials instead of the NHL like we have all been waiting on. Blake, How about finding out why the NHL keeps getting bumped by what was once Fort Wayne's finest television station?
LNAH has plenty. Just pick a team and you'll see.
Has anyone called 33 to complain? Myself, I could pretty much care less. The lockout blew it for me.
im with you k"s pa,, you have got to be kidding me??? ohio st and minnesota basketball? c"mon 33 we want to see some hockey!!!!!!!
I am totally behind you on that, Larry. I've missed two Rangers games because of college basketball! (That's why I ended up buying the Center Ice package on DirecTV)
And you're right: 33 was definitely the best station before it was bought-out.
All this talk about Rhett Trombley, let me tell you something the only thing that guy was good for was a fight...just ask his wife and last girlfriend! it's a good thing we cut the tough guy after only 2 weeks.
The scariest opponent I ever remember seeing was that nutjob Andy Ristau. He DECIMATED Bezeau one night and was later bared by a couple of leagues before nerly being killed in a PREGAME riot/brawl.
As for "oltimers"...the night Rory Cava beat the snot out of Paul Tantardini! Also remembering Mel Hewitt, Tony Horvath, and Boris Fistric.
Anyone know what ever happened to Byron Lomow and his brother, Boyd?
Byron is in town, and his son is an awesome junior player. Don't know about his brother, though.
Pound for pound Robbie laird was one of the toughest Komets ever. I remember he fought Dale Yakachuck and because of the height difference Robbie had to use one hand to pull himself up onto Yakachuck and with the other hand he was throwing jack hammers. I remember waiting for autograpgs one night and Robbie was late getting out beacuse he had to soak his hands in ice. It was like he had a jack hammer motor in his arms. Toughest oponent was Len Ircandia of Kalamazoo. Ugliest incedent was when Mel Hewwit beat the tar out of Danny Lecours during a bench clear, which lead to Milwaulkee forfeiting the series to Saginaw.
I went to high school with both Boyd and Byron Lomow. Boyd isnt too far away from his brother. He works for La Porte County Park Board.
If anyone sees either one of them sometime, tell them that weird chick with the short chubby friend from high school says hi!