Why is it that whenever there's a significant delay to starting a game, the home team always falls flat on its face? Is it because the fans are impatient after waiting? Do the players lose their focus in the locker room while waiting? No one had any answers after the game tonight, but it always seems to happen.
Remember in 1999-2000 when Ohio won 12 games the entire season? I can't even remember the nickname, that's how relevant that team was, but they came into Fort Wayne on Dec. 28, got there like 90 minutes late and still beat the Komets 2-1. If I remember correctly, it ended a long losing streak for Ohio, too.
I know the Komets have done it a few times in recent years at Rockford and Port Huron, too.
Last night it was only a 15-minute delay, but I was on Quad City radio with Aaron Roof and I said the delay would kill the Komets. They sure came out flat.
Sure, say the theory may be hogwash, but why does it always happen?
Tonight's game, on both sides, was also a perfect example of why UHL officials need to start calling it when players dive. That was ridiculous. When a players' stick smacks the ice, that's a dive. When his knees hit first, that's a dive. Some of the players had better twirling moves tonight than Icy had during his Nutcracker rendition. When they stick their hands together with arms extended it's a dive. I swear I saw a couple of players hold their noses before they hit the ice.
The sad thing was, they got the call more often than not. That was awful.
Comments
It was Ohio and they did win 12 games that year.... The shots that game was Fort Wayne with 51 and Ohio with 11. Final score Ohio 2-1. That was the year they moved from Saginaw to Massillon in the middle of the season. The visiting team's "locker room" was basically a trailer in the parking lot.
NEW PLAYER IN TOWN,DAVID FRAWLEY 6'1" 194# 4 PAST YEARS 6 GOALS 12 ASST.62 PIM. ANOTHER GREAT FIND!(WHY?)
anyone find out why the Komets couldnt connect a pass tonight to save thier life...
Berkabozo or whatever his name is was awful...I have NEVER liked him...
The Komets made Tapp look like a superstar that he is not..Tapp is an avg goalie in this league..how did he shutout the Komets..thats just plain pathetic if you ask me.
Thanks for the compliment Smitty. Glad you liked it. It was a good story because everyone opened up to me on it. I know I learned a lot.
The replays showed that the non-goals did not cross the goal line.
Komets are trying Frawley because they are down to four rookies. If someone gets hurt, they'd have to play short a man. Judging by tonight, they aren't done looking for rookies, either, and still need some depth in that area.
Blake,
Was Danny Stewart's comment of "running Chaulk through the glass" something for Chaulk to get a chuckle out of or was he serious?
We had 8,000 people the looking for anything to get excited about and we come out playing like WE were the ones ahead of Quad City. I am not saying the season is over just because of a loss. The K's are definately playing much better now but I am so frustrated that this team FAR TO OFTEN does not dictate a physical tone in their own building. Dictate, don't react!!
As for rookies, any chance Roanoke can leave Vanderbreggen here after Saturday? He hasn't played a single game for them since being traded for Kenny (who is no longer here).
Need more grit to go along with all this finesse.
what finesse?
So, has Mr. Puhalski had the new guys long enough to "mold" them into HIS SYSTEM? If that is the case, I would say his system isn't worth much. If last night was any indication, I would probably hop on the first bus out of town and salvage whatever hockey career I have left if I was any one of the new guys. Ever notice that very few of our team members move on to a higher league or even sign with a different team in the U the next season? I think he takes a good player and brings them down to mediocre player status. That is why I was kind of glad to see Wiggins go - I don't think he would flourish under this style of "coaching". Anyone else have any thoughts???
Scoops, I think it was a little of both, a jab at his buddy and a fact as we'll probably see in two weeks. There are no friends on opposing teams during games. I remember a few years ago when Steve Fletcher and Scott Shaunessy fought in a game -- after they had sat next to each other for two years in the Komets' dressing room. Or how about Wayne and Keith Primeau fighting?
Also, read tonight's story and I think you'll be surprised at what coach Puhalski had to say about the need for more physical play last night.
I did not really think the Komets played too bad last night. It just seemed they didn't get many bounces. Drouin smoked the cross bar at one instance and there were numerous other shots that Tapp made good saves on. I had no problem with their effort last night although I do agree that we could have used a momentum changing fight possibly.
Other things:
-The sound worked great last night for a change
-Galbraith murdered one of the QC guys with a hit last night. He skated off like the guy who peed himself in Slapshot.
-Nice of the Komets to actually give the 1st star to an opposing team player.
That Ohio team still had the "Gears" nickname. Uniforms too.
Thanks Pat, that stupid question has been stuck in my head all day.
Is anybody else noticing the diving, or am I nuts?
Here's something that hasn't been mentioned yet. According to Cohn's article, the delay was caused because there were so many people in line to get tickets, they wanted to delay so they would see the game. I can understand this as we walked around the line when we came in to get to the stairs and it was stretched to the entrance for the expo center.
Here's my point/question: would they do this for ANY other event? I mean if 2,500-ish showed up for a concert trying to get in and get tickets would they go back and be like, "I'm sorry Motley Crue, you'll just have to wait." No way. And the second thing is, why do people wait so long to get tickets? I mean I know that sometimes going to a game is probably a last minute decision; but c'mon people, you know the game is supposed to start at 7:30 get there in time to get your tickets and get to the game.
Grrrr.
Brandan, it's probably because we're Fort Wayne and no one expects to ever have a problem getting in on a Tuesday night. We're spoiled that way. That had to be the biggest crowd for a Tuesday night regular-season game ever, not including New Year's Eve games. We really do live in a different reality than most cities when it comes to getting to events. We're very lucky.
Blake, you're not nuts. I cannot believe the number of dives I've seen lately (especially the QC game on Tuesday!). It wasn't just QC doing the diving, either. I hate to point fingers, but there were a few times I just rolled my eyes when Galbraith would fall. I think he was one of the best additions to the team this year, but he's a bit of a drama king. At times, he would fall to his knees for no apparent reason, then glance at the ref, and, when nothing was called, he'd get back to his feet and pretend like nothing happened.
How much longer before the UHL (or any other league) creates the 2-minute "diving" penalty? LOL
There is already. It's called unsportsmanlike conduct.
All they'd have do it call it once a week for about a month and it would be gone forever.
Wasn't there a call a few games ago to where a Komet got a dive and the opposing player got a hooking on the same play? Or vice versa?