But I don't assign any blame from this game to Neil Christopher. The Komets did this to themselves. Did he miss the first calls and then call the retaliation calls? Yes, welcome to hockey. The Komets have had this problem the ENTIRE season, and they talk and talk and talk about needing to stay away from penalties and they can't do it, no matter who they are.
It's a lack of self-discipline which has creamed them all year. Troy Neumeier talked about it in today's story, and Colin Chaulk has talked about it forever. It's obvious to everyone, but they can't see to do anything about it.
Rockford, the most penalized team in the league, has four more power-play chances than the Komets so far in this series. That's totally on the Komets.
Comments
nice comment you made there why don't you try to insult me later when you have something intelligent to actually say
Heather, many years ago when I was younger and dumber (ok maybe I haven't gotten any smarter) I used to let cheap insults on message boards by anonymous people get to me to the point I did and said some things I am not proud of. Trust me when I tell you it is best to laugh and ignore. If you feed the cookie monster all you will get is crumbs burped back at you.
I agree Tony, to a point. Christopher was calling the same penalties in the second period as he called in the first. The reasoning side of the brain has to kick in with players sometimes, doesn't it?
True Blake. The problem is, coach can't remind the boys of how he called the previous game with any reasonable expectation that he will call the next game the same way.
I haven't called 3 seconds in basketball in eight years. Coaches know that and tell their kids accordingly. They don't bother to scream at me about it anymore. If out of the blue I started calling 3 seconds, they would have every right to jump on me. Coaches understand not all officials call things the same but they have to count on the same guy calling the same things from one game to the next.
Blake, I dogged on Christopher, so by rule I have to give you a good ref.
Tony E
that last comment proves it.
Lol I am not good. I just try to be consistent. Some would say I am consistantly bad! I haven't called holding in football in about 8 years either LOL.
I love it Hit!
My point Tony is he called it the same way in the first period, too. They should have known better.
I know. In the heat of battle sometimes it is hard to be "logical". Perhaps this is an example of the missing leadership with Chaulk and Newmie out.
Some thoughts on the game tonight.....
-While some could argue (and show the NHL rulebook) that a penatly shot was earned; I have never in my life seen one awarded to a player that did not have posession of the puck.... ever.
-I do not think the officiating was that great. I am not going to blame the outcome of the game on it. I was actually bored for a lot of the first and part of the second periods.
-The biggest thing that annoyed me was our coaches lack of any emotion. I know we have talked about it before, but seriously DO SOMETHING. TALK TO THE REF. DO SOMETHING. Do not sit there and just take it! I would almost rather have a jerk like Martinson that argues every call than a pansy that just stands there doing NOTHING.
-Speaking of their coach, the most hilarious thing I have heard in a long time was the "Name these 3 famous pigs contest" HILARIOUS.
-These are professional athletes, and this is a blog. It shouldn't be warm cookies and milk when they suck it up like we did tonight. Just because someone is critical of a team doesn't mean they are not fans. In point of fact, what it truly means in most cases is that the people that are critical are true die hards. They know the game, they know what to expect, and want people to deliver. Guys like PC, Goodwin and Guinn are NOT delivering.
-St Pierre did shoot that puck directly at Christopher, and was very lucky that none of the officiating crew noticed it.
-One final thought on why so many of the UHL refs don't move up. Maybe they don't want to? Perhaps many are fine working games parttime and have fulltime jobs they enjoy. It took me over a year to convince myself to take a promotion at work, because I loved the store I worked at and the people. Granted it was for more money; but I would give up other things I enjoy.
Iceboi I of course can't say this with 100% certainty but I have never met an official who would turn down the opportunity to work at the highest level they had a chance to work. Short of the NHL all minor league officials for the most part have second jobs, especially if they have a family. Even in the AHL unless you are single living in an apartment, you are going to have to get a second job.
Interesting comments--I usually don't get involved because I have tremendous respect for both players AND officials, but as a 25 year fan of the Komets I have to say this was the most ONE-SIDED officiating I have ever seen. Sure, there are bad calls but by the end of the game they usually even out to some extent. Hard to fault the Komets for playing sloppy when they were 4 on 5 all night. Frenchy came out fired up and played great, it's too bad that 6 goals against doesn't really reflect that. This team does seem to come out of the gate slow doesn't it? We are having barbeque ribs for dinner and keeping our fingers crossed.
GO KOMETS!
I'm curious--Tony, or anyone, do you think that when the crowd starts taunting the officials that it does more harm than good? I wonder if the players appreciate it or if it's just makes it more frustrating? I thought a riot was going to break out there for a while last night.
Yeah, I'm definately screaming. That game was a total joke. Neil Christopher was the worst of this series. Everyone around us agrees. This series is fixed. I left halway thru the 2nd period, we were down 4-0. Not because of the K's, but because of the ref. I've never left a game early for that. I was so frustrated that I couldn't take it anymore. What a freakin joke!!! Pelletier shoves a linesman not once but 3 times and still stays in the game???? Tell me that'sot fixed. He kicks and beats on the glass in the penalty box yelling and cussing at Christopher. Does he get anything extra??? NO!!!! Let Lance do that and he'd be thrown out. I'm sorry, but this official garbage has got to stop. Games should not be decided by refs. It's happened all year. Lots of season ticket holders are thinking twice about next year because of the refs. We're just sick of it!!! I don't think the K's could have done anything to win in the first 40 minutes. Everything was against them.
I don't have a problem with how Christopher called the game because the Komets played the most undisciplined game I've seen in 30 yrs. (since some of us are putting down how long we've been watching hockey). Campbell flat out smacked Notermann in the face and I know this because it happened right in front of me. As far as the penalty shot I didn't see the foul so I can't comment. Frenchy is lucky he didn't get a penalty or tossed for chucking the puck at Christopher. And what was Campbell thinking last night, put us twice 2 man down and we scored on once. Glad to see Milam playing better, Koning played with some fire. And Miller beat the Hell out of Pelltier.
While I'm a Komets fan and do wish them well in tonights game, I do not honestly think they will win. Frenchy has not played well this series and he's not getting any help from the defense. This so called veteran leadership is spending all thier time in the box because of stupid penalties.
And my fianl comment, Many JEERS to all the idiots, yes I said Idiots, who threw the garbage on the ice after the game. IT was a disgrace.
People. please don't go after any one player. There are only about 3 or 4 that are playing well in this series. It's a team effort, and right now there's not much there. P C has some big shoes to fill trying to pick up for Colin. We all know that we need Colin and Neumie, but that's not gonna happen in this series. Answer to are Nascar drivers athletes?? Absolutely. We have a very good friend that's a Nascar driver and the things that they have to go thru in that car are unvelievable.
Sorry, having a typing issue today. LOL Heather, I too am a huge Komet fan. Have been for over 25 years. I truly believe we can't blame everything on one guy. Too many guys have let us down this season. I guess we have to look at it this way, once again we made it to the playoffs. After the start that we had, who would have thunk it. I'll always be a huge K's backer no matter what happens. We still have tonight. A win tonight would bolster confidence again. Is there truly a good ref in the UHL this year??? Would somebody please tell me his name?? Fish was half way decent. Think we could get him back full time??
Thanks once again for being the morality police, Greg.
Hey no problem. Anytime I can comment on Idoits who think throwing objects at people trying to do a job is okay, I'll do it. I pressume you were one of them by making that morality police comment.
No matter how bad a game is, there is never a time for throwing things on the ice. That's not true Komet fans. I was so mad too, but I would never consider doing that.
Good morning all.
Sparky, while everyone is different most good officials are not affected by crowds.
ilovehockey, Adam Fish is a close neighbor of the Komets (Elkhart) I do not know why he doesn't do more Komets games. To say the series is fixed is kind of pushing it. Think about it from a distance. Why would the officials care who wins this series? Does anyone believe that Rockford has "paid off" someone? Are their players so nice to the officials that the referee is going to go out of his way to see that they win? From what you described, the Icehogs players were just as angry at the officials as the Komets but they found a way to overcome and win.
In closing, if some Komets fans were throwing things on the ice, THOSE INDIVIDUALS lowered themselves to a class far below the intelligent and passionate reputation that Fort Wayne Komets fans have. Sadly, those individuals make everyone look bad because most folks do not seperate those individuals from the rest and judge the entire fan base by their actions.
Lastly I do believe Nascar drivers are atheletes but I really believe that the pit guys are exceptional atheletes. To have to move that heavy equipment around so quickly and with the coordination they have takes alot of atheletic ability.
There, my thoughts for the day. Back to bed for me. I hope this was a coherent post.
im a hockey fan first then a komet fan. just because a guy puts on the orange and black, doesnt make him the next best thing since sliced bread. these are professional athletes who are used to being under a microscope ever since they were young. and this is the playoffs and is the time to ask, what have you done for me lately. it doesnt matter that you scored 40 goals during the season, it only matters what you contributed the last game. so dont get upset heather, this is pro sports, not youth baseball. i demand perfection from all who are paid to do a job, just like i expect it from my employees. dont do your job then you can be replayced. so if we get on a few players that you love, its just too bad. i get on anybody who dogs it or doesnt perform to capabilities. thats life. and as a coach, if i screw up then i expect to hear about it. i dont like it but i deserve it! as far as the ks i wouldnt pick on one or two guys for the playoff letdown cause the whole team seems to be off. so blame naturally should go to management and coach but htat again is beating a dead horse. so relax and look forward to next year. one kinda bad year in the last ten isnt really too bad. i can think of a lot worse situations to be in!!!!!!!!!!!
Good deal Tone. We know some of the pit crew guys too and yes they do have to be in terrific shape also. I guess the frustration just gets so bad when you see calls being made that are so questionable, that you wonder how in the world these guys can't have favorites. It's been like they haven't seen 90 % of the penalties that should have been called on Rockford, but see everything big or small, or retaliation on the K's part. That's probably why the players get frustrated and get the stupid penalties. A woman said something to Lance outside the locker room last night and he just looked at her and said, " We're not done" and walked away. Hopefully, he's not the only one with that attitude and the penalties will be at a minimum tonight. It's not over yet. Never count them out. Maybe that team that played K-Zoo and Muskegan last weekend will show up again tonight.
Here's my take on last nights game
1.Christopher was horrible! However, the K's did get what they asked for. He may have called every stupid little penalty on us and none on the Hogs, but if we hadn't commited the crime, we wouldn't have to do the time (so to speak)
2.St Pierre played an awesome game, he did give up that first goal, but after that he played great. He had no help from the defense at all. That 5th goal was a joke. The hog player stood in front of Frenchy for what seemed like forever, took 4 or 5 swings at the puck and no one ever came over to help.
3.We played great in the 3rd, but it was too little to late, just like our season has been. PC is having trouble, he hasn't been the same since his injury. I will assure you this, he will be back to normal, scoring goals before too long. He's a pro, and thats just what pros do!
4.Lance and Miller played with more heart than anybody. I love to watch those guys!
5.Coach never moved last night. How can he stand there and never make a move or even a gesture? I was up and down screaming all night, how he does it is beyond me. Those are his boys out there getting creamed, STAND UP FOR YOUR BOYS COACH!!
I said the same thing last night. I screamed at Puhalski to get mad and not take everything. He just stands there and doesn't budge or open his mouth. I don't want him to be a total jerk wad coach, like Martinson, but to get mad every once in a while. He needs to stand behind his team. Not arguing anything and always berating your team isn't so good on self esteem. Why play good hockey? Coach isn't gonna give you any kudos or fight for you.
Bottom line is the Komets, aside from some spurts, have not played well enough or smart enough to deserve to win this series given what they have. I'll argue that if it was not for Dickie being such a siv...this would of been over and done with already. If the K's can play disaplined, play defense, and fire away with help out front....we should roll on these guys. One more game to learn something from the previous 86 tries.
With that being said, with Dickie in goal for the Hogs, it ain't over till the final buzzer sounds.
I'd love to chime in on rediculous comments but there is really no point anymore. Things are either hot or cold with you and the hardline stances against most of the players we have makes it so they can do nothing to please everyone.
The people tossing things on the ice made me sick. Classless trash.
Amen, Scoops
Demanding perfection? You may as well wish in one hand and #@%$ in the other. This is minor league hockey and for a reason. Things are not going to be perfect even at the highest level of competition. Why do we not see more no hitters in baseball? Or basketball games without any turnovers? Football games without any penalties or incompletions? Perfection is attainable sometimes, but not something you can maintain over a prolonged period of time.
The best you can ask for or "demand" is that the team plays up the best of their abilities. They have not done it yet so you/we have something to gripe about.
I'm not even going to bother commenting on the game. Too much to say and not enough energy to really put my thoughts into coherent words.
Anyway, I will say this: I was EXTREMELY disappointed with the so-called Komets fans that were sitting in the section next to me. We had the Rockford Booster Club in that section, and they were cheering something fierce for the IceHogs (good for them! At least their team can play consistantly!). Anyway, after the game, at least 10 Komets fans that had been sitting in front of the RBC started screaming in their face, "ROCKFORD SUCKS! YOU GUYS ARE CHEATERS!" and a few other comments that are NOT family-friendly.
Very nice. Really makes the Komets fans look good. I can see why people hate coming to the Coliseum now-- because we're sore losers. To all the fans that were jeering the RBC: go join the beer-throwing clowns in 202.
Thanks to the Rockford Booster Club for visiting! Congrats on your team winning!
Hey, I agree. We had the booster club at our tailgate party. They were nice ladies. There is no need to jeer at them. They aren't their players. Their team won. If it would have been us there, it would have been the same thing. I've been tole that the Rockford fans are really nice. We had no probs with them. We had Muskegan fans at our tail gate last year. Actually, had a few nice fans.
You said it Laurie, I agree--years ago when in high school I went to an Indy Ice game with two friends and the fans their were so rude and frightening that I've never been to a road game since. We need to treat visitors with respect, no matter how good or bad the game is. That display by Komet fans last night was embarassing.