Scary AHL Fighting Incident
2 Comments Published by Miss. Scarlett on Friday, January 23, 2009 at 10:35 PM.
(Photo: Comcast Sportsnet)
A scary incident in the AHL tonight during a game between the Manchester Monarchs and the Philadelphia Phantoms. Immediately after the opening face-off, Garrett Klotz of the Phantoms and Kevin Westgarth of the Monarchs got into a tilt that ended up by the boards near the player's bench. Klotz ended up hitting his head on the stanchions of the boards awkwardly and was immediately bloodied and started convulsing, appearing to have suffered a seizure.
The recent reports is that Klotz was taken to the hospital and that he has received stitches and appears to be stable. Sportsnet had video of the footage and it was a very scary incident by the looks of it so it's definitely not for the faint of heart. It's good to hear that Klotz is all right. Regardless, this is bound to re-open the debate on fighting in the game.
Labels: AHL, controversy, fights
There are a number of NHL "Enforcers" down in the "A" right now and there is a good crop of up and comers there also. This is a better fight card than the "Show". It might be the right time to phase it out at the "Enforcer level" in the American League now and starve the NHL of talent. We cannot maintain the "Status Quo" (the kids. When I was a kid adults thought it was cool if you were a tough kid.) Most hockey players know how to take care of themselves. Two light-heavies, who know what they are doing, can have at each other pretty good and there is very little danger of anyone sustaining serious damage. I love Jablonski, I even like the way he skates, but his time is past. I have been "there" completely at the mercy of an (American Leaguer, they're tougher) "Enforcer" who didn't think I had had enough yet!!! But I think they (the "Rules Cttee) have to do it right away; don't talk about it for two years!
The NHL "Nanosecond" and how it applies to fighting. Used to play summer hochey with the "Big Pros" (Always thought I belonged in the NHL! Soley my opinion not backed by Central Scouting) But a couple of times at Christmas, one sometimes two local NHLers would come out to our practice, just for the skate (a good swet!) now about half our guys had played in the "A", we thought we were a pretty fast club (We were!)To show off and to show us up, there would be 3 or 4 rushes made at full speed (this was more than a nanosecond, truley impressive! You had to be on the ice to appreciate it.). One twenty-something National Leaguer (12 wins 3 losses in the OHL) was having some difficulty (1 win 5 losses) in the "Bigs" explained: "it's not like they are trained fighters, they are not, they are just, that 10 lbs heavier and that "Nanosecond" faster, like out there tonight. And ya, they know they are going to fight before the game starts!" I think the "big fellas" have got to go!