After a spirited fight-filled Wings win over their division rivals, the Boston Blazers, I had the opportunity to get insight from several of the key players. Keep in mind five fights, several game misconducts, stitched up players and cheapshots by Boston dominated the evening. So, without further ado, let's hear from Coach Dave Huntley.
KMN- Your thoughts tonight?
DH- "I thought we carried over from the way we played against Minnesota. We had a real good first half...our guys kept working. I think we are playing pretty good right now."
On the extracurriculars:
"I'll be honest with you, I think it was unfortunate. Tom Ryan has never had a fight in his life and he sends out his guys to try to intimidate us."
Obviously agitated, Coach Huntley continued. "I am against fighting in this sport. It's terrible, it was an embarrasment. This isn't a circus out there, this is a game. I could have understood it if it wasn't for the fact that Tom (Ryan) never got into a fight in his entire career, I could have respected it a bit."
KMN- Some of the Boston players like to fight with their helmets on.
DH- "That's a shame because they have a lot of quality guys on the team. But when a guy gets jumped by another guy who leaves his helmet on that's pretty bad."
Switching gears.
KMN- Drew Westervelt, what about his performance tonight?
DH- "He was terrific. He had to carry the load in the beginning of the season, having to be the Number One guy scoring wise. He has been on fire the last four games"
On to Bill McGlone. McGlone enjoyed his best game as a Wing, albeit only playing a little over one half. McGlone was one of the guys that was jumped by a guy who refused to remove his helmet.
BM- "Three guys were pushing Kyle Wailes so I just tried to help my teammate. My helmet got knocked off, took a fist to the left eye, now I am in a fight. It took a bit to get my feet under me, plus I couldn't get his helmet off. I threw punches but it's hard to hurt him when his helmet is on."
Note- Bill was one of at least three players that received stitches after the festivities. McGlone was sporting a cut under his eye, Tom Hajek cut his scalp (This was believed to be equipment related) and Boston player Paul Dawson also received stitches to the scalp. Dawson and Geoff Snider went toe to toe for hat amounted to be a long battle which Snider won the decision.
The diminutive Jordan Levine also got involved in the action scoring a TKO against a much larger Boston player. Taylor Wray was the final Wings combatant.
Athan Iannucci was in the building and reported that he has received clearance from doctors to begin running. To prove his point at the post game gathering, AI hurdled two restraints and took off running in the concourse.
Brandon Miller just gets better and better each week, this week he was awarded the Defensive Player of the Week Award for his efforts.
Speaking of Bill "The Thrill" McGlone, the Ridley native had a nifty goal to start the second half off a creative feed from Geoff Snider. Snider won the face-off, sprinted to the net and fired what appeared to be a high shot over Goaltender, Anthony Cosmo. However, it was a designed play that Snider and McGlone cooked up. McGlone went behind the net and took the pass/shot and slam dinked the ball behind Cosmo.
DID YOU NOTICE? Kevin Huntley scoring from his back after nearly being decapitated? Many former Wings in attendance? Tom Marechek hung out post game was chatted and signed autographs for quite awhile, Jake Bergey looks like he is thinner than when he was playing, he looks to be in great shape. Max Seibald is beginning to show why the Wings traded for him. Max was hitting everyone and really involved in the play all evening.
