Will It Ever Stop?

I recently attended a game between my hometown team, the Asheville Smoke, and the Flint Generals, both of whom play in the United Hockey League. From the very onset of the game, it was apparent that it was going to be another long night in the penalty box for the Smoke. I can’t say that the Smoke are a group of future Lady Byng recipients, but I will say that they are baited into most of the situations that they get themselves into.

Left Winger Chad Wagner was called for a roughing penalty less than two minutes into the game. The penalty in question consisted of maybe an extra shove and some hugging, but certainly not enough to warrant a whistle. Wagner would be called for many more penalties throughout the game, each one being more ridiculous than the first.

Forrest Gore, who stands at 6’0 and weighs a generous 195 lbs, was matched up at the face-off circle with a stereotypical goon named Mike Varhaug of the Flint Generals, who himself stands 6-7 and weighs all of 245 lbs. A few slashes were exchanged, and both were sent off for minor penalties. After leaving the box, the two were at it again sharing a few shoves and some verbal unpleasantries. Wagner, seeing that Gore was no match for the hulking winger from Flint, came over to help out. It appeared Wagner told him to pick on someone his own size and then gave him a shove. Wagner received a ten-minute misconduct for his shove. The official sent him to the box for ten minutes for merely doing his job, doing what he knew he had to do. When you see one of your goal scorers being pushed around by another team’s enforcer, it is only natural that you do something about it. That is exactly what Wagner did, and he got a misconduct for it.

The action was just starting to heat up. Later on in the next period, Varhaug was at it again, looking for anyone half his size to stir it up with; Wagner, still in the box, had no choice but to watch in disgust. One after another, Varhaug and his teammates looked to instigate some sort of ruckus with various Smoke players. It worked every time. Every time that players came together and punches were exchanged, it was Flint who was on the power play. In typical UHL style, the officials chose to turn their backs on any and every cheap shot from Flint. Another night, another crowded Asheville Smoke penalty box.

Wagner, who was out by the start of the third period, lined up with Varhaug to settle it once and for all. Varhaug denied his invitation as he skated away. After Wagner left the ice, Varhaug began assaulting smaller Smoke players yet again.

Everything came to a head behind the Smoke goal with about 15:00 left in the game. All players came together, exchanging words and punches. Wagner tried his best to get at Varhaug, but with no avail. He had his hands full trying to get the officials off of him. Once again, justice was not done and Varhaug went dancing with another Smoke player.

After this bout concluded, a Flint player decided that he wanted to go with the Smoke’s Kris Mallette. Mallette, who is a fighter and had already gone once before in this game, declined his request. Mallette, not wanting to put his team at a disadvantage, backed away as he was pelted with punches. One after another, Mallette received shots to the face and declined to throw any of his own, hoping that this would put the Smoke on the advantage. The result- the Flint player gets two minutes for roughing and Mallette is rewarded a game misconduct for his efforts.

A game misconduct for taking punches to the face? Smoke fans were stunned but not really surprised because they have seen this happen each and every game over the last two years. Oh, by the way, Wagner was tossed also, not to mention Curtis Menzul, who ended up Varhaug’s dance partner. Varhaug got his major and went to the box. He also received a ten-minute misconduct, but that was no consolation.

How did the game end up? Asheville erased a 2-0 deficit in the third by netting four goals in the third frame. The Smoke, seemingly short handed the entire game, came back to win the game 4-3. This, more than any other time in recent memory, proved to the fans in Asheville that this team has character-real character.

It is hard to understand why a team can be singled out quite like the Smoke has been in recent years. Last year’s squad had a few brawlers of its own; maybe that is why Asheville is constantly made into an example by the officials.

Does a player deserve to be treated with less respect just because his name is Bruce Watson, Lee Svangstu, Mike Payne, or Chad Wagner? It certainly seems that way in the new and improved, not to mention “softer,” UHL. Apparently, years of being labeled as a fighting league has caused some of the suits in the front office to want to turn down the burners- the hottest of which being the Asheville Smoke. Perhaps UHL officials are afraid they will get burned.