Four days after the Kansas City Mavericks and Toledo Walleye got into a brawl, the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe reports that the Walleye are still upset about the event:
What started the melee is the real problem and it must be addressed. [Garrett] Klotz suckered punched Toledo’s A.J. Jenks and leveled him. He then assaulted Jenks with a series of vicious cross-checks as Jenks lay on the ice.
It was eerily and nauseatingly reminiscent of the brutal attack Kalamazoo captain Ben Wilson put on young Walleye defenseman Simon Denis less than a year ago in the same venue.
I get that KC was fatigued and frustrated (down 4-0 and in the middle of a five-game losing streak). I even understand it if Mavericks coach John-Scott Dickson may have urged his team to “stir something up.”
But Klotz’s Neanderthal attempt to provide a spark is just bad for hockey and bad for the ECHL. The gruesome mental snap that resulted in nothing less than assault and battery would result in jail time off the ice.
Walleye coach Dan Watson is still fired up about Saturday’s incident. He called it a non-hockey play and called for stiff suspensions.
“It’s extremely dangerous,” Watson said. “It was uncalled for. It’s someone attacking someone who is defenseless. It’s a black eye for our league.”
Monroe continues, and the Kansas City Star’s Blair Kerkhoff reports that the Mavericks deny that their fights were encouraged by their coach:
[John-Scott] Dickson denied that Klotz or any of the Mavericks were out to rough up the opponent.
“I want to make this clear — players were not sent out to deliberately do anything,’ Dickson said in a statement. “Things were happening on the ice. We will always play till the end. Emotions and frustration came into play and that is hockey.”
Mavericks president and general manager Brent Thiessen was just as adamant in his denial that Kansas City players were deliberating trying to injure opponents.
“We at no time condone actions that put any player in jeopardy of being injured,” Theissen said Monday. “We have spoken with Klotz and will speak with the league on the matter. At no time, ever, were players instructed to “take on” players from an opposing team and to make accusations such as that is completely wrong and unfounded.
“That isn’t how this teams plays or approaches any game. It’s an unfortunate instance and we are very happy there wasn’t an injury to the opposing player.”
Continued, and WTOL’s Jordan Strack did a fantastic job of explaining the particulars of the brawl on Twitter:
HERE IT IS: FULL VIDEO OF THE WALLEYE VS. KC BRAWL — EVERYONE INVOLVED INCLUDING THE GOALIES. pic.twitter.com/yLg645d9Me
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) February 11, 2018
THIS IS STRONG: Kevin Tansey responds to the brawl between Toledo & Kansas City from Saturday night. He played for the Mavs last year and has been outspoken on social media. He had some extremely strong words about the incident & the player who started it, Garrett Klotz. pic.twitter.com/6akmJ57QGc
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) February 12, 2018
