Controlled Chaos Posted February 2, 2005 Share Posted February 2, 2005 Addition of Red Wings irks some in UHL BY GEORGE SIPPLE, FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER Hypocrites. That's what Kevin Kerr -- the all-time leader in goals scored among minor leaguers -- calls NHL players who sign to play in the United Hockey League. Kerr, a Flint Generals forward playing in his 18th season, broke the record Jan. 7 and has 668 career goals. He said the jersey he wore when he set the record is supposed to go to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and he found it ironic that he might be facing an NHL standout when the Generals host the Motor City Mechanics tonight. "It wouldn't be a thrill," he said of facing locked-out Red Wing Derian Hatcher, who has agreed to play for the Motor City Mechanics this season, and might make his debut tonight. Red Wings Chris Chelios and Kris Draper will join the Mechanics later. "The hypocrisy of it is unbelievable," Kerr said. "They don't want a salary cap, but they'll come to a league that has a salary cap and take someone else's job." The Mechanics haven't released anyone, but certain players will see reduced playing time, team president John Tull said. The UHL has a salary cap of $10,000 per week for a 20-man active roster. Kerr doesn't understand why a player like Hatcher, who makes about $6 million a season, would play in a league where the average salary is $500 a week. Five Michigan teams -- Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Flint, Port Huron and Motor City (Fraser) -- play in the 14-team UHL. UHL president Richard Brosal said Tuesday it is ironic that players opposed to an NHL salary cap are coming to a minor league that wouldn't survive without one. "Not a chance," he said. "We are living proof, 14 continuous years. One of the main foundations of this league is having a salary cap in place." Brosal said teams are free to sign whom they want, so long as they adhere to the league's salary-cap rules. Teams are permitted to have seven veterans in their lineup. Brosal said he doesn't see the signings by the Mechanics as the start of sweeping roster moves in the UHL. He said he has heard rumors that other teams are pursuing NHL players, but added: "I think it's a little premature to say the floodgates are going to open up. I don't think that's going to happen." Kerr hopes not. "I make $700 a week, and I have a wife and two kids and a mortgage payment," he said. "Here I wish I could play in the NHL for a fraction of what they make, and here they're going to come play in our league for $500 a week. It's really bizarre." Kerr said he plays because "I don't know anything else. I want to get into coaching when I'm done." Each summer, when the hockey season is over, he returns to North Bay, Ontario, to work for his family's pool business. Without the summer work, he wouldn't be able to make hockey his career. "I don't think those guys have ever wondered about working a day in their life," he said. "They probably make more in a week than I do my whole season." Brosal and some UHL coaches view the signings as a positive for the league because it will expose the league to people who wouldn't otherwise consider watching a game. But Kerr doesn't see a long-term benefit. The Generals sold more than 1,000 tickets Tuesday to fans anticipating that one or more of the Red Wings will make their UHL debut tonight. "A lady bought 20 tickets that had never come to a Generals game before," Kerr said. "What happens when they (the NHL players) are gone? That lady is never going to come back." He said NHL players won't think twice about bolting as soon as their collective bargaining agreement is resolved. "If the Red Wings said, 'We're starting tomorrow,' they wouldn't be worrying about the United Hockey League," he said. "They'd be at Joe Louis Arena getting ready for a game. "If the NHL was playing today and Derian Hatcher was told to go down to the UHL for two weeks for conditioning, he'd laugh." Kerr said NHL players are in a lose-lose situation by playing in the minors because fans will expect them to tear up the league. Flint coach Robbie Nichols expects a physical game tonight. "The guys all finish their checks here," he said. Asked if there was concern that UHL players might try to make a name for themselves by going after NHL players, Nichols said: "They're big boys -- they can take care of themselves. No different than playing the Toronto Maple Leafs. I don't think they'll purposely try to get a hit in." Kerr plans to play his usual game. "I'm 38," he said. "I'm 5-foot-10, 190 pounds. What am I going to do against Derian Hatcher?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted February 2, 2005 Share Posted February 2, 2005 This is crap. Doesn't this violate their Union bylaws or something? I know a Union construction worker is not supposed to do side jobs. Wouldn't this be considered a side job if they're getting paid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T R U Posted February 2, 2005 Share Posted February 2, 2005 QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Feb 2, 2005 -> 09:58 AM) "I'm 38," he said. "I'm 5-foot-10, 190 pounds. What am I going to do against Derian Hatcher?" get killed is the first thing that comes to my mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted February 2, 2005 Share Posted February 2, 2005 QUOTE(Man Of Steel @ Feb 2, 2005 -> 10:42 AM) get killed is the first thing that comes to my mind LOL me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T R U Posted February 2, 2005 Share Posted February 2, 2005 QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Feb 2, 2005 -> 10:46 AM) LOL me too. haha seriously, Hatcher is one of the most feared players in the NHL He would prolly crush that guy with one check, Hatcher is 6-5 235 lbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanOfCorn Posted February 2, 2005 Share Posted February 2, 2005 QUOTE(Man Of Steel @ Feb 2, 2005 -> 04:50 PM) haha seriously, Hatcher is one of the most feared players in the NHL He would prolly crush that guy with one check, Hatcher is 6-5 235 lbs I hope some of the UHL players do go after the NHLers. Not take out their knees or anything, but finish their checks and maybe get a boarding call. I'd be pissed too, if I was a UHL player. I wonder if they are using this as training camp... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 On the other hand it would be kinda cool to go from playing with Kevin Kerr to being D partners with Chris Chelios. For 700 bucks a week, these teams would probably have a hard time beating the good commercial league team in Toronto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 We'll see how these NHL'ers feel about this type of thing when the owners bring in replacement players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 QUOTE(YASNY @ Feb 3, 2005 -> 12:43 AM) We'll see how these NHL'ers feel about this type of thing when the owners bring in replacement players. I don't know why that hasn't been talked about more, I know I'd be saying it if I was an owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesox91403 Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Wasn't Chelios going to play for The Chicago Wolves at one time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurcieOne Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 It kind of warms my heart to hear a guy play for 500 a week just because he f***ing LOVES hockey. $$$$ is a concern for him, but he finds a way to make ends meet over the summer because he f***ING LOVES TO PLAY hockey. lets lace those skates up boys... end this bulls*** now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurcieOne Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 QUOTE(whitesox91403 @ Feb 3, 2005 -> 03:47 AM) Wasn't Chelios going to play for The Chicago Wolves at one time? I heard the same thing... that wouda been pretty cool. but the Wolves dont have trouble fans anyway.... they have Steve Maltais... he's bootylicious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 QUOTE(MurcieOne @ Feb 4, 2005 -> 11:06 PM) It kind of warms my heart to hear a guy play for 500 a week just because he f***ing LOVES hockey. $$$$ is a concern for him, but he finds a way to make ends meet over the summer because he f***ING LOVES TO PLAY hockey. lets lace those skates up boys... end this bulls*** now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 He's a minor league hockey player with 700 goals talking s*** about NHLer's. Thats like having Borcgard hit 750 HR in AAA, then have the MLB strike, all the players go down to AAA, and Borch gets pissed because he can't make it in the Majors???? What kinda s*** is that? You're not suppose to have good career Minor League numbers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 I thought the Dead Things were scum before this, now I am certain they are. I agree with what Kevin Kerr was saying. I know that some of the Canes are on AHL's Lowell Lockmonsters (Canes' AAA affiliate), but that is AAA with a team they are affiliated. From what I had understood, the guys that went there were there on and off the last NHL season. Looking at their roster I can see 4 names that are with Lowell that were with the Canes - two were rooks last NHL season. There are three guys that bounced between AHL and NHL last year with a few different teams. I have been trying to find where most of the main guys are - I know a few went over seas, but since the Canes really didn't have any big names, nothing they do would have been reported and I don't have time to do a name by name search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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