Fight between coaches delivers black eye to league

      The International Hockey League took another black eye recently when coaches Rob Laird of Phoenix and Steve Ludzik of Detroit fought after their game at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.
      The incident occurred after the second game between the teams in as many nights. According to a videotape, Ludzik shoved Laird after they left the ice following the game. Laird turned around and landed a haymaker.
      They fell to the ground and exchanged punches before security broke up the fight.
      Ludzik was apparently upset that the Roadrunners were playing exceptionally physical hockey and yelled at Laird throughout the game.
      Neither coach would comment upon the incident, but it is imperative that Tom Berry, the IHL's vice president of hockey operations and the person who handles discipline, issues a severe penalty.
      Can you imagine a similar incident happening in the NHL?
      The fight just adds to the perception some have of the IHL as a second-rate league. It has made considerable strides in the last decade and is, by most accounts, the second-best hockey league in the world.
      If that is the case, though, its players and coaches should begin acting like it.
      And if they can't, Berry should remind them to by imposing stiff fines and/or suspensions.
      -- MORE FIGHT STUFF -- Berry has issued suspensions to seven players for their role in a brawl between Fort Wayne and San Antonio in which Fort Wayne thug Andy Bezeau broke the cheekbone of San Antonio's Scott Hollis while Hollis was being held by Robin Bawa.
      Bezeau has been suspended indefinitely. The length of the suspension will be determined after Berry meets with Bezeau on Wednesday.
      San Antonio goalie Bruce Racine was given a four-game suspension for a slash on Bezeau that began the brawl. Other suspensions to the Dragons went to Daryl Noren (three games) and ex-Thunder Sergei Stas and Howie Rosenblatt (one game).
      In addition to Bezeau's indefinite suspension, Berry suspended Fort Wayne's Sean Gagnon for five games and Bawa for three.
      Ex-Thunder Daniel Shank, now the San Antonio captain, was outraged at Bezeau's actions against Hollis, also an ex-Thunder.
      "They should kick Bezeau out of this league forever," Shank told the San Antonio Express-News. "I've never seen a punch like that. I've taken some hits in my career, but nothing like that. It was a scene I don't think anyone on this team will ever forget."
      -- NO DEFENSE -- Long Beach general manager/coach John Van Boxmeer has had his team in first place in the Southwest Division most of the season, and his club has all but clinched the top spot in the Western Conference playoffs.
      But he said he is concerned about its tendency to give up soft goals, which is why he traded defenseman Martin Hamrlik and center Dave Smith to Orlando for defenseman Mark Ferner.
      Van Boxmeer was no happier with his club after a wild 7-6 shootout loss to the Thunder on Friday.
      "I don't understand what some guys on this team think," Van Boxmeer said. "We're up two goals in the third period and instead of shutting it down, winning the game and getting on the plane, we're giving up short-handed goals and turning it wide open. That shows me guys are more concerned with their points and their stats than they are about winning, and it is troubling.
      "It seems like we give up at least one soft goal a game. We haven't given up that many goals this year, but that's because we spend most of the game in the other team's end. But we can't be giving up those soft goals in the playoffs, or it will kill us. Guys are going to have to figure out what is important to them."
      -- MORE BOXIE -- Van Boxmeer also expressed his disdain for referee Dennis LaRue, regarded as one of the IHL's best, after a recent home game against Kansas City
      Van Boxmeer made no attempt to hide the animosity.
      "That was a joke," he said of LaRue's work. "This guy is a disgrace to officiating. It's an (expletive) mockery when that guy can call a game like that. I'm sure he thinks he did a fabulous game. He makes them up as he goes along.
      "I've complained (to the IHL office) about this guy. It's a personal vendetta between this guy and myself. He looks like an (expletive) hamster skating around out there."
      Van Boxmeer may not like LaRue's officiating, but he can't argue with the results. The Ice Dogs are 6-0 this year when LaRue works one of their games.
      -- BAD START -- The bad luck continues in Chicago, where new coach Alpo Suhonen was forced to miss Saturday's home game with the Manitoba Moose because he was struck in the face with a puck during the team's morning skate.
      Suhonen, a native of Finland, was named the Wolves coach on March 7, replacing Grant Mulvey, who was fired as the club's general manager/coach.
      Assistant Alex Roberts coached the club Saturday, said Gene Ubriaco, the Wolves' new general manager.