Blogs

Since I'm about to head out of town for the Biloxi/P'Cola roadie, it was good to find out that Damon and Peters are rejoining the team. Should be an enjoyable set of 4 games this week and a great way to bring in the New Year. If anyone else is going, we'll see you there!

Have a great trip EverbladesGOAL, I'll be heading up to Augusta for the Jan 10th and 11th game. Maybe Zancanero can motivate the boys by example and get the hard work ethic back they seem to have lost after the Texas series. Joe

Just thought I would drop in for a minute, since I haven't been on The Blog for awhile...The revolving door this year is ridiculous. It has taken a bit of a toll on me, as I continue to see the Texas' and Gwinnetts of The ECHL keep most of their players,year after year. The result...they are CONSISTENTLY SUPERIOR! Anyway, hope all of you had a Great Christmas, and of course Happy New Year to all! Sorry, but at this point I am just not into it like I should be. It's not the Win-Loss record. It's the fact that I am starting to feel like a real CHUMP for buying season tickets every year, and then watching the LARGEST REVOLVING DOOR in The ECHL, especially this year. Call me disgusted and fed up with having 2 affiliates. PERIOD!

Does anyone know where Kowlaski is? Because i went on the glaidtors wesbite and i cant find him in the roster. Does anyone know if we will get Adam Taylor and Franklin MacDonald back?

does any other ECHL team lose as many players as the Florida Everblades do? what i mean by lose is go up to the AHL.

Lukinfan, K-Wal is up with Syracuse Crunch (AHL) see link
http://www.oursportscentral.com/servi...
I am not sure if he is still on tryout or if he got a reg contract but glad to see him gone from Gwinnett.

By the way, AB after that great blog intro, Melanson is gone. Loaned to Manitoba/AHL so Cubbuc the revolving door continues. Great for Melanson, he deserves it. Wouldn't it be ironic if Peters gets called back to the AHL and he and Melanson are both there when the All Star game comes around....then we wouldn't have any players there.

Good Article in the newspaper AB but they are on the road for 4 games, not 3. The 4th game is Jan 1, 2008 back in Mississippi.

ECHL ALL STAR GAME:
FLEMING could always represent the Blades behind the Bench..

ANGIE,
Will you be at the College Hockey Tournament tonight, this is probably one of the top 3 college hockey touraments of the year.

luvtheblades,
thank you for your help! do you think we have a chance of winning tonight? (i think so)

MFH will you be at the college classic tonight???

EBG I am so happy that the Blades will have a loyal fan in the stands on this roadie... BTW will you be bunking with BIG ERN???

Wow -- Melanson gone. It's about time. LTB, Thanks for updating the blog for me while I was en route from Minnesota.

I was wondering why he hadn't been called up yet ... Does anyone know if it was just a call-up or if a player for Manitoba was injured and it's a short-term deal?

Have to say I'm not all that sad to miss the Blades' series with Pensacola and MS this weekend. MFH, I will be at the college classic, though with no WCHA teams I am a little disappointed! How bout some Gophers or UMD??

Maybe next year.

Guess that's all for now. I hope you all enjoyed the holidays. I had a great time in Minnesota. Did some skiing, shoveling -- lots of good times :)

See some of you tonight at the College Classic?

AB

AB, Looks like your "Looking Up" Blog title has taken a hit.

Bussyfan...You're BAD...ROFL

LTB, Angie's statement IS correct. There are 3 games this weekend. The 2nd MS game is on Tuesday the 1st, which is next week:>) Looks like you owe AB a drink next home stand.

B2 canceled due to technical difficulties. If you go to 770 you get the college classic games. You have to go to the Seawolves radio feed to get the game. Wolves are now on a 5 on 3. But the Blades are ahead 1 to 0.

Oh for those that have Direct TV, Manitoba is on channel 637 but Melanson is not playing. And now the Miss radio feed is gone. Going to be a long night....

We have 14 Skaters, What's up with that???

Thanks for the info BHF, you helped me find something to watch on Directv tonight. Heres hoping the Blades feed comes back soon

MS radio feed.. http://msseawolves.com/#

Kevin is on the radio but if you go to the internet 770 feed you will get the college games. You must get out an old fashioned radio. Cornacchia is not playing but I haven't heard why. Of course the other is Melanson, who is in the stands ( I am really hoping it is because he couldn't get there for game time). They have a full roster listed on the game summary

OK AB, is it true that a Blades player has been arrested. Suppose to be on WINK news

Cornacchia arrested for actions on a flight. Federal charges and released from Dallas jail..MFH you licensed in Texas.

MFH, Time to get to work. WINK just reported Cornacia Arrested for Head Butting a Flight attendant and exposing himself on an American Airlines Flight from Toronto to Dallas, enroute to meet up with the team in Mississipi. It's a federal Charge so MFH won't need a Texas Bar card.

That is one reason we were short 2 players tonight

MFH enjoy your flight to DALLAS...

Finally you will be dealing with the big dogs AKA the FEDS...

Florida Hockey Player Accused Of Assault On Plane
Reporting
Jack Fink DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ― A hockey player has been arrested after being accused of assaulting a flight attendant, exposing himself and head-butting a passenger on an American Airlines flight into DFW Airport. He is now facing federal charges.

An FBI agent greeted the plane at the international terminal on Thursday night and took the minor league player into custody.

According to court records, the pilot declared an on-board emergency when the flight attendants had difficulty restraining the player.

David Cornacchia, the arrested hockey player, was soft-spoken on Friday afternoon as he left the federal courthouse in Dallas. It was a stark contrast to the behavior he has now been accused of exhibiting on the flight Thursday night

CBS 11 News tried to talk to Cornacchia. His only comment was: "Take care. Have a good day."

Cornacchia is a defensive player with the Florida Everblades, a minor league team in Fort Myers, Florida.

He was aboard American Airlines Flight 1203 from Toronto on Thursday night on his way to meet his team for Friday night's game in Mississippi.

Court documents obtained by CBS 11 News show, after two alcoholic beverages during the flight, Cornacchia became violent when flight attendants refused to serve him a third drink because he was "stumbling, unstable, and had slurred speech."

While the flight crew and two doctors were trying to treat a passenger who became unconscious, Cornacchia is accused of "slapping a male flight attendant in the face with his open hand."

Court papers also say that Cornacchia was "belligerent toward the flight attendants, intimidating them, directing obscene language toward them and exposing [himself] to neaby passengers."

An off-duty pilot, flying as a passenger, tried to help flight attendants in restraining the 200 pound hockey player. Court documents show that Cornacchia "intentionally head-butted" the pilot.

According to the FBI, that off-duty pilot and the flight attendants kept watch over the player during the remainder of the flight, preventing them from performing their normal duties.

There has been no word yet on when Cornacchia will return to court.

In court, Judge Jeff Kaplan said that it seemed as if Cornacchia has an alcohol problem, and then suggested he be ordered to seek counseling.

A spokesman for the Florida Everblades declined to comment, but did say that Cornacchia has not been suspended.

Restrictions for his release..Cannot leave the country but can fly and cannot have any alcohol.

Kept it a secret for 24 hours. Let see if he plays tomorrow night.

While I am thinking about it, Mississippi said they were talking to Kinkel during the first period break and I didn't hear but when I looked on the ECHL transactions, it says the team suspended Kinkel. Did anybody hear if he was actually on during the first period break?

If he is guilty, which he probably is, I hope they throw the book at him.

I can't believe the Everblades haven't suspended him yet.

MFH- it appears your "talk" will have to be expanded.

Figures out of all the players that happens to Cornachia what a A*******. Figures I saw the way he reacted after a few drinks at the fan club party and decided then he was a jerk. He doesn't deserve to be a blade. He should go get help for his alcohol problem.

bladestwin1 is the voice of reason.
If he was a Stingrays player, I wouldn't ever want to see him in a Stingrays jersey ever again.
The longer the Everblades take to get rid of him, the worst the Everblades look to everyone in the hockey world.
Buy him another suit and pair of sunglasses and get rid of him already.

I think the thing that will get him suspended will be the exposing himself. A lot of athletes have addiction problems and teams have stood by them while they received treatment. The other will be a hard pill for the team to swallow.

Stingrayfan, that is why you are so unliked. You jump on another teams place and make smart ass remarks.

And just for the record, bladestwin1, if it is an alcohol thing, that doesn't make him a jerk, it makes him sick and hopefully he will get treatment.

Even alcoholics should know better than to disrupt an airplane flight. I'm sure many of them do fly everyday, yet don't do what Cornacchia did. Would you be defending him if he wasn't an Everblades player?
If the Everblades don't suspend him, I would expect the ECHL to do so.

what...the...f*** ??!!! as if we did'nt have enough problems this year!!

Stingrayfan, I am not defending him. And no not all alcoholics make smart decisions or they wouldn't drink. Unless you have been around addicts you can't even begin to talk about it with any intellegence. He should be suspended and he should go check into a rehab, a long term rehab. But being an addict does not make a person the scum of the earth. They are sick and need to get treatment.

And don't talk to me about defending a player because there is nobody in the this league that makes up more excuses for the players on their team more than you.

wtg Blades for the win. It really worried me when they gave up that 3-0 lead and ended up 4-4 but glad to see they squeaked out the extra point.

Re Corny. The only thing I can say is I am sorry to see it. I agree with BHF though. It sounds like he has an alcohol problem and does need help. Unfortunately, during a game after looking around, there are a lot of STH and Fans that could join him.
He will have his day in court and let's not condemn or convict the guy here. Let's focus on the Pensacola game tonight. Go Blades!

AB, as to Melanson, the only thing that I saw is he is on Manitoba's roster and has signed a PTO with them. They don't have a great record in the AHl and need some great players. I can't imagine them not ending up signing him. He deserves to be up in the AHL.

The end --------

12/29/2007 Bill Kinkel (LW) Mississippi DEL Released from SPC

Evidently Manitoba has been hit with alot of injuries. Melanson is supposed to play tonight. Doesn't sound like his stay is for the season unless he impresses the heck out of them. He definately deserves the shot.

Talk about sobering news in regards to Corny. It will be very interesting to see how this is handled by both the Blades and the ECHL. Remember how we all felt when the two ice pilots pulled thier stunt on the beach last year. It truly sounds as though he needs to get help.

Stink Ray fan please unless you have something positive to contribute go away.

BHF, I caught some of Kinkle's interview on Seawolves website. There didn't seem to be any problems with the orginEYEzation, he even invited the announcer fishing when they play in Fla. He àlap said it was time to hang 'em up and concentrate on Fire Dept. And EMT or EMS school one of the two. He is coming back to SW Fla with his girlfriend and join local men's.league or the Fire Dept's hockey team.

Brush holding a press conference at 3:30 to address Cornacchia. AB hope you get there and fill us in as soon as it is over.

MFH quoted by the Associated Press...Again.

Pretty soon he'll have to hire EBG to be HIS press agent.

One thought that my wife brought up regarding Cornacia as it relates directly to the Everblades...

According th the AP article, he admits to having 7 or 8 alcoholic drinks that day. And this was on a GAME DAY. Regardless of any legalities of ALLEGED law breaking, the fact that he was getting drunk on a game day does not speak well of his respect for the team and his career. Even if he was not on a plane, why did he think he could show up to his job drunk?

Interesting input all of you on the Cornacchia stuff. Thanks.

I spoke to MFH earlier, too. Unbelievable how helpful the blog can be, huh :)

This team is having a crazy season. It does have to be confusing sometimes for the players -- i.e., go be a brute and fight on the ice, but then be civilized in normal society.

I do think hambling makes a good point, though, about drinking on a game day. I wonder how many guys do that ...

Hopefully all this is straightened up somehow. I'll be at the press conference this afternoon, and I'll keep y'all updated.

AB

Hambling, read the article, Cornacchia was arrested Thursday night, not Friday...Not a game day. Wheres the article that quotes MFH?

Never mind, found the article and saw that it was updated for the latest information.

Have to apologize for my above comment -- as BHF said, the incident happened on Thursday, not Friday.

AB

AB, any press conference notes? I think I already have the nuts and bolts of what was going to be said, giving Bussy credit here for the info. The team will stand behind him and take the "let the system do its job" and he will continue to be with the team and is trying to join the team in P'cola. Is that right?

I have to agree with Twin1...something should have been done after the holiday party. You could see then what a BAD drunk he was and that he needed help. He, like all the Blades represent our team and as such, should act like a responsible ADULT. Getting ****faced the day before a game is NOT being responsible (I have been that drunk before and I know that the next day I still felt like crapola).

While I like his attitude on ice, I think he should be suspended and put into an AA program. We do not want the young Blades fans to think that these actions are ok. A lesson needs to be taught and the other players need to wake up and realize that it is NOT okay to make an *** of yourself while you are under contract to the Everblades. It is a disgrace!

Drop him like a bad habit! A disgrace to the organization...

So did any of you that wittnessed this behavior at the party go talk to Brush and or Fleming? Did you express your concerns? Should he be getting treatment, absolutely and I hope if nothing else that he does get into an outpatient program but you cannot judge him unless he refuses to get help and continues on the same track. Evidently this is something that is new so maybe it is something that can be worked with and fixed.

If the Everblades don't suspend him, I'm thinking the ECHL will.

Remember this last season?

http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.c...

Lukin got suspended for 6 games by the ECHL for an off-ice incident.

What Cornacchia did was much much worse.

BHF, Coach saw it himself. So yes, he knew about it.

Interesting about the holiday party. That is too bad -- but I guess no one thought that behavior would translate to a in-flight disaster.

BHF, you're pretty much right about the press conference. I have a much-longer story online, or at least it should be online any minute. I just sent it in and will post a link when it goes up.

AB

BHF - I messed up on the Thursday/Friday timing. Guess I owe you a drink next home stand. :>)

STINKY - different set of circumstances with Lukin. They were reinforcing a college league suspension.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/d...

Simply amazing that he's just pointed back toward the ice. Wow.

ECHL did not suspend Lisabeth or Wirril (spelling?).What they did was far worse than Cornacchia. The team did and then traded them but the league did not suspend them. Who was it on the Ray team that decided he should publically expose himself instead of use a bathroom? Wasn't he arrested for that and did the league suspend him? Will have to ask MFH about that because he remembers it.

They were in a bar fight or something right? You've got to be joking that it's far worse than causing a flight to get a priority landing due to someone having to be restrained due to out of control behavior.

He's facing federal charges.

In this day and age, post 9/11, try to imagine the ramifications of creating a disturbance on an airline flight to the extent where the flight crew have to notify the FBI to meet the aircraft on arrival. A tad bit different than every-day DUI or drunken behavior on terra firma. If this fiasco goes away quietly then MFH is a surprisingly influential person. Hang in there, Blades!

SIGNS THAT YOU ARE A DRUNK

1. You lose arguments with inanimate objects.

2. You have to hold on to the lawn to keep from falling off the earth.

3. Your job starts to interfere with your drinking.

4. Your doctor finds traces of blood in your alcohol stream.

5. The back of your head keeps getting hit by the toilet seat.

6. You sincerely believe alcohol is the elusive 5th food group.

7. 24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case Coincidence?!?!?

8. Two hands and just one mouth now THAT'S a drinking problem.

9. Every woman you see has an exact twin.

10. You fall off the floor

11. Hey, 5 beers have just as many calories as a burger, screw dinner!

12. Your idea of cutting back is less salt.

13. Every night you're beginning to find your neighbours cat more and more attractive

14. I'm not drunk you're just sober!!

15. Roseanne looks good

16. You don't recognise your wife unless seen from the bottom of a glass.

17. That dammned pink elephant followed me home again.

18. You have a reserved parking space at the liquor store.

19. You slap a male flight attendant in the face, exposed yourself to nearby passengers and intentionally head-butt a passenger.

20. You play for the Florida Everblades.

Yes it was in a bar but the beating they put on that guy was far worse than a head butt or an open handed slap. I guess I should have clarified what I considered worse. I was merely pointing out that things have happened off ice and the league did not suspend players, they let the team decide on discipline. Let me clarify this one more time. I am not justifying what he did but I do recognize that if this is a case of an alcohol problem then it isn't just a person that decided to start a rucus. It is a person that needs to get into a treatment program before his life spins completely out of control.

Stingrayfan go away. You have shown that you have no class by showing up on a team blog and making jokes. Most people that post on other's blog/boards know to not be a complete moron but then again we are talking about you.

StinkRay fan, please go get a life and while your at it find a real team to root for. Sounds to me like your tired of being our whipping boy.

Stinky - actually that was funny. It sounds to me, though, like you have intimate knowledge of numbers 1-18. Are those your personal experiences?

Perhaps the "A" on sweater #43 might be better distributed tonight.

BHF - that was my point, that his time might be better spent identifying and addressing the issue that would create the situation to begin with...legal issues aside.

canes...agreed but for whatever reason the Blades management are going to handle it a different way

OOOOH they just cracked on Corny!!!! They did a Cingular ringtone game and the song was "Leaving on a jet plane"

Gut check time. Let's see what this team is made of.

Looks like they are made of jello, BHF

Does anybody know why some arenas have an officials time out? I know some teams have TV games and if I am not mistaken I think the Blades are the only team that shows their games commercial free but I don't think Mississippi and P'cola had games on TV and there were official's time outs. Didn't understand why all teams would or all teams wouldn't.

The Wildcatters reach double digits tonite

Texas- 10
Mississippi- 5

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

CSA I am not suprised at all....

BUSSY

Whats up with all the goals the Blades are giving up in the 3rd period the last few games?

CSA we have been shorthanded...

Now, if we were the stingrays they would not be tired... <rolls eyes>

Congrats on getting a point against Pensacola tonight.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I see that Bussy and CSA were not behaving last night.

BHF the truth hurts I guess...

I guess I need to look at the schedule to see when we play at home next. How sad...

AB
I think we need a new entry from you.

Somehow the title, "Moving UP" isn't very appropriate right now.

Great game last night for those who could'nt make it.
Hope you were able to watch on line or listen one way or another.

The Blades are short on players that's for sure, last night having a total of only 16 players dressed and that's including the 2 golies. One forward (dont remember who) took a big check in the first and sat out for a little while, that didnt help. What Im getting at is, do the Everblades fans think that if the team had enough guys they would suspend Corny? Being so short on guys now, you really dont need to lose another.

One more thing, Herauf made a terrible error in judgement last night, I hope he's OK today..

Gametime t-minus 4 hrs 10 min. ALL Together now: GO PILOTS!!

yeah I agree -- but I've sort of been waiting until I get some more new information once something else happens or the guys get back in town ... we'll see.

AB whats new with Corrnocia?? Maybe you can get some more info from BHF...

Big game next week. Giants at my Bucs!!!

Blades lose 3-2 tonight.

Herauf scores first b/c he is Mr. clutch.

Hartlieb will not get another point until Melanson comes back.

Attendance will be under 2000.

Attendance for weekday and sunday games is terrible here.
I'll go out on a limb and say 1200-1300 tonight at best.

OK, new blog posted :)