Kai Kantola

BrightStar · Post by **BrightStar** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:02 am

What's with Kai Kantola? I have been following his career and was hoping to see him develop into a star Falcon. However, I have been disappointed by his "unsportsmanlike conduct" which I think is putting it mildly. Three times this season he has received a game disqualification, the latest of which occurred last night during the big Miami contest. At least two of those were for hitting from behind. Those five-minute penalties are also hard to take. I felt sorry for his parents whom I saw at the first game of this season. I am assuming they were up from North Carolina to watch him, and he was thrown out in the first period. They didn't even get to watch their son most of the game--and we lost the services of one of our better players. Am I concerned about nothing?

bgbill · Post by **bgbill** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:54 am

I noticed something different about Kai's attitude this year, beginning with the Windsor game. I don't know if it comes from within himself, or if someone "advised" him that he will be noticed more by scouts if he plays a chippier style.
I didn't think his hit last night was bad, but the Notre Dame incident was inexcusable.
He's going to have to be more aware of this, because refs won't be giving him the benefit of doubt in similar situations.

PegCityFalcon · Post by **PegCityFalcon** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:58 am

Kai is and has always been a player that plays with emotion. He reminds me of Darcy Tucker. Every opponent in his eyes is the enemy and must be punished. You'll notice that Kai never smiles and has any conversations with the opponents. We knew exactly what we were getting when we recruited Kai. His play was the same in Fargo as it is now. His hard hitting in what lured team Finland to give him a roster spot in the U-20s last year. Personally I don't think 2A hockey is the right league for Kai. He needs a league that promotes punishing hits. College hockey is not that.

Question to any that can answer this.....What's with the college hockey players cradling the puck? I was watching the WJ's and noticed that the American team always seems to cradle. I also noticed this being done at a Marlies game by Andy Wozniewski, and Robby Earl (2 former Badgers)

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:18 am

He is an agresive all out player, and not to many years ago both those hits would have resulted in nothing more than 2 min penalties...they were not that bad. Peg is right with the NCAA over pacification of college hockey Kia would better served from a hockey only perspective that being an NHL track to play in a league other than D1, but we are fortunate to have him and this is the path he choose for what ever reason, and he is a smart player who should know that that call will be made by the refs. I dont want him to change his game being worried about the call that is for sure.
hockey will never be basketball, and they should stop trying to go that direction.

bgbill · Post by **bgbill** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:09 pm

Sentinal Tribune Article

Nothing happening yet in terms of additional penalty, but this from the above article is of interest:
"Any supplemental discipline must be initiated by Miami. Paluch said under league rules, Miami has until today to ask for a review.
When Kantola received the extra three games in October, the suspension came after ND asked the league to review the hit. As of Saturday night, Miami had not asked the league office to review the hit."

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:19 am

Going out on a limb but I think the Miami Coaches recognize after viewing films that the hit was just good hard hockey.

bgbill · Post by **bgbill** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:42 pm

Plus Blasi is friendly with Paluch, and Jackson's a prick.

Per today's A-T, there won't be additional game suspensions.

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 4:24 pm

Thats good news, esp since it was not a bad hit.

FlagCityFalcon · Post by **FlagCityFalcon** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:48 pm

I could have said this before, but Coack Blasi is a class act and one of the nicest coaches in the CCHA (I've delt with about all of them). An interesting note, I think he's still on the rules committee...

Thanks Coach!

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:07 pm

bgbill wrote:Per today's A-T, there won't be additional game suspensions.

"A-T"? Tiffin's paper covers BG hockey? That's cool.

bgbill · Post by **bgbill** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:12 pm

TG1996 wrote:
bgbill wrote:Per today's A-T, there won't be additional game suspensions.
"A-T"? Tiffin's paper covers BG hockey? That's cool.

Sorry, it was S-T. A-T is my local paper, although others on this board will attest to the fact that I don't live in Tiffin....they're not sure where they were when they visited.

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:04 am

bgbill wrote:
TG1996 wrote:
bgbill wrote:Per today's A-T, there won't be additional game suspensions.
"A-T"? Tiffin's paper covers BG hockey? That's cool.
Sorry, it was S-T. A-T is my local paper, although others on this board will attest to the fact that I don't live in Tiffin....they're not sure where they were when they visited.

I thought I was somewhere near BFE but then i found out that I was still in Ohio.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:26 pm

Kai got some love on the Hurricanes blog at the Raleigh newspaper this morning.

Kai Kantola

Kai Kantola

1/8 update