Since the 30 years ago in Comets history posts are so popular and there is no such thing as 20 years ago in Comets history (unfortunately), then let's have a go with 25 years ago in Comets history... 25 years ago today, 2/20/87: Jan Goossens had two goals and an assist in his first game back in Minnesota, but the Strikers prevailed over the Comets 8-4 before 6,371 at the Met Center. Steve Kinsey of Minnesota had a hat trick, Alan Willey added two goals, and longtime Comet/Attack nemesis Hector Marinaro scored the first of his numerous goals against KC.
25 years ago today, 2/21/87: After enduring an 8-game losing streak earlier in the '86-'87 season that resulted in the dismissal of head coach Rick Benben, history began for the Comets as they notched the first of a team record 10-straight wins by beating Slobo Ilijevski and the St. Louis Steamers 6-5 before a huge crowd of 15,011 at Kemper Arena. Damir Haramina had 2 goals and an assist, Dave Boncek scored a shorthanded goal, Cacho scored his first goal as a Comet and Charlie Fajkus scored his final regular season goal as a Comet. Former Comet John Bain scored twice for Team Steam.
Enter Dave Clements. I remember that season. Had high hopes going in and was my first as a season ticket holder.
Clemo was easily my favorite Comets head coach. Great guy too--I met him a couple times. Hard-nosed, but fair with his players...
2/25/87: Win #2 for the Comets in their team record 10-game winning streak as they dumped the Minnesota Strikers 6-2 at Kemper Arena. Jan Goossens scored twice, Dale Mitchell notched his 50th regular season goal as a Comet, and goalie Alan Mayer even got in on the offense by adding an assist. The Comets were originally scheduled to play the expansion "fun while it lasted" New York Express that night, but the team folded the week before and the Strikers replaced them at the last minute. Fairly average crowd (for the Comets) of 9,621.
2/27/87: In the one of the most memorable games (and 10th-longest) in Comets history, Jan Goossens--in a "moment of mental illness", as he called it--ripped off his jersey after nailing the game-winning goal 35 seconds into the 2nd overtime to beat Tatu and the Dallas Sidekicks 6-5, leading announcer Kevin Wall to proclaim on the radio, "THE MAGIC IS BACK AT KEMPER ARENA!" Dale Mitchell scored twice, including the game-tying goal with :42 left in regulation, Pato Margetic added two power play goals and old friend Tasso Koutsoukos added an assist in his first game back with the Comets after being reacquired from Minnesota. It was win #3 in the Comets' team-record 10-game winning streak. Tonight's attendance, 12,012--salute! Unlike Brandi Chastain, neither Goose nor Tatu wore sports bras underneath, thankfully...
25 years ago tonight, 3/3/87: The Kansas City Comets pummelled the Los Angeles Lazers 12-2 at Kemper Arena, setting team records for most goals (12--later equaled in 1988) and largest margin of victory (10) in a regular season game. Pato Margetic, Jan Goossens, Dale Mitchell and Tasso Koutsoukos each scored two goals, while Damir Haramina and Louie Nanchoff contributed a goal and 2 assists each. Goalkeeper Alan Mayer also maintained a shutout until 4:19 remained in the 3rd quarter. It was also the team's 5th straight win, midway through the Comets' team-record 10-game winning streak.
25 years ago today, 3/8/87: The Comets kept the train a-rollin' with a new team record 6th-straight regular season win, 6-3 in a Sunday afternoon tilt at the Tacoma Dome vs. the Stars. Jan Goossens had his 3rd hat trick as a Comet, Dale Mitchell scored two goals and 'keeper Alan Mayer added an assist, as well. 9,648 Tacomans (Tacomites?) were in attendance.
3/13/87: The Comets were even making hay on the road during their team-record 10-game winning streak, as they won their 7th-straight, 6-3 over the Lazers at the near-empty Fabulous Forum in LA. Even the paltry announced attendance figure of 4,125 was bloated--there were only about 2,000 humans on the premesis (players and coaches included). Damir Haramina and Gino Schiraldi each netted two goals for KC and the Comets poured it on late with 4 goals in the 4th quarter.
3/14/87: In a rare win at San Diego, the Comets' record-setting roll continued as they beat the Sockers 6-2 at the Sports Arena for their 8th-straight win. Odd game too, as SD jumped out to a 2-0 lead just :44 into the match, and were never heard from again as KC reeled off 6 unanswered goals, which included Damir Haramina's 3rd career hat trick, two goals from Jan Goossens and an assist from 'keeper Alan Mayer. The Comets ended their frustrating 8-game losing streak at the Sports Arena dating back to 1982 (11 games, counting playoffs), and this was the first time San Diego had lost a regular season game by more than 3 goals since joining the MISL. SD goalie Jim Gorsek assisted on both of their goals, while former Socker Gary Collier scored his first point as a Comet. Attendance: 9,568.
25 years ago today, 3/20/87: The Comets notched their first back-to-back wins vs. San Diego since 1983 in taking out the Sockers 5-2 at Kemper Arena, winning their then-record 9th-straight regular season game. KC scored 4 goals in the 4th quarter, including Gino Schiraldi's 50th regular season goal as a Comet and goalie Alan Mayer notched an assist for the second straight game. It was also rookie Tom Kain's first MISL career game. Attendance: 13,536.
He was VERY MUCH ahead of his time, and if anyone decided to launch an NPSL VETERANS LEAGUE... let's not go there... but suffice to say, Pato could still shake his hips with the best of them!
25 years ago tonight, 3/22/87: Big night in Comets history as they set their all-time record for longest regular season winning streak (and 2nd-longest in MISL history) with their 10th victory in a row, defeating the Wichita Wings 5-4 in double-OT in front of 8,233 Wing-A-Lings at Kansas Coliseum. Tasso Koutsoukos nailed the game-winner @ 7:57 of the 2nd OT in what turned out to be the 5th-longest game in Comets history. Defender Iain Fraser scored his first MISL career goal, Jan Goossens had three assists and Pato Margetic added two more, and three of the five KC goals came via the power play. Seamus McDonagh suffered his first loss in goal ever vs. KC, even though the Wings outshot the Comets 56-23. KC goalkeeper Ed Gettemeier faced all Wichita 56 shots, good for 6th-most all-time in a regular season game in MISL history. P.S. to all Wings fans: I mean the term "Wing-A-Lings" affectionately!
that is unreal HC, 56 shots man...what a game that had to be. Wish that one was on tape somewhere-i dont have that in my library-i will ask doc
i did along with 25 or so other games about 3 months ago. He set me a game used goalie jersey that he autographed. He also signed several pictures i had sent along as well. Very cool guy a class act
I totally agree--I met Ed back in '87 or so, and he was a very nice man, indeed, as were pretty much all of the Comets players I encountered back in the day.
3/25/87: It only figures that the Comets' record 10-game winning streak would grind to a screeching halt at their house of horrors, the Richfield Coliseum outside of Cleveland, as the Force nipped KC 6-5 before 10,136 Ohioans. This game appeared to be headed to overtime before Kai Haaskivi scored the game-winner with seven seconds left in regulation. Haaskivi and Craig Allen each had two goals for Cleveland and Carl Valentine assisted three times. The Comets only beat the Force once in their history at Richfield, but led 3-1 in the 2nd quarter and were in control early before things went south. Dale Mitchell had his 5th career hat trick as a Comet, but Jan Goossens suffered an injury to his right Achilles tendon in the game, which would hamper him off and on throughout the rest of his tenure with the team.
I was out of town this week and didn't have my game notes with me, so I'm a couple days late with this one. 3/28/87: The Comets notched their 7th-straight home win, 5-2 over the St. Louis Steamers at Kemper Arena, and in the process clinched a playoff berth at the earliest point in any season in team history. A near-sellout crowd of 15,516 took in the celebration.