"We don't want guys out there in a slug fest," said Wings coach Johnny Mouradian. "There's a lot more potential in that locker room."
Mouradian and Hajek said the fights were a result of the game's intensity and trash talk between the players.
"All the tension just broke out and got released," Hajek said.
The Wings scored five straight goals in the second quarter, but it wasn't enough to beat the Knighthawks, who led by three at the half and extended their lead to five after the third quarter. Rochester's Cory Vitarelli scored five goals to lead the game in scoring.
Drew Westervelt and No. 1 draft pick Kevin Crowley scored three goals each for the Wings.
"Sometimes it takes a score differential like this to know what we need to work on," said Crowley. "I give props to the guys who stepped up and fought. It showed that we've got each others' backs . . . if we bring that intensity [during the game], teams won't want to play us."
Mouradian said, Crowley, the rookie from Stony Brook University has "a lot of potential in this league."
The Wings have 18 new players on their 31-man roster.
"I think we have a good chemistry. The chemistry in the locker room is fantastic. What we don't have is task cohesion," Mouradian said. "That chemistry in the locker room is there, it's not there on the floor."
Wings goalie Kurtis Wagar (nine saves) also exchanged blows with the Knighthawks goalie.
"There was no excuse for the way we played tonight," said Wagar. "I figured I should go out with nine goals against me and a fight instead of just nine goals against me."
