Let's try this again. You can look at them here. There are two parts, and you'll likely need to be a little patient. Looks like I may need to start hanging out with Burgee so the pale underbelly color doesn't show through so much. Just remember being on camera adds 10 pounds to a person and there were four maybe five cameras in the room.
He's already in Fort Wayne, but don't expect to see him in a Komets uniform this weekend. He and his agent are hoping to hear from some other ECHL teams before they make a decision. They have already heard from some Central Hockey League teams.
"I'm trying to keep my options open," he said. "It was a good situation last year for me to come here and play. I got an awful lot out of the season. There's such a veteran core group here that it was a great experience. The possiblity is exciting. It's always exciting to have options when you are out of a job."
So many players signing after getting cut in the ECHL. It's pretty obvious to me that the ECHL has to be seen as the superior league in terms of overall player quality. Sure, some IHL players could very easily play in the ECHL, but the overall depth isn't the same. Sometimes it's opportunity, but sometimes it's just the quality of the players. We also all know that doesn't always translate into the superior game, either.
What do you think?
Negotiations continue between O'Connor and Komets. O'Connor, Mathieu Curadeau and Olivier Legault will also be at the game Friday night to receive their championship rings. The Wings have the night off.
This poetic prose is from the poised, prolific and prosaic penmanship of Muskegon's Terry Ficorelli who is always pressed, persuasive, punctual and pleasant:
What was once thought to be score 36 or more goals for Robin Bouchard to become the all-time greatest goal-scoring colossus ever in the history of minor professional hockey has been researched and revised with the findings hatching a rather interesting and intriguing result.
They are very interested and are waiting to see if he clears waivers in the ECHL. That will either be late tonight or tomorrow morning. Because of reciprocal agreements with the ECHL the Komets can not sign him until he clears waivers.
They have also released Vince Laise and have put Kevin Bertram on the 30-day IR retroactive to Sunday.
They signed Tomas Klempa and rookie defenseman Frankie DeAngelis who played at American International with Keith Rodger and Brett Woodard. They are awaiting approval from the league on their contracts.
You can watch them here. There's ones from Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock, Colin Chaulk, Leo Thomas and Brad MacMillan.
Konstantin Shafranov missed today with an illness.
Kevin Bertram will resume skating tomorrow and hopes to play Friday.
Saw lots of guys working extra after practice and veterans working with youngsters.
Komets are going to honor Vi Ullyot in pregame ceremonies Friday.
Icy DC will perform. This is hilarious, the biggest production Icy has done yet. You will laugh out loud, and have a new appreciation for Kevin Bertram's skills.
As of 2 p.m., there are 7,800 tickets out for Friday's game.
1-3 p.m., Saturday at Komet Kuarters with Terry Pembroke, Eddie Long and David Hukalo and some other schmoe. I believe Pembroke is the last player with a retired number to do a signing for this book so come on down. I've also heard Ken Ullyot is going to be at Friday's game as well.
Former Komet Sebastien Laplante of Quad City has been named IHL Goalie of the Week. Mike Kinnie of Port Huron is the Player of the Week and Matt Krug of Muskegon is the Rookie of the Week.
Also, got an email from Matt Reynolds. He said he talked with David Franke, and Fort Wayne would be his first choice to play in this country, but he's going to try to sign again in Europe.
IHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Brad Jones said Port Huron's Mike Bray and the Komets Brad MacMillan received game misconduct penalties for their post-game fight Saturday night in Port Huron, but there will be no further penalties. The incident did not show up on the game tape.
Neither player will have to sit out the next game, but it will go toward their season total of game misconducts under the fighting category. Each player can accumulate up to five game misconducts for fighting and then must serve a one-game suspension for a sixth. Each subsequent game misconduct
I talked to David Franke this afternoon and he said he doesn't know if Brad MacMillan will be suspended for fighting Port Huron's Mike Bray after Saturday's game. Franke said Bray speared MacMillan after the game and that is what started the fight. Franke and coach Al Sims both plan to talk to International Hockey League Vice President of Hockey Operations Brad Jones about the situation.
"We won't know anything until late Monday at the earliest," Franke said. "I don't know if the incident was on the gametape or not, but I saw it and Al saw it."
Whenever Al Sims has been the coach, the Fort Wayne Komets have been known for their defense and special teams. Both areas will get a lot of work in practice this week as the Komets approach their home-opener at 8 p.m., Friday, against Bloomington.
The Komets are 1-1 after the International Hockey League's first weekend, winning 4-3 at Dayton in overtime on Friday and losing 5-4 at Port Huron on Saturday. The Komets have allowed five power-play goals in 16 chances against while scoring only two on their own 12 chances.
Really makes you appreciate what these guys have to go through to maintain a certain level of conditioning to be able to play the game as professionals. Especially the veterans who have families, jobs, etc. There's still quite a difference between being in shape, skating shape and then game shape, but it's still impressive. You could also see how the kids make a difference in the energy level. Last night's game will also go a long, long way to pulling a team together for the rest of the season. Dayton is also going to be pretty good.
Komets came back to tie 3-3 on a great play by Matt Woodard to force overtime. Nick Boucher was huge with 38 saves in regulation and Leo Thomas won it in overtime ina breakaway with 3:17 left.
Komets have been out-shot 16-7 and they keep taking penalties behind the play. First goal was short-handed and the second was a 5-on-3 power play. Here they are:
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