From Komets GM David Franke:
* They are hoping to get 25 goals off the second line from Voorhees who is supposed to be a great locker room guy who can fly and has a pretty decent shot.
* O'Connell is supposed to be a very good skater who didn't play last year because of an inner ear problem.
* They can't come close to matching what Mario Larocoque wants so he won't be here this year. Franke said he's asking for $2,000 a week which is what he made last year in Danbury.
* They are looking at some younger kids who can also play for toughness. "We want to have team toughness and we're working toward that end. We
have a couple of guys on the team who will be able to drop them and go but they
have to be able to play, too. You have to have somebody that can play.
We're hovering in on a couple of guys right now that will bring
that element to us. We'll end up with some physical players here who can get the job
done.''
* They are still talking to Matt Elich's agent.
* Kevin Reiter is trying to get a tryout in the ECHL.
* MacMillan signed with Columbia , ECHL and Berry in the CHL.
* Komets are close to a deal with A.J. Bazoian.
* The Komets are going to get a defenseman from Hershey of the AHL. They already have someone in mind and the deal is done. If that player makes Hershey's roster, then Hershey will find the Komets another defenseman.
* Ryan Jorde didn't like the Komets' offer and the Komets haven't heard back from him in two weeks.
* They should be ready to announce the signing of two or three players middle of next week.
* Komets are talking to Pascal Mourency.
* Komets have not heard back from Jamie Milam.
* Matt Hunter is not calling Pat Bingham back.
With the player from Hershey, the Komets have 12 players on the roster and if they sign 2-3 next week, they'll be in great shape for this time of the summer. The biggest needs are toughness that can play, back-up goaltender, a second-line center and two or three rookies, all of which should be very doable. There's also a good chance some guys will be dropping into training camp -- the same as happens every year.
``I think there will be a lot of guys coming in
here later in September,'' Franke said, ``and some kids from the Coast. We already know there are
some ECHL teams who have over-recruited and won't have enough spots.''
Comments
youve got that right blake. back in 73 i was a wild child with the chants and the kazoos on the march to the turner cup! partied with the players and even drank champagne out of the cup in the locker room in port urine. now i still have the same passion but i see things alot differnt and react to things a lot different. we score a goal and a lot of times i dont go nuts cause it was a goal that should have been scored! also its hard for the crowd to really get into it with the boring play weve had the last couple of seasons. put the jungle back on the ice and the jungle in the stands will come back. 8000 people can make a lot of nosie when theres a reason to make noise!!!
Completely agree.
It seems people want a reason to get excited. I can think of two specific games last year.
1- vs Kzoo the last weekend of the season. Phenomenal games with great goals, end to end action, hitting, and scraps. Plus RandR during the 3rd period. Electric game.
2- The other was midseason vs QC. I believe it was game where St. Pierre makes the ridiculous save (its on youtube.com). There was end to end action and tons of hitting. There was a minute long stretch of action in the 2nd period where a large portion of the crowd on the sides was on their feet the entire time as there were a couple of breakaways and great goal scoring chances and then the K's scored. It was pretty awesome. The crowd was great that game too because it was up and down with a lot of fun. That game proved we dont need a game with fights, just an entertaining game.
I think the fans want to bust out but the on ice play has kept them in the seats the last few years.
OHIC Warrior Hockey Update
my brothers friend told ME over the weekend that Colin Chaulk will be back on the Komets next season for sure now after he does ereuope this season!
Gheesh I thought I posted this last night but I guess not LOL.
Larry here is my one and only PA suggestion.
Get the clip of Nancy Kerrigan crying "WHY WHY WAAHAAAHAA" from the Tonya Harding incident and play it whenever a questionable call is made against the Komets.
OHIC Warrior Hockey Update
http://www.theuhl.com/press.aspx?rid=1746
Tony- That will get annoying after the first five time in the first period of the first home game. lol
i believe chaulk will be back after his european season is over
Thanks Warrior and while you're here I'll ask Why do you call Blake Blakes?
As for the crowd, it has everything to do with play on the ice. Look at those examples Jason gave and I'm sure others have. If the play on the ice is exciting then everything else comes together. all of a sudden Larry is the King of the Jukebox when there's hittin in the corners, odd man rushes and a goal here and there.
The play the last few years has rarely been that way and that's why the fans are sitting on their hands.
And I totally believe the expansion of the arena has killed the atmosphere unless there is 8,000+ in the building.
Since the Coliseum is Bigger, sound has a bigger area to travel so 8,000 sound more quite in the bigger building than the smaller one.
Lol Greg..are you saying my fellow brothers in stripes are going to make 5 questionable calls in just the first period??? ;-)
As of right now I can only think of a Tom Petty song...The Waiting Is The Hardest Part. Geez, is it October yet??????
Absolutely not;-) I think the 8,000 refs in the seats will think they are making questionable calls.
Also realize that a great deal of this Larry has no control over.
The other thing, and there's nothing that can be done about it, is the constant advertizing that Larry has to get in. That also takes away from the environment. And Larry would never say this so I will, it's also very tough from this press box to get a read on the fans sometimes. Meaning the fans may be trying to do something spontaneous and it's very difficult not to play something over them because we're so high up we just can't tell.
Wow, great topic Jason! Now, this is constructive!
yeah Larry I don't know how you even see the game let alone know what the crowd is doing. I've been up there and it's like you're in a different arena.
And then there's Bob Chase. He must have some special binocular glasses.
I think those other arenas seem like the fans are into it more because they are smaller. 3,000 in a 5,000 seat arena and it's rocking. 6,500 in 10,500 seat arena and its a library.
Larry in all seriousness it is great you take the time to come on here and mingle with everyone. You do your job in a tasteful and professional way and it is evident you take a great amount of pride in your work. But Larry....why Cotton Eye Joe???? WHY WHY WAAHHHAAAA??? ;-)
That was one other factor I was going to mention...the expansion of the building. Granted it looks pretty good with the luxury boxes and other amenities (although a video board and or the lights along the side of the arena would have been cool) but I think it has helped kill the atmosphere of the games a bit.
The quote that comes to mind is when MJ was asked about the United Center in Chicago when he returned and his response was along the lines of "I wish they would blow this place up".
Sometimes, I feel like that about this building. I miss the old wooden seats and the closeness of the arena. It had character. But the dollar rules the world, and probably rightly so.
Thanks KW
i was wondering if you would find a story about your favorite coach newsworthy and it seems that you did too bad it took you 4 days to post that link.
Dale Purinton. Now that IS an interesting name.
If Fletcher could come back for one game ........
Blake, I noticed one name VERY conspicuous by its absense in your coaches "had it" list.
Hey Joseph would you like to be in OHIC MAN? You are VERY welcome for the NEWS in my updates!! My brothers friend nows Chaulk so he gets ME some NEWS some of the time and I use to talk to him after games outside the komet lockerroom after hockey games. It says right on the blog about Blakes it says Blakes Blog.
Not for any nefarious purposes, I was just listing off the top of my head people who PLAYED here that at the time you knew would be good coaches. Torch was the only one who didn't play here. Really didn't put that much thought into it.
You STILL didn't mention the one I was thinking of.
You're putting WAY more thought into this than I am.
I'll spell it out for you:
C -- H -- I -- E -- F
Chief wasn't a former player here like the others, except for Torch.
The one I thought you missed was Laird.
Wasn't covering the team then, Wahoo, so I really couldn't say.
Here is an interesting scenario.
Komets will recieve a defenseman from Hershey. Donny Grover(Danbury Trashers) signed to play in Hershey this season. There is however, a catch, Flint owns Donny Grovers rights. Who do the Komets trade to get his rights. Well, I've heard rumblings that Flint might be interested in pulling out the old No.19. Yes, the Komets would trade the rights to Jim Duhart to Flint for Donny Grovers rights. It all makes sense in the big scheme of things. It will definatly be interesting to watch.
Blake Stewart to play for Chief in Chicago this coming season.
greg,
did u get that news approved by Komet Warrior. I can just imagine that he will be very upset with you not. but ill beat him to the punch.
http://www.theuhl.com/press.aspx?rid=1751
http://www.theuhl.com/press.aspx?rid=1750
I'm shakin in my boots... Oh wait a mineut, I'm not wearing boots.