MVP?
Unsung?
Rookie of the Year?
Mr. Hustle?
Most improved?
I hope IHL President Paul Pickard has a big trunk because he may have to make two trips to Fort Wayne on Sunday to bring all the hardware.
The first time all year the Komets had won in overtime. They are 6-2 in shootous, but were 0-5 this season 4-on-4.
It also looks like the Fury have the inside track on clinching fourth place and playing the Komets in the first round of the playoffs. The Fury are two points up on Kalamazoo and both teams have two games left. Muskegon has a home and home with Bloomington and Kalamazoo has a home and home with Port Huron. Muskegon also owns the tiebreaker. Looks like Chad Alban got his legs back against Kalamazoo on Wednesday night with 38 saves for Flint.
The IHL has named Al Sims its coach of the year. The award will be presented Sunday. Here are some of the things Al had to say about it:
Komets coach Al Sims said today he's going to continue rotating goaltenders in the playoffs.
``Right now there's no need to change,'' Sims said. ``We'll just go with it the same way we've been playing.''
Since the Komets started alternating between Kevin Reiter and Nick Boucher on Jan. 30, they have gone 26-1-3. The way he has handled his goaltenders is one of the major reasons why Sims is likely to be named IHL coach of the year on Wednesday.
To Springfield of the AHL for the weekend. They are not going to make the playoffs and want to take a look at him. He'll be back Monday.
The Komets are also looking at a rookie defenseman and will find out within the next two days if he's coming or not.
Kalamazoo has also just fired coach Brian Curran. GM Wade Welsh will be the interim coach.
Kevin Reiter has been named goaltender of the year and Luciano Aquino rookie of the year. They will presented the awards on Sunday.
We're a Kansas victory away from Icy picking the last two NCAA champs. How insufferable would he be then?
And includes a brilliant series of plays against Muskegon and special guest commentator Sergei Durdin. You can see it here.
And includes a brilliant series of plays against Muskegon and special guest commentator Sergei Durdin. You can see it here.
You can read about it in our Sunday online section here.
I was looking at the N-S Komets page today and it had the picture of Colin Chin leaning over gasping outside the locker room after the 1993 playoff game 2 in Atlanta. That is still the best game I have ever seen the Komets play. It has drama, great plays and an outstanding opponent. To me, it beats out Game 7 of 91 in Indy because both teams were playing their very best, and both sides were too exhausted to do that in 1991.
Sergei Durdin, Kevin Bertram and Brent Henley activated off IR, and Maksim Shirokov (foot) and David Hukalo (shoulder) go on. I'd imagine that means Brandon Warner will be playing some forward this weekend.
Arts United teamed up with the Fort Wayne Komets and Technology Specialists for the first ever Design-A-Jersey contest on Saturday, March 22nd. After reviewing over 100 design entries from students and fans across northeast Indiana, local tattoo artist Jeff Stump of Device Tattoo was chosen as the winner featuring a special wrap around jersey design.
Ken was one of the cornerstones of the early IHL as the general manager of Troy, Toledo, Des Moines and Peoria. He was also the man who recommended the Komets hire his best friend, Ken Ullyot in 1958. Without that hire, there's no way the Komets would have made it out of the 50s, let alone into their 50s. Mr. Wilson was living in Chandler, Arizona, with his wife of 54 years, Betty. He was 84.
Komets defenseman Guy Dupuis was named the IHL's best defenseman today along with the league's most sportsmanlike player. David Hukalo was named the league's outstanding defensive forward, and team president Michael Franke was named the league's executive of the year.
In the other front-office awards, Wade Welsh of Kalamazoo was named the general manager of the year, Martha Ewalt of Port Huron the public relations director of the year, Mike Modugno of Kalamazoo the broadcaster of the year and Bob Langdon was named the officiating staff member of the year.
P.C. Drouin has just been named the IHL's forward of the month for March, possibly clinching the league's most valuable player award. Drouin had 11 goals and 22 points to lead the Komets in scoring in March.
Since Drouin joined the Komets Nov. 23, they have gone 43-9-5 as he has averaged 1.25 points per game. Their power play has also increased by 10 percent since his return. He has led the Komets in scoring in January, February and March.
Right here, and includes a look at the Kalamazoo goal from Friday night. Thanks to Tim, Pat and Randi for providing a little excitement.
