Right here, and includes a look at the Kalamazoo goal from Friday night. Thanks to Tim, Pat and Randi for providing a little excitement.
Right here, and includes a look at the Kalamazoo goal from Friday night. Thanks to Tim, Pat and Randi for providing a little excitement.
After two days off, the Komets had a pretty healthy workout this morning at McMillen Park Ice Arena. Kevin Bertram is still out with an upper respiratory illness, and today rookie Justin Hodgman also missed practice with an illness. Defenseman Brent Henley and Sergei Durdin were back at full strength and said they'd be ready to go this weekend.
You can read our online section, including today's Komets story here.
But, really, who can complain when they just completed a 13-0-1 month? That's just remarkable. The defense especially had to be sucking wind playing for the second straight night with five. With all the penalty kills, that had to add up to some tired legs.
Muskegon showed me something by coming back. The Fury played with only three veterans tonight, and they showed some heart. Clayton Pool had the best goaltending performance we've seen at Memorial Coliseum this year by an opponent, I think. He was incredible in keeping his team in the game.
Pretty good first period after a slow start by the Komets. Clayton Pool made some tremendous saves early to keep the Komets off the board, robbing Konstantin Shafranov and Justin Hodgman, but Shafranov finally solved him on a 3-on-1.
The first one can be read here, and the second one based on an observation from coach Sims can be read here.
The first one can be read here, and the second one based on an observation from coach Sims can be read here.
Three power-play goals in the third period to come back and win 4-3. Some observations:
* The Kalamazoo deflection by Kory Karlander at the last second did indeed go in, but time had already expired. Goal judge John Cains said he was pushing the button to signal the goal, but the goal light can not go on after time has expired.
Komets coach Al Sims has a son named Tyler who was the goaltender at Providence College and who recently signed with Reading of the ECHL. He got to play in Cincinnati on Tuesday night where he made 29 saves in a 3-2 loss during his pro debut. You can read his bio here. Sims and his wife Sue were at the game.
Kalamazoo coach Brian Curren had his arm skated over in practice this morning and slashed a tendon. He's not here tonight but general manager Wade Welsh and Glenn Detulleo will be running the Wings' bench. Curren did not have surgery today and hopes to be back behind the bench for Sunday's game against Muskegon.
Komets coach Al Sims isn't feeling 100 percent, but he's here.
I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out who this Komets team reminds me of, and it finally hit me last night: the 1991-92 Komets. Like this team, that squad had a large amount of turnover from a very successful squad the year before, and it always seemed to find ways to win. They were never out of any game, and they had tremendous balance and depth. Even some of the players are similar:
That the Indiana Ice of the USHL have signed a two-year extension on their lease at the Pepsi Coliseum. That means no expansion for the IHL in Indy for at least two years.
Here is today's story listing some of the candidates. Whom would you pick?
This week's video clip is also up here. And what did you think of the uniforms?
Kevin Bertram wins his first IHL Defenseman of the Week Award today after getting a goal and five points in four games last week. Well-deserved.
Following IU this weekend so we'll have to turn things around a little bit and you'll have to tell me what happened at the Komets games. And Happy Easter to everyone as well. Hope the snow doesn't hit too much.
The Komets also just added Justin Hodgman to the roster:
The unsung heroes tonight for the Komets were Olivier Legault and Mitch Woods. It was a flat game until they came on the ice for a shift together with Colin Chaulk at the end of the first period. They hit everything that moved in a blue jersey and that seemed to get the Komets going. Al Sims put them out together a couple times in the second period with similar results as the Komets took a 3-2 lead.
Even if Brandon plays all remaining 12 games, he'd still only have 59 for the season, meaning he'd still qualify as a rookie next season. Durdin is on the seven-day IR with a sore neck.
Defenseman Brent Henley will also miss tonight's game with an illness.
The Komets also have rookie Justin Hodgman at the game tonight. He has not signed officially but may play this weekend, according to General Manager David Franke.
You can read them here. Thanks to Scott Sproat and Josh Testin from the Komets for pitching in most of the really good jokes.
Icy's annual Feathered Four picks. If you thought he had attitude before, he's even cockier now after picking Winthrop to beat Notre Dame last year and Florida to win it all.
