How do you guys feel about this winning streak? Are you excited for Saturday's game? Are you complacent? Are you taking it for granted that the Komets are going to win? Are you surprised? How far do you think they can take it?
How do you guys feel about this winning streak? Are you excited for Saturday's game? Are you complacent? Are you taking it for granted that the Komets are going to win? Are you surprised? How far do you think they can take it?
That second period? That's exactly how they looked in practice yesterday.
Can you believe that Mathieu Curadeau now has as many goals as Luciano Aquino, and 24 of the 28 have come at even strength? We might be watching the next Komet to play eventually in the NHL. When scouts come in, they aren't looking for guys who can be first-line players, they look for third-liners. The knock against Curadeau coming in was that he was all defense and no offense. I think he's corrected that. He and David Hukalo might be the most consistent players every night for the Komets.
There's little doubt Flint is the only team in the IHL that can skate with the Komets. In fact, it looked a little like the Komets were on their heels just after the opening faceoff before Olivier Legault scored off a David Hukalo assist on a two-on-one.
The Komets put Terry Marchant on the 7-day IR before the game with a bruised foot. That allowed them to activate Konstantin Shafranov.
The Komets did not activate Brandon Warner. Don't be shocked if he stays on the IR long enough so that he doesn't reach the 60-game mark this season so he'd retain his rookie status for next year.
Neither the Komets nor the league has heard anything from Flint to suggest that the Generals won't be able to make it in tonight.
Coach Al Sims today said he's changing up the forward lines a little. He's keeping P.C. Drouin with Colin Chaulk and Mitch Woods, and putting Luciano Aquino with Terry Marchant and Matt Reynolds. Could work out great for both lines.
Brandon Warner and Konstantin Shafranov also looked good in practice today and could come off IR at any time.
You can also read today's story here.
The league decided to go with Lucas Drake of Kalamazoo who had three goals and nine points in four games. He was plus-4. He also just came off the IR.
P.C. Drouin had five goals and eight points in three games and was plus-5.
The Komets were not neglected, though, as Guy Dupuis was named Defenseman of the Month, Mathieu Curadeau the Rookie of the Month and Nick Boucher the Goaltender of the Month for February.
This week's clip is up here. Can Pat Stelte work a camera, or what?
This week's clip is up here. Can Pat Stelte work a camera, or what?
Kidding, kidding. Aquino is the team's leading scorer, but you've got to like what P.C. Drouin did over the weekend playing on the line with Colin Chaulk and Mitch Woods, four goals and six points. They were all plus-3 today in a 5-2 win over Flint.
Some interesting numbers: Since Drouin signed Nov. 23, he's averaged 1.2 points per game and the Komets have gone 32-7-3. Those are MVP type numbers for Drouin.
From our Sunday online section, can be read here. It's about the goalies and some of their preparation.
The IHL announced this afternoon they have suspended Komets forward Luciano Aquino two games for his actions in Friday's win over Bloomington. Bloomington forward Don Parsons was suspended one game for his actions.
Referee John Searle gave Luciano Aquino a high-sticking major and an attempt to injure match penalty during the second period. That means a player is automatically suspended until the league can rule on further discipline.
Not sure why, but I've got a feeling this game could get out of hand fairly easily.
Shafranov is on IR with a sore foot.
I thought I could show you Aquino's goal but it will be in tomorrow's paper.
This is a release from the IHL:
The International Hockey League (IHL) announced that the trade deadline, which was today at 3:00 p.m. EST, has passed. There were no trades made today before the deadline.
Seems like it's been a lot longer than two weeks since the Komets played at home, doesn't it?
I talked with Komets GM David Franke today and he said they still haven't had any trade interest and they are already looking toward talking with agents next week for an amateur forward and a defenseman. Those spots do count against the regular-season roster, Franke said, but not against the postseason roster for some reason. I'm a little confused on that one. Either way, it doesn't look like the Komets will necessarily have to make a roster move to clear space.
The International Hockey League (IHL) announced Tuesday the following suspension resulting from player actions during IHL Game #161, Fort Wayne @ Kalamazoo, on Sunday, February 24.
Defenseman Brent Henley has been suspended five (5) games for his actions during Sunday's game. The suspension is being issued under Rule 29 (Supplementary Discipline). Henley will be ineligible to participate in the following games:
IHL Game #166, Bloomington @ Fort Wayne, Friday, February 29
IHL Game #169, Fort Wayne @ Bloomington, Saturday, March 1
Sorry for the delay, but you can read it here. This week's video clip is also up and can be seen here.
The Komets were shut out on this week's International Hockey League Players of the Week voting, but there were still some players who had good weekends. The Komets nominated Terry Marchant at forward, Guy Dupuis at defense, Mathieu Curadeau at rookie and Nick Boucher at goaltender.
The league is also saying that czar of discipline Brad Jones is reviewing Brent Henley's cross checking penalty from Sunday and might make a decision tomorrow.
Komets coach Al Sims has consistently used the same forward lines all season, but he sometimes mixes things up during road games. Sunday it paid off as the Komets rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Kalamazoo 4-2.
Anybody know where to find: Casey Burnette, Chris Dearden, Craig Desjarlis, Martin Fillion, David Frawley, Randy Hankinson, Kevin Holliday, Matt Hunter, Justin Kearns, Shane Kenny, Kevin Kurk, J.F. Labarre, Charlie Lawson, Jeff Loder, Aaron MacDonald, Todd MacDonald, Trevor Matter, David Mayes, Mike McKay, Ben Metzger, Mike Perna, Dennis Pinfold, Kevin Popp, Bogdan Rudenko, Kevin Slota or Josh VanderBreggen from the UHL days?
