Komets

Because the Komets had an optional practice today, they goofed around quite a bit, including goaltender Kevin Reiter playing wing and defenseman Kevin Bertram playing goal. Both did pretty well.

``He did well for being a big, over-muscled goalie,'' Komets coach Al Sims said of Bertram. ``He made some great saves on me.''

 Bertram said he puts the equipment on about once a year, usually over Christmas break when they need a goaltender. He got dinged on the inside of his right knee, but for the most part held his own.

Can be read here: link

There will be more posted on the blog later today.

With much screaming from Randi and Tim. Terrible  how those boys have such a rough time getting excited. You can see it here: http://fwnextweb1.fortwayne.com/ns/video/komets/

With much screaming from Randi and Tim. Terrible  how those boys have such a rough time getting excited. You can see it here: http://fwnextweb1.fortwayne.com/ns/video/komets/

After the Komets lost to Bloomington 4-1 on Sunday, Komets coach Al Sims had this to say:

Looking at their record, it's hard to say the Komets made any missteps when putting the team together last summer, but the harder question might be which was the one move that has meant the most?

(in the order they happend)

1. Bringing Al Sims back

2. Bringing Colin Chaulk back

3. Going with two goaltenders

4. Bringing Konstantin Shafranov back

5. Deciding to go young and play a lot of rookies

6. Signing Brent Henley

7. The mid-season signing of P.C. Drouin

Since I started covering the Komets in 1990 (no, not all consecutively, thank you), I haven't seen seen a Fort Wayne team that plays team defense like this one. The Komets beat Kalamazoo 2-0 on Friday night, giving up only 19 shots overall and 10 in the final two periods. The Wings had no, zero, nada, shots on goal over the last six minutes of the game. And that includes a power play and stopping Kory Karlander and Nick Bootland, two of the top five or so offensive players in the league.

Matt Reynolds scored 6:32 in off a two-on-one to give the Komets the league. The shots are 9-9 but the quality of the shots is vastly different. The Komets are controlling the front of the Kalamazoo net and Jeff Reynaert has been bouncing around like crazy so far.

 Only lineup change is Olivier Legault for Evgeny Saidachev, whom Komets General Manager David Franke said has a hip pointer. He's been placed on the 7-day injured reserve.

I heard this on ESPN on the way into the office so I'm stealing it.

Why do you love hockey?

 Tell me why, maybe how you got started, whatever it is about the sport. As my brother used to say about me, what is your major malfunction about this? And is it hockey or is it just the Komets?