Komets

John Ferguson, the first Komet to make it to the National Hockey League, died Saturday night at age 68 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Ferguson came to the Komets in 1959 as a raw rookie left wing and quit playing in 1971 as one of hockey's greatest winners with five Stanley Cup rings.

In his book, ``Thunder and Lightning'' Ferguson wrote that ``This may sound hard to believe, but the Fort Wayne Komets were the toughest team I ever had to make, throughout my entire career. They had a lot of veterans and very few spots for a rookie to crack the lineup.''

To the Komets fans. 

Preseason

October: 10 -- Bloomington; 12 -- at Kalamazoo; 13 -- Kalamazoo.

Regular season

October: 20 -- Port Huron; 26 -- at Bloomington; 27 -- Bloomington; 28 -- at Flint.

November: 2 -- at Port Huron; 3 -- Muskegon; 4 -- at Kalamazoo; 9 -- at Muskegon; 10 -- at Bloomington; 16 -- at Kalamazoo; 17 -- Kalamazoo; 18 -- Port Huron; 22 -- Port Huron; 23 -- at Flint; 24 -- Kalamazoo; 30 -- Port Huron.

After deliberating for several weeks, player/assistant coach Bruce Richardson is leaving the Komets to sign in the Central Hockey League. Komets General Manager David Franke said RIchardson is signing with Wichita, but Richardson declined to confirm which team it is until that team makes the announcement.

It is being reported that Mike Kardash who played for the Komets in 1961-62 died on July 3. He was a defensman who played 14 games with the Komets that season. He spent most of his time in the Eastern Hockey League playing for Charlotte.

This is some pretty awesome news from Josh:

Hey Blake just so you know everything went fine.  It was a long operation but he is resting now and ready to come home.  We will actually be coming home in about a week possibly.  My wife wrote a big entry on his Caring Bridge page if you care to look at it.  Thanks again for all the prayers. 

http://www.caringbridge.org and typing in danefarlee

I've talked to several players over the past couple of weeks who have questions about the IHL's plan to change some of the rules, especially the instigator rule. That comes from players who fight and players who don't.

Today's story can be found here: <a href=http://news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/SPORTS01/707030305">News-Sentinel!</a>

There's been a debate going all spring about the validity of changing the United Hockey League name to the International Hockey League. The owners may have disbanded the UHL and started fresh with the IHL, though the fans see a different name but the same teams, coaches and players.