I'll have something really cool for you. News-Sentinel photographer Steve Linsenmayer went out to the informal practice Monday at McMillen and came back with some interesting stuff which he has packaged into a slide show. There might be some unfamiliar names and faces to some of it, but the Komets were skating with some amateur players as well.
From David Franke:
``We raised our offer some, but the main thing I think is that he started thinking if he really wanted to go to Europe. For one thing, he has a sister who is going to have a baby, and he wants to go home over Christmas and see her and the baby. Another thing is I don't know how many more years he's going to play, but he wanted to play for Pat again. Those are the main reasons.''
Regarding keeping eight veterans and the thought that Kelly Miller might be on the bubble:
According to coach Pat Bingham, Ruid is expected to be here the entire season.
``We dug in,'' Bingham said. ``We felt strongly that he needed to make a commitment to us, that outside of the AHL, this is the best place in North America to play. This is a proud organization and a successful one with the support of the community and the fans. He understood that.
J.C. RUID JOINS
KOMETS
UHL All-Star veteran agrees to terms
Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets announced today that veteran J.C. Ruid has
agreed to terms and has been added to the 2006-07 roster.
* Pascal Morency is built exactly like Andy Bezeau. He looks like a freaking bulldog you wouldn't want to mess with. Also like Andy, he's usually smiling.
* Eric Boguniecki got sent down from Columbus today to Syracuse. He won't be there long.
* Took a tour of the new Komets locker room's today and they are sweet! Incredibly nice and bright.
* Went to lunch with Pat Bingham today and asked him what type of team he wants to put on the ice.
I'll also have a report later this evening when I get it done. Plus we've got some really cool stuff coming up later in the week, too.
These are all from break.com which is a really cool site.
Komets General Manager David Franke said this afternoon that the team has broken off negotiations with forward J.C. Ruid. Ruid is expected to sign with Chicago, but how long he plays there is anyone's guess.
...so it's time for us to start getting warmed up!
Bye, bye Stevie Y and Tie!
http://my.break.com/Media/View.aspx?ContentID=140098
Wings rule!
http://my.break.com/Media/View.aspx?ContentID=129368
How can Vernon-Roy not be No. 1? Avs suck!
The UHL brass and all of the on-ice officials were in Fort Wayne today at McMillen Park Ice Arena for their annual pre-season meetings. They've held it in Fort Wayne I believe ever since the Komets joined the UHL.
According to Komets General Manager David Franke, the team expects to hear a decision tomorrow from center J.C. Ruid. If he decides to go elsewhere (I've heard Chicago), the Komets have a back-up plan in place for another veteran forward.
The deal is, Ruid is still considering going to Europe, and the Komets don't want to get stuck with another Mark Smith situation with a player leaving during the season.
* The players have started informal workouts at McMillen Park Ice Arena and will be out there every morning next week.
Have you guys seen this?
http://www.break.com/movies/hockey_player_wipes_out.html
Definitely going to need some ice for that.
Please keep your jokes relatively clean. That means you Hit! LOL.
I'll start: Talk about putting the wood to a guy.
Drop the gloves gives this offering:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=2595580
I thought he made some very excellent points such as
``The true enforcer, in fact, always was more deterrent than combatant.''
and
``The true enforcer wasn't so much part of the slug-vs.-slug sideshows that make it onto the unofficial Ring Record books of the sport, as he was the guy who ... always ... was ... there.''
Iceboi was wanting to know last week. They go on sale Sept. 29. Komets President Michael Franke said the team is currently at about 3,400 season ticket holders, which is a little bit ahead of where the team was last year. That's amazing considering the economy and the gas prices.
Komets General Manager David Franke said today he's continuing to talk with forward J.C. Ruid, but there's no news as yet.
``I don't expect to get a decision from him until probably the end of the week,'' Franke said. ``I think we are getting closer.''
The Komets open training camp Oct. 2 at the Memorial Coliseum. Their schedule for first few days goes Monday 2-5 p.m.; Tuesday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m. to Noon; Thurday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to Noon.
For those who could not attend Sunday's game, and even for those that could, Shutterbug has come up with a slide show for all to enjoy. This is pretty cool.
Kevin St. Pierre's charity softball game for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation raised approximately $1,000 Sunday at Tillman Park. Frenchy's All-Stars defeated the Fort Wayne Fire Department Team 21-20 in front of a few hundred fans.
``Thanks to everybody who came out and pitched in,'' St. Pierre said. ``I think everybody had a great time and we raised some money for a good cause.''
Guy Dupuis his two home runs and Kelly Miller made a couple of great catches to highlight the action on the field.
His charity softball game is at 2 p.m. Sunday at Tillman Park. "Frenchy's Friends: Swinging for a cure," is to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. His team will be playing a squad from the Fort Wayne FIre Department led by former Komet Kevin Bertram.
Just talked to Komets General Manager David Franke, and he said the team is talking with forward J.C. Ruid, but a decision won't be coming before next week.
"I really don't know what he's going to do,'' Franke said. "We've talked to him two or three times and, in fact, I just got off the phone with him. He's considering going to Germany and talking to two or three other teams in our league as well, and told me he'd make a decision by next week.''
More at the bottom
KOMETS ADD VETERAN WINGER RUDENKO
Fort Wayne, IN
After giving up on signing Mario Larocque earlier this summer, the Fort Wayne Komets are close to signing the defenseman General Manager David Franke said Monday.
Larocque, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound veteran, would give the Komets a boost of experience and toughness on the blue line. Last season he had 5 goals, 15 points and 187 penalty minutes in 46 games with Danbury.
