The Richmond Riverdogs have officially closed up shop, and the Missouri River Otters are moving all their equipment out of Family Arena today to put it in storage. They have no lease for next year, and no one is expecting anything for next year.
According to UHL Vice President of Media Relations Brian Werger, the league is not expected to add further penalty to Komets center Andrew Luciuk for his actions in Game 2.
The Richmond Riverdogs have officially closed up shop, and the Missouri River Otters are moving all their equipment out of Family Arena today to put it in storage. They have no lease for next year, and no one is expecting anything for next year.
He is extremely happy to be here, though he got lost on 469 and didn't recognize Jefferson Pointe, either. He met with coach Greg Puhalski and the Frankes today and told them he'd do whatever they needed from him. He said the only reason he wasn't here earlier was because of his wife's recovery from surgery, but she's doing well and he was able to fly his mother-in-law out over the weekend.
Eddie Campbell will be in Fort Wayne this afternoon to play in Tuesday's game. Hopefully that starts your Monday off a little better than expected.
I'm also wondering if the league will review Andrew Luciuk's actions against Rockford goaltender Michel Robinson. A Rockford player dumped Luciuk near the blue line with no call, ticking off Luciuk who got up and charged the net. He slashed Robinson who fell over in the ensuing scrum. I wouldn't be shocked if there was some further penalty.
And a good one. Michel Robinson is going to miss the next two games what an ankle injury, one that is serious enough to require an MRI on Monday. Usual back-up goaltender Ronnie Vogel is on injured reserve with undisclosed injuries, meaning rookie Scott Dickie is starting. He faced 10 marshmellows on Sunday night, but the Komets never got close enough to test him.
Here's the key stats of the night. Shots on goal by Fort Wayne: Defensemen 15; Forwards 20.
Good scoring chances, about five.
The Komets didn't crash the net, forecheck much or do anything really as a group of forwards. Luciuk had four shots but every other forward had three or less.
This was a bad as the Komets could play, and the thing is, Frenchy has played pretty well. Of the 11 goals against him, about eight have come within five feet of the net where he couldn't do anything about them.
Two Komets goals may win this because Kevin St. Pierre looks very sharp early. He's coming out to challenge Rockford shooters on everything and is controlling his rebounds. One time the puck from a long shot landed on the side netting and the goal judge turned the light on, the fans celebrated and the horn blew, but Frenchy never even flinched.
Somebody said there would be 19 shots at the first period and the IceHogs have 10 and the Komets 9, thank you very much. Man, I have to get a life. LOL.
The Komets sent defenseman Troy Neumeier home Friday night, but currently no other details are available. They are pretty tight-lipped about injuries during playoffs.
This was as bad as I've seen the Komets play defense since their 5-11-2 start, but they still had a chance to win the game. They were up 4-3 and Robinson was fighting the puck like it was a swarm of bees, but they started settling for long-distance shots.
The line of Big Snake, Johnson and Tifu pretty much dominated, but not so much because of the physical stuff, but by playing smart, positional hockey. They also let the Komets back in the game with some of their bone-headed penalties, including a Big Snake diving call that got booed even by the French judge.
I just got back to the hotel from what might have been the strangest Komets playoff game I've seen in 15 years. Every one of Rockford's goals was strange. 1. No forward comes back to tie up Chaz Johnson in front; 2. 2 on 1; 3. Shot hits Neumeier in the face and bounces directly to a Rockford forward; 4. Another 2 on 1; 5. breakway; 6. Puck bounces off a player on one side of the net to the one on the other side who bounced it off the far post back across the crease to bounce off the near post and in. 7. Empty net.
Andrew Luciuk is the Komets' captain in a vote by his teammates. Colin Chaulk didn't make the trip at the request of Komets coach Greg Puhalski.
The United Hockey League today ruled Komets forward David Frawley ineligible for the playoffs. The league ruled it was against its bylaws to rescind the pick the Komets made in Monday's waiver-wire draft. The Komets selected Ed Campbell from Danbury. Because Campbell didn't report, the Komets asked to keep Frawley on the roster. Now, the Komets are going to keep Campbell on their roster and try to convince him to report. His wife had surgery on Monday and is scheduled to be released from the hospital today. Danbury also has Campbell listed on its roster as an assistant coach.
The AHL suspended Billy Tibbetts for three games on Wednesday. A UHL official told me tonight he's already served one game in the AHL so he'll miss the first two games of this series.
Since all the discussion on Eddie Campbell is really pointless, who would you have as the Komets' next captain for the playoffs and why?
Among the candidates: Guinn, Galbraith, Drouin, Luciuk, Dupuis, Miller, Goodwin. Are you getting the idea that the Komets have lots of leadership here yet?
His wife had surgery on Friday, not Monday, and she's still recovering. He also has a slight groin pull.
``I have to get home and take care of her.'' he said. ``Fort Wayne is a first-class organization all the way around. I think they are going to give Rockford a good run for their money. Obviously it's my wife and I have to take care of my family first. If I wanted to go anywhere it would be there.''
He is not going to come, according to General Manager David Franke, for two reasons. There is an undisclosed injury that would have kept him out of the first three games anyway, and his wife had surgery on Monday and he'd prefer to stay with her.
Because he did not sign, the UHL is rescinding the Komets' pick and they will keep David Frawley. Campbell will be a free agent going into next season.
The Komets announced that they have chosen veteran defenseman Ed Campbell in the UHL waiver draft held today. Campbell, 31, is a 10-year pro and formerly skated with the Komets during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 IHL campaigns (96 games, 11g, 21a, 32pts, 284 pim).
The veteran defenseman has appeared in AHL stints with Binghamtom, Hartford, Worcester, Grand
Rapids, Providence, Hershey, Milwaukee, Bridgeport and Cleveland over a period of 9 seasons
(465gp, 15g, 87a, 102pts, 852pim).
I was wondering if the gasoline prices were deterring any of you from making the road trip this weekend. We might be talking nearly $100 for gas there and back in some cases depending on your vehicle. What do you think?
Rockford forward Billy Tibbetts does have to sit out any time he's earned in the AHL while playing in the UHL, according to UHL officials. The league is just waiting to see what kind of suspension the AHL hands down. That means he's more than likely out for Friday's game unless the AHL only gives him a one-game suspension which he already served in the AHL with Chicago.
