Komets

The Komets were shut out for the second game in a row and have not scored a goal in their last 129 minutes, 17 seconds. The franchise record for going scoreless is 168 minutes, 22 seconds set last season set last February when they were shut out in back-to-back games by Missouri.

In this previous Komets season, the team was coming off a trip to the playoff finals (A). Management had the option of breaking up the team and going younger, but decided those players had earned another chance and brought most of them (B) back. Because the team was so successful the year before, everyone wanted a raise which limited the budget on what management could do looking for players so the squad lacked depth. That team did manage to bring back a former star (C) and a sniper (D) with European ties.

Forward Mark Smith has announced he's leaving the Fort Wayne Komets to play for a team in Norway. Smith, the Komets' second-leading scorer, told coach Greg Puhalski of his decision at practice this morning at McMillen Park Ice Arena. He's leaving Monday and won't play for the Komets this weekend.

I thought this was interesting coming from coach Greg Puhalski after last night's game as he was talking about the lack of spark in the Komets' play:

``If you feel like that, then you've got to try to change the attitude and mix it up, and we didn't do that,'' Puhalski said. ``Some of our physical players didn't try to help the hockey club by changing momentum, they just went along with flow. They know better. They have to help the team out in those areas. You want to change momentum, you have to do certain things in order to change that.''

Why is it that whenever there's a significant delay to starting a game, the home team always falls flat on its face? Is it because the fans are impatient after waiting? Do the players lose their focus in the locker room while waiting? No one had any answers after the game tonight, but it always seems to happen.

1. 1986.

2. Two: Paul and Perry Pooley and Mike and Neil Buchanan.

3. Colin Chaulk and Troy Neumeier

Here are some statistics that indicate what kind of roll the Komets are currently on.

Goaltender Kevin St. Pierre has eighth straight games. St. Pierre holds the UHL Koemts record with 10 straight wins set last January. Pokey Reddick won 15 straight games for the IHL Komets in 1993.

So far we have one entrant for the trivia contest, Phil Harber, who did an outstanding job. He was not able to get them all correct, though, so there's still hope for anyone else who would like to enter. The winner gets a stick autographed by this year's Komets team.

The deadline is 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Hope everyone had as good a Christmas as I did.

Blake

Since I don't plan on posting over the next few days, I thought I'd come up with this to occupy some of your time. I tried to get a mixture of old and recent, with a heavy emphasis on recent, especially since 1990. The grand prize to the person with the most correct answers will be a stick signed by the entire Komets team. Because there's a prize, you must copy and paste your answers and e-mail them to me at bsebring@news-sentinel.com. If there's a tie, (which I expect) we'll hold a drawing.

He's feeling better. He's home from the hospital and looking forward to Christmas. He also wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

"It's amazing how many people think about you have you in their prayers and their thoughts,'' he said. "People even that you meet on the street. It's just a nice feeling to know that everybody is pulling for you.''