Really makes you appreciate what these guys have to go through to maintain a certain level of conditioning to be able to play the game as professionals. Especially the veterans who have families, jobs, etc. There's still quite a difference between being in shape, skating shape and then game shape, but it's still impressive. You could also see how the kids make a difference in the energy level. Last night's game will also go a long, long way to pulling a team together for the rest of the season. Dayton is also going to be pretty good.
Chaulk's goal was big last night to turning the moment, but so was MacMillan's fight. I thought for sure he was going to get an instigation penalty. The ice in Dayton was as bad as I've seen in a long, long time. Players for both teams were falling down and the puck never sat down. It make's P.C.'s pass even more impressive. It would have been interesting to see a shootout just to see if the players could have done anything with the puck.
I'll disagree with Matt on Bouch early last night. First goal was a 2-on-1 that the Gems played perfectly for a wrist shot from about 10 feet out, and the second was a 5-on-3 for a rebound after he had already made two saves. I didn't think there was much he could have done on either. Sometimes you have to give the opponents credit for making good plays.
Wonder how well they are going to be able to do tonight??
Comments
Wow, Matt Allen...it was the first game.....relax a little. They got a win. Matt Woodard is far from sucking at this point in his young career. It was his first game. Cut the kid some slack.
The Komets started out very slow last night, I commented several times how the ice looked horrible as it was skipping accross the ice all night long, no one could handle the puck and the Komets took 1 1/2 periods to finally get used to it.
I have to give Dayton alot of credit overall. They played a really good game and were physical and went hard to the net. There were several near-goals that hit the post or just missed the net, it could have been 7-1 real quick in that game for Dayton. They have some pretty quick kids that snipe the net hard. Mior is a tough Goalie.
Stayzer tryed hard to get the big guy for Dayton to drop them but he turned his back to him.
I was confused on the Rodger penalty, was he really the 3rd guy in? That was an odd call.
The arena was old-time hockey. It wasn't the greatest place, but it was fun for hockey. I can see them make improvements to the barn and it would be as good as K-Zoo or Muskegon. The people there were outstanding. I spoke to several Dayton people that were very friendly and thanked us over and over again for coming and hoped we would come back again. I spoke to a man and woman for 15 minutes in the hallway before the game and they were excited about the league and were asking me all about it. 2 guys that sat next to us were awesome the whole game and made the game so much more fun. Kudos to Dayton.....I hope people support the team because I think they have a great start there and will have a nice team this year.
I would easily say there were 1000 Komet fans there. Easily. And it looked like they were serving Buddy's Pizza...No kidding. LOL
Should have read...."The puck was skipping accross the ice." sorry.
Hey Super Fan,
Mr. Franke said there will be 2 new players in town this week. I will guess one is Matt Reynolds.....who is the other? Kaleb Betts?
Yours Truly,
Hit Somebody!!!
PS: Komets lost 5-4 to PH and the defense looks very bad. Not a real strong start this weekend for the Komets. Hope they start to gel soon.
I also heard David Franke tell Bob Chase that two new players will be in town. Hit, I would be surprised if Matt Reynolds wasn't one of them. The other, I would hope, would be another proven goal scorer. Look, it has only been two games but I still think something is missing..... The Komets are taking way too many penalties. Sometimes that is from being slower than the other teams. They can't score on the power play and can't stop the opponents power play. That isn't a good recipe.....and yes. Blake. I still think Stayzer should be cut. The K's don't need him to play forward (if they do than they are in trouble) and they have plenty of guys to play defense. He is taking a "vet" spot and we could use that spot. This team needs to get in game shape quickly and also work hard on special teams situations. I have a funny feeling that we are going to see some major changes coming......Blake, this is my opinion (especially about Stayzer) so we'll see who is correct and what the Komets and the Franke's do. I feel funny about even posting this after just two games but something just doesn't "feel" right.
Alan--Your funny feeling is a direct response to losing. Remember this we (K's) have been practicing on a large ice surface. They than played two games on very small ice surfaces. I know that sounds silly but it does play into your feelings. The young guys have not seen that small ice. I am not making any excuses for the "D". Add in Hukalo and we tighten up on defense. It is very early. I am sure Al along with David will make any & all corrections they feel will help our club. We need to really see the Komets on home ice. Come on Friday!
I'm sure if we look back at last year, early in the year, we can find the quotes that we need to work on special teams. Simsy needs a couple weeks to find the right combos for special teams.
Sharpen your crayons Schebig, looks like we are going to score 14 opening night, 3 maybe 4 fights, Sims ejected for calling Langdon names, Icy smashes beak on Buffalo Bull.
Burgee--Hawthorne Friday night! If that is so 6 fights could be in the works. I think 14 goals is way off base. I can see 6-3 or 6-4. Bloomngton always plays well here. They will come out with fire in their eyes after the beating they took last night in Muskegon. There is nothing they would rather do than spoil the Komets home opener. I carry two crayons so that shouldn't be any problem.
Hi Dschebig and Burgee. You guys are both correct. It isn't that I am reacting to the loss however. I am concerned with the way they are playing ( including their win). I know that Al Sims will get this all corrected as I truly believe he is the best coach in the IHL. I just have an uncomfortable feeling as I sense something is missing. I can't really explain it. I have posted on this before and I am hoping that I am wrong.
Alan--Relax! It is only the first week-end. Two games does not a season make. At least the first two games. Maybe the last two but not the first two for sure. It really takes several weeks or so to get all the "special teams" clicking and defensive pairs working together. I did see that Quad Cities heavy weight left the team. Seebass looked real good in Flint last night. According the "Savage". Flint's problems continue. There was no heat in the building all week-end and the ice was really very bad. It sounds like the problems are coming from the building's management. What else can they do to those poor General fans? They sure deserve better.
Good day to tan
MacMillan will probably be out for the home opener. He will get a suspension for this fight at the end of last night's game. He came off the bench to fight Bray after the game was over. Bummer.
Any news on the new players coming in Blakes?
I to think Mac will be suspended, but I really don't think he deserves one. From everything that I have read, Mike Bray instigated the fight. Mac should have the right to defend himself..thats just my opinion.
Dschebig I dont understand why you are telling someone else who thinks they see a problem with the team he follows to relax, its early??? He is intitled to his opinion and should be able to state such opinions without having you continually tell him to relax. My opinion is somewhere between yours and Alan's... I have watched both games this weekend and think some problems will be fixed as team chemistry grows; but that some of the players that the K's are raving about looked bad and sometimes that cant be fixed without making moves. Moves that seem to be coming if the owners are saying that players are on thier way to town... If all was honky dorey then I dont think they would be bringing possible replacements in after the first weekend.... I think they see holes early on and are trying to shore them up while there are still good players on the market... JMO
I believe it's called perspective.
Correct, and everyone should be able to provide thier own...
JR--I think everyone including you can have their oppinion. I wrote mine. You wrote yours. Alan wrote his. They all have a place here. That is the fun thing about blogging. We can all differ and that is OK also. The one thing I would say to you or anyone else "It is never personal" I think after 35 years of doing what I do and 48 years of watching Komets come and go I might (big word might) have some insight others do not possess. Than again I have been so wrong so many times I may know nothing. May the hockey Gods shine on you. We ALL, I repeat, WE ALL want our Komets to be the best they can be and I really don't care how they go about it. I think Alan knows what I was talking about and trying to say. Hopefully you do now.
I think everyone knows its very early into the season; but teams have sat by too long in the past countless times saying its early and by the time they try and make some moves its too late... So I dont think its ever too early to tweak your team and identify weak areas and make improvements...
Let me preface this next comment by saying that I 100% do not believe you fall into this next group; but have met many fans with decades of Komet hockey under thier belt only be able to tell me who the best Komet fighters are/were or who have been the all time cutest Komets, etc...; but I have met several new fans who have under 1 season of Komets hockey under thier belt be able to break down a hockey game exceptionally well, so I dont put much stock into fandom years (whether right or wrong)
JR--Thank you for your insight. I appreciate your oppinions. I will tell you that the only oppinions that matter (you will agree) are Al Sims and David Franke. That is what they get paid to do. The rest of us are simply armchair coaches. My experience here tells me some of the bloggers do a real good job at it. Some better than others. That is why I keep a roll of duct tape around to keep my head from exploding. BUT it is very enjoyable! Thanks again for your comments.
gee guys weve been in camp a whole week and already the doom and gloomers are raisint their ugly heads! i guess some people only know how to be negative. i reserve my opinions on the team until ive seen them play a few home games and see how they react to differnt situations not how they play the first two games on the road in small barns.
oh and one last thing, i think the frankes and mr sims have proven themselves to be builders of teams so why is anyone worrying so soon??
oh and another thing, a person around hockey one year can give good insights but there is a lot to be said for experience as long as both know what they are talking about. but experience can offer some insights that a rookie doesnt and wouldnt know about. its the same when you play the game. you can be a hot shot rookie but theres always something you can learn from the crafty veterns. opinions are opinions until the stated statement shows no knowledge or no actual basis of fact and then they become just silly statements. so if someone is corrected on here its because we would all like to know the correct things or someones honest opinion not a outright misspoken statement. go gettem dennis!
Man, are you guys ever ready for a home game!
Ah yes, Chuckitt imparts his usual wisdom into the procedings... Only old guys and former players have good opinions so us younger guys should just sit back and read thier insightful wisdom and keep our keyboards shut...
Chuckit, I have been watching Komet hockey for 29 years, so please inform me if thats long enough to be able to form my own opinion... Thank you
The only opinion that matters is mine and I have none.
You sell yourself short Burgee.....I think your opinion on what the best sun tan oil for the money is or what direction to face while tanning for best results is would be un-questioned by all...... :)
Good one, Burg. So who are these fans with decades of experience that can list the "all time cutest Komets"? In my experience, if you even dare to suggest that, hey, a player might be kind of attractive, you immediately get stoned for it. So I really don't see how any such fan could have survived decades.
As for uneasy feelings, I felt that for most of last season, and all the Komets wound up doing was winning the Turner Cup again. I'm sure there are issues that need to be addressed. There always are. But that's okay. The fact is that in my own life, I've always learned much more from losses than from wins. It builds characters and makes the victories that much sweeter. So no, I'm not worried. Not at all. Whatever happens, we're in for another season of exciting and entertaining hockey here in the Fort. Life is good. :)
Er... It builds CHARACTER. There are enough "characters" on here already. ;)
JR--Your opinion has merit and is well stated. But, please never take anything said on here personal. I don't! I enjoy all opinions. (notice I learned to spell opinion) I like learning new things all the time. Even at my age it is very enjoyable. One more thing I think Burgee drinks that suntan lotion. He has a very cute daughter and mixes his meds with his foo foo drinks. Trust me on this, Burgee never sells himself short. All we need to do this week is wait for Friday. That game with Bloomington could turn into a war that will last 60 minutes. Again, just my opinion!
Yesterday I faced west with an spf4 today going to face east with spf8.