Just got back to FW 45 minutes or so ago. I have some thoughts.
"The Komets played without Colin Chaulk, Frankie DeAngelis, Jamie Milam, Bobby Chaumont, Brett Smith and Kaleigh Schrock."
They also were without Jesse Bennefield and Chris Auger....and technically APOD.
9 guys they were without that to me are "locks". Those 9 are guys that after seeing tonight's action and practice today, and Blakes well written accounts over the week....tell me that these 9 are on the team unless something of catastrophic proportions happens.
Somethings to consider about tonight:
* Dayton played their A team that featured their veterans and returnees and 2 or 3 new guys. Bryan Hogan is most likely their #1 goalie...he is very good. They also had Brandon "Jim Duhart" Naurato (yes he is the new JD, mullet, trash talking, kiss blowing, puke).
We played our bottom end of the team minus our top 9 players, arguably, and Dayton definitely was playing within their common systems as they did last season. Where our guys were playing "rec league" hockey style.
*It was hard to determine most of the guys abilities because the game was helter skelter like Al said. Very accurate on the Komets play. There were some guys that showed they do not belong on this team period. Very obvious. And their were a few guys that stick out as being able to play at this level even though it was pure slop and dominance from Dayton early on.
*Guys that I see battling for spots realistically. This is no personal knock on anyone, just my opinion from what I have seen from practice today, tonights game and Blake's well written accounts:
If you consider 7 forwards and 2 D-Men that did not play tonight being guys that are on the team as it stands right now. I would say this team needs 4 Forwards and 5 Defensmen from the guys that played tonight.
The forwards that are in a battle for 4 spots: Thorne, Rizk, PC, Leo, Heffernan, Mele, Lapointe and Ywnge. Those eight guys are the ones that need to show they belong on this roster between now and the start of the season IMO. I have a good hunch on who I would keep out of those 8. but I will wait to see Sunday's game and decide.
DMen: Considering Milam and Frankie are locks. I feel they will keep 7 total which leaves 5 spots and 6 guys played tonight. Only one guy is in jeapardy. I really thought Starenky played well, he is physical, I am not adding in his fighting as he battled a guy a foot shorter than him that managed to fight him to a draw. Starenky can play Defense. He is good. I think the Molles are solid. Llewellyn, Warner and Hotte are battling for 2 positions, unless they bring in another D-man, or they decide to keep 8 D-men.
Beech wasn't on his game. He had 3 goals that were tough chances that I am not sure anyone stops because they were great plays or break aways, 2 others didn't get stopped that who knows if someone else makes the play....I think he seemed slow in the pipes and would goto the ground and would be slow to recover. There were at least 3-4 other shots that hit the post which could have easily made 6 or 7 or 8 goals against. Maybe just a bad night with a bad defensive effort in front of him...I think we will see what he is able to do a little better on Sunday with some more established players in front of him. We'll see.
There probably were 800 to 1000 in attendance. Just guessing. The people working there were awesome. Very friendly and thankful to us for coming. I was impressed with how much they have cleaned up the approach and the building at Hara since the first game there when Buddy's Pizza opened the place. So kudos there. Hope more people find Hara and the Gems there. It isn't a bad place and environment to watch hockey in. Not bad at all.
PS, the Komets will be fine, they will win alot of games this season, and they will be very very entertaining. No need to panic on 1 preseason game.
Blake Sebring
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 12:13am
Great stuff, Hit. Thanks.
mightbite
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 3:18am
3 will be cut real soon. "new" player here by opening night.
I can't find out any info if Legault is playing this year.Any help?
here watch this fight, a little "bush league" for Asham
Canuck
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 4:48am
Thanks Hit
IntheBlue
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 8:19am
For what it's worth, I tend to read this blog a lot more than I write, but the type of stuff that Hit put up today is why I come back, and may be the most thoughtful post in the last year. Just my 2 cents. Thanks Hit.
KometKrazy
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 8:36am
Good stuff Hit. Your the next Blake Sebring.
JB
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 8:46am
WTG Hit! Loved your summation.
Ricky L Capps
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 10:52am
Watch out Blake!! LOL Good stuff Hit! Lets Go Komets!!
Burgee60
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 1:17pm
Hit has hit the koolaid. Right on, we will be champions again, can't wait until sunday.......
Alan
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 3:22pm
Thanks, Hit, for giving us all a first hand view of the game and your thoughts on some of the players.
Because it is just an exhibition game, their first, and on the road too, it is difficult to get too wrapped up in a win or a loss.
I have a couple of thoughts and questions, however.
Did the coach have the team ready to play? Did the Komets hustle all evening? Were the lines anything close to being similar as to what has been during camp? Were the defensive pairings similar to the camp pairing? These guys have only known each other for a few weeks so it is somewhat excusable to lose this game.
From the beginning of last season I have been disappointed by the fact that there are only two exhibition games. A minimum of three is needed, especially with a camp this large. Practice is one thing but games are another and evaluating this many players in two games isn't really fair to the players or the club. Michael and David need to start working on a third game for next year as soon as the season settles in.
I am disappointed by such a lopsided loss. If you recall, Dayton squashed Fort Wayne last season, too. I believe the game there was 7-3 or something like that. The game here was 4-3 with the Komets winning. ( I think those scores are close but I didn't look them up.)
I am looking forward to the game on Sunday.
Can someone give me the real reason why Bennefield isn't skating? I know they say he has an injury because of a new skate. Is it a blister or what? We all know, that in hockey, injuries are always kept secret. I think this team really needs Bennefield in the lineup and soon.
Mightbite used the word new with quotation marks again. I have no doubt he's correct about some cuts coming soon. Maybe that will open the camp for the "new" player to get in here. Again, if it's the "new" player who will "thrill" all Komet fans, then it had better be a offensive forward.
Tomorrow will teach us much about both the Komets and the Gems. I hope we enjoy whatever "lesson" is learned.
andy sherman
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 3:54pm
Bennefield has a foot infection
JR1
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 4:13pm
I'm sure the K's are keeping a very close eye on his skate bite after what they went thru with Chaulk and his staf infection...
offthepost
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 5:42pm
"Skate bite" is where the laces (usually the top two eyelets) rub or irritate the tendons in that area. It's very painful and just takes some time to heal..I've expierenced it and it sucks
Hit Somebody!!!
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 7:02pm
Alan...it didn't matter who won the game or by how much. You can tell who can play at this level who can't. That basically elimniates half the forwards that played in the game and you have to realize they have played 3 scrimmage games as well that fits into the evaluation process.
The whole picture of practice, conditioning, attitude, effort, coachability, talent, and how they played I am sure is taken into account.
I am confident they will get the right players in their evaluations.
The Defensemen are easy to select out of what is here Currently.
The Forwards become difficult as there really are about 14 or 15 that are very talented and are capable of playing on this team and what is really something, when I sit here and interchange names into lines, I always have 2 players as extra skaters that I could place into any of the 3 regular lines no matter how I look at it. Meaning, some guys could play on the topline, or they could be an extra skater. They could be a 2nd liner or an extra guy.....and so on.
I wish I had the guts to show you what I mean. But I think I am going to wait until after the game Sunday to place my line combinations on this blog. I don't really care to do it now and run the risk of some of you getting all worked up about who I left on or off the roster without seeing Sunday's game.
Hope you understand. There are 3 or 4 players that will be left off the roster that any of us could make a Serious Case for not being left off, there are that many good guys in camp, and not everyone can be kept. It is that tough guys and gals.
I have a gut feeling on how it shapes up....but like I said, I will post it after tomorrows game.
mightbite
Sun, 10/16/2011 - 3:06am
NFL football or K's exibition ???
Hit Somebody!!!
Sun, 10/16/2011 - 3:45am
No contest.....K's exhibition. Duh....LOL
Alan
Sun, 10/16/2011 - 9:22am
Thanks, Hit. I understand completely. I am looking forward to the game this afternoon so I can see for myself the team. I know that there will be a more experienced team on the ice than was the case on Friday.
Apod will be showing up soon, and I trust that the "new" player will be here before Opening Night as Mightbite has suggested. A very good source has told me that David Franke is being contacted by player agents all the time.
I am questioning Beech, however.
The roster still is, and will continue to be, a piece of work for awhile.
mightbite
Sun, 10/16/2011 - 10:25am
Other scratches for the game included Marc-Andre Bourdon, Stefan Legein, Garrett Klotz, Tom Sestito, Jon Kalinski and Johan Backlund.
TheBauer
Sun, 10/16/2011 - 11:58am
mightbite, What game are you talking about? + All previous post = Komets. :) ;) ;D
jaus
Sun, 10/16/2011 - 12:08pm
you can catch the game at WWW.WAVE96.net
KometKrazy
Sun, 10/16/2011 - 1:24pm
Hit, will you keep us updated during game or will it have to be afterward? Only 6 days to go. So ready for puck to drop. Gonna be a long week leading up to Saturday.
Comments
Just got back to FW 45 minutes or so ago. I have some thoughts.
"The Komets played without Colin Chaulk, Frankie DeAngelis, Jamie Milam, Bobby Chaumont, Brett Smith and Kaleigh Schrock."
They also were without Jesse Bennefield and Chris Auger....and technically APOD.
9 guys they were without that to me are "locks". Those 9 are guys that after seeing tonight's action and practice today, and Blakes well written accounts over the week....tell me that these 9 are on the team unless something of catastrophic proportions happens.
Somethings to consider about tonight:
* Dayton played their A team that featured their veterans and returnees and 2 or 3 new guys. Bryan Hogan is most likely their #1 goalie...he is very good. They also had Brandon "Jim Duhart" Naurato (yes he is the new JD, mullet, trash talking, kiss blowing, puke).
We played our bottom end of the team minus our top 9 players, arguably, and Dayton definitely was playing within their common systems as they did last season. Where our guys were playing "rec league" hockey style.
*It was hard to determine most of the guys abilities because the game was helter skelter like Al said. Very accurate on the Komets play. There were some guys that showed they do not belong on this team period. Very obvious. And their were a few guys that stick out as being able to play at this level even though it was pure slop and dominance from Dayton early on.
*Guys that I see battling for spots realistically. This is no personal knock on anyone, just my opinion from what I have seen from practice today, tonights game and Blake's well written accounts:
If you consider 7 forwards and 2 D-Men that did not play tonight being guys that are on the team as it stands right now. I would say this team needs 4 Forwards and 5 Defensmen from the guys that played tonight.
The forwards that are in a battle for 4 spots: Thorne, Rizk, PC, Leo, Heffernan, Mele, Lapointe and Ywnge. Those eight guys are the ones that need to show they belong on this roster between now and the start of the season IMO. I have a good hunch on who I would keep out of those 8. but I will wait to see Sunday's game and decide.
DMen: Considering Milam and Frankie are locks. I feel they will keep 7 total which leaves 5 spots and 6 guys played tonight. Only one guy is in jeapardy. I really thought Starenky played well, he is physical, I am not adding in his fighting as he battled a guy a foot shorter than him that managed to fight him to a draw. Starenky can play Defense. He is good. I think the Molles are solid. Llewellyn, Warner and Hotte are battling for 2 positions, unless they bring in another D-man, or they decide to keep 8 D-men.
Beech wasn't on his game. He had 3 goals that were tough chances that I am not sure anyone stops because they were great plays or break aways, 2 others didn't get stopped that who knows if someone else makes the play....I think he seemed slow in the pipes and would goto the ground and would be slow to recover. There were at least 3-4 other shots that hit the post which could have easily made 6 or 7 or 8 goals against. Maybe just a bad night with a bad defensive effort in front of him...I think we will see what he is able to do a little better on Sunday with some more established players in front of him. We'll see.
There probably were 800 to 1000 in attendance. Just guessing. The people working there were awesome. Very friendly and thankful to us for coming. I was impressed with how much they have cleaned up the approach and the building at Hara since the first game there when Buddy's Pizza opened the place. So kudos there. Hope more people find Hara and the Gems there. It isn't a bad place and environment to watch hockey in. Not bad at all.
PS, the Komets will be fine, they will win alot of games this season, and they will be very very entertaining. No need to panic on 1 preseason game.
Great stuff, Hit. Thanks.
3 will be cut real soon. "new" player here by opening night.
I can't find out any info if Legault is playing this year.Any help?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/893320-arron-asham-fight-video-watch-jay-beagle-take-a-nap-after-asham-punch
here watch this fight, a little "bush league" for Asham
Thanks Hit
For what it's worth, I tend to read this blog a lot more than I write, but the type of stuff that Hit put up today is why I come back, and may be the most thoughtful post in the last year. Just my 2 cents. Thanks Hit.
Good stuff Hit. Your the next Blake Sebring.
WTG Hit! Loved your summation.
Watch out Blake!! LOL Good stuff Hit! Lets Go Komets!!
Hit has hit the koolaid. Right on, we will be champions again, can't wait until sunday.......
Thanks, Hit, for giving us all a first hand view of the game and your thoughts on some of the players.
Because it is just an exhibition game, their first, and on the road too, it is difficult to get too wrapped up in a win or a loss.
I have a couple of thoughts and questions, however.
Did the coach have the team ready to play? Did the Komets hustle all evening? Were the lines anything close to being similar as to what has been during camp? Were the defensive pairings similar to the camp pairing? These guys have only known each other for a few weeks so it is somewhat excusable to lose this game.
From the beginning of last season I have been disappointed by the fact that there are only two exhibition games. A minimum of three is needed, especially with a camp this large. Practice is one thing but games are another and evaluating this many players in two games isn't really fair to the players or the club. Michael and David need to start working on a third game for next year as soon as the season settles in.
I am disappointed by such a lopsided loss. If you recall, Dayton squashed Fort Wayne last season, too. I believe the game there was 7-3 or something like that. The game here was 4-3 with the Komets winning. ( I think those scores are close but I didn't look them up.)
I am looking forward to the game on Sunday.
Can someone give me the real reason why Bennefield isn't skating? I know they say he has an injury because of a new skate. Is it a blister or what? We all know, that in hockey, injuries are always kept secret. I think this team really needs Bennefield in the lineup and soon.
Mightbite used the word new with quotation marks again. I have no doubt he's correct about some cuts coming soon. Maybe that will open the camp for the "new" player to get in here. Again, if it's the "new" player who will "thrill" all Komet fans, then it had better be a offensive forward.
Tomorrow will teach us much about both the Komets and the Gems. I hope we enjoy whatever "lesson" is learned.
Bennefield has a foot infection
I'm sure the K's are keeping a very close eye on his skate bite after what they went thru with Chaulk and his staf infection...
"Skate bite" is where the laces (usually the top two eyelets) rub or irritate the tendons in that area. It's very painful and just takes some time to heal..I've expierenced it and it sucks
Alan...it didn't matter who won the game or by how much. You can tell who can play at this level who can't. That basically elimniates half the forwards that played in the game and you have to realize they have played 3 scrimmage games as well that fits into the evaluation process.
The whole picture of practice, conditioning, attitude, effort, coachability, talent, and how they played I am sure is taken into account.
I am confident they will get the right players in their evaluations.
The Defensemen are easy to select out of what is here Currently.
The Forwards become difficult as there really are about 14 or 15 that are very talented and are capable of playing on this team and what is really something, when I sit here and interchange names into lines, I always have 2 players as extra skaters that I could place into any of the 3 regular lines no matter how I look at it. Meaning, some guys could play on the topline, or they could be an extra skater. They could be a 2nd liner or an extra guy.....and so on.
I wish I had the guts to show you what I mean. But I think I am going to wait until after the game Sunday to place my line combinations on this blog. I don't really care to do it now and run the risk of some of you getting all worked up about who I left on or off the roster without seeing Sunday's game.
Hope you understand. There are 3 or 4 players that will be left off the roster that any of us could make a Serious Case for not being left off, there are that many good guys in camp, and not everyone can be kept. It is that tough guys and gals.
I have a gut feeling on how it shapes up....but like I said, I will post it after tomorrows game.
NFL football or K's exibition ???
No contest.....K's exhibition. Duh....LOL
Thanks, Hit. I understand completely. I am looking forward to the game this afternoon so I can see for myself the team. I know that there will be a more experienced team on the ice than was the case on Friday.
Apod will be showing up soon, and I trust that the "new" player will be here before Opening Night as Mightbite has suggested. A very good source has told me that David Franke is being contacted by player agents all the time.
I am questioning Beech, however.
The roster still is, and will continue to be, a piece of work for awhile.
Other scratches for the game included Marc-Andre Bourdon, Stefan Legein, Garrett Klotz, Tom Sestito, Jon Kalinski and Johan Backlund.
mightbite, What game are you talking about? + All previous post = Komets. :) ;) ;D
you can catch the game at WWW.WAVE96.net
Hit, will you keep us updated during game or will it have to be afterward? Only 6 days to go. So ready for puck to drop. Gonna be a long week leading up to Saturday.