What did you think?

I thought Woodward looked quick and like he had some talent. Laise didn't look too bad either. Other than that... Kind of seemed like we were getting pushed around quite a bit.

Double nickle stood out.

Tim Haun looked like he has not missed a step since his stint with us.
Zach Gieszler looked impressive
Saidachev has a sick move on his goal
Zaore-Varie had times where he looked good and other times he held onto the puck too much
Woodard played smart with the puck and had a good game

I am wondering why some players had name plates and some did not.
I agree with RunningKomet in that it seemed we were getting pushed around a lot

boring.... cant believe guys who are fighting for a spot on the roster dont check and arent agresive but i guess thats the way hockey is taught these days, the old european style instead of good old fashioned north american banging and grinding!! guys who stood out for me were lafrance,laise and legris and local kid schrock didnt look out of place, and speaking of out of place, what about old bogdan rudenko? still a joke!

I know you will all tell me if I'm looking at this wrongly, or if it is just rust from the offseason, but didn't it seem like a lot of guys were either whiffing the puck or when they loaded up to hit it, none of their shots had a lot of power to them? Is this a rookie thing, a lack of talent, or just some early season issues?

I'll throw in an agreement with chuckitt also as far as the checking and physicality goes. I was expecting more.

I think that's a really good observation, RK. A lot of the kids just don't have the hands. There didn't seem to be a lot of desperation, either. The few who did hustle all the way really stood out.

Schneider looked big and strong to me...he is listed as a D-Man and was winning faceoffs? That was strange to me....but he looked good.

The little man LaFrance looked good, not just because he went after the biggest Gem on the ice, got a game misconduct, and then returned to the ice late in the game....but because he histled non-stop when he was on the ice.

Is Syro out of shape or is he alot slower than I had remembered?

Laise looks like a keeper.

Schrock looks good, would have liked to have seen him with a different line than the one he was on. He skates hard.

#23 with the extra long name.....He looked athletic and fairly skilled.....he loafed during a powerplay and all most left his goalie out to dry late in the game....otherwise, I could see a possibility there.

Woodard.....He has to be kept. He skates well, he looked better than most everyone on the ice, he has a nice shot too.

It is going to be a tough decision all together....

How can Tim Haun not make this team? I was the one saying it makes more sense for Tyler to make the team as the back-up because he is not a veteran.....but if you let Tim Haun loose.....he will be the starting Goalie for Dayton, or 2 or 3 other teams in this league. I don't think he can be let go. He is too good.

All very good observations. I didn't get my Dog treats from Wendy, Burgee never showed up. The french kid (Legris)really looked very good. Laise is very fast. Bogdon Rudenko is totally out of shape. Dayton is going to be a solid team. Well coached and very quick.

The funniest comment came from one of the Pizza guy owners of the Gems,

The Gems release also said they played no vets but isn't Bogdon Rudenko a vet?

I was there, some other dude had my seat in the box.

It is very hard to judge a "team" playing their first exhibition game, playing alongside people they have only known for a week, trying to make a quick impression on a coach that most do not really know. I guess I was kind of disappointed though. Clearly, there was a lack of checking, a lack of urgency to make a good impression, and I think a definite lack of excitement in the game that those things contributed to. I was disappointed with our "returnees". Saidechev made a nice move and finished off his breakaway with a goal, but I thought that basically he, Syrocynzski, and Thomas were mostly "invisible" during the game. Did anyone impress me? I noticed Laise. I thought he was quick and seemed to know what to do with the puck. I noticed Woodard. He played with a calmness which I thought showed he was comfortable with the puck and with his defensive responsibilities. I noticed Haun who played like a veteran and stopped everything he saw for his 30 minutes of playing time. I saw Lafrance take on a guy 4 inches taller than himself and win. His grit was sorely missing throughout the game for both teams. Other than that I'm not sure what we've got. More vets will play Friday so we will get to see another combination of players on the ice but with the injuries to Huk and Varone, and what I saw last night, this team needs to make a couple of moves to bring some playmaking goal scorers in. Those are the things I saw and I'm not going to apologize for wanting to make this team better.

I agree, Alan. You don't need to keep thinking you ever need to apologize though. If people (including myself) don't like something, they'll get over it. Everything you wrote looked right on from where I was sitting also. I just hope this relaxed play was a one-night thing because I don't think any of us would say Dayton is the cream of the crop as far as the league goes, and they looked to be having their way with the campers we had on the ice last night.

I thought Woodard, Schneider, and Laise stood out. I liked Schrock's hustle, he didn't look out of place. I might get blasted for this, but I wasn't impressed with Tyler Sims at all. And how did LaFrance get back on the ice after getting a game misconduct? I was impressed with his fight.

I would agree with Alan and RunningKomet. I was impressed with some players...but with others wished that there was so more passion. I'm excited for Friday.

Let me help you all- Between the 2nd. & 3rd. periods the referee (Hoberg) changed the penalty from game misconducts to simple (if there is such a thing) misconducts. That according to the rule book is the correct call. I hope that helps everyone understand what happened. I would agree the french kid is tough.

Burgee come and see me Friday evening. I need to talk to you in person.

Anyone else notice the shadow or darkened ice that is present backward from about a foot behind the goal line on both ends? I don't know if it comes from the new hanger for the netting or what, but it makes the rink look bad. Maybe they need to turn on a couple other lights in a slightly different position. On a positive note, the new netting fabric is almost invisible in comparison with heavy cord that we had before. Good move there.

As previously discussed, Sims was unimpressive in goal last night. At times he looked good and made nice saves, but at others he looked like a fish out of water, jittery, and unable to follow the "action". He's lucky that a couple more pucks didn't find their way into the net. Haun was dead-on solid. If last night's game was the only qualifying factor I know which of the two people that I'd be keeping.

If i'm there i'll pop down after the first, may have a rare occassion where i have to miss a game (kid conflicts). If you have handcuffs on ya i'm not showing up! you should be able to recognize me, i'm 6'7" 380 Lbs and carry around one of those new foo foo drinks with the umbrella in it.

I agree, Scarecrow. I wonder if that'll be a tough decision for the coach or not if that type of play continues when it comes time for goalie cuts. It seemed like a pretty obvious choice last night, but we have to remember Coach Sims has seen these guys play more than once. I guess we'll all find out together.

i noticed laise and woodard out there other than that it looked like the first exhition game of the year, sloppy!

Sorry Dschebig. I wasn't there and neither was my "delivery girl" ( ;) ). I didn't realize you were expecting them before Friday.

Hey, I've been called worse....DSchebig, I'll be there with bells on on Friday. I'm the outgoing blonde, probably in a Komets road jersey, and I'll have a long-haired 9-year old defenseman with me. Please tell me that they don't have K-9 dogs at the Coliseum....if so, I'm standing firm at the door and having them come get you. :) I won't have them following me down the hallways like the Pied Piper. These smell delicious!!! Keep 'em away from Burgee. I don't think they go well with fru-fru umbrella drinks. And keep the handcuffs to yourself....LOL!

I'm glad Haun did so well. He's who I want to get that backup goaltending job. Nothing against Tyler Sims, I just think that Haun did such a great job for us, we know him and what he can do, and I think he has proved himself already. Nut I know we have to be fair.

Wendy--You sould have seen my poor dog when I got home. He was so sad because I had told him I would bring him a treat home. You all laugh, it's alright, but my black lab has feelings that are almost human. He never meets me at the door when my wife is in bed. He was waiting with doggy breath last evening at the door. I think it could have been worse. At least he didn't bite me. I will not promise him again just in case you can't make it tomorrow. I know Burgee we are off subject again. Sorry!

Blonde...? Did you change your hair? But more importantly, are you having more fun? Hey, we're way off topic, so might as well go "ad alta".

Awwwwwwww... :( I believe it. Don't worry. You'll get them tonight.

And I have mixed feelings about Haun/Sims. Yes, we should keep the best guy, and Haun has proven himself not just this pre-season but last season as well. But if keeping Haun means we have to nix some other player in favor of a rookie with less skill, that's a tough call. We'll just have to see how it all pans out.

Blog foul, hair color is just too far off topic, game misconduct....I mean misconduct.....I mean..... (Call me Hoberg, I would have straightened him out Schebig! 1 game right there by you would make the world of difference)

I am sure it will, Burgee. 1 game setting by me would get us both in really BIG trouble. The referee has total control of everything in the building. He would not only remove you and me from the box but (if he chooses) remove you and me along with your foo foo drink from the building. Here is something I'll bet you didn't know. Hoberg worked in the NHL. He got injured and they didn't renew his contract. Muskegon tonight, more vets should be a fairly good game. At least better than Wednesdays game.

Well, let me plead my case....DSchebig has to differentiate between all the women coming up and trying to get past him into the Komets locker room, so I had to describe myself. That's all! Sorry to get us so far off topic....and sorry your Lab was sad. He'll be all happy tonight! As will I be, to be back in the Jungle again. Just call me Jane!

Actually, the foul was on me, BLB, for asking about it. And I can't say it was unexpected.