Nice article Blake. I, for one, had the most fun watching Komet Hockey this year. Especially through the middle of the season with all the callups and injuries when the roster looked like an SPHL team, this team still found a way to excite and win. Great job of putting together the right type of talent during the off season and finding good fillins during the season. I would not be surprised to see some of the guys brought in during the season get an invitation to traning camp. It was disappointing to see them lose to Toledo but, as they did all year, there was no quit in the team. They just got themselves into to deep of an hole and couldn't climb all the way out.
So to start the debate early, who would you protect on this year's roster for next season? My choices are below. I am leaving off Meures, Heard, Will, and Leach since they were all under AHL contract.
Pistilli, Crowder, Faille, Sydzlowski, Embach, Perlini, Sol, Martin, Daniels, Tam, and Nagle.
I realize that some of the above will likely either be in the AHL or Europe next season but I wouldn't want to lose them to another ECHL team. I also think that those I left off are replaceable at this point.
Stick
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 10:35am
No disappointment for me. Sure I would have like to see another round in the playoffs but the best team won. I felt I got my money's worth of fun this year which hasn't been the case lately. I am a season ticket holder and have been for over 20 years. Some years, I felt it wasn't worth the money I spend each year but this year was great. Gosh, we won almost every game I went to. And then those 3 unreal thrillers in the playoffs? Wow.. I had a ball... thank you Komets. With these winters here, how could you not enjoy this year's team. Thanks to you too, Blake, for all you do for us fans.
Who/SuZ
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 11:03am
Wife and I had a great year watching this team...fun to watch, overall great record, great coach and coverage of the games by you Blake are the things we will take away from this year.
Would we also have liked to have seen them move on....sure. Toledo however had it all from what we saw on Wednesday...congrats to them.
Who would I like to see stay next year...my best guess...Pistilli, Daniels, Nagle, Embach, Perlini LaCasse, Martin, Faille, Tam and Schrock...and coach Graham of course.
Alan
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 11:08am
Kind of like I said yesterday, it may be hard to judge the success of the Komet year until we see how Toledo fares. Frankly, I thought Toledo was the better "team". (Not a better franchise, just a better team this season). Ask Walleye fans about last year. Things can change in a hurry.
But regardless, this was a "fun" year. Every game at home was an "expected" win (and most were). They were way better than average on the road, too.
I think coach Graham did a great job. (I wouldn't have thought that at the start of the 2013-14 season. But I was wrong and it took me more than half of that season to realize just how wrong I was). I've spoken with him a few times and he is terrific. Whatever is the best for him is what I wish.
You can't turn back the clock, but I've often wondered what may have happened if Colorado hadn't released Nathan Condon. He was contributing. I also wonder if releasing Kyle Thomas was the prudent thing to do. (I hope he gets an invite to camp next year or at least, an invite to someone else's camp).
No one has a crystal ball in front of them. One roster move leads to another, then another...
Maybe Toledo has left the Komets a "template" to use for next season. We'll see how the Komets use the off season. Quite a number of players are crossing the "veteran" threshold (and you can only have four).
As a season ticket holder, I was able to watch all the home games. With MyTV, I was able to watch 1/2 of the road games. All together 3/4 of the season. Even with some of the hiccups and growing pains, I'm real thankful for those opportunities. I hope they will be back!
And lastly, Fort Wayne has an awful lot of Komet coverage. For Komet fans, it is a blessing. And although it seems that Blake Sebring and I have had many rough spots, this is the site that gives you the "inside" stories, the human interest stories, and the informational stories, and does it first.
Lots of things to be grateful for, and lots of things to look forward to.
Hoss
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 12:54pm
Amen Blake!
TinaM
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 2:01pm
I enjoyed this season! It was interesting, exciting, full of drama, and all hockey is suppose to be! Blake, aren't you attending the auction tonight? Please, everyone, bid on the Komets scrapbook! It's full of great pics, articles, and memories! (Sorry about the plug, Blake!)
Blake Sebring
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 2:03pm
Love it, Tina! I'll plug it myself.
Smitty
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 3:25pm
after a couple on nights of sleep , all in all this was a great season!!! the only thing i would have changed,would have been MORE HITTING!! and a body in front of the net. you are not going to score every night but you can hit or at least get a body in front of someone every shift. NICE JOB BLAKE!!!
Smitty
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 3:26pm
after a couple on nights of sleep , all in all this was a great season!!! the only thing i would have changed,would have been MORE HITTING!! and a body in front of the net. you are not going to score every night but you can hit or at least get a body in front of someone every shift. NICE JOB BLAKE!!!
RG2
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 4:06pm
Have to agree with everyone. Could not have added anything else. Already looking forward to next year.
BTW_ Alan, your comment about Condon put a smile on my face. I always wondered about him too. He was by far the fastest player on the team. In Indy on opening night he was flying past everyone. Just could never hit the net. Always thought there was potential. Never heard the real story of him parting ways with Colorado.
dubchak15
Fri, 05/15/2015 - 7:09pm
You can't be mad when a better team beats you and Toledo was a better team. The 2 things that bother me about this series are: one ,being a hockey Neandertal,after Szyd got injured, someone should have run Lerg thru the back of the net! two: nothing makes me madder than the players saying"we know what we need to do".Then shut up and do it-quit making the same mistakes over and over again.
Anonymous
Sat, 05/16/2015 - 6:26am
A Lake Erie fan has stated that it will be the Bluejackets/Monsters and Kalamazoo next season!
Hockey Fan
Sat, 05/16/2015 - 9:46pm
Wow. South Carolina just took games 1 and 2 in Toledo.
crowebone
Sat, 05/16/2015 - 9:49pm
I have to disagree with the whole "what a great job coaching Gary did". You stipulate that the problems the team had at the end of the year were the same problems they had at the beginning of the year. How many times did we hear that the guys didnt execute the game plan?? South Carolina just took 2 games in Toledo. So I dont believe Toledo is that good . If anything..they are predictable. This team won a lot of games on shear talent and will to win..what was lacking was coaching. My 2 cents.
Alan
Sun, 05/17/2015 - 9:43am
Obviously the Toledo-South Carolina series has a way to go. But the fact that S.C. has gone into Toledo, won the first two games (one each from Lerg and Conway) and gets the next three at home sure place them in the "drivers seat". Both teams have great goaltending. I'm kind of surprised that a total of seven goals were scored in game two.
I know that Toledo was the ECHL regular season champion. I know that South Carolina set a league record for consecutive wins.
But this is why I've stated that until we see how Toledo does, it is hard to judge the success of the Komet year. As we know, the K's couldn't win a game at the Huntington Center during the year or playoffs. Yet S.C. goes in and wins the first two.
I think the K's had a "successful" year. But the term "success" may mean something to one person and something else to another.
Lots of things went well this year. Attendance, wins at home, wins on the road, a better than average affiliation, great atmosphere for the fans, a roster that seemed to genuinely care for each other, a coach (who eats, sleeps, and loves the game) putting together a skilled roster. If those are some of your definitions of success ( they match most of mine), then the year was a "success".
If success is solely the child of results, and results mean at least getting to the Championship Series, then the season falls short.
Getting eliminated by the best team in the league can't be totally unexpected. But now we have some doubts creeping in that maybe Toledo (as good as they are) isn't the best. We'll see.
Regardless, the Komets have a template to go by to help form next season.
Lets get a good affiliation (not Columbus, in my opinion), and start working on that "template".
who/suz
Sun, 05/17/2015 - 11:31am
Blake..my and suz deepest condolences on the passing of your father. .just saw it in the paper...you and yours are in our prayers. ..may peace be with you
Stick
Sun, 05/17/2015 - 1:43pm
Blake, sorry to hear about the loss of your pops. I know how hard it is to lose a parent. Hang in there and may God bless you and your family.
Hockey Fan
Sun, 05/17/2015 - 7:20pm
Interesting. Toledo went 3-0 at South Carolina and 0-1 at home against South Carolina during the regular season.
Alan
Mon, 05/18/2015 - 10:18am
Myself, and my family, wish to extend our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your father.
Smitty
Mon, 05/18/2015 - 10:46am
Blake My Deepest Condolences to you and you Family!!!
Anonymous
Mon, 05/18/2015 - 11:20am
Blake, so very sorry to hear about your father's passing...our thoughts and prayers are with you.
RickS
Mon, 05/18/2015 - 5:12pm
Sorry to hear about your Dad, Blake. My prayers are with your family as you go thru these hard times.
Thanks,Komets for a fun filled year. I had a good time at the games.
Good luck to our players as they decide on their futures.
bernzy57
Mon, 05/18/2015 - 5:30pm
Embach to Sweden
granny
Mon, 05/18/2015 - 9:35pm
My sincerest condolences Blake on the loss of your father.
Bruce
Fri, 05/22/2015 - 4:37pm
Any rumour concerning NHL affiliation?
JK
Fri, 05/22/2015 - 10:57pm
Sorry for your loss Blake. I enjoyed your coverage here this season. It's no secret I'm a Colorado fan and from our side we hope the affiliation continues.
Condon went to play in Norway. No idea what caused the move but he was playing there pretty quickly, by the end of December I believe.
Comments
Nice article Blake. I, for one, had the most fun watching Komet Hockey this year. Especially through the middle of the season with all the callups and injuries when the roster looked like an SPHL team, this team still found a way to excite and win. Great job of putting together the right type of talent during the off season and finding good fillins during the season. I would not be surprised to see some of the guys brought in during the season get an invitation to traning camp. It was disappointing to see them lose to Toledo but, as they did all year, there was no quit in the team. They just got themselves into to deep of an hole and couldn't climb all the way out.
So to start the debate early, who would you protect on this year's roster for next season? My choices are below. I am leaving off Meures, Heard, Will, and Leach since they were all under AHL contract.
Pistilli, Crowder, Faille, Sydzlowski, Embach, Perlini, Sol, Martin, Daniels, Tam, and Nagle.
I realize that some of the above will likely either be in the AHL or Europe next season but I wouldn't want to lose them to another ECHL team. I also think that those I left off are replaceable at this point.
No disappointment for me. Sure I would have like to see another round in the playoffs but the best team won. I felt I got my money's worth of fun this year which hasn't been the case lately. I am a season ticket holder and have been for over 20 years. Some years, I felt it wasn't worth the money I spend each year but this year was great. Gosh, we won almost every game I went to. And then those 3 unreal thrillers in the playoffs? Wow.. I had a ball... thank you Komets. With these winters here, how could you not enjoy this year's team. Thanks to you too, Blake, for all you do for us fans.
Wife and I had a great year watching this team...fun to watch, overall great record, great coach and coverage of the games by you Blake are the things we will take away from this year.
Would we also have liked to have seen them move on....sure. Toledo however had it all from what we saw on Wednesday...congrats to them.
Who would I like to see stay next year...my best guess...Pistilli, Daniels, Nagle, Embach, Perlini LaCasse, Martin, Faille, Tam and Schrock...and coach Graham of course.
Kind of like I said yesterday, it may be hard to judge the success of the Komet year until we see how Toledo fares. Frankly, I thought Toledo was the better "team". (Not a better franchise, just a better team this season). Ask Walleye fans about last year. Things can change in a hurry.
But regardless, this was a "fun" year. Every game at home was an "expected" win (and most were). They were way better than average on the road, too.
I think coach Graham did a great job. (I wouldn't have thought that at the start of the 2013-14 season. But I was wrong and it took me more than half of that season to realize just how wrong I was). I've spoken with him a few times and he is terrific. Whatever is the best for him is what I wish.
You can't turn back the clock, but I've often wondered what may have happened if Colorado hadn't released Nathan Condon. He was contributing. I also wonder if releasing Kyle Thomas was the prudent thing to do. (I hope he gets an invite to camp next year or at least, an invite to someone else's camp).
No one has a crystal ball in front of them. One roster move leads to another, then another...
Maybe Toledo has left the Komets a "template" to use for next season. We'll see how the Komets use the off season. Quite a number of players are crossing the "veteran" threshold (and you can only have four).
As a season ticket holder, I was able to watch all the home games. With MyTV, I was able to watch 1/2 of the road games. All together 3/4 of the season. Even with some of the hiccups and growing pains, I'm real thankful for those opportunities. I hope they will be back!
And lastly, Fort Wayne has an awful lot of Komet coverage. For Komet fans, it is a blessing. And although it seems that Blake Sebring and I have had many rough spots, this is the site that gives you the "inside" stories, the human interest stories, and the informational stories, and does it first.
Lots of things to be grateful for, and lots of things to look forward to.
Amen Blake!
I enjoyed this season! It was interesting, exciting, full of drama, and all hockey is suppose to be! Blake, aren't you attending the auction tonight? Please, everyone, bid on the Komets scrapbook! It's full of great pics, articles, and memories! (Sorry about the plug, Blake!)
Love it, Tina! I'll plug it myself.
after a couple on nights of sleep , all in all this was a great season!!! the only thing i would have changed,would have been MORE HITTING!! and a body in front of the net. you are not going to score every night but you can hit or at least get a body in front of someone every shift. NICE JOB BLAKE!!!
after a couple on nights of sleep , all in all this was a great season!!! the only thing i would have changed,would have been MORE HITTING!! and a body in front of the net. you are not going to score every night but you can hit or at least get a body in front of someone every shift. NICE JOB BLAKE!!!
Have to agree with everyone. Could not have added anything else. Already looking forward to next year.
BTW_ Alan, your comment about Condon put a smile on my face. I always wondered about him too. He was by far the fastest player on the team. In Indy on opening night he was flying past everyone. Just could never hit the net. Always thought there was potential. Never heard the real story of him parting ways with Colorado.
You can't be mad when a better team beats you and Toledo was a better team. The 2 things that bother me about this series are: one ,being a hockey Neandertal,after Szyd got injured, someone should have run Lerg thru the back of the net! two: nothing makes me madder than the players saying"we know what we need to do".Then shut up and do it-quit making the same mistakes over and over again.
A Lake Erie fan has stated that it will be the Bluejackets/Monsters and Kalamazoo next season!
Wow. South Carolina just took games 1 and 2 in Toledo.
I have to disagree with the whole "what a great job coaching Gary did". You stipulate that the problems the team had at the end of the year were the same problems they had at the beginning of the year. How many times did we hear that the guys didnt execute the game plan?? South Carolina just took 2 games in Toledo. So I dont believe Toledo is that good . If anything..they are predictable. This team won a lot of games on shear talent and will to win..what was lacking was coaching. My 2 cents.
Obviously the Toledo-South Carolina series has a way to go. But the fact that S.C. has gone into Toledo, won the first two games (one each from Lerg and Conway) and gets the next three at home sure place them in the "drivers seat". Both teams have great goaltending. I'm kind of surprised that a total of seven goals were scored in game two.
I know that Toledo was the ECHL regular season champion. I know that South Carolina set a league record for consecutive wins.
But this is why I've stated that until we see how Toledo does, it is hard to judge the success of the Komet year. As we know, the K's couldn't win a game at the Huntington Center during the year or playoffs. Yet S.C. goes in and wins the first two.
I think the K's had a "successful" year. But the term "success" may mean something to one person and something else to another.
Lots of things went well this year. Attendance, wins at home, wins on the road, a better than average affiliation, great atmosphere for the fans, a roster that seemed to genuinely care for each other, a coach (who eats, sleeps, and loves the game) putting together a skilled roster. If those are some of your definitions of success ( they match most of mine), then the year was a "success".
If success is solely the child of results, and results mean at least getting to the Championship Series, then the season falls short.
Getting eliminated by the best team in the league can't be totally unexpected. But now we have some doubts creeping in that maybe Toledo (as good as they are) isn't the best. We'll see.
Regardless, the Komets have a template to go by to help form next season.
Lets get a good affiliation (not Columbus, in my opinion), and start working on that "template".
Blake..my and suz deepest condolences on the passing of your father. .just saw it in the paper...you and yours are in our prayers. ..may peace be with you
Blake, sorry to hear about the loss of your pops. I know how hard it is to lose a parent. Hang in there and may God bless you and your family.
Interesting. Toledo went 3-0 at South Carolina and 0-1 at home against South Carolina during the regular season.
Myself, and my family, wish to extend our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your father.
Blake My Deepest Condolences to you and you Family!!!
Blake, so very sorry to hear about your father's passing...our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sorry to hear about your Dad, Blake. My prayers are with your family as you go thru these hard times.
Thanks,Komets for a fun filled year. I had a good time at the games.
Good luck to our players as they decide on their futures.
Embach to Sweden
My sincerest condolences Blake on the loss of your father.
Any rumour concerning NHL affiliation?
Sorry for your loss Blake. I enjoyed your coverage here this season. It's no secret I'm a Colorado fan and from our side we hope the affiliation continues.
Condon went to play in Norway. No idea what caused the move but he was playing there pretty quickly, by the end of December I believe.