Just got off the phone with defenseman Mike Dombkiewicz who said he was dropping his contact off at the Fed-Ex as we were speaking. He said he's taking a bit of a contract cut because of the salary cap, but he's completely happy to be returning to Fort Wayne.
``I had more money at other places, but I want to win a championship and Fort Wayne is the place to be,'' he said. ``Hopefully I've found a home. I love playing in Fort Wayne.''
Dombkiewicz said he'll be skating with the Buffalo Sabres in preseason workouts starting next week, and then he might have an opportunity to go to an unidentified American Hockey League training camp before reporting to Fort Wayne. He almost signed a two-way contract to play in the Central Hockey League but wanted to return to Fort Wayne.
``With the new salary cap, a lot of guys are going to take a hit with it,'' he said. "It's a real eye-opener, but we want to win a championship. Sometimes you have to make some sacrifices and most of us who are going to be there are going to, but we want to win a title. Below the AHL, in my opinion Fort Wayne is the best place to play in any league. It's a great hockey town, you get to play in front of 7,000 fans every night and you we well taken care of around town.''
That's also the message he's using to try to help recruit some new rookies. Though he declined to name them, Dombkiewicz predicted the two players would make the all-rookie team if they signed in Fort Wayne. All he would say is that they are former teammates of his from the University of New Brunswick.
"Everybody wants them,'' he said. "They are two pretty good friends of mine. They were both captains on their team and they were captains on their school team. Hopefully our friendship is what helps bring them to Fort Wayne. I'll just keep talking to them, and I'm going to do anything I can to bring as many good players to Fort Wayne as I can.''
As for taking less money?
``I would have liked to make more money in Fort Wayne like was going to get other places, but you have to give and take somewhat and I know David (Franke) is in a tough position. That's what it's all about when it comes to being a good person and a good leader for a club, and I'm willing to do that to win a championship.''
Comments
Glad Domber is back. Great signing by the Frankes and Domber seems to have a good sense of how the cap is going to affect everyone. Hopefully his positive attitude can spread throught the team. He should get some good experience skating with the Sabers and the tryout with the AHL. Hopefully he can get his buddies here as well.
Great signing.... Hopefully the guys he is hinting about are truly studs and he can entice them to come play in the Fort. Defense it starting to look real good, could use a guy with somes decent wheels like Bozoian and some muscle to keep the creas clear.
Blake, do you think that an affliation is good for this level and do you think that may be where the K's can find some scoring and maybe toughness ??? With Bingham coaching in the AHL last year he would definetly know what it takes to move up and that may be very attractive to rookies...
I hope to find out more soon, JR.
So is Domber signed offically with the Komets?
Now THIS is what I was talking about as far as putting the team first with a certain other former Komet. Great job by all involved!
Now Tony, you know your going to take crap for that one, not that I don't disagree with per se.
Hi Greg. I know but really...if that certain player (who still probably would have made a sizable amount more than Domber) would have thought the way Mike is thinking, the captain would still be piloting the ship!
Here is a guy who not only embraced his situation in Fort Wayne but is spreading the word to others about how well he is treated. This is a TEAM guy!
Can't disagree with that comment.
Domber didn't have the options that Colin had. You're comparing apples to oranges in my opinion. I comend Mike for taking the approach he did. But at the same time I don'f fault Colin for taking a better option.
I don't have a problem with Colin leaving for Italy either expect for the fact that HE said the money was about the same, so if you're looking for stability, why move to Italy for 6 month. My opinion was that he finds something wrong in being traded. Colin made the Gretzky reference to that fact. Who says being traded is a bad thing, looked how it worked for Dustin, he won a championship.
Great signing! I really like how he plays. I think he has tremendous potential but has been the victim of trade bait in the past. Hopefully Frankes let him settle down here and play for a while. On top of that he was willing to take less money staying here, agrees Ft Wayne is the place to be at this level of hockey, and is also trying to recruit rookie players to build a championship team. In my book this would qualify someone to get an A on his sweater.
I was thinking the same thing DNL. Put a letter on his jersey, but there's still plenty of spots to fill, especially veterans so let's wait and see.
Domber has not officially signed because the league has to approve it first. It's just a formality, but the team can't announce anything yet.
What would be a cause for the league not to approve a contract?
Great to see Domber back! It's always nice to hear the players talk about the Fort Wayne and it's fans in such high regards. It's great they notice all the fans putting in so much time and effort to their play on the ice.
The item that struck me in all of this, and I don't mean this as anything bad against hime, but how could a guy that floated around five different UHL teams get invited to AHL camps and an NHL camp? I know Domber plays with a lot of heart and I'm happy he is back in the Fort, but the NHL?
Hoss, I think it's just something to start getting in shape. If you've got to skate and you live in a big city, it's common for all the players from all the levels to get together and skate if they can.
The league just keeps track of all the contracts, making sure the teams stay within the guidelines, etc.
More updates coming today.
Great News! I love getting good hockey news in the afternoon, it really makes my day. I am glad to see Dommer is back with the team, he has a very hard shot from the point that will reach the back of the net a good amount of times this season. I am also glad to see a player speak so highly about Fort Wayne as a hockey city. Can't wait for the other updates, keep up the good work Blake!!
awesome, I think he is gonna be a good complement to Dupuis on the blue line..I think he could put up 40 pts..or maybe more this season..welcome back Domber..
oh and btw domber..bring your friends along to...
GO KOMETS
Keep all the signings coming Blakes! I like it when the KOMETS are busy signing these players this time of the year!!!! I want you to ask Bingham if we are going to get Robin Big Snake!
This is outstanding! Now it looks like the Defense is taking shape. I think Domber showed a lot of class, humility and leadership with his ACTIONS as well as his words. Get a few more players like him and the Jungle will strike fear into the opposition! Wow, I have a lot of reading to catch up on....losing my DSL for 14 hours was not fun!
Way to go, Domber! Glad to see a guy like that on OUR team. Hope his friends have the same great attitude.
As for the comments about Colin made earlier that he's jumping ship because of the money. I don't believe that is the case. I ran into him two weeks ago and from our conversation, I think he had made up his mind to go to Italy before he even knew Chief was leaving. He said that he "wished he had known and that he would have enjoyed playing for either Bingham or Marks". So don't go jumping to conclusions that it was all about money.
Wahoo!
Glad he is back too, I think he said just the right things in his comments too. Hope he can sway those possible stud rookies our way too. My question is....the cap is bigger this year...and we supposedly did not go over the cap last year...so what the heck is the deal with everyone commenting on taking a pay cut to stay in this league? This just doesn't add up at all. Who do the Komets plan on signing? Steve Yzerman?
Hit, I think everything is coming down to very basic economics....because every team is trying to get the best deal(s) that they can get. Less teams, means less jobs...so it really is a buyers market. If the economy ever improves (yeah, right!) maybe things would be more in favor of the players (sellers) While we were under the cap this past season, but was it by a lot or just making it under the cap? I really doubt that the Frankes are going to tell you or I that information. Plus I'm thinking that they (Frankes) want to have a nest egg for later in the season...."just in case"
I think you are onto something there about the Komets and the cap last season. Even lowly teams like MC and ADK went over the cap last year and they didn't have the names we did. Looks like we had another one spun to us.
Teresa-look at what hte Frankes said about Chaulk leaving, they said it was the money, Chaulk said it wasn't. In the end, who do you believe?
i would have to agree with teresa, i dont think money was a big issue with chaulk
Chaulk's decision was about money. When you people drop the idol worship and look at it objectivly you will see that too.
i do not idolize anyboy but blake sebring. i'm not saying money had nothing to do with it. but i do believe it was about more than just the money. but enough about chaulk he is done gone to europe
Believe what you want JM. At this point it's all history and there's nothing we can do about it. Debating the issue isn't going to change things. Chaulk is gone and we'll just have to move on. I know the K's will. Just hope the Franke's do us a big favor and put that "C" on Dupuis' chest...not Duhart's. And don't let him wear number 91 either! I don't think I could bear that.