Komets President Michael Franke said Wednesday the Komets still hope to move two or three Wednesday games to weekend dates. The Komets are waiting for the NBDL's Mad Ants to announce their schedule to see which dates are available.
Because the Komets have been Memorial Coliseum tenants for 57 years, the hockey team gets first priority for the first 30 dates it submits, Franke said.
“You're probably going to get 80 percent of them, and that's 24 dates,” he said. “The difference between 24 and 38 is 14 dates. We basically have almost every other night during the year that's not being utilized by a concert or IPFW basketball or the Mad Ants. We have to wait until the Mad Ants schedule is done.”
Franke said the reason the schedule was released Wednesday is because the other IHL teams needed to announce their dates.
The Komets currently have nine Saturday games throughout the season but play eight times on Wednesdays. Last season they had 14 Saturday home games compared to six Wednesdays which included New Year's Eve. They have not played more than six Wednesdays at home for at least 15 years.
They have also not played fewer than 10 home games on Saturdays since 1995-96. Franke said over the past five years the team has averaged 7,400 fans on Fridays and 8,200 on Saturdays.
During December, January and February, the Komets play only two games at home on Saturdays. Franke said there were only three dates offered to the Komets because the coliseum was booked, including the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament and the NCAA Men's Hockey Regional.
The Komets play only six home games in December, five in January and six in February.
Another factor was the odd number in the now seven-team IHL. Franke said the clubs tried their best to keep teams idle on Fridays and Saturdays when their building was not available so it would not have a negative effect on attendance.
“This is the most difficult schedule I've ever been involved with,” Franke said. “If we can move a couple of midweek games in the next two weeks and get to between 30 and 32 dates on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, we'll be very, very happy.”
Comments
Agreed, Gravelle was the most entertaining player on the ice every night.
Gravelle tried to be a fighter and failed miserably and thats why he didnt fight after the first couple months of the season...
And Hit, just because I pointed out that the guy couldnt win any fights doesnt mean that I didnt like how much effort he put into every shift.... Of course at some point you have do something other than check to make a career in hockey....
JR, I directed nothing towards you at all...how did you think I did?
I was simply saying, I liked him because of his effort. Nothing more, nothing less. I like players that play hard every shift and lay their bodies on the line.
Maybe because I was the only one who DARED speak ill of a former Komets player????
You guys will not like Legault when he plays for Dayton this year= you heard it hear first.
legault will not play for dayton this year, he may fight for them though. lol
You are allowed to say what you want about any player JR. I was just saying I appreciated his effort. He was an energy guy on the ice. Nothing wrong with that. Every team needs role players, that was his role. No one expected him to score 25 goals or fight everyone in the league. He did what he had to do to help the team. I for one, appreciate that.
Not a big deal.
We (Komets) have had players that should never have worn the orange & black. Guys that cause more problems than they are worth. Speaking bad about any player is curtainly a part of blogging. We have had and still have quality individuals who are TEAM players first. Sometimes there are head cases on a team that just ruin the chemistry. The Team is first and foremost. Than the League. I prefer to support all of them. You are more than free to have your oppinions. I enjoy reading and discussing all of them. The good the bad and the ugly.
You aren't saying there was a problem with Gravelle though are you? That would be the first I had heard of that.
Solid energy guy...liked his effort. Hit every shift. Simple as that. I appreciated him. Gheesh. LOL
Hit- you have Gravelle down perfect. He was a nice guy on and off the ice. I mentioned no names on purpose. Everyone has players they like more than others. I do not and I don't think you do either) want to bust anyones oppinion of their favorites.
I think the Komets will trade Legault to Dayton for future?????/ talking smack on bloomingtons blog= they think gomez would beat MacMillan.