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News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Tailing the Komets

Help me out here

I'm trying to learn more about my audience (or if there actually is an audience. LOL). Nothing too painful I hope. I was wondering three things:

How old are you?

How long have you been a Komets' fan?

How many games do you go to per season?

Do you have any topics for future blogs you'd like to see?

Thanks

Posted in: Komets

Comments

Nanci
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 10:37am

I am 24..

I have been a Komets fan for about .. 10 years..

I've been pretty consistant over the last 4 years ..but this year I have been to every home games except for 3.

Humm..future blogs? My only request is to maybe keep us informed when an injury happens. For example, Frenchy's Hand and Jarram's Shoulder. What's going on?

And, I was wondering Blake.. or anybody else..if the Komet Players and "Staff" read the Blog?? If they do..I would love to know what they think about the comments!

Brandan
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 10:40am

Here's your first of several:

1: 28 years old
2: Fan for appx. 9 years
3: Season ticket holder (so 38+) and a few road games a year (about 5 or so this year) plus playoffs if we make it, so about 50ish.
4: Topics. Hm. I like the game-to-game postings as supplements to the newspaper articles and ITB. Lots of talk lately about Coliseum changes (i.e. road, entrance, etc.); how about your opinion on what needs changed, updated, fixed, etc. about the MC (i.e. consistent ushering, video scoreboard, etc.)? And I'm sure ITB will always be a great source of "ideas".

Just keep it up (that's for sure), even in the offseason (if possible); I'll go nuts if I don't have hockey news!!!

scoops
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 11:05am

33

Been going to games since high school so I would say I have been a fan since then. Only made road trips when my brother in law played here. Other than that, strictly home games now and I attend just about every single game.

Love the inside info on trades, injuries, roster moves in general. Would like to maybe see more sit down interviews with the players. Maybe one per week. Perhaps letting us get to know them better would ease some of the rediculous bashing that goes on when the crap hits the fan.

Janice
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 11:08am

31 years old.
I have been going to komets games for about 13 years, I am a season ticket holder and I have missed one game this year. I also travel to a hand full of road games a season if not more.

You are doing a great job with the blogs, this is the first time I have never really wondered about players, injuries, trades, etc. We have great coverage for the Komets!!

TB
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 11:45am

I am 47 years old. I went to my first hockey game with my Dad in 1972 and I've been going ever since. (Listened to Chaser on WOWO as the K's won the Turner Cup in 1973!) When I moved to Atlanta in 1986, I thought I would die without hockey. I made several trips back to Fort Wayne just to see my beloved Komets. In 1988 I moved further south to Fort Lauderdale and thought I'd never see hockey again! Fortunately for me, the Florida Panthers joined the NHL in 1992-93. I was there for their first 10 years in the league. I moved back to Fort Wayne in November, 2002 -just in time to see the K's win the Colonial Cup. I've been a season ticket holder ever since. I only miss games when I absolutely have to.

I think this blog is great. I enjoy how you keep us up to date on the latest happenings and gossip, such as trades, injuries, etc. I get a kick out of fellow fans comments and gripes. It's an outlet for all of us. Just keep it coming, Blake!

me
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 12:59pm

I'm 27 first game I went to was Thanksgiving in probably 88 or 89. I have been following them constantly since 97. I Have been a season ticket holder but, had a baby and priorities changed. But I still try to go to all the games I can. The oldest boy goes to most of the games so I am prepping him and now the little ones love going.
I too would like to know if players or management pay any attention to the blogs. See what you can find out for us Blake.
Oh also I think your blog is better than Justins. My opinion. Whats with Koehler?

eric_smiff
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 1:10pm

22 years old

Been a fan since the first year in the "U"
I had gone to the IHL games but dont remember to much of them.
I go to 38 home games and usually about 2 road games.
This year is my first year as a season ticket holder. I went to every game last year.

David
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 1:13pm

38

Became a K's fan at the age of 10 and played hockey in the fort with the chin brothers, kevin wright, freddie knipscher etc...Goto all home games unless a family committment prevents me. I remember the days of danny bonner, barry scully, dave norris, robbie laird, dale baldwin, etc...starting date myself here...Love the blog it gives all chance to talk to like fans who have a point of view. No better way to discuss the team we love either pro or con. I think it would be nice to have a Q & A with one of the players at times, love what you do Blake, I would put you up there with Bud...wish you would be a little more critical of management though...

Blake
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 1:13pm

I can pretty much guarantee you management does not play attention to the blogs. Nobody likes to read people ripping them all the time. They have enough stress in their lives. That doesn't mean, though, that if there's a really good idea that comes across that it doesn't get relayed to them.

Bob
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 2:37pm

I listened to my first Komet game my freshman year of high school....I started going to games on a regular basis in 1987. I have been a season ticket holder for the majority of the years that the Franke family has owned the team. I will be 44 in late August and my wife just turned 45 (and still passes for 30!) Her brother in law is a former Komet player.

Bob
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 2:40pm

I forgot to mention we attend every home game unless a family function requires us to go out of town and we take in a few road games in either Kalamazoo or Muskegon. And I enjoy getting to read what my fellow fans have to say about the team.

blake
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 3:06pm

Kevin, I've got to call it the way I see it. I believe it was me who said before training camp that the Ks didn't have enough size or scoring and that this was going to be a problem. I believe it was me who wrote right after last year's finals that the Komets needed to get bigger and meaner.

I'm sure they'd tell you I've criticized them plenty over the years. I remember a couple of times when I gave them Fs on the report cards.

I guess I've just got a little more perspective on things sometimes. It's a long year and face it, we've all been spoiled with very good teams every year. Sometimes you just have those kind of years, and maybe this is one of them. Doesn't make it any more enjoyable for me, but I understand when it happens sometimes.

The great thing about the Komets? They always rebound hard after a bad year. Remember the MiG line? Or what happened the year after they didn't make the playoffs in the UHL?

I can honestly say, I've never met anyone who wants to win more than David Franke. Except maybe Greg Puhalski. This season isn't even at the halfway point.

doug
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 3:07pm

36
season ticket holder since 1990
love the blog
best team coverage since Bud Gallmeier

JR
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 3:17pm

I'm 33 years old...been coming to K's games since I was seven minus the 4 years I spent in the military (took leave to see as many games as I could). I see every game each year except thanksgiving nite. This is the first year that I have been in the position professionally to be a season ticket holder, never knew when I was gonna be out of town...but it always worked out. I have been very frustrated till this year on the lack of K's info during the season. This has been great, no matter what gets written! I would maybe like to get updates on Former Komet players who still play hockey especially from the last couple of years. maybe some interesting info from around the UHL...trades, signings, etc... How about some info on how the league rates their referees, linesman, etc... Keep up the excellent work Blake it is greatly appreciated!!!!!

Charlie I
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 6:51pm

I am 26 and have been going to games since I was a baby. I use to goto all the games including when we in the IHL but the last few years haven't got to as many as I would like due to getting married after the 2003 season and haveing a new baby boy on Nov 30th 2005. He has been to 3 games. LOL

Ross
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 7:11pm

31

I've been going to a few games a year since I moved here in '98. This year I decided to get a bit more serious about my fandom, but other commitments have limited me to still only attending only about half of the home games.

I became a hockey fan watching the Michigan Tech Huskies in Houghton, MI. The Komets are similar, but the standium is a lot quieter (no pep band).

Most ideas about blog topics would focus on the areas that you can't get the FWNS to burn ink on:
-Background info on the players: where they come from, what they do outside of hockey, what they think about the Fort.
-Rumors from around the Jungle or around the league.
-Komets hockey theory: analysis of planned plays, practice techniques, team philosophy (get inside Puhalski's head).
-Interesting stats and playoff scenarios.
-Links to good hockey/UHL/Komets talk on the Web (like your FWNS articles, for instance).

Taking a queue from other blogs, you might also talk a bit about interesting non-hockey topics. As long as you don't get to the point of telling us what you had for breakfast, I think people would be interested in the things that interest you.

Also, I'm not sure what your bosses say on the topic, but I think you should acknowledge Justin's material and add your own thoughts.

Mark
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 7:22pm

28

the poster Janice is my older sister by the way...

Ive been going to Komet games since about 1990-91..the first real game I remember was against the Peoria Rivermen in the Turner Cup finals...I think it may have been game 3 or 4..been going regularly since. In recent years since I have had my family the games have dwindled because of financial reasons..But I really do enjoy going to Komet games.

Something I would like to see is something similiar to what Justin Cohn has where you ask questions of you to see what your thoughts on the matter is...

Sniper
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 7:46pm

Age 34

Been going to games off and on since high school, but for the last 4 years have been to an average of 20 reg season games a year.

I'd like to hear more from the players. Getting the inside dish quick is a plus, I love the how many fans post on the site, at least the ones that don't go using other peoples names or fake emails.

AprilEvening
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 8:09pm

I'm 24.

This is my second season as a Komet Fan, but I've already been accused of being obsessed.

I go to as many games as possible. I think I've been to maybe 10 this season, including orange ice in Kzoo.

I would love to see more from the players, i.e. interviews, quotes, maybe their own blog?
I am still learning about the game and this site has helped so much. Thanks!

Blake
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 8:11pm

You guys can ask questions whenever you'd like. I don't have any problem with that. That doesn't mean I'll answer all of them, either, though. LOL. For every weird question you ask, I might ask one right back. Bwah-ha-ha-ha!

Thanks for all of the ideas. I'd love to be able to tell you that I'll be able to do all of them or even half of them, but to be honest, I can't spend any more time than I already do in the office. I've got other responsibilities, which is why I can't do more expanded player profiles and such, though I sure would like to. Probably won't ever happen again.

I need to clone myself! Anybody got the recipe?

I will try to follow through on some of these. Thanks for the input, and please don't hesitate to supply suggestions -- just not the physically impossible kind. LOL.

Hit Somebody!!!
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 8:20pm

31
Became a Komet fan in 1992 when I came to college in Fort Wayne. Haven't missed many games since the first game I saw. I fell in love instantly.

Season ticket holder since 1999.

Missed maybe 3 or 4 games since then.

Would love to see a feature each week where the bloggers have a chance to ask a player, the coach, the Frankes, Bob Chase, etc. a question and have whoever the person is answer some of them, depending on how many are asked I guess, and post them so we can get some realtime feedback on our team. I think it make for some interesting dialogue.

Great info from you Blake, the coverage has been great. I too would like to see no more stealing of identities and no more fake e-mails so we can hold people accountable. Keep up the great effort!

chuckitt
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 9:02pm

great site blake! im 54 and have been going to games since about 1958. season ticket holder for over 30 yrs. keep giving us the inside stuff and keep allowing us to sound off and let off steam when we need to!!

smitty
Fri, 01/20/2006 - 9:24pm

50 yrs old, first game 1972, i go to about 15-20 roads per year, season ticket holder since the uhl.great blog. i would like to hear from some of the players.
thank you blake for doing a great job.

unit
Sat, 01/21/2006 - 9:28am

30
Fan since 91
season ticket holder since 97
missed once this year

(my best parrot immitation)I would like more player information and interviews.

Laurie
Sat, 01/21/2006 - 10:54am

20 years old. I think I'm the youngest around here!

I've been a Komets fan for at least 10 years.

As a kid, I'd go to a game with my dad and my uncle, which was usually once a week. I went to the 1993 and 2003 Cup-winning games, which was probably the highlight of my years as a fan. When the Komets joined the UHL, I started going more frequently, and then last season's team quickly became my favorite and I went to almost every game, including all of the playoff home games. This year, I've only missed one game, but I went to the exhibition games and all 3 of the regular-season K-zoo away games.

As for future blog ideas... I, too, would love to see a lot more about the players. Maybe you could feature a post a week solely dedicated to one player, giving some interesting background info on the player that the fans don't already know. Then you could ask them if they ever read the blogs and find out their thoughts on what some of the fans say about the team. LOL

Jennifer
Sat, 01/21/2006 - 12:23pm

33

Fan since 1998. Season ticket holder for 5 years.

I go to almost every home game. I have gone seasons without missing any, but this season as been tough with new job. So I have missed a record 5 games so far. But I make up for that with road games. This year I have been to about 8 road games so far, with many more planned in the remaining weeks. Last season I made it to every arena in the Uhl with the exception of Richmond. I just can't seem to get out there. This year I've already been to Roanoke, Quad City, Port Huron and Muskegon and Kzoo a few times already. On tap for the rest of the season is ofcourse, Kzoo next week, Port Huron, Muskegon, Missouri (and a Blues game too), Rockford, Motor City, and Port Huron/Flint. So that's at least 8 more games and maybe more if I can fit in QC again. And then there's the playoffs too.

I think you are doing a great job on your blog. I can't ever remember a time since I was a fan that the K's have received this much coverage. I find myself checking the blog several times a day, just to see if there is something new. I would like to find out what some of former UHL Komets are doing now. Keep up the good work Blake!

Shawn
Sat, 01/21/2006 - 12:39pm

Age: 27
Fan since I gratuated college: 2001
Season Ticket Holder since: 2003
I go to as many Kalamazoo road games as possible, I have also been to Muskegon in the playoffs.

I enjoy all the injury and roster updates. I have only lived in Ft. Wayne for about 8 years so the history questions are hard for me to answer but they are interesting. I would like to hear more about the players, interviews, what about the croud pumps them up, stuff like that.

old time fan
Sat, 01/21/2006 - 5:19pm

76 and 64

season tickets for the last 13 years have 9 tickets for the family

went to the first instructional game the komets had before the season began and went to many games through the years until getting the season tickets

jessica
Sun, 01/22/2006 - 10:31am

I am 16...
Ive been going the games since i was about 5. but i wouldnt call myself a true fan till about 2 or 3 years ago. i try to make it to as many games as i can, and ive only missed 4 home games this year. I think the blogs are great but id just like to be kept up with all the injuries and trades.

Rick
Sun, 01/22/2006 - 11:05am

55
I first heard about the Komets when I found Bob Chase on an old Philco radio dial in 1958 calling a game in Louisville against the Louisville Rebels and Moe Bartoli. My first game in person was Game 7 of the finals in 1960 won by the St. Paul Saints 3-1 after an open net goal. I have pretty much seen it all since then except when I was away at school and had a couple jobs out of town but Bob Chase and WOWO always kept me up-to-date. It has been a great ride. I appreciate what the Frankes have done to keep the Komets alive and I appreciate the efforts of all the players through the ups and downs. It is a long season so we still have time this season. The only thing I get tired of is the constant whining from some so-called fans who get their thrills making personal attacks against our players and boo them at games. I often wonder how they would feel if several thousand people were around them at their place of employment to boo them every time they screw up. Despite seeing well over 1,000 games in my time, I only started buying season tickets in 2000. I should have started buying them a lot sooner. It's great entertainment, win or lose, most games (there are a few stinkers). If the Komets aren't playing well, I still enjoy watching the visiting teams play. I have been surprised by the caliber of play in the UHL since we made the move down. I really never missed the IHL. I have really enjoyed your coverage through the years, Blake. Bud Gallmeier was tops when I was growing up and you are right there with him.

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