Komets, fans frustrated by slow start

Pat - I understand you may find Curdy to be a heck of an asset, but so far he has been nothing here.. nothing.. absolutely nadda. Perhaps not having that "letter" on his jersey is getting to him? Maybe he feels he is the best on this team and not recognized for it? Heck I do not know.. However, he is a non-factor, and was signed to be the biggest factor on the team..

Also, no need to apologize about your English grammar. Appreciate the ideas behind it. Language barriers are always fun to work around.

I think all of these guys could benefit from a couple of players added to this team that can take the pressure off the lot of them.

The 2 names we are all hearing....CC and MS.....those guys could take alot of pressure off of guys.

Curadeau would benefit from having Chaulk on his line and Syro too. I think that line would be dynamite and unstoppable.......My opinion of course. A pure line of scoring power.

How does that help the rest of them you ask???

Well, you have a top line now that would be legit. A topline that has scoring thump on it and it adds a penalty killer and 2 more powerplay pieces that are needed. It takes the pressure off some guys that aren't used to being in the spot of being expected to do it all, they can go back to doing what they do best, and that in itself makes guys relax and play hockey.....not relaxing to the PC degree we hope...LOL

I like most of my friends are wanting to root for Curdy. I know he can play hockey.

SuperFan says he has been playing with a hurt back....wonder how he got that??? No one around here has been riding this kid have they??? LOL

I am rooting for them. I just want them to play better.

Go Komets.

Well said Hit!

JM read my post and think beyond the box. A lot of post on here is talk of locker room cancer and it needs fixed.but yet same bloggers are also posting poor naurato all I'm saying is don't you think maybe this transaction is possibly the first step in curing the problem? Maybe .. Maybe not. But only the ones in that locker room will truly know

Hey Hit. Saw this quote from Sean O'Donnell of the Flyers tonight: "

Think about this, we have about the same team,give or take a few.You speak of "cancer" maybe the PH guys????????

Wendy - O'Donnell is surely a cancer on the Flyers team!! I also heard Blake talk about OC telling the team that this was only a game played for fun, that the guys just needed to go out and have some fun...How dare he!!!

Maybe we should all wear pink to tomorrow nights game to fight the "cancer"?

I wish we could find a term that didn't equate a poor attitude in minor league sports to a deadly disease that takes loved ones away from people all too soon..

If anyone really thinks that Curdy is the only issue here, I think you're looking past some obvious problems.

71% and fun are a volatile combination. It's sure working this year!

Does anyone notice that each time someone talks about giving less than 100% or playing for fun, it's almost always after a loss? Strange coincidence.

I didn't play hockey, but in the sports I did play, fun was reserved for after titles and championships were won. I can't remember ever having fun while I was competing. That's not to say that I wasn't enjoying what I was doing, but when the game or race started, I was all business. I was out to kill the competition. I wasn't trying to make it like that, it was just instinct. Then, after a win, I had fun.

I'm not saying this is how it has to be for everyone, just how it was/is for me. Had I ever gone out and given less than everything, I'd feel a lot of regret these days. Thankfully, I don't have to deal with that issue.

I'm not trying to open the entire "effort" discussion that we talked about for 3 months straight at one point either.

Regardless of everyone's take on this, I hope everyone has a great Christmas and has time to spend with family and loved ones, even if that time is spent watching a lackluster performance from a dysfunctional hockey team. Enjoy the time and remember what's important. Happy Holidays, everyone. Even Warner lol!

P.S. - I may not have this cheer after the game tonight, but I'll try to heed my own words and remember what's important ;)

Whoops, tomorrow's game I mean.

RK, you are right. Winning is fun. "We should be having fun" translates into "we should be winning". Why do you compete if it is not to win? Even in our beer leagues up here, you play to win every time you step on the ice. Now at our age we are over it faster, probably after the second beer. But hey we aren't getting paid either. LOL>

I couldn't agree more, Mike. I was fortunate enough to get paid for my athletics for several years and, to be honest, I still didn't have a change in my mentality once the competition began. My mentality at all other times changed, but when it was time to compete, it was all business and there was nothing that was going to stop me from winning, especially not my lack of heart or any type of desire to take a night off. To be honest, I cannot even comprehend what it would be like not to want to go out there and give everything. I felt the rush of competition in front of 2,000 people watching. I can't imagine not having that feeling in front of 10,000 (or the 6,000 or so that the crowds have dwindled to this year even).

I am sure these guys want to win. They are just not in a system that allows them to do so.
Banging your head into a cement wall is not going to knock down the wall no matter how long you do it.

Snuff, I think you are right. However, there is a difference between wanting to win and hating to lose.
I know I haven't seen a game live. But I still get the feeling from fellow posters that the effort lacks some times.
Making the necessary sacrifices and working hard is all anyone can expect.
Saying all that, if those criteria are met, then you are probably correct in saying the system is failing.

"I hate to lose more than I love to win." - Jimmy Connors

Mike I think that there may be a couple of guys on this team who have "been there done that, happy to collect a paycheck and float" and those are guys I never wanted to see brought back. Replace those guys with hungry 25 year olds and put in a system that will work and you'll have a much better product...

But.... in every league someone has to finish last. Sometimes that is even a dynasty team. Ask the 1966 Yankees and an over the hill Mickey Mantle.

Let's not give up yet Snuff. One thing for sure in the words of another immortal Yankee. "It ain't over till it's over".
You know what burns me, and I am sure Running Komet would agree. When you have the opportunity to play as a pro, you accept responsibility as well as the money. And I don't care what it is you play. League or level.

As hockey players, we would give our left ... to play at that level. I am sure every sport is the same.

When it gets old, hang 'em up. You can't play forever at any level, (as I am discovering.)

Actually, there is hope for Wednesday night's game. Near a holiday, anything can happen because even good teams (like Philly last night) can get a bit lethargic.

As for hating to lose versus loving to win, I had read that scouts ask about that alot. They prefer the former, and I'd have to agree with that. Personally I hate to lose more than loving to win because winning is a fleeting high. It's like "Yeah! I'm on top of the world!" but tomorrow no one will remember or care. When you lose, EVERYONE remembers. And statistically you are far more likely to lose.

I do agree, Mike. It just kills me to think of having the opportunity these guys have and to see them not feel like living up to them. The regret they will feel someday when they take the time to really look back and know that they didn't give it their all... I'm not old and wise by any means, but I'd hate to have to live with looking back and knowing that you did something half-assed like this.

In addition, if the people who are slouching aren't the type of people who will someday look back on their current effort levels with regret, I'm really not thinking I want them wearing orange and black to be quite honest.

I doubt anyone who contributes to this blog really, and I mean really knows what is going on in the locker room.

Still, it is understandable to suspect things when a team as talented as the K's are having such a tough time. Add to the suspense the fact that the Franke's have changed the "C" and an "A" and have talked about "leadership" from day one.

If there is a problem in the locker room than they need to remove it as quickly as possible. Doesn't matter who or whom it may be. Just waive those persons now. We are losing with those players so we can lose without them.

I don't believe changing the Coach is the answer. Al Sims has had success in the "AAA" IHL, the NHL, and the "AA" IHL. I don't give in to those who think his CHL record is meaningful. He took over a bad situation one year in the CHL.

Lack of scoring is the common denominator this season. The Komets who played last year (and are not here this year) are a big reason for this.

I think the K's have talent but the recipe for the team is out of kilter. This team is lacking PLAYMAKERS. I define playmakers as those who will set up and distribute the puck to others. We have maybe one player who can do this and he wouldn't be on my first line. In fact, he would play a wing for me. We seem to have too many forwards made out of the exact same mold.

Scoring takes the pressure off the defense and goaltending. A couple of weeks ago we had exactly the same G.A.A. as did Colorado but about a goal and a half less per game on offense. It was the difference between being in first and last place.

I believe Colin Chaulk will be back in a K's uniform soon. To those who think adding another "IHL Veteran" to the mix is a step backwards I would have to disagree. He made everyone on the ice better. Special players can do that. His presence in the locker room could, arguably, be even more important. I don't have any idea on Syro, where that rumor began, or what to think. He gets in front of the net and can score, played in the AHL and would do a lot to take the pressure off the other forwards. ( One player never mentioned is Chewy. He is in Europe, enjoyed his time in Fort Wayne, and can certainly skate and hustle with anyone).

Penalties have been a problem all year. Warner's second tantrum of the year cost the K's last Saturday. I'm not sure why they keep him on defense. It can't be that hard to find a dentist. However, to be fair, the penalty Chris Francis took while Warner was serving his penalty was just plain stupid. How many times have the K's skated shorthanded five on three this year? Discipline is sorely lacking.

The Franke's are going to have to have the will to do the "tough" things. To imagine the K's winning this division is a pipedream now. They need to step back and take the rest of the schedule in five game increments. Go three and two or four and one the rest of the way and creep back in to the playoff picture.

By the way. One forward who seems to get a lot of crap on here is playing injured and played that way most of last year. Sometimes things are not as simple and evident as we all, me included, make them out to be.

Sorry for the "book". It's been awhile since I've posted and I'm as frustrated as you are.

It's time for some changes, and the Franke's are going to have to announce some things soon to keep the walk up traffic coming to the ticket office.

Chaulk coming back would qualify for the casual fan to take in a few more games.

I don't care how they do it.....but try hard....and see if that helps you win.....wow, I can't believe some of you have a problem with that concept and go to extreme research to find ways to defend poor effort.

Crazy.

I have read, and heard Guy more than 3 times in the last week say that he feels that guys aren't giving a "good effort" all the time, and he said that is a huge problem.

But, you can't believe Guy I guess, since he isn't worthy any longer of the C on his chest. LOL

I think I am of the same mold of RK when it comes to effort in sports. I was always taught and lived by a simple rule, when you are in between the lines, you go as hard as you can until you can't go anymore. You never leave anything in the tank. You give it all no matter what. You owe it to yourself, your teammates, and to those who you represent. I am older and fatter now, but even to this day, no matter what sport I involve in whether it be playing or coaching, I give it everything I have got. I try to teach the children I coach the same lesson.

There some players who have loads of talent and don't go hard, and there are some players with less talent who go hard all the time.

I would rather the guy or gal who hustles and gives it everything, than a loafer any day.

Please stop making excuses for guys that don't care enough about the game they are playing that they admit they don't give effort or good effort.

And the OC comment about playing the game and having fun, I understand what he is saying, when you are losing, it sucks and you become tight and you don't enjoy what you are doing.....because in honesty, we play the sport because we find enjoyment and fun in it. At least most do. And what OC is saying, he wants guys to just play the game hard and have fun....aka win, compete, do the best you can without putting so much pressure on yourself that you can't be successful, and that makes it no fun at all.

Dang, I feel like Alan.....

If the Komets make the mistake of bringing Chaulk back it makes me wonder about his stated reasons for leaving in the first place and what changed in the last few months.

Colin left because of the management at CanLan and nothing else.

I doubt being in Italy far away from family, friends, and Fort Fun is all that great. And I doubt playing on a team in Italy that is having it's own trouble...well, I bet he and his family would like to come home.

People make mistakes.

Schebig just made a big one in his pants. LOL

Snuff, with everything that is going on, why would it be a mistake to bring Colin back? I admit to a conflict of interest with regards to the human being. However, I can be as objective as the next person on the hockey player. All he has done in Fort Wayne is bust his butt and helped win a few Championships.

What Blake said about Canlan is true! Not at liberty to say why. Believe it.

Didn't the Canlan manager change back a few months?

Blake didn't he say something about a shorter season overseas allowing for more time to pursue his other interests?
Now if the underlying reason had to do with Canlan than it wouldn't surprise me based on some other things I heard about how things were run there.

Mike,
Without a doubt nobody can question what he has done in the past for the Komets and I have rarely if ever heard anyone have anything negative to say about him as a person.
However I believe the continued pattern of this organization to reach back to the past has inhibited their looking towards the future. I also fear Colin will not be able to adapt his game to the way it is called in the CHL. He did a great job of using his hands and sometimes his stick to hold and slow up the opposition. That doesn't fly in the CHL.
Granted I don't know how the game is called in Italy so maybe he has already had to adapt?
I want to see the Komets get younger. Bringing in another 30+ player goes against what I would like to see.
I think he still has something left and is certainly a better player than much of the dead weight on the roster right now.
Signing him might be taking the easy way out and might provide a boost but in my opinion does nothing to help the future and unless people out there think that Chaulk is going to lead them to a championship this year then the future is where this team should be looking.

I am asking myself if I would feel any different about this if the Komets were say in 3rd place maybe 10 pounts out of first. I really don't know.....

So he was a CanLan employee first and a Komet second?

Who gives a crap about CanLan... Colin was the highest payed Komet, he left that situation... But now that the Komets can't win, all will be forgiven and he'll be given a white horse to ride into Fort Wayne on.

Don't get me wrong. I've got Chaulk jerseys in the closet and would love to see him back, but lets not pretend that he was overly-loyal to the Komets and evil CanLan ran him off. He was fine being a Komet before CanLan existed.