I just talked to David Franke and he said he's continuing to have post-season meetings with the players and he's meeting with Al Sims tomorrow as they start game-planning how they want to put next year's team together. Franke and Sims both said they'd be happy if they got 8-to-12 players back next year. They'd prefer to have more than that, but they know it's unlikely. Some players will move up, some will try to go to Europe and some will possibly retire - though they both said no one has indicated that as of yet.
Franke said as far as he knows he believes Colin Chaulk, Guy Dupius, Konstantin Shafranov, Kevin Bertram, Brandon Warner, David Hukalo, P.C. Drouin, Kevin Hansen, Kevin Reiter and Nick Boucher are expected to remain in town throughout the summer. The Komets are hoping to have a big presence at the Three Rivers Festival. Brent Henley is still in town recovering from having his knee cleaned out, but he's heading home on Friday. Henley told Franke his knee feels great so far.
The IHL meetings will be June 22-25 in Las Vegas. No, darnit, The News-Sentinel will not send me to the meetings. I even offered to split my winnings with the paper.
Comments
I thought Reiter usually goes to Alaska during the off season. I wonder why he decided to stay.
Good question, sigep454. Maybe it's gas prices keeping Reiter here. Or maybe he needs to be closer to home in Pittsburgh this summer. And Blake, thanks for asking about Henley. He told me at the party that he was having knee surgery the next day and I have been wondering how it went and how he was feeling. Will it be a long rehab for him again? I think it became obvious that his knee was only about 70-80% all season long. It would be great if he could get back to 90-100%
Blake, you really don't want to go to Vegas in late June unless you want to return having more red than Tony Tomato!
It is sinfully HOT out there during the summer (even with low humidity!) Of course, one can get a great price on a hotel room!
Sorry I missed ya on Sunday Blake. From what I know about Henley's surgery, is that when you have as major of surgery as he had, there is a clean up that needs to take place. That is on every day wear and tear. Think about it after an entire hockey season. All the scar tissue built up that would get cleaned, will hopefully allow him to be 100% by the beginning of next year!
Kalamazoo to announce new coach Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
Nick Bootland, new Kzoo coach
nick bottland i do not like