Komets spent a lot of time today working on conditioning, both on- and off-ice.
After watching the video, Komets coach Al Sims said, he really liked the play of Kaleigh Schrock, Matt Ward and Tyler Fletcher.
``They were consistently our best line as far as getting the other team in their end, holding them there, taking the body. They had some chances to score. You could see they were in condition to play a high-paced game and they did well.''
As for the other two lines, he said Mathieu Curadeau, Brandon Naurato and Derek Patrosso need some more time to play together, and he wasn't very happy at all with Leo Thomas, P.C. Drouin and Sean O'Connor.
``span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We're just working on our work ethic more than anything else, making sure we're working on things we need to be successful on Friday night. We're still getting in shape. Training camp isn't very long. We have to get our special teams better this week. working on our systems, conditioning, special teams. Obviously we need work on our scoring. We've only scored four goals in three games now. That's another big part of it.''
Comments
I think that says it all. Rapid City was ready. We weren't.
The thing I don't like about this is the fact Simms says "we're still getting in shape. Camp isn't very long."
Isn't training camp pretty much the same for every team?
Perhaps our guys spent too much time on the golf course and parading the cup around this summer instead of staying in shape? Of course the Rush were champions of their league so they could have had the same excuse but clearly seemed to be in game shape.
I liked how OC tried to take charge but he has to remember that he has teammates and doesn't have to do it all himself. Leo and PC were on the ice?
http://fwnextweb1.fortwayne.com/ns/sports/tailingthekomets/?p=4981
An old, very successful coach once told me the season is won or lost in the offseason because once training camp begins, everyone is working hard. In other words, you win when youre working (on your own) to get ahead while others are having fun, relaxing, or just enjoying some time off...
How about giving Rapid City some credit, though? (Directed at no one in particular.) They are simply an excellent hockey team and deserved to win every battle they did Saturday night. You've got to appreciate excellence like that.
I completely agree Blake. I had the most fun I have had in a long time at a Komets game just watching Rapid City play together as a team. I would LOVE to see what they look like mid-season form.
After one game, I know, one game....but let's just think outside the box here a little and mix things up and see if this helps the lines out more, and maybe gives them the speed and scoring they need to keep up:
Here goes:
Curadeau, OC, PC
Ward, Patrosso, Naurato
Leo, Schrock, Fletcher
Rodger, DeAngelis
Cescon, Warner
Phillips, Mironovic
And await what Springfield throws us.
Our vets looked slow, and only one line looked like they were ready to compete for the puck. I would think that maybe one of the Vets has something to worry about if we do get a forward from CBJ. Then again, it's only one game but shouldn't these guys be in shape before camp?
Game shape is one thing, hard to train your body on the rigors of "lugging" someone while carrying the puck or battling in the corners.
While it is certainly too early to "back up the truck" and start dumping as some suggest, I would submit that if the K's don't have a successful weekend that it may be time to at least start the engine.
Remember it is a credo of the Komets organization to have high expectations.
My hope is that their pride got hurt and they will be highly motivated to extinguish this bitter taste.
Rick Varone and Matt Woodard waived from Bloomington. That's shocking since Varone won the game for them over the weekend. http://chl.stats.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=12&seasonid=5902
Another injury for Columbus.... Another call-up from Springfield...
We may never see anybody if Columbus keeps getting visited by the nagging injury fairy...
Anyone else in favor of bring Rick Varone back to center for Fletcher and Schrock?
As long as he's healthy this time
Was that his problem last year? He wasn't healthy?
If I remember correctly he came back from his AAA tryout with a nagging groin or knee injury...
I'm not saying he wasn't hurt by any means, because I have no idea, but he just didn't seem to play with the same intensity that made him so popular his first year here. There are always reasons for things though.
If we get the Varone from two seasons ago, sure.
i would think at least 4 players on komet roster will not be here by christmas. we go thru this every year. there will be some roster moves without a doubt. the frankes have never stood pat and not adjust their team to be competitive.
Year 2, Varone wasn't the unknown commodity that he was in year1....
Varone is healthy now ... it was a year of injury for him last season ... Bloomington had a strong & hard training camp to get them in to condition for the CHL ... getting Varone back on the line with Fletcher & Schrock would be a great move for the Komets!! (though Rodger would need to change his number)
We all know he was not the same last season, but he had a good opening weekend with 2 goals for BLM. Being injury free now, he could be a great asset to have again, plus he has been here to win a championship here before...and knows what it takes to WIN!
Is Bloomington so far ahead of us that we need its castaways, or is it a positional need? Id personally like to see two defensemen to feplace two that the Komets have now, but theyll never get rid of those two :(
I can think of 3 D-Men we could replace. Rodger will have no problem cracking the line-up when he returns. At least he shouldn't, he is more physical and quicker than the 3 I have in mind.
Varone??? Might be worth a shot.....can we fit him under the salary cap currently?
How Healthy is Hukalo??? LOL....I think I might like him back on the grind of the 3rd line centering Schrock and Fletcher. I know he isn't a natural center, but he has done it before.
We could really use a natural center at this point who can dish the puck, fly around the ice and win face-offs.
Maybe Ward is that guy?
We'll see.
I'd pay Hukalo's salary out of my own pocket. You can never have too many Hukalo's..
Why was Varone cut in the first place from Bloomington? And the way it sounds it seems the Komets have been working harder this week during practice. Watched the interviews of Drouin and Dupuis and sweat was rolling off them. Hope it pays off. I was a little upset to hear them admit they were flat footed in the first game. With the type of off season there was and the anticipation of the fans about the Komets joining a new league, raising the banner and getting their rings and playing the defending CHL champs it was a perfect opportunity to go out and play a great game, win or lose. I realize Rapid City is a very good team and deserves credit, but the team should have been up for the game as much as the fans were, including myself.
from what I've been told ... 3 players were cut from Bloomington -- to make some room for another player to get a pay raise -- already ... seems that some things don't change in minor league hockey where certain players can dictate what moves a team makes. Bring VARONE back to Fort Wayne!!!
The 3 players were cut in Bloomington because they had 3 guys who had trouble getting immigration papers in line so they could play. It had nothing to do with pay raises....
A couple of toughts:
1) The Komets should have signed some guys in the offseason that played in the CHL within the last couple of years. You could definitely tell the players wanted to play the "IHL" style and weren't accustomed to the "CHL" style of play.
2) They could cut Ward and Legault and replace them with Varone and Hukalo. This league seems to be built more for skill players. Varone could return to his rookie season from and put up 25+ goals.
3) Without Chaulk, I'm not sure we have any centermen that can consistently win faceoffs. You can't consistently put any pressure on the opposing team in the attacking zone if you can't win faceoffs and keep possession of the puck. Chaulk was the best puck possession player the Komets have had in a long long time. Rapid City had to win 80% of the faceoffs in the game especially in their defensive zone.
4) We have some slow defenseman on this team they may not be able to keep up the whole year. I predict Dupuis will have 80+ hooking minors this year. Also, this league may not be built for Mironvic either. He is a solid defenseman but he doesn't have the skating speed like some others. He was built more for the IHL where you could clutch and grab.
Just a few thoughts. Feel free to rip me!
Just some thoughts. Feel free to rip me all you want.