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Tailing the Komets

Retired numbers

On another post a debate began about retired numbers, and the possibility of Colin Chaulk someday having his number 91 retired. The old rule was you had to play 10 years and they made exceptions for Steve Fletcher who played seven and one UHL game and for Reggie Primeau at eight years. I think they should stick with 10 years, which means Guy Dupuis would be a possibility and that is all until someone reaches that plateau again.

The Komets' current retired numbers:

5 Terry Pembroke; 6 Lionel Repka; 11 Len Thornson; 12 Reggie Primeau; 16 Eddie Long 18 Robbie Laird; 26 Colin Chin; 30 Robbie Irons; 77 Steve Fletcher. There is also 40 for Bob Chase, 58 for Ken Ullyot and 59 for Colin Lister.

To me, that should be it for a very long time. I'm a purist in that I think you have to go back to playing at least 10 years, and that means Guy Dupuis would be the last one to come up for consideration after this season. Retired numbers should be for exceptional players, and it's supposed to be very hard to achieve.

That's also a reason why the Komets re-started their Hall of Fame, to be able to include everyone else who has made sizeable contributions to the franchise.

What do you think?

As another debate, if the Komets had to name their five greatest players of all-time like is being done now in the Major League Baseball promotion, which five would you pick? That ought to keep you busy all weekend. LOL

Posted in: Komets

Comments

Teresa
Sun, 07/30/2006 - 6:44am

My list of five would be: Len Thornson, Eddie Long, Terry Pembroke, Robbie Irons and of course, my all-time favorite, Robbie Laird.

I totally agree that Terry McDougall should be considered for the HOF, as well as Jack Loos. Dougie was probably one of the best centers Komet hockey has ever seen and Jack was always a part of Komet hockey growing up for me. Where is that organ today, BTW?

Even though I think Colin Chaulk was one of the best players to don a Komet uniform in recent years, I don't think he has met the criteria to have his jersey retired...yet. Maybe he will decide to return to the K's after his stint in Italy. We can only hope!

chuckitt
Sun, 07/30/2006 - 12:04pm

lots of you are missing one thing, fletchers number is already retired! and a lot of it is a popularity contest, cause if youre not popular then you wont be around. to have a number retired you have to be popular, you have to have talents and you have to be respected, not only by your home crowd and teammates, but by the opponets as well. fletcher fit all of those. plus all you have to do is fill in the blank, we will probably never see a player like ----- ------ again. iff a players meets that, then youve got a retired number player!

Skate
Sun, 07/30/2006 - 1:57pm

No one has mentioned Dupuis for consideration, if and when the time is right.

If you don't retire the number of one of the most popular players ever to wear a Komet uniform (for whatever reason), who do you retire?

Fletcher

Skate
Sun, 07/30/2006 - 1:59pm

Chuckitt --

Do NOT reveal my secret identity.

Pete Ross was more dependable than you.

You can make a case that I am really Chuck Taine.

Jeff
Sun, 07/30/2006 - 8:37pm

Neal - I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts. As much as I liked Chaulk, he wasn't here long enough for his number to be retired.

Chuckitt, I agree Fletcher was one of the most popular players ever to wear the "K," but IMO, I'm not sure that I would have retired that one - Hall of Fame definitely - It's already done, though and I wouldn't ever want to see the numbers "unretired" like a previous, unnamed owner did.

Future Hall of Fame inductees - Jack Loos, Terry McDougall and Joe Franke (all without question). What does anyone think about Cal Purinton, Carey Lucyk, Jim Burton, Wally Schreiber, Ron Leef, Dale Baldwin, Al Sims, or Marc Boileau for the Komets' Hall?

Jeff
Sun, 07/30/2006 - 8:42pm

Blake,
With Chase already beyond his 50th year of broadcasting, would the Komets ever consider retiring 50 in his honor instead (or whatever number for the final year he announces) and returning 40 to service? Then, they could save that to retire for Dusty Imoo.

Hit Somebody!!!
Sun, 07/30/2006 - 9:03pm

Joe Franke? you have to be kidding right? You don't retire novelties....retire Icy's number next. Then Enema Man...then retire the Twisters number...etc. etc. etc. Come on guys....

Hit Somebody!!!
Sun, 07/30/2006 - 9:14pm

Retire Blakes number next.....Super Fan....what is your number?

1-800-SUPRFAN?

chuckitt
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 6:07am

boileau already in hall! id add jack loos mcdougal and calvin purinton. the rest were great players and well liked but not hall caliber

Greg
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 6:32am

Shoot, unless he decides that last year was his last Schreiber is still an active player.

Blake
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 6:57am

Here's who is already in the Hall of Fame
Komets Hall of Fame
Executive
Ken Ullyot 1958-82
Players
Eddie Long, No. 16, 1952-66
Len Thornson, No. 11, 1957-70
Terry Pembroke, No. 5, 1964-78
Robbie Irons, No. 30, 1967-81
Chuck Adamson, No. 1, 1962-67
Merv Dubchak, No. 15, 1963-70
Reggie Primeau, No. 12, 1960-69
Lionel Repka, No. 6, 1958-1969
Media
Bud Gallmeier, News-Sentinel
Bob Reid, Journal-Gazette
Carl Weigman, Journal-Gazette
2002
George Drysdale
John Goodwin
Robbie Laird
Roger Maisonneuve
Cal Purinton
Norm Waslawski
Ted Wright
George Polinuk
Colin Lister
Don Myers
Hilliard Gates
2003
Bob Chase
2004
Dick Zimmerman
Flossie Zimmerman
Ernie Berg
Ramon Perry
Harold Van Orman
Earl Stritmatter
Dick DeFay
Marc Boileau
Bobby Rivard

Jeff
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 7:12am

Blake,
Thanks for the info on the Komets Hall of Fame.

Hit,
I'm not looking at it from the 1-0 Joe aspect, I'm looking at the Joe Franke, who served as trainer or equipment manager for 20 years for Komet Hall of Fame consideration. George Polinuk is in the HOF - he was a trainer in the 1960s. Earl Stritmatter was a goal judge for years. Flossie Zimmerman was the box office manager for many years.

My point is it's already been established that other off-ice figures have been inducted in the HOF. I just think Joe Franke should be inducted at some point in the future for his many years of service to the team, not for 1-0 Joe.

Jeff
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 7:21am

OK,
I'll back off from some of my suggestions, but not all of them.

If I'm correct, didn't Sims coach here longer than Boileau? Sims won a Turner Cup and guided the "vagabond Komets" to the finals in 90-91.

How many IHL defenseman of the year awards did Burton win? At least 3 if I remember right. On top of that, he led the team in scoring at least once. If that doesn't merit HOF consideration, I don't know what does.

Greg
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 7:24am

I think Joe should and will get HOF honors sometime in the near future. As for Burton and Sims, I could either way with those.

Blake
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 7:28am

I think all of Jeff's suggestions will be in the hall eventually. Keep in mind, one of the reasons some of us pushed to restart the HOF was so the Komets could honor some of their off-ice personnel as much as the players. Joe will be in the HOF someday.

Ashley
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 8:03am

I really do hope someday we get to see Joe in the Hall of Fame. And Jeff is right, for all of his services he has done for the Komets, not for the 1-0 Joe part.

Greg
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 8:17am

Can somebody please tell me why Detroit went out and got Dominic Hasek? That makes no sense.

Komet Warrior
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 10:03am

Warrior Hockey Update

http://www.theuhl.com/press.aspx?rid=1700

Jungle Monkey
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 10:33am

Thanks for the update Warrior. However if you look up about 22 comments, I posted this last Friday. Old news OHIC.. Old news.

Komet Warrior
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 11:35am

Do you guys think the YOU SUCK SONG should be alowed?

Ashley
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 12:45pm

I would like to have the hey you suck song back, but who knows. The cool thing is that I can get that song as a ringtone now on my cell.

Blake
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 12:56pm

No, not until playoffs. Just my opinion, I don't know it as fact.

scoops
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 1:20pm

Just my opinion but it sure adds to the flavor not hearing that until the playoffs but I am greedy...I want to hear it all the time. I cringe at the thought of 74 games of Ole' but whatever.
I haven't been around all that much this summer but what is the OHIC and who is the Komet Warrior?

Hit Somebody!!!
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 1:25pm

No comment on either topic scoops....

chuckitt
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 1:35pm

you really dont want to know!

Hit Somebody!!!
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 2:01pm

I think it may be Blakes split personality and his network of old hockey news from days past. Rumor has it that Blakes wears tights, a cape, and a mask when he is blogging as the Warrior. OHIC is the Outside Hockey Information Center not to be confused with the Inside one. Other than that...most of us are unsure really what or who is behind all of it. Maybe it is a group of players from last years team trying to pull one over on us...or maybe it is Blakes. Or just maybe it is Scoops? LOL

blake
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 2:11pm

No, no, no, Hit! Only when I'm trying to hit on women. And don't forget the bitchin boots.

Hit Somebody!!!
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 2:16pm

What the H...? Bitchin boots? You go Blakes!!! You have to wear that opening night...wow!

Thanks for the visual....lol

Komet Warrior
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 3:58pm

Scoop the OHIC is the Outside Hockey Information Center! Would you like to join us? So fare we have ME, Mark, Ice King,Ameliea and Blakes!

Hit Somebody!!!
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 3:59pm

JUST SAY NO!!!!!!!! Scoops please.....

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