Besides changing some of the leadership roles this week, the Fort Wayne Komets are also working harder in practice, skating longer and harder, and hitting during drills in front of the net and in the corners.
``Guys were getting gritty in the corners, and I think every practice has to be like that,'' new alternate captain Leo Thomas said. ``If it's up to me to start hitting guys in practice, I will. It has to be game-like situations in practice, and then it will carry over to the game.”
Thomas and alternate captain Kaleigh Schrock were the leaders in practice Wednesday, a day after Guy Dupuis was removed as captain and P.C. Drouin as alternate caption.
``I think it's a wake-up call, but at the same time, I think those guys are still going to lead by example,'' Schrock said. ``This is a team that needed a wake-up call, and it's a good time to do that, but those are character guys and they are going to be leaders without an `A' or a `C.' They've been good leaders, but unfortunately, there had to be an example, and it just happened to be those guys.''
The Komets are still attempting to make some trades and will have to make some roster moves as Danko Mironovic and Derek Patrosso are ready to come off injured reserve. Defenseman Craig Cescon may need to sit out another week with a concussion.
The Komets have lost five games in a row heading into Friday's contest at Quad City, and have the Central Hockey League's worst record at 5-13-1.
``I think we can do everything better,'' Thomas said. ``A lot of things are going wrong right now. Obviously we're not scoring. I think we're playing pretty good defensively. Our overall game has to be better. We have to work way harder. Teams are just out-manning us in the corners and stuff like that.''
Schrock said changing leaders will not change the season. Maybe changing practices can help things improve.
``Winning is a habit, and so is losing,'' he said. ``This year we've tried to just turn it on and off at times, and that can't happen. We won three in a row, turned it on for a weekend, and then went back to the same old habits. It starts in practice. Today and yesterday were long, hard practices, and that's what we need to break this habit. We need to start winning battles in practice, and I think that's the key really.
``Everyone has to be better and step up a bit,” he said. “That's the best way to look at it. We don't have a leader? Well, we all have to be leaders now. Everyone has to be a captain on this team.”
Comments
"The Jungle" is now a petting zoo :(
and "We make Petting Zoo's Fun"
Ok.
I joked alot last night.
I can't take anymore of this BS.
And let me assure you, that is all this is.
This is a team that can't get rid of high-priced players for different reasons.....no one wants them, they are tied into sponsors, they are tied into the community, and we can't pull the trigger on fixing the problems at hand because of those reasons....and probably other things too that we don't know yet.
The reason this is BS.....do you think this so called "change" is actually a positive move in what all ready seems to be a very volatile locker-room. You think stirring up a group of guys that don't like one another will actually result in some new found love and harmony?
I don't buy it for one minute.
This is window dressing.
Colin Chaulk needs to walk faster across the Atlantic, or take a boat or plane I guess.
Chaulk may help, but I don't think that if he came back that he would be able to wave a magic wand and make everything all better.
Do your talking on the ice guys...show me there.
Uh, JR, if they do that, then I'm going to have make up stuff out of thin air to put in the paper and you're all going to be awfully bored.
Huh, i've seen this before
I think it reminds me of 03-04
That was the year i think
We retooled in decemeber
Roared back and
Otherwise dominated
No 1 could stop the comeback
Great ending, runners up?
Hey Blake...if you just make it all up...you could get a job with the New York Times!
On a lighter note, Schebig hasn't changed a bit, we were suppose to meet at a place for our christmas lunch today and he ends up on the other side of town in a restaraunt we've never talked about, i think he felt bad so he said he would drop my gift off at the office, i ate his gift, got him cookie cottage and it was good! (more people read this than facebook so i thought i would post that here), it is hockey related too because Schebig is hockey.
i still say Komets make playoffs and finish runner up in finals, and we hit 35 wins in the regular season and Superfan gets the FWN suite to let 16 great bloggers use for the evening. Me, Hit, 3 red headed hockey chicks, 11 others can battle it out, we can argue hockey face to face that way you'll know i'm right about everything.
Burgee Furtado or is it Nellie?
How about discussing hockey, not arguing........ Discussing means your willing to listen to the other point of view and think about what they are saying. Arguing insinuates yours is the only correct view and we all know that isnt correct...lol
Blake, you know what I meant.........
JR gets it! "Arguing insinuates yours is the only correct view"
This is way cool.
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4128653
I love that show! That is cool.
Man, I had really missed Burgee.
What have you been smoking Burgee??