White beat the Black 4-3 after the Black led 3-1 at the intermission. Stephon Thorne, Jamie Milam and Eric Yngwe each scored once, and Tom Mele and Leo Thomas scored twice. Thorne put a wrist shot just under the crossbar and over goaltender Eric Beech's glove for his third goal in three days. Milan got a blast off a faceoff that was moving so fast nobody saw it. (In fact, that's the picture below). Mele scored two beautiful goals, snap shots top shelf on Nick Boucher. Both of Leo's goals game in front crashing the net, and Colin Chaulk set up Yngwe after a turnover when the rookie was heading to the net.
Some notes: Jesse Bennefield says he hopes he might be able to skate Friday... Jean-Michel Rizk continues to impress using his size and speed to battle for the puck... Tristin Llewellyn looked much better today on the defense and was a force all over the ice... Brandon Warner had two assists and had a much better day, as did Frankie DeAngelis... Dan LaPointe continues to impress at both ends. I think he's been the second-best center in camp so far behind Chaulk... David Starenky is always giving everyone a little extra nudge after each whistle. He and Dustin Molle together are very hard to get around or through... It's shocking how little you notice Bryant Molle, but it's because he moves the puck so quickly and never gets caught out of position. He just always does the right thing and makes it look easy. He and Milam are great together... On one play, Mele stickhandled through about four guys at center ice to set up a teammate for a shot that missed the net... Now that his immigration papers are finalized, Artem Podshendyalov will be in town Tuesday and will start practicing on Wednesday.
Going into camp, I thought the biggest battles would be among the eight defensemen going for seven spots, but that's totally wrong. There are some very good forwards who probably won't make the team. Right now I've got 14 solid forwards competing for 11 spots. Doesn't mean that's what the coaches have, howerver. Thorne, Rizk and Yngwe have been very impressive all over the ice, and their size really stands out.
More later.
Comments
Those 3 had better make the team then. If they don't...I call BS on this whole process. And I won't be the only guy saying it.
I don't hear one guys name at all. And he is one that should be shining and should be giving it 100% this time around. He has to be on the ropes right now. How can he keep up with these kids that are outskating him and outplaying him.
Thorne, Rizk, and Ywenge better make this team. Period. End of Story.
Pretty stupid thing to say considering you haven't seen any of the scrimmages, I'm not a pro scout and none of us have a say in the selections. Unless you are just trying to stir the pot.
For the record, P.C. Drouin has been skating very hard but hasn't had many chances offensively. He's done a very good job forechecking, and he's been doing a lot of coaching of the kids. He's been busting it pretty good.
It's a very interesting team that Ft. Wayne has put together this year. It ought to be a good season to sit back and watch.
One thing a team will need is more than one leader. In this case, I believe this will play out which veterans will be kept on to mentor and help "coach" the rookies. I believe this year there will be more younger, less experienced players on this team.
Sunday Nov.6th tickets for sale
$40 for 2.
Only 9 days to go. Man its been a long offseason. Sounds to me like the younger guys are impressive enough to make team and be worthy of the Komets jersey. Its a good situation to be in to have to choose 11 spots from 14 guys, 15 if you count A-Pod.
I was already counting APOD.
Out with the old, in with the new....
Lets start a new crop of Komets fan favorites...
Not stirring the pot.
Stupid??? I know you think so.
You clamour about those 3 young guys looking impressive and dominate the last 3-4 days and I say if they are as good as you say they are and they stand-out that much and their size, speed, and presence is that great....How could you argue those 3 shouldn't make the team Mr. Sebring?
Stop attacking your bloggers. Not cool.
No kidding.....as a completely innocent bystander I find it insulting that somebody that actually contributes to the boards like Hit gets attacked by a professional writer.
Does that make the original person who REPORTED the things Hit was agreeing with stupid also? I'M glad there's no hypocrisy with namecalling on here. Bunch of morans...
I stopped reading Ice Chips because the "professional" that runs that blog started being an unprofessional, incompetent jackass. This blog has always been more insightful and more professional in my opinion. Mr. Sebring, please don't become the next Justin Cohn. Thank you.
Wow guys why dont you get back to talking about hockey instead of crying about if someone called you stupid or not.. Plus you cant take offense to things people put one here because you cant tell the tone or facial expression they are using when they say it. Im just looking forward to seeing this team in action! Who cares about everything else, lets get this season started
I think everyone should show up at practice and voice their opinions face to face at canlan.
I'll be there...
Do I have to use my real name???
:)
Don't try to twist the stuff I write to fit your little personal tirade about someone else who was not even mentioned. I've been very carefull to say again and again over the last three days that the things I see are somewhat limited because of everything else I've had to do and should not reflect on the individuals not named. And yet that is what happened.
Unless you snuck into the building, you have absolutely no idea how Drouin is matching up compared to these three kids. None. Part of the reason for that is that I have not written much about the veterans because you already know all about them. I'm concentrating on the kids as much as possible so you can get a little understanding how they are performing. I absolutely did not say those three kids were out-skating and out-performing Drouin.
You can have an opinion about a player or issue all you want, but when you have no basis to back up what you said, yes, that is either stupid or stirring the pot. Don't like getting called out on it? Leave. If you want to say it by yourself about the specific individual, that's perfectly OK, but don't try to sucker everyone by making it look like I'm backing you up on it. That's bull.
Why am I so upset about this? Because in two months, someone will come back and say, ``But Blake said these three kids were so much better than P.C.,'' when I didn't say anything like that at any time. You all know that happens and has happened on here before.
The other big no-no on this blog? This has not happened in a while, but it has happened. Don't start a rumor about something here, and then go to another site and say, ``Well, I saw it on Blake's blog so it must be true.'' That is total garbage because then you're trying to take advantage of my credibility for your own agenda. If I say or write something, I'm very ready to stand up to it and take the consequences. There's enough stuff I get called out on legitimately that I shouldn't have to be held accountable for something someone else starts.
Here's what I will say about Drouin: Like it, hate it, whatever, right now, from WHAT I HAVE SEEN, he is playing well enough that it's likely he'll make the team. As hard as he's skating, he's still one of the top six forwards on this roster.
If anyone would like to have an opinion about that, have at it.
I will be there too. So will Charlie.
What was wrong with my opinion Burgee? 3 young standouts according to Mr. Sebring that have been described as dominate, impressive, etc.....and I say if they are as good as he says....they should make this team. End of story.
Explain why that opinion needs a face to face discussion?
For the record, I don't think Hit Somebody is stupid. I think what he tried to pull was. He's way too smart for that.
Interesting....
Sorry; but PC could look like the next coming of Mario Lemieux out there right now; but too many years of him showing up ready to play for some games while taking others off leaves me with the opinion that I want to see fresh faces on the Komets roster this season...
Replace guys who have become waaaay too comfortable here in Ft. Wayne like Drouin, Thomas, and Warner with guys Thorne, Ywgne, Mele, Rizk, etc...
Lets get younger and hungrier. What makes me worry is that they will let good young talent go, keep the vets/established guys and then those guys will settle back into their usual slow starting selves after camp while those younger guys get picked up and are no longer available to the K's...
I dont need to see training camp to have that opinion....
Good.
I am rooting for PC. He is a great guy, and I will say again...if he makes this team with the amount of talent we have in camp, then he deserves it and should have a great year.
You have mentioned those 3 kids in all of your writings in camp. I took that as meaning they were having standout camps.
If you are accusing me of starting a rumor on here....you are wrong. And I am calling you out on it.
The attacking has been on mightbite. No one can deny that.
I am excited about hockey to start and will be at both practices and both games. I will cheer and root all of them on.
Thanks for explaining yourself when it comes to why you have mentioned some players and left out others in your writings. That makes sense now. I guess it is safe to say that no one is safe and none of these guys performances in camp so far mean much sense I read where things that happen in camp don't always matter compared to what happens in the 2 pre-season games.
I don't agree with that at all. But it is what it is.
I was not stirring the pot. And I only pointed out that PC has gotten no mention. And 3 different media sources in town have all interviewed him, asked him tough questions, and made it sound like if he didn't come to camp impressing everyone, that he was not going to make the team. I don't think it is fair to him that he gets called out and drug over the coals and then nothing is said in 4 days about how he has played other than when Mr. Sebring wrote that he was the first to have to take a lap for dogging it so to speak.
I want PC on this team. I like him alot. I think when he is good, he is one of the better players at this level and he is special on this team.
I know you will not like this post, but it is my opinion, and my right to respind to your accusations.
I really like you Blake. I don't understand all this.
If this is truly an open camp, I would think you would be reporting on the vets as much as possible since they are 'fighting' for the same jobs that these new kids are???
I think most would like to know what these guys are doing differently this time around to attract attention to themselves and assure management and coaching that this year IS going to be different.
How are these established players showing that they will for the first time in years come out ready to play hard from game one and not make the fans endure anymore 'wait til after Christmas' bullpucky?
I believe reporting should be even across the board if these guys are all fighting for the same spots. It would go a long way to making those of us that are skeptical about this 'no spot is safe this camp' believe it as actual fact...
My 2 cents...
It's too easy to stir this pot. I wasnt referring to any one individual, I just said I think everyone should show up at practice and voice their opinions face to face at canlan.
Any red headed hockey chicks showing up? Ooh la la
Will Icy be there? Puck bunnies? Snuffulupuguses? Jeep chicks? I want to do chuck a puck and catch flying chickens.
Looking forward to reading about the Komets and hopeful future contributions address them exclusively. Growing a bit tired of the juvenile sideshow.
JR1 I am glad someone else around here is ready to send out the vets. When I said it last year I was almost burned at the skate by many.
As far as PC goes, I didn't want him back last year, don't want him back this year. But...Blake is correct that if the motivated PC shows up, he is one of the top six on this team and probably top 30 in the league. Just like the captain if he is here I am going to support him and hope that he does well....then pick back up next year with my hopes that they are not brought back lol.
I'd like to see PC on the third line. I don't want to see him skating with the first or second line anymore. He can be a mentor to the young players and if he can put up 50 points again this year I think he can be a positive contributor.
Do you really want a veteran player on your 3rd line? I don't.
Third line should be younger, quicker, physical types.
I am super excited about this team.
Reading the articles here sounds like there are some super talented players in camp.
Hope we see more of this.
At what expense?
The K's brought in young guys WITH character... Guys who some were captains of thier teams. There is a method to their madness, so to speak.... IMO... Lets these quality kids become the next Komet favorites. Up until this camp, there hasnt been much to complain about as the same old vets 'survived' camps because there wasnt anyone realistically there to challenge their spots. This camp seems to be different. We see many more guys coming from very good junior leagues like the OHL, QMJHL, etc... and those kids played in those leagues for a reason... These arent the kids they were bringing in from the SPHL, or junior leagues you have never heard of.
I cheer for this team as well, it doesnt mean I have to like every player on the roster; but I do want this team to do well...
Change is needed with some fresh faces, hungry players hell bent on making a name for themselves...