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Tailing the Komets

Saturday's Komets stories

Comments

Becky
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 9:15am

Your assessment was pretty accurate and Al's remarks show how clueless he has become and unfortunately how much he has "lost" this team. There will be more physical action at the Vera Bradley sale than there was at that hockey game. And it makes me very sad to say those words as I have been a fan for 36 years.

AJ
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 12:17pm

Becky, you may not like his coaching style or system...but do you really think he has become.clueless in regards to the game of hockey? In your eyes, the struggles this season prove that his 30 years of playing, coaching, studying, winning, losing recruiting, motivating and failing mean squat? Wow! when he retires from coaching, I sure hope he is given respect and appreciation from Komet fans, media and management. Most fans I know respect the guy and his knowledge of the.game...even if they don't care for his method...they still appreciate what he has done and experienced.

Alan
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 12:56pm

Guess what, everybody?  It's GROUNDHOG DAY!!

Yep, that furry little weather seer and prognosticator woke up, stuck his head out of his burrow, and announced that he definitely saw his shadow.  You know what that means?  There will be six more weeks of.......Komet hockey.

After the game last night it may be more than we can take.

Bronsin
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 1:16pm

Those 3 points they gave up with blown leads against Reading and Wheeling sure look alot larger now.

AJ
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 1:17pm

You are correct Alan, that may push a few of us over the edge..it's January, it's freezing outside, there is no end to it anytime soon, and the Komet's refuse to show us a well played game at home.

Becky
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 2:20pm

No AJ! I should have clarified my reference to being clueless. Al is a very intelligent hockey coach but for whatever reasons, he has been too stubborn or too comfortable in this job to admit his systems may be a little dated and predictable. On a recent "Sound Off" episode, he said his systems were just fine but this years team was not talented enough to carry them out...not only did he throw his team under the bus (IMO ) but whose fault would it be that less talented players are the components of our team? I certainly didn't recruit or sign any of them but as a long time season ticket holder , I am unhappy with the way things have been going and frustrated for answers.

whole_n_one
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 3:43pm

Becky, I agree 100% with what you are saying.  If the team is not talented enough for "the system", then it is his responsibility as the coach and leader of this team to implement a "system" that the team can use.  It is also his responsibility to make sure that the team is buying in to the way he wants them to play.  That is why they have the position of "coach".   The only time that I have seen this team motivated to play on home ice was back in the fall when the scouts were in the press box.   That, coupled with the total lack of any kind of identity on home ice, is a pretty sure sign that he does not have the respect of his players and that they have tuned him out.   As a coach, once you lose the respect and confidence of your players, you no longer have the ability to implement or execute anything. 

If he is "director of player personell", then is is also his reponsibility to recruit and bring in players that are talented enough to execute "the system".  In my opinion he has assembled a team that has no identity.  We are not big, offensive minded, defensive minded, fast, physical, or good on special teams.  We get pushed off the puck every game, don't hit, aren't fast enough to play an end to end game either.  At some point he has to take responsibility for the performance of his team.  I think it is funny that he has thrown "his" players under the bus all year long, but has never once stepped up and claimed responsibility for anything. 

I hope that we come out tonight and reclaim our home ice, I really do.  But I think that it is obvious that after this season, that it is time for a change behind the bench.  Fort Wayne is a great place to play and I would think that Mr. Franke could attract a talented coach, either seasoned or an up-and-comer, to get behind the bench and put some fire back into our franchise and team.

AC
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 3:50pm

I think Brian Gratz would be a good fit.

Anonymous
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 4:23pm

Bruce Ramsay would be a good fit too

AJ
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 4:50pm

He has thrown his players under the bus all year long? I knew as soon as Sims name was brought up that whole in one would be along soon. His worn out system that you think is a joke sure isn't a joke to the leaders on this team. Maybe you know better than those guys too but after a few games this year they were interviewed and several of them said the key to good games is playing the system, when we all play the system we win, when we don't play the system as a team, we lose. Whole in one, can you post a few links to interviews, articles, or video clips that clearly show Sims
always throwing his players under the bus this season? Thanks. Oh and Becky thank you for responding to my question...I understand what you meant now. I don't agree but discussing the team would be boring if we all agreed and shared the same opinions.

whole_n_one
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 6:22pm

No, AJ I will not go to the trouble of looking up every article this year.   But I do read the paper every day and every article about the K's and it's always that same line......guys aren't buying in.......the guys take too many penalties........we are more relaxed on the road.......Well, his job as coach is to get guys to buy in........he hasn't done that in my opinion. 

Yes, I am not a Sims fan.  I think everyone on here knows that, so calling it out like ooohhhhh, "i know whole n one would be on here" is not that big of revalation.  I am entitled to my opinion just like everyone else and I enjoy watching the komets play.  As a paying customer, I don't feel bad about posting my feelings.  I don't feel that he has control of this team anymore.  Do I know it for a fact?  No, I do not; because I am not a player in that locker room. 

If you want to give your opinion on why he is doing a good job and debate about that, I would enjoy reading it. 

anthony
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 6:31pm

Fort Wayne & Evansville are getting a rude awakening for thinking that the players who made them good in the CHL dont belong in the ECHL & there coaches systems are out dated for a league like this ...I think Chaulk, Butler , Smith , Schrock and more days in the ECHL are over i think this team as it sits now are better fix for the CHL ...

AJ
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 7:48pm

Ok no problem. You could very well be right...but you also thought the team was doomed last year with Sims as a coach. You seemed pretty sure that he had lost his team and their respect. You were a little off base with that thinking though..that team with the outdated coaching barked through and didn't stop until they won the championship. Do u give him any respect for that or no? So who knows, this year you could be 100% correct...hope you are off base again though and we have a great end to the season.

Bronsin
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 8:12pm

Coach Al Sims said: “We’re not worried about getting fired up for starts.

Really? Ya think maybe that's a problem?

AJ
Sun, 02/03/2013 - 5:15am

I see a couple of suggestions for coaches that would be a good fit here. One was Bruce Ramsay....I see he is a coach in the chl...his team is in last place in the league. What about this guy makes you think he would do better here in a higher league, when he is in the middle of a losing season in that ?
The other guy mentioned..Brian Gratz is also a coach in the chl...I do recall that fans thought his teams were soft and played very boring hockey. What is the reason you think he would be a success in fort Wayne?

Great game for the Komets tonight...big win over a first place team is a step in the right direction. Good job guys..congrats to the players and coach sims. We have won 3 of our last 4....keep it up!

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