Well I know a few fans on here were talking about how they are tired of Sims throwing the team under the bus after losses this season. Not tonight!
sgriffith
Wed, 02/13/2013 - 7:13am
That is a coach who knows he has fragile team right now and him trying to maintain a positive environment.
Ron Heathman
Wed, 02/13/2013 - 9:17am
i haven't read anything in any newspaper that would indicate Sims was throwing his team under the bus as you said in your post.
AJ
Wed, 02/13/2013 - 10:40am
I totally agree Ron! This was last week..I was discussing it with whole in one and Becky I believe...they were not happy with Sims way of reacting to losses by blaming the team. I did not recall him doing that this season...that was my point in my comment in this article.
RG2
Wed, 02/13/2013 - 4:08pm
Regardless of who the coach is or the strength of the ownership, This team has a lockerroom full of winners. Players who know how to suck it up and give everything. We have all witnessed their attitude over the past 5 years and its been contagious. Maybe this year the leadership needs to be stronger then ever. Stronger then its been. Some players get a taste of Paris, they dont want to come back. Complacency?
Winning is an attitude. A Team attitude. I dont see a Team. I see individuals. They need to start playing for each other. No matter who the coach is, no matter what the logo is on the front of the sweater. Each other.
Andy Sherman
Wed, 02/13/2013 - 5:26pm
RG2...who in the room has been here for the last 5 years? Chaulk is the only one. Boucher is still around but not playing-those two guys are arguably the biggest consistent pieces of the Championship years, but who else? Much has been made over the years of Boucher getting on his guys and making them accountable. I don't see much accountability in this team. It's the same thing game after game with Chaulk not being in the room as a player. Schrock has been a third line guy his whole career here and only been here for 2 of the four championships, playing a supporting role to the impact guys. As much as you need guys like this they are a "smaller" piece of the puzzle. You take a impact guy out who is a winner and it's felt more. Milam and Smith have won, but have only been here a season. Syro won one cup here. Rizk, Maggio were rookies and followed the lead of the older guys. There is no one else left from those Championship years, except Henley. The winning attitude is gone. It's blatantly obvious. Previous seasons there were always holdovers from those past teams but that is all but gone now...I just think that feeling is gone. I think this team has lost certain players that commanded the room (Chaulk being hurt has stung a lot) and forced a certain culture onto guys and made them fall in line. I don't see that anymore. I see bad effort after bad effort and no accountability.
chuckitt
Thu, 02/14/2013 - 1:05am
youre missing the point. he didnt mean the same people for 5 years. he meant over the last five there have always been winners who knew how to lead. guys like bertram and pc and guy. this team may still catch fire but come on people, its the first year in a new league with different style of play. you all whine because we arent in first place, and sure thats ok but lets be realistic. as an owner or as a coach the realistic goal for our first year in this league is to make the playoffs and go from there. when you are only allowed four veterns and one of them has been hurt the majority of the year it is hard to develp leadership and team chemistry. throw in all the call ups and send downs and it is a completly different culture than what anyone is used too. this first season is a good learning curve for all to experience and will make it easier to move forward. i for one am glad we are competitive and remember, we still have a chance for first in our division. just think how frustrated you all would be if we were one of the teams in this league with a really lousy record and no chance to even make the playoffs. how lucky we are to be aable to go to games and be entertained. hopefuly we will turn this season around and be even better at the finish.
RG2
Thu, 02/14/2013 - 11:02am
Chuckitt, thanks for watching my back. Yes, you get the point. You have a rotating player entrance door. Leadership from the core players has to be even stronger this year to get this myriad of players to all pull on the same rope every game. Your linemates are changing every game. I think as the season winds down and playoffs get close, success wont be about heart and will power, it will be about which team gets the most talent sent down from the AHL. Lets hope the Komets can prove that theory wrong. They did in 1993 against the Gulls......younger legs helped too.
I just think the call ups and send downs create a cohesive distraction. It makes it that much more difficult to meld as a team. Its like dating two women at the same time and you can only afford to buy flowers for one of them.
Andy Sherman
Thu, 02/14/2013 - 1:49pm
You guys can't blame call ups. Every team in the ECHL deals w the lock out and call ups. It is a level playing field. I for one, have strong doubts as to whether this team will make the playoffs, and if they do I think they will be swept or be hastily shown the door by the higher seed. RG2, I understand you talking about the culture that the "winners" have had in the past. I just don't see that this season. Sure the roster has been unstable, but welcome to the ECHL. A league that many Komet fans cried for and are now complaining about. Hmmm. Spoiled much? We had a stretch of successful years and now we have a mediocre one. It's the way things go. You can't, despite what many fans seem to expect, win every season. Growing pains should be expected.
Alan
Thu, 02/14/2013 - 3:24pm
Andy Sherman, I have to disagree with your comment "spoiled much". In 1072-73 the Komets won the Turner Cup ( my favorite Komet team, by the way). Despite finishing in first in the regular season a few times, it took twenty years until they won the Cup again.
In those twenty years we had some pretty bad teams here. We lost the original Komet franchse as David Welker moved it to Albany, New York to become the Choppers Before Welker, Ken Ullyot bought the team and saved it ( and the IHL, too). Colin Lister took over and about went bankrupt. Then, with the vacancy left by Welker, the Franke's came in and bought the defunct Flint Spirits. This franchise, today, is the old Spirits franchise, not the original Komets franchise. The Franke's brought the Spirits franchise to Fort Wayne and renamed it the Komets. The "Komets" have been here since 1952, but not the original franchise. Lots of troubled water have passed through the Coliseum since 1952.
I don't think I'm spoiled by their recent success, and neither should anyone else.
Andy Sherman
Thu, 02/14/2013 - 8:35pm
Alan, I will clarify my comments regarding "spoiled much". It was not directed at any one person, including yourself. If you say you aren't spoiled, that's fine and I believe that. But you have to admit that given recent success or the team, that there is a faction of fans-and I believe it to be a large one-that complains a lot and never seems to be content. We are now in the ECHL, a league fans called for. Now people are complaning about the constant player personnel movement and not knowing who the players are from night to night. Welcome to the ECHL. This is no surprise. This is the way the ECHL is. Gone are the days of having guys stick around for 4,5,6, or more years. There will be a few exceptions as always, but this will continue to disappear. Chaulk, and to a lesser extent Boucher are the last to remain from those earlier teams, and to an even lesser extent our hometown boy Schrock, but given his performance this year he could be looking for another place to play. I understand fans voicing their displeasure and we absolutely have the right to do so. But it is unrealistic to expect the team to be world beaters every year. What we should expect is an honest, hard working effort. Too many time this season we haven't even got that from the team. I think we are blessed to have had hockey consistently since the early 50's. I myself was not alive then, but I appreciate the history that the Komet name embodies. I think we as fans have had it pretty darn good. Sure, there have been problems over the last 61 years, and even now there is serious instability in the industry. But we as a fan base never need to worry about the team going under, as we as a community support it very well and also have owners that rely on the team and it's success as their livlihood; unlike many owners that are well to do and do it as a part time hobby. What I think the recent contraction of minor league hockey has done, is cull off some of the weaker franchises, and it will continue to do so. I don't think FTW is THE top minor destination for players anymore. There are many good owners that take very good care of the players, that have NEW good buildings and some that play in great cities. Competition for talent is higher than ever, and maybe we can attribute that to the teams lack of success this season? I just don't think it's there this season...
Alan
Fri, 02/15/2013 - 3:41pm
Thanks, Andy Sherman. I can't argue with anything in your retort. The difference may be, or probably is, the age of the person. For me, I remember too well those frustrating teams of the late sixties, seventies and eighties. Lots of stuff was going on and it was very frustrating to see the Toledos, Muskegons etc. always seem to win while the Komets were the "bridesmaids". When I take that all in account, I will never be spoiled. If a fan of the last ten years was whining too much, then yes, I can see the term spoiled being used.
One thing we must all guard against is to get too complacent, however. Once the front office, management, coaches, players, and fans reach the point of being satisfied, then effort suffers.
Losing isn't the sin. Not giving it your "all" is the sin.
With a new league comes a new learning curve.The ECHL is a new kind of league for Komet fans. It's here and we all have to adjust to it or not attend. Unfortunately I think some fans, having been tempered by 60 years of experience are not as satisfied as we would, or the Franke's for that matter, had hoped. Let's see how quick we can all catch on.
Comments
Well I know a few fans on here were talking about how they are tired of Sims throwing the team under the bus after losses this season. Not tonight!
That is a coach who knows he has fragile team right now and him trying to maintain a positive environment.
i haven't read anything in any newspaper that would indicate Sims was throwing his team under the bus as you said in your post.
I totally agree Ron! This was last week..I was discussing it with whole in one and Becky I believe...they were not happy with Sims way of reacting to losses by blaming the team. I did not recall him doing that this season...that was my point in my comment in this article.
Regardless of who the coach is or the strength of the ownership, This team has a lockerroom full of winners. Players who know how to suck it up and give everything. We have all witnessed their attitude over the past 5 years and its been contagious. Maybe this year the leadership needs to be stronger then ever. Stronger then its been. Some players get a taste of Paris, they dont want to come back. Complacency?
Winning is an attitude. A Team attitude. I dont see a Team. I see individuals. They need to start playing for each other. No matter who the coach is, no matter what the logo is on the front of the sweater. Each other.
RG2...who in the room has been here for the last 5 years? Chaulk is the only one. Boucher is still around but not playing-those two guys are arguably the biggest consistent pieces of the Championship years, but who else? Much has been made over the years of Boucher getting on his guys and making them accountable. I don't see much accountability in this team. It's the same thing game after game with Chaulk not being in the room as a player. Schrock has been a third line guy his whole career here and only been here for 2 of the four championships, playing a supporting role to the impact guys. As much as you need guys like this they are a "smaller" piece of the puzzle. You take a impact guy out who is a winner and it's felt more. Milam and Smith have won, but have only been here a season. Syro won one cup here. Rizk, Maggio were rookies and followed the lead of the older guys. There is no one else left from those Championship years, except Henley. The winning attitude is gone. It's blatantly obvious. Previous seasons there were always holdovers from those past teams but that is all but gone now...I just think that feeling is gone. I think this team has lost certain players that commanded the room (Chaulk being hurt has stung a lot) and forced a certain culture onto guys and made them fall in line. I don't see that anymore. I see bad effort after bad effort and no accountability.
youre missing the point. he didnt mean the same people for 5 years. he meant over the last five there have always been winners who knew how to lead. guys like bertram and pc and guy. this team may still catch fire but come on people, its the first year in a new league with different style of play. you all whine because we arent in first place, and sure thats ok but lets be realistic. as an owner or as a coach the realistic goal for our first year in this league is to make the playoffs and go from there. when you are only allowed four veterns and one of them has been hurt the majority of the year it is hard to develp leadership and team chemistry. throw in all the call ups and send downs and it is a completly different culture than what anyone is used too. this first season is a good learning curve for all to experience and will make it easier to move forward. i for one am glad we are competitive and remember, we still have a chance for first in our division. just think how frustrated you all would be if we were one of the teams in this league with a really lousy record and no chance to even make the playoffs. how lucky we are to be aable to go to games and be entertained. hopefuly we will turn this season around and be even better at the finish.
Chuckitt, thanks for watching my back. Yes, you get the point. You have a rotating player entrance door. Leadership from the core players has to be even stronger this year to get this myriad of players to all pull on the same rope every game. Your linemates are changing every game. I think as the season winds down and playoffs get close, success wont be about heart and will power, it will be about which team gets the most talent sent down from the AHL. Lets hope the Komets can prove that theory wrong. They did in 1993 against the Gulls......younger legs helped too.
I just think the call ups and send downs create a cohesive distraction. It makes it that much more difficult to meld as a team. Its like dating two women at the same time and you can only afford to buy flowers for one of them.
You guys can't blame call ups. Every team in the ECHL deals w the lock out and call ups. It is a level playing field. I for one, have strong doubts as to whether this team will make the playoffs, and if they do I think they will be swept or be hastily shown the door by the higher seed. RG2, I understand you talking about the culture that the "winners" have had in the past. I just don't see that this season. Sure the roster has been unstable, but welcome to the ECHL. A league that many Komet fans cried for and are now complaining about. Hmmm. Spoiled much? We had a stretch of successful years and now we have a mediocre one. It's the way things go. You can't, despite what many fans seem to expect, win every season. Growing pains should be expected.
Andy Sherman, I have to disagree with your comment "spoiled much". In 1072-73 the Komets won the Turner Cup ( my favorite Komet team, by the way). Despite finishing in first in the regular season a few times, it took twenty years until they won the Cup again.
In those twenty years we had some pretty bad teams here. We lost the original Komet franchse as David Welker moved it to Albany, New York to become the Choppers Before Welker, Ken Ullyot bought the team and saved it ( and the IHL, too). Colin Lister took over and about went bankrupt. Then, with the vacancy left by Welker, the Franke's came in and bought the defunct Flint Spirits. This franchise, today, is the old Spirits franchise, not the original Komets franchise. The Franke's brought the Spirits franchise to Fort Wayne and renamed it the Komets. The "Komets" have been here since 1952, but not the original franchise. Lots of troubled water have passed through the Coliseum since 1952.
I don't think I'm spoiled by their recent success, and neither should anyone else.
Alan, I will clarify my comments regarding "spoiled much". It was not directed at any one person, including yourself. If you say you aren't spoiled, that's fine and I believe that. But you have to admit that given recent success or the team, that there is a faction of fans-and I believe it to be a large one-that complains a lot and never seems to be content. We are now in the ECHL, a league fans called for. Now people are complaning about the constant player personnel movement and not knowing who the players are from night to night. Welcome to the ECHL. This is no surprise. This is the way the ECHL is. Gone are the days of having guys stick around for 4,5,6, or more years. There will be a few exceptions as always, but this will continue to disappear. Chaulk, and to a lesser extent Boucher are the last to remain from those earlier teams, and to an even lesser extent our hometown boy Schrock, but given his performance this year he could be looking for another place to play. I understand fans voicing their displeasure and we absolutely have the right to do so. But it is unrealistic to expect the team to be world beaters every year. What we should expect is an honest, hard working effort. Too many time this season we haven't even got that from the team. I think we are blessed to have had hockey consistently since the early 50's. I myself was not alive then, but I appreciate the history that the Komet name embodies. I think we as fans have had it pretty darn good. Sure, there have been problems over the last 61 years, and even now there is serious instability in the industry. But we as a fan base never need to worry about the team going under, as we as a community support it very well and also have owners that rely on the team and it's success as their livlihood; unlike many owners that are well to do and do it as a part time hobby. What I think the recent contraction of minor league hockey has done, is cull off some of the weaker franchises, and it will continue to do so. I don't think FTW is THE top minor destination for players anymore. There are many good owners that take very good care of the players, that have NEW good buildings and some that play in great cities. Competition for talent is higher than ever, and maybe we can attribute that to the teams lack of success this season? I just don't think it's there this season...
Thanks, Andy Sherman. I can't argue with anything in your retort. The difference may be, or probably is, the age of the person. For me, I remember too well those frustrating teams of the late sixties, seventies and eighties. Lots of stuff was going on and it was very frustrating to see the Toledos, Muskegons etc. always seem to win while the Komets were the "bridesmaids". When I take that all in account, I will never be spoiled. If a fan of the last ten years was whining too much, then yes, I can see the term spoiled being used.
One thing we must all guard against is to get too complacent, however. Once the front office, management, coaches, players, and fans reach the point of being satisfied, then effort suffers.
Losing isn't the sin. Not giving it your "all" is the sin.
With a new league comes a new learning curve.The ECHL is a new kind of league for Komet fans. It's here and we all have to adjust to it or not attend. Unfortunately I think some fans, having been tempered by 60 years of experience are not as satisfied as we would, or the Franke's for that matter, had hoped. Let's see how quick we can all catch on.
Thanks, Andy. Have a good day.