I talked to Hodgie yesterday. He's in town visiting some friends this week.
He has signed a tryout contract with the Minnesota Wild, and they have until Oct. 1 to sign him. If they choose not to, he is committed to returning to his junior team in Erie, Penn. The next step for him is to play in the rookie tournament in Traverse City, Mich., in September. Before that, he's returning to training camp in Erie to get ready.
"If I play well, hopefully I'll get a shot at the main camp," he said. "If something comes up with Minnesota or anything like that I will explore other options, but right now I'll be going back to Erie. I can't tell how it's going to pan out right now."
Maybe the most important thing he said:
"The things that the city has given me and that have panned out from choosing to come play here are endless. I'm forever thankful to the city."
I have a feeling he's going to be an all-time favorite Komet for an entire generation of kids. I used to wonder what would happen if John Anderson had ever come back to Fort Wayne to play. How could he ever have topped his last game? Now I wonder the same thing about Hodgman.
