Ice Chips 05'-06'

Dupuis coming back

The Komets have re-signed Guy Dupuis, 36, who won the team's Best Defenseman Award last season. He also won that award three times in the now-defunct International Hockey League.

He had 12 goals and 57 points in 75 games last season.

The Komets now have four players under contract for next season, including goaltender Kevin St. Pierre, forward David Hukalo and defenseman Kevin Hansen.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Torchetti hired

Former Komets coach John Torchetti has been hired to coach the Canadian Hockey League's Moncton Wildcats, a junior team.

Torchetti, 42, who coached the Komets in the now-defunct International Hockey League from 1996 to 1998, spent last season as an interim coach with the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. He has also coached the NHL's Florida Panthers on an interim basis.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

First meeting with the coach

I had my first opportunity to chat in person with the Komets' new coach, Pat Bingham, this afternoon.

First off, he had some news. The Komets have re-signed goaltender Kevin St. Pierre and signed defenseman Kevin Hansen, whose rights were acquired from the Chicago Hounds when coach Greg Puhalski left Fort Wayne to coach that team. (The Komets had already signed right wing David Hukalo.)

It appeared earlier in the summer that St. Pierre, 31, and the Komets would be parting ways after three seasons. However, a number of things happened to change that. Puhalski leaving had a little to do with it, since Bingham researched St. Pierre and who else was on the market and decided he wanted Frenchy back. Also, Bingham believes the criticisms St. Pierre took last year from management and many of the fans will drive him to be a better goalie this season. Finally, given some time, St. Pierre and the Komets were able to come up with a new contract that was more acceptable to all involved.

As for his playing time, Bingham said there's no guarantee that St. Pierre will play almost every night, as he had the last few seasons. It will, of course, depend on who the No. 2 goalie is, but Bingham said whomever is playing the best, including in practice, will get the nod.

Here are some other tidbits from around the Komets' camp:

• Bingham is a lot more chatty than his predecessor, Puhalski. I expect him to be very quotable throughout the season.
• The Komets have made it a priority to re-sign right wing Jonathan Goodwin.
• Bingham promised the fans there would be exciting hockey every night at Memorial Coliseum.
• The Komets are speaking with former Missouri goalie Kevin Reiter, so he still may be a possibility to join the team.
• Apparently, some players are having problems coming to grips with the new hard salary cap. There is a belief that because of this, it's a buyer's market for teams and at the end of the summer there will be many good players out there because they are holding out for a salary no one will ultimately pay.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Sims in UHL

The Flint Generals have selected their new head coach and it's former Komets player Kevin Kerr. That's not much of a surprise, since Kerr is one of the most accomplished players in Flint history.

What is more surprising? The Generals hired Al Sims, who coached the Komets to the 1993 International Hockey League championship, as their new general manager. Sims applied for the Komets' head-coaching job this summer, but the team hired Pat Bingham instead.

Chin up

I am reading and hearing a lot of people peeved that so many of last season's players won't be back with the Komets. I must say, it seems like there has been a lot of memory loss around here. Do you not remember how mediocre the Komets were last season? Do you not remember how down on this team in the playoffs everyone was? What about that humiliating first-round playoff exit?

I will concede, management has made some gaffes. I would have done everything in my power to get Colin Chaulk back here. Instead, they tried to renegotiate his contract and drove him to playing in Europe. He had a good season -- not necessarily a stellar season -- and probably would have thrived under a new coach's system. I also would have tried to get back Rob Guinn, the ironman defenseman. That being said, heading into the summer, I thought the Komets should prioritize signing three players -- Jonathan Goodwin, Guy Dupuis and Chaulk -- and all but the latter are still in the mix, so I wouldn't complain too much, fans.

If you think this team didn't have to head in another direction, I don't know what games you were watching last season. Whether or not Greg Puhalski was going to be the coach, the Komets had to get bigger, tougher and younger. That's happening now, with a new coach, Pat Bingham, and suddenly there's discontent that so many of the familiar faces won't be back? Let's just wait and see if the new ingredients turn into a better team. If not, then we can hear all the moaning and groaning we're hearing now.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

No more Neumeier

This just in from staff writer LaMond Pope:

Fort Wayne Komets general manager David Franke said assistant coach/defenseman Troy Neumeier will not be returning.

“We’re not going to bring him back,” Franke said Thursday. “We told him that we were not planning on bringing him back. He was aware of it at the end of the season.”

Neumeier spent parts of the last five years with the Komets. He had 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) and a plus-15 rating in 76 games last year. He was the UHL’s Best Defenseman in 2005.

Interesting stuff

Here is a link, through The Danbury News-Times, to wiretaps of conversations from James Galante, the former owner of the now-defunct Danbury Trashers. Included in these are a conversation between Galante and an employee, Ciro Viento, and a conversation between Viento and UHL commissioner Richard Brosal.

These do contain profanity, so don’t listen if you will be offended by such a thing.

These are events that took place after Galante allegedly assaulted linesman Jim Harper, Dec. 1, 2005. The complaint was dropped.

Galante has been indicted in a federal racketeering case. The Trashers suspended operations this summer.

Bingham will bring it

I spoke extensively with Pat Bingham, the new Komets coach, today. Here are some things, based on that conversation, that I'm pretty confident will happen:

• The Komets will play a much more physical brand of hockey than we're accustomed to here. The Komets will be among the top-three teams in the league in penalty minutes.
• Even though many of us are readying up for brawling, it's not going to happen. Bingham, sounding much like former Komets coach John Torchetti and even his predecessor, Greg Puhalski, said he will emphasize defense first and that his offense will come as a result of that through the transition game.
• The Komets will win a lot more one-on-one battles, at both ends of the ice. I didn't get the impression Bingham would stand for his goaltender getting run or his star center cracked into the boards.
• Though the other finalist for the job, John Marks, is known throughout hockey for his personality, Bingham is a very personable fellow too. Expect enthusiasm during practice and during the games. He will be fiery.
• Some fans have expressed concern about whether Bingham is excited to get involved in the community here. I know Bingham is ambitious to improve his career -- I think that's a good thing because it means he wants to win and win soon -- but he said he's followed the team and the market here. He knows what he's walking in to and I expect he will take the fans' demands to heart and be accessible.
• I do not expect a lot of players from last season's team will be back. Though the Komets have got David Hukalo coming back, are speaking with goaltender Kevin St. Pierre and some other notable players, I don't believe Bingham's style will mesh well with the Komets of last season. I expect five players, tops, to be back.

As a question, now that the Komets have got the type of coach you all said you wanted -- one who will put out a physical team, show some emotion and have lots of ambition -- what will be atop your gripe list now?

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments from Bingham

Comments from Pat Bingham, who was hired to coach the Komets:

"Well, I’d like to be able to put it into words. Suffice it to say, I’m thrilled and it’s just a great organization with a tremendous hockey history. I've always sort of admired and respected the Frankes' organization from afar. When I saw the job was available, I jumped at it. To have it come to this conclusion, it’s an honor and a thrill. I’m excited I’ll be trying to get them back on top of the league."

"It’s a long season and it’s grueling, so there’s a real physical aspect to it. If you don’t have the guys to win the one-on-one battles, you’re not going to win games."

"I don’t want to make the mistake or give the wrong impression that it’s going to be run-and-gun or high-risk hockey. We want people who can skate and have a physical impression. But we will have a team that’s constantly in motion. … We keep high-percentage opportunities to a minimum."

"If you want to survive in this industry, you have to have thick skin."

"It will be a lot of fun. It’s a challenge. And when you choose to be a coach in professional sports, you live for the challenge."

"This is a golden opportunity to step forward and find those ways to contribute to the team’s success. That’s what we all long to do. When you look at a third-line player, you want the player who wants responsibility, who puts the work in and wants the responsibility."

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments from David Franke

Here's what general manager David Franke had to say about the hiring of Pat Bingham as coach:

"We let Pat know last night that he was our choice and I think Pat will bring a lot of physical play and a lot of scoring to this team. He’s a proven coach at the AA level. He’s a very good communicator with the players. I would classify him as a players' coach. He communicates well and motivates well and he’s really excited about coaching this team and helping put it together this summer."

"Pat’s approach to the game is a very aggressive approach, a physically aggressive approach to the game. That’s something that we liked and maybe something we’ve lacked a little bit the last few years. He wants to put the heat on the other teams as much as he can. That’s important for us. John Marks has a similar style of coaching but I think Pat will provide us with a totally different style of team compared to what we’ve had the last two or three years."

"The decision was difficult because they’re both so qualified. John Marks has a great record. … Pat has been successful, too. He’s won a championship as a player and as an assistant coach. Hopefully in his time in Fort Wayne, he will win one as a head coach."

"Pat has had his teams in Fort Wayne. He knows the fan base and how loyal they are to the Fort Wayne Komets. He knows how much they want to win, just like we do. That doesn’t scare him off. He’s proven himself wherever he’s been."