Ice Chips 05'-06'

Lightening the mood in here

It seems we have a new fan and loyal reader  of Ice Chips. His name is Peyton. This photo comes courtesy of Derick Brattain, who caught Peyton surfing to our corner of cyberspace.

Rave reviews and other news

Fort Wayne Komets coach Pat Bingham and general manager David Franke couldn’t stop themselves from raving about newly signed right wing Pascal Morency.

They’re pretty confident local fans will feel the same way about a player known for playing with a style that is up-tempo, emotional and, above all, physical.

“He can be a world class rat and when he does that he’ll hit your toughest guy and he’ll hit your most skilled guy. He doesn’t discriminate,” said Bingham, who coached Morency in Wheeling, W.Va., of the ECHL during 2004-05. “He’ll fight when the time is appropriate and he’ll walk away when he thinks it’s not. He’s fun.”

The Komets signed six players Thursday, including Morency, goaltender Dan McWhinney, defensemen Andrew Bozoian and Adam Blanchette, and centers Jean-Simon Richard and Martin Gascon.

But Morency, 24, was the biggest name of the bunch, not to mention exactly the type of tough player Bingham promised to bring in during his first season with the Komets.

“He can help us,” said Bingham, adding Morency is typically popular among fans and teammates. “What he brings to the table is a lot of passion for the game. He plays on emotion and adrenaline. … He can do a bit of everything. He skates very well and he can play the game too.”

Morency had 20 points and 326 penalty minutes in 70 games over the last two seasons with Wheeling. Broken bones in his hand and knee limited him to 17 games last season. He played for Flint of the UHL in 2003-04, tallying eight goals, 14 points and 248 penalty minutes in 51 games.

“I’ll bring energy and finish my checks and be under their skins,” Morency said, “and I’ll drop the gloves here and there and try to score a few goals.”

Here's some other interesting notes from the day:

• Bozoian spent 48 games with the Komets last season but retained his rookie status. That was important because the Komets must play four rookies every game. Bozoian has worked hard on his conditioning and should be better prepared for this season, Bingham said. Look for him to contribute more on special teams.
• It turns out Morency and Richard are first cousins. The funny thing is, they didn't know they were both were negotiating with the Komets. Morency found out during a family gathering when his mother announced Richard would be playing in Indiana this season. Morency and Richard are close, skating together during the summers, and Morency said it would be fun if they ended up linemates.
• McWhinney got onto the Komets' radar when he sent them an impressive looking DVD of his best saves. He was, at one time, a prospect of North Dakota's, but he never wound up playing there. The Komets believe he may win the battle to become the backup to Kevin St. Pierre, and become one of the biggest surprises in the UHL, this season.
• The Komets have shopped the rights to winger Jim Duhart to other UHL teams but, so far, no one has shown any interest, Franke said. The Komets got Duhart's rights in the dispersal draft of Missouri's players this offseason.
• Fort Wayne plans to have between 25 and 30 players in training camp, meaning at least six players will be cut. It should make for great competition.
• The Komets have called Flint and made some inquiries about Mike Kinnie, who had 24 goals and 47 points in 36 games for them last season, but so far it's turned up nothing.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Ramsay hired

Bruce Ramsay, a player/assistant coach and fan-favorite with the Komets in 1999-2000, has been named coach of the Muskegon Fury.

He replaces Todd Nelson, who accepted an assistant-coaching position with the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves.

Ramsay, 37, won five Colonial Cups as a player in the UHL. Ramsay coached Port Huron in 2002-03 and 2003-04, going 52-37-10.

Earlier this offseason, he applied for the Komets' vacant coaching job, which was ultimately filled by Pat Bingham.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Still worried?

In case you missed it, here's today's story on the Komets' search for physical players. I know some of you have been fretting that the roster is currently stocked with mostly skill players. I think you can't judge the roster until it's really close to training camp and it sounds as if coach Pat Bingham will be bringing up to 30 players into camp, so that he can have a lot of competition for spots. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt that the physical players will come. (I've heard a few might even be signed this week.)

• Speaking of skill, former Komets coach Greg Puhalski seems to be putting together a roster that looks frighteningly good for the expansion Chicago Hounds. Included among his players are playmaking forwards Greg Koehler and Steve Cygan, former Komets Blake Stewart and Adam Kostichka and a decent goalie in Marty Magers.
• Here's something to keep an eye on: I've heard teams in the ECHL are assaulting the free agent market by promising more jobs to players than there are spots available. It's making it tough for teams, such as the Komets, to bring in players when those players think they've got a guaranteed job in the ECHL. A lot of these players may be in for a rude awakening when training camps end and many of them are cut.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

A working agreement

The Komets will have a working agreement with the higher-level American Hockey League's Hershey Bears this season, Fort Wayne general manager David Franke said Monday afternoon.

As part of the agreement, the Komets will receive a defenseman on assignment this season. Also, the Bears will hold a spot in their training camp for a Komets player who has yet to be signed.

The Komets had discussed a full affiliation with the Bears, which might have meant players more frequently traveling between the two clubs. This will be less formal.

"It's kind of a gentleman's agreement," Franke said.

The Komets are also discussing having a similar working agreement with Bridgeport of the AHL. Komets coach Pat Bingham was an assistant with Bridgeport last season.

Franke said the Komets may pursue a full affiliation in future seasons. He also stressed that the working agreement with Hershey doesn't mean Fort Wayne players can't be called up by other AHL teams this season.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

On Voorhees

K.J. Voorhees, who had 131 goals and 274 points in 164 games over the last three seasons with Knoxville of the Southern Professional Hockey League, was ecstatic to sign a contract with the Komets.

"You know, I'm very excited," he said. "I've heard nothing but good things about the city, arena, management and ownership group. It's a first-class organization."

Asked about his reputation as a great goal-scorer, Voorhees said, "I'd like to think there's more than that to my game. But sure, the big thing I'll bring to the team is goal-scoring ability."

As for Drew O'Connell, the rookie forward signed by Fort Wayne today, coach Pat Bingham said he didn't know much about him but he came highly recommended from other coaches.

Bingham stressed that there will be a lot of competition in training camp and nothing is guaranteed for players like Voorhees and O'Connell.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Two additions

The Komets have signed forwards K.J. Voorhees and Drew O'Connell. Click here for a link to the press release. I will have more later today on this.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Start a beautiful friendship

Hopefully you've checked out today's article on the possibility of the Komets affiliating with a team from the higher-level American Hockey League. I've wrestled with whether or not this is a good thing, since there are so many pros and cons, and I've decided: Bring it on.

Lots of us still talk about the good-ol' days when the Komets were in the International Hockey League. One of the reasons is we liked being able to see players move up. It was exciting to see players eager to develop, and it was fun to keep tabs on them when they were gone. Plus, there were actually scouts at Memorial Coliseum. Now of course, these things would happen on a much smaller scale if the Komets of the UHL affiliate, but it still would be fun.

Plus, I agree with Komets coach Pat Bingham in that having an affiliation would attract players to sign with Fort Wayne and perform well in Fort Wayne -- if they do so, the big club might come calling. That sort of incentive system really hasn't been here in recent years.

And depending on the type of arrangement that is made, the Komets could get good prospects sent down for short- or long-term periods. When the Komets were affiliated with Kalamazoo of the IHL, the likes of Frederic Bouchard landed here and he wasn't too shabby, I think we can all agree.

But then there's the downside. The big one is the habits of higher-level teams to raid the lower club late in the season. How many times did we see the UHL's Missouri River Otters go down the drain late in the season because all their stars were called up? Plus, there is potential for a big-club team to meddle. "We'd really, really, really, like to see you play our goalie this weekend," they might say. "And if you don't, we may never send you another one."

Bingham assured me that because the Komets must have control of their organization, they would never give up any sort of control over their personnel, even with something as seemingly minuscule as allowing an AHL team to pick the sixth defenseman in the Komets' lineup.

A few things are for sure: The Komets must get more exciting, must bring in some good young prospects who are hungry to win, and they must continue to excite the fans. Having an affiliation would be a great step.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Make sure to check out Komets Korner for much more coverage on the team.

Back to our regularly scheduled blog

After a summer filled with a wedding, honeymoon and spending time working on some special projects, I'm back in the sports department and back to the blogging business. Did you miss me? Yeah, right.

In case you've forgotten -- hopefully, you didn't -- here's what you can expect: When I have news, I will post it here as soon as I'm able, I will chime in with my thoughts often, and come the season I will make in-game updates when possible. I see more Komets games than anyone not named Bob Chase, so I will continue to get you as much information as I can.

I am open to any and all suggestions, so don't be afraid to e-mail me at jcohn@jg.net anytime. I encourage you to post comments on any posts, I just ask that you remain some semblance of decorum; fostering discussion is great, calling anyone who disagrees with you some profane word is just plain silly.

Don't forget to check out Komets Korner, where The Journal Gazette posts its Komets coverage, including stories, polls, pictures, audio clips, an ask-the-reporter section and other fun things.

OK, now that we have the formalities out of the way, I just got off the phone with Komets coach Pat Bingham. He's in the process of getting settled in Fort Wayne with his family and he's busy working the phones.

One player he's been in discussions with is K.J. Voorhees, a 29-year-old right wing who scored 131 goals and 274 points in 164 games over the last three seasons with Knoxville of the Southern Professional Hockey League.

Also, Kevin Reiter will not be joining the Komets as their No. 2 goalie, Bingham said, since Reiter is set on getting a job in the ECHL.

I also asked about Jim Duhart, the high-scoring forward the Komets got the rights to in this summer's dispersal draft. Bingham said there nothing new to report, so it doesn't seem like he's a high priority for the Komets right now.

That's all for now. I'll be back much more frequently ... I promise.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Goneau, Miller sign

The Komets have signed forwards Daniel Goneau and Kelly Miller, the team announced.

Goneau, 30, has played 53 games in the NHL with the New York Rangers, tallying 13 goals and 15 points. Last season, he had 23 goals and 62 points in 52 games with Laval, a semi-pro team.

Miller, 27, returns after scoring 12 goals and 30 points in 56 games last season with the Komets. This will be his third season with the Komets.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette