Kaminski gets a job

Just over a year ago, I thought Kevin Kaminski was destined to become the Komets' next coach. He was with the Missouri River Otters, an upstart team that gave Fort Wayne all it could handle in the first round of the 2005 playoffs.

Last season, though, the River Otters were horrible and Kaminski didn't last the season. Then the Komets needed a new coach and wound up with Pat Bingham. But Kaminski, 37, has landed on his feet, it seems. He has been hired to coach the Youngstown Steelheads of the Central Hockey League.

Funnily enough, the press release on Kaminski being hired makes no mention of his work last season, when the River Otters went 11-27-3.

On the Hounds' roster are former Komets defenseman Mark Lindsay and forward Joey Sewell.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Hit Somebody!!!]

Can't wait to see GQ's girls in our house in a few months. That will be a blast.

[randy]

You thought because Kaminski did such a good job with the Otters in the '04-'05 playoffs that all of a sudden he would be hired away from the Otters because he was "worthy" enough" to coach the Komets? Why do you say that, do you actually think that would have been a step up from Missouri for him? That's rich, you sure get a big kick out of yourself.

[Justin Cohn]

Uh, yeah, I think Fort Wayne is a step up from Missouri, when it comes to coaching hockey. Considering the River Otters don't freaking exist anymore, I'd say it was a pretty safe assumption.

Kaminski played here, has some ties here, is still a popular person here. It seemed as if his coaching was taking off at the time, his rough style was -- again, at the time -- something that looked like it would be attractive to Fort Wayne when Greg Puhalski left. But then Kaminski didn't fare as well and he fell off the radar. I don't think I'm making any earth-shattering observation here, Randy.
You're obviously a Missouri fan and that's great. But really, was that organization ever stable? From players not getting paid through the years, to the roof falling apart when I was there, to some pretty horrific teams in the post-Mark Reeds era, I think yeah, the Komets would probably have been attractive to anyone looking to get into a more stable environment.

[JR]

Wow, I think you took that the wrong way Randy... I think all Justin was trying to say is that Kaminski, who was a huge fan favorite when he played here, has ties to the K's and that he impressed some people with the way he coached the 04/05 Otters team. The K's already had an entrenched coach so that wasnt a possibility, and after the next years debacle I dont believe he had a chance.

And if you want to get snippy, the only thing we get a big kick out of is the fact the we still have a team while the city with the UHL's office no longer has one...

[randy]

Answer 1 - No I don't think it's a step up, and I'd bet the ranch we have a new team in Missouri next season.
Answer 2 - Kaminski was here in St. Louis longer than he was in Fort Wayne.
Answer 3 - I think seven years is pretty stable when you're surrounded by everything Blues.
Answer 4 - The roof didn't "fall apart" as you say during the 2001 playoffs, even though it was one of the worst storms of that type around here.

[randy]

JR - Do you really think the league is going to let this location get away from them in their own backyard? I don't think so, and from what I was told, it won't.

[JR]

How stable can it be if you no longer have a team???

The UHL office is a joke, and if the league owners were smart they would clean house, move the office to a more viable location and concentrate on making this a stronger league.

If it is as important to have a team in St. Charles as you think it is the league would have done something now to keep one there instead of letting the team fold.

Ft Wayne= 50+ years of minor league hockey
St Charles= 7 years (according to your info)
Ft Wayne= Stability
St Charles= ........well
Now who do you think a coach would pick if his options came down to those two franchises....

[randy]

FYI, Right before the UHL moved it's offices to St. Charles in 1997, (that's two years before the Otters), the CHL wanted to put a new team in the Fmily Arena, that was yet to be constructed. Time constraints led to the Otters demise after Mike Shanahan bailed out. Seven years here, yes....so far. You have to start somewhere. I'd like to see how the Komets would fare if they plopped an NHL team in Fort Wayne (which will never happen), the Komets would fold in a hurry. You just don't understand, WE HAVE AN NHL TEAM HERE.

[doug]

stick to noodling for catfish down there
in missouri,
ST.louis and NHL wow ! does not go together well
you stick yur fingers in big ol'catfish
mouths let us play hockey

[Greg]

Just because you have an NHL team doesn't necessarily mean that a lower minor league team can't survive. Yes the odds are long, aka: Columbus, Detroit (with the Vipers and Motor City), but there have been some successes, (The Chicago Wolves and the Philadelphia Phamtoms).

It really seems to me that ownership was a problem and fan support was not there. Take a look at the Komets. A 50+ year old franchise, owner that have had the team for 15+ years, I'm sorry Randy but Fort Wayne does have a better franchise than St. Charles. To move to Ft. Wayne to coach would be a step up.

I hope you do get a franchise nd that the owners can do something with it.

[randy]

You don't know the history of hockey in St. Louis, so it's useless to argue the point with you anymore. I don't care what you say, these Komets are not the IHL team, they are just a UHL team that has been in existance for seven years, not fifty plus. It would only be a step up if you were an AHL team, and it's not, so it's not a step up. We will have a new UHL team next season, I know it to be true. Hey Doug, I've know what you folks stick in catfish mouths there, well, you get the point (maybe). My parents told me long ago not to argue with crazy people. Oh well, at least I put some traffic to this ghost town site, 'bye Linda.

[Dickieboy]

Randy, Linda, or whatever you want to be called your comparing apples to oranges. Look at the demographics. Fort Wayne has a population of roughly 300,000. St. Louis on the other hand, has a population of 2,725,336. "The St. Louis metropolitan area is the 18th largest metropolitan area in the United States. The population of the region is growing, and that growth has accelerated since the 2000 Census." (StLouis Regional Chamber and Growth) With almost 3 million people in your city The last time I checked the Scottrade Center held 20,000 people. That leaves oh roughly 2,700,000 people to attend what once was a river otters game. What is your excuse for all of your other professional teams in St. Louis. They are horrid. Try putting a good quality product on the ice and maybe your team will be able to survive. Randy maybe you can pick up a hobby like crocheting since you won't have any hockey to watch this winter.

[dnl]

Boy Justin, you always seem to get the luck of having fans of other teams come here and bash you about the craziest stuff. Randy-Linda, how can Ft. Wayne not be a step up from Missouri at this level of hockey? If it's a territorial thing you're concerned about, obviously the Blues would be a step up from the Komets. But to come on here and say that the 7 years of St Charles hockey is more secure than the 54 past seasons of Komet hockey makes NO SENSE. You say Missouri was secure because it lasted 7 years with an NHL team? That's one of the reasons why it is so much more unstable than Komet hockey! That and not paying players, a lousy arena, and overall poor management. I truely hope a new UHL team comes to St Charles next year for the fans there, but to argue that Ft. Wayne wouldn't be a step up from the now defunct Otters is ludicrous.

[Skate]

While Kaminski was a rough and popular player during his career, the teams he coached were, by and large, NOT physical, fighting teams.

I've seen his UHL teams play, and before that, his ECHL team and all were BORING. I was glad he weasn't considered as coach here.

[Justin Cohn]

Well, Randy, I don't know why you'd want to come into this forum and start saying Fort Wayne isn't a good hockey town. Look at the attendance, that's all you need. It's outdrawing almost every other team in all of minor-league hockey. I'm sorry, I do knwo the St. Louis market, and the River Otters weren't in the same realm in terms of stability, finances, fan base, anything. So, yes, it's a step up in SOME respects to come here. If you're a coach with a family who wants stability, I think this would be a good place. I wasn't saying Kaminski would have jumped ship had Fort Wayne called on a dime. i was saying, at the time mind you, if Puhalski had ever moved up, again at the time, I think Kaminski would have been one of their first calls and he would have been foolish not to at least consider it.

As for the arena, on that rainy night, yes, the weather was bad. But the roof was absolutely, positive, leaking. And they called for all fans to moved down from the upper bowl for fear something could cave in and people could get hurt. These things aren't disputable.

So wipe your eyes, child, and hope for the days the a minor-league team returns. That'll be your best hope of getting a hockey championship in St. Louis anytime soon. Ha!

Still say the league office has no business being in a town without a team, though.

[Justin Cohn]

By the way, Randy, you can bet the ranch that there's another team in Missouri next season. I'll see your ranch and raise you another that one goes down the crapper even faster.

[chuckitt]

st charles aint st louis randy. if you have the blues then thats great. but st charles aint got the blues, just the former home of a poorly run and poorly attended minor league hockey team. the fort has had minor league hockey for over fifty years and is stable, so anyone comming here would have to look at it as an improvement. win or lose the fans here attend in numbers that rank third or fourth in all of minor hockey which includes the so called mighty ahl. being in st charles is probably nice since you are close to a major city so enjoy it as we do, cause we are only a couple hours away ourselves from three major cities, chi det and indy, but we sure dont use those cities as a crutch, we stand on our own and do quite well thank you, so enjoy your no team in st charles while we attend hockey all seaon long. if you can manage to get to a blues game and can afford it, then have a great time cause we will here in the sticks!

[JR]

He HE He.... You tell'em chuckitt... Of course its just crazy person talk...lol

[doug]

bravo chuckitt bravo justin
remember the three blues who came way
down to the UHL and were gonna dominate and
intimidate !! ha
jackman sucks
johnson sucks
mayers got his butt kicked twice in the fort
he sucks to
komets over da blues anyday

[Hit Somebody!!!]

Don't leave out Mr. Salvador either. Those guys got their butts handed to them by the Komets. What a great coach that Kaminski was. He was handed what, 4 or 5 NHL players and he lost in the first round of the playoffs to an unstable Minor League franschise that has only been playing for 54 years. How many times have we watched River Otter teams start with high hopes to start a season and by the mid-way point there is talk that they must cut salaries or not even pay players for that matter. Every year there is talk that the Otters franchise was close to folding.

Linda...when you bump into your buddy...old Dickie Boy Brosal...tell him his officials stink and that he has done a wonderful job of tarnishing this league...you know...the Elite Profesional Hockey League....Nice FBI tapes Dickie. How many other scams, cheats, and lies do you have hidden away?

Clean your house UHL!!!! Cut Dickie and his boys loose!!!

[colts fan]

skate, you are exactly right,
killer does not coach like he played, for some reason he adopted that defensive boring style of coaching system, must have got it from the GQ, i think he could be a succesful coach if he changes his style to a more offensive crash and bang type system,, then i definately wouldnt mind seeing him behind the ks bench.

[Justin Cohn]

I guess Randy went into hiding, like the Texans' offensive line.

[dnl]

Justin-Besides possibly Ruid, are the Komets looking to bring in anyone else before the camp starts? Or are we at the point that the recruiting is done and we'll just see who shows up to camp? Also Justin, from your opinion are there anymore holes in the roster that the Komets need to try to fill before going into camp? Finally when do we get to find out who the Hershey defenseman is?

[randy]

I didn't go into hiding Cohn, I have a life, I live in a major metropolitan area where there are things to do, unlike Fort Wayne where you flip a coin in winter and it's heads go to the movies or tails go to a Komet game. About the only thing Fort Wayne is famous for is being the home of Frank Burns from M*A*S*H, because it isn't for hockey. Hey Cohn, what you say was "a rainy night" and "the weather was bad", in reality several tornadoes and massive hail ripped through the area that night, resulting in some deaths and causing millions and millions in damages across the region, much like the storms here from two months ago, where more damage and lives were lost because of power outages for more than a week in the middle of July. They made every one move down as a precaution, if there was a little leak and a couple peices of fascia off the Family Arena, so be it, but those storms would have ripped the roof off of that old dive the Komets play in. I love that it grates on you that the league office remains here, see you next October. Good bye Linda, as in Linda Cohn from ESPN, you rubes. I'm through arguing with people that don't know any better, and open their mouth before they think.

[Justin Cohn]

Yeah, you're right, I grew up in Detroit, worked in Atlanta, Washington D.C. and Tampa and don't know metropolitan markets. Oh, and I was in Indianapolis all weekend covering the Colts. Yup, just a small-town hick, here. And even if I were, you know what? The great people of Fort Wayne, whose team plays in a dive that is a heckuva a lot better in any possible respect (except perhaps lower-level restrooms) than The Family Arena, have more sense than Randy. By the way, St. Charles, that's the size of my subdivision, so don't give me your bigger-than-Fort Wayne dribble.