Ice Chips 06'-07'

New players

The Komets have two rookies in on tryouts -- defenseman Nick Tuzzolino and forward Michael George -- and the team plans to sign them both, general manager David Franke said.

Tuzzolino, 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, was selected in the seventh round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He had been with Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League, where he had three goals, 11 points and 41 penalty minutes in 26 games last season.

George, 6 feet, 190 pounds, had 35 goals and 74 points in 55 games last season in juniors with Battlefords.

The two players who had been in tryouts, rookies Brock Becker and Andrew Dawe, have been excused.

By the way, you're going to laugh and everybody's telling me I'm wrong, but does anyone else think Kevin Hansen (below left) looks like George Clooney. Seriously, look at Hansen when he has his helmet on.

Some surprising things

Here are some things that have surprised me so far this season:

• Mario Larocque with a team-leading 24 points. I expected this defenseman would be able to score, but he's never had more than 44 points in a season. He's going to shatter that. He's been really sound defensively, too. The only complaint is I don't know if I've seen the physicality yet.
• Bruce Richardson with 49 penalty minutes and Pascal Morency with 28. Do you remember how much the toughness of these guys was hyped during the summer? That toughness just hasn't manifested itself in fisticuffs, which is probably a good thing. They do hit and agitate, though. We'll have to see what happens when the Komets get challenged to fights a bit more, or when Rockford starts running the Fort Wayne goaltender. (I'm guessing Saturday.)
• Kevin Hansen with three points -- all assists. I think Hansen has played great, and been a great mentor to Arthur Kiyaga, but I still expected we'd see a more point production from the defenseman.
• J.F. Labarre is a weapon. I remember some Flint fans shooting me e-mails saying I was going to be disappointed. I haven't been; he has four goals and eight points in 13 games and is one of the Komets' sneakiest offensive players.
• The Komets are 12-4-0 and atop the Western Conference. I had a feeling the Komets would be good -- there's a lot of talent -- but with a new coach and so many new players, I never expected a quick start like this. I thought they'd need time to jell.

What has surprised you this season?

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Interesting comment

I thought this was an interesting comment from Komets coach Pat Bingham the other day, explaining why his team is sometimes a bit inconsistent. He feels, at times, the Komets let down when they have a lead or press too hard when down.

"We sometimes play the (scoreboard) and lose ourselves in that," Bingham said. "I'm concerned with that and trying to knock out that part of our game. I asked them (Thursday), 'Do you want to be good or do you want to be great? If the answer is the second one, then there's a lot of sacrifice and hard work and selflessness that's involved in that.'

"We're on that journey as a team."

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets not in awe

I don't know that this lived up to the hype, but the Komets' 2-1 loss to the Muskegon Fury, in what had been billed as a game between the UHL's top two teams, should prove to be the catalyst for a good season series.

Even though the Fury dominated the first two periods and escaped with the victory, the Komets weren't exactly making like they were impressed. In fact, some in the locker room claimed Rockford is a better team than Muskegon.

The Komets blamed themselves for failing to come out strong, play their systems and not get too fancy with the puck. To their credit, when they got playing the way they usually do in the third period, they got the only goal and outshot the Fury 13-4.

"I think we respected them a little too much and didn't play how we needed to play," said Komets right wing Jonathan Goodwin, who had his team's only goal. "We let them kind of dictate the tempo."

Personally, I think they didn't give the Fury quite enough credit in their comments. The Fury attacked so much at times, something other teams haven't had the courage to do, Fort Wayne would make awful mistakes in their own zone. I'm not so sure the Fury didn't let up a touch in the third period.

Regardless, the Komets proved they can play with Muskegon. They just didn't prove they can do it for 60 minutes.

Fury goalie Clayton Pool, by the way, was awesome with 33 saves. He preserved the game with his sprawling stop of a Martin Gascon shot from point-blank range with 30 seconds remaining.

In other news, and get ready to roll your eyes, the Komets are complaining about the officiating. Well, coach Pat Bingham is complaining.

"If you're beat, you can stick a knee out," he said. "You can run people from behind, face-first into the glass, and you can grab a hold of a jersey, grab a guy's arm, grab his stick, give him a hook. You can especially do those things if you're down a goal or it's a close game, it's ridiculous."

Earlier in the season, everyone was up in arms because the officiating was too stringent. Bingham wasn't one of those people, though. But the irony is, Komets president Michael Franke was the person who groaned the most about how many calls there were and how it was ruining the product. He spoke at a not-so-secret executive committee meeting at Kalamazoo, Mich., Nov. 9 and since then, the referees have cut down on the calls.

"It was a closed-door meeting for a reason," Bingham said. "They don't want to be the only league in all of hockey that calls it a different way."

It seems Bingham and Franke had better get on the same page with these issues because the right hand is injuring the left hand. It bears mentioning, against the Fury, the Komets were 1 for 9 on the power play and the Fury was 0 for 3, so I was surprised Bingham was complaining about it on this night.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Putting it in perspective

Talk about putting things in perspective. It's only been about two periods -- the Komets trail the league-leading Muskegon Fury 2-0 -- and it's clear Fort Wayne has a lot of work that needs to be done.

They really can't figure out how to get through the Fury's forecheck and they just kind of look scrambled up right now. It doesn't help that they haven't capitalized on the few scoring chances they've had.

Early in the period, J.C. Ruid had a 2-on-1 rush and then a breakaway in the span of 20 seconds. He didn't score on either and that allowed the Fury to march down the ice and score for a 1-0 lead. The Fury went up 2-0 after Fort Wayne turned the puck over at the Muskegon blue line while trying to establish the offensive zone.

The Komets still have a chance to win, but they're going to have to look a whole lot better. At least this game gives them a gauge as to where they're at this season.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

K's look shaky

It's the biggest game of the season thus far, against inarguably the UHL's best team, and the Komets look rattled so far. Still, it's a scoreless game after one period versus the Muskegon Fury at Memorial Coliseum.

Fort Wayne is having real problems with a very aggressive forecheck by Muskegon. The Komets don't seem to know what to do with it in their own zone. It doesn't help that the Komets keep skating in front of their own net with the puck. I've seen defenseman Guy Dupuis, of all people, do that at least twice.

Further, the Komets' top-rated power-play unit, has looked woeful. They can't establish the offensive zone.

On a more positive note, the Komets are playing with a lot of energy. They just need to channel it a little better, not to sound like a coach or anything.

• There was a strange moment before the game. The Fury's backup goalie, Ryan Cyr, was on the ice during the national anthem, having everyone wondering what was going on. Clayton Pool got on the ice before the opening faceoff, though. I'm guessing it was either an equipment problem or mind games by the Fury.
• Interesting story from The Flint Journal on Mike Zbriger, who was traded by the Chicago Hounds to the Flint Generals for future considerations, even after he had five goals in his first four games. The man that traded him: Former Komets coach Greg Puhalski, and Zbriger has an interesting recollection in the article of how he was traded.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Much ado about nothing

Komets left wing Daniel Goneau is uninjured after fighting Alex Goupil late in the second period of Thursday's 5-2 victory over the Bloomington Prairie Thunder.

Goneau gave management, his coach and the fans some nervous moments by dropping the gloves to fight because he recently fractured his cheekbone and has been wearing a full shield to protect it.

When asked about it, Goneau laughed.

"No, my cheek's all right," he said. "It's been three weeks. It's like a broken bone. It heals. The most frustrating thing was, for a few punches like this, you get to sit for (seven) minutes in the box."

Coach Pat Bingham admitted he'd rather Goneau have skated away.

"He's got nothing to prove to me," Bingham said. "In regards to that (fight), he's got a lot to lose with an injury there."

That being said, Bingham admitted he was impressed with Goneau's fire and wanted to point out that he's not the typical skill player in the way he handles himself. Bingham pointed out that when Goneau hurt the cheekbone, taking a puck to the face at Quad City, he could have sprawled on the ice like a wounded duck, like most players do, but simply skated to the bench and said, "I think I broke it."

"He's a fiery French Canadian and he played in the NHL not just because he's talented," Bingham said.

• The feeling in the locker room was that the Komets came out hard but let down. They've been "playing the score," as Bingham said. Meaning, they let up if they have the lead, when they should be intense all the time. By the second period, after Bloomington had tied it at 2, the Komets got their fire back.
• Muskegon lost to Eastern Conference-worst Flint 3-2, but that shouldn't take any luster off Friday's game at Memorial Coliseum between the Komets (11-3-0, 8-0-0 at home) and the Fury (16-2-0, 8-1-0 on the road). In fact, I think Muskegon will be that much more fired up.
• Martin Gascon had five goals in the last two games for Fort Wayne. The Komets' third line has become their best line, at least for now.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Goneau fighting

The Komets lead the Bloomington Prairie Thunder 4-2 late in the second period. They got goals from Martin Gascon and J.C. Ruid to break out of the 2-2 tie.

The interesting thing is, there was just a fight between Fort Wayne's Daniel Goneau and Alex Goupil, who took exception to the way Goneau had shoved him to the ice. Goneau recently fractured his cheekbone and is wearing a full shield to protect it. He hasn't returned from the locker room, yet, and I don't know if he's OK. I do know, he cannot be dropping the gloves to fight. He's one of the Komets' most important players and it's just not worth shattering that cheekbone to fight a guy for no good reason.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Should be making you nervous

The Komets and Bloomington Prairie Thunder are tied 2-2 after one period of play. The Komets have goals from Bogdan Rudenko and Jonathan Goodwin. But after starting out in commanding fashion, the Komets have been a bit tentative late in the period.

Bloomington tied it late in the period when Brad Thompson got a penalty shot goal. I looked at the replay, though, and I'm not so sure he should have had the penalty shot in the first place. He shot the puck a split second before Mario Larocque tripped him, so no scoring chance was abated by the trip. The referee is John Searle, by the way.

Regardless, the Komets must look better than this Friday, or Muskegon is going to cream them.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Let this be a lesson to you

Don't ever nab the zamboni to cruise through a drive thru. Funny.

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/fast-food-run-on-zambonis-gets-workers/20061122154909990010?ncid=NWS00010000000001

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Some new faces

The Komets have two players in for tryouts: rookie forwards Brock Becker and Andrew Dawe.

Becker, 22, is a rookie out of Minnesota State-Mankato, who played six games this season with the UHL's Bloomington Prairie Thunder, scoring one goal. Dawe, 23, scored 11 goals and 15 points in 33 games last season with Canisius College.

"They both seem like great guys," Bingham said. "As long as things keep going well and we continue to get better, there's really no reason to change. But when you have extra guys, it creates a little competition and keeps everybody on their toes. And it's a chance for us to teach and implement some systems with some new guys. If we need healthy bodies, then we've got them."

Plus, the Komets need to play four rookies every game, so it doesn't hurt to have a couple more around.

• Center Bruce Richardson didn't practice today because of a minor injury. He should be OK to go Thursday against Bloomington at Memorial Coliseum.
• Forward Pascal Morency is probable to play Thursday, after separating his shoulder earlier this month.
• The Komets had a bit of a scare when forward Matt Syroczynski was checked lightly near the boards during the practice and one of the doors to the bench opened up. He rammed right into the corner of it. While the fault probably was with the players for not making sure the door was closed, there have been some gripes that the doors haven't been closing easily enough. That can create a very dangerous situation.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Blog war part deux

It seems The News-Sentinel has taken issue with my philosophy, written in a Monday blog entry, that a Defenseman of the Week Award wouldn't work. Too bad Blake Sebring didn't read what I wrote very closely.

I have a disrespect for blue-liners? Hmm, no, I wrote quite clearly that the idea of this award is great, but there's no doubt in my mind that it would devolve into an award for the Best Offensive Defenseman. It's just not feasible. Even if Sebring's hypothetical weekly award were put into the hands of the beat writers in the league, and I'm not sure I would trust all of them, how could anything resembling an informed judgment be made? Based on the three teams we saw play last week, plus a nomination made by a beat writer in someplace like Elmira, N.Y., I'm supposed to adequately determine who best shut down opposing forwards league-wide? I don't think so. It's just not a position that lends itself well to an award, not in a minor league where we don't see teams on television and have a good guage of what's going on elsewhere. Unless, of course, you put a lot of stock in plus/minus. Some reporters are way too obsessive with statistics, especially ones that date back to 1958, so I guess for those, giving out such a superficial award would be fine.

Further, Sebring wrote today, "Why does hockey ignore one-third of their players for awards?" In the UHL, it's a heck of a lot more than one third. Where is the Defensive Forward of the Week Award? Where's the Coach of the Week? How about the Best Faceoff Man? Fighter of the Week?

We can't give an award for everything. And the awards that are there now are so flawed to begin with, I don't want to add another. A goalie who plays four games in a week is going to have an advantage over one who plays two games. A forward on a good team is going to clean up in points, whereas the best guy on Quad City may struggle.

Mr. Sebring brought up the example of Mario Larocque not winning a weekly award. Of course, he's been very deserving. The gripe should be with the Komets, though, for not nominating him.  The Komets should have the gall to nominate a good penalty killer, too, if this is such a big deal.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Gascon honored

Komets rookie center Martin Gascon was selected UHL Player of the Week, after he tallied three goals, seven points and a plus-six rating in three games. He had a hat trick in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Chicago Hounds.

The Goaltender of the Week is Frederic Cloutier of Rockford, who went 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .964 save percentage, including a victory against the Komets.

Congratulations are in order for Gascon, who has been one of Fort Wayne's biggest surprises this season, but I wonder how much stock you all put in these weekly awards. I concede, I pretty much gloss over them because they're just selected by the league office and it's not clear how they choose the winners. When I covered the International Hockey League, there was a rotating committee of reporters -- supposedly impartial people -- who balloted every week. Much better system.

Speaking of the weekly awards, I know the idea has been floated by at least one other reporter that there should be a Defenseman of the Week Award. In theory, it's a good idea. But I don't agree it could ever work. It would end up being just an award for the best offensive defenseman. It would be too difficult for people to determine who played the best defensively from week to week. You can put a lot of stock in the plus/minus ratings, I guess, but just about everyone will agree it can be a deceptive statistic since it's dependent upon whom else is on the ice and whether or not you give up short-handed goals, things like that.

• Radio broadcaster Bob Chase is still running away in the voting for the Source One Solutions bobblehead giveaway. When I last checked, Len Thornson, possibly the best minor-league player in hockey history, had less than one percent of the vote. 
• I was reading in The Hockey News that Doug Shedden, the former Flint Generals coach who's now coaching pro hockey in Finland, could be in line to coach the national team there.
• I should be on the TNT Morning Show on 98.9 FM at about 9 a.m. Tuesday. I plan to make fun of Turner Watson for his in-game demeanor.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Hats. Get your hats here.

Anyone want to bet me David Hukalo gets a hat trick Thursday? It's his turn.

OK, just kidding. No offense, but that would be like betting on a UHL referee to go a period without calling a penalty -- odds aren't very good.

Still, we're onto something. Hukalo's linemates, J.F. Labarre and Martin Gascon, have accomplished the hat trick feat in back-to-back nights. Gascon doing it helped the Komets to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Hounds, spoiling Greg Puhalski's return to Memorial Coliseum. (Puhalski, the Hounds' coach, led the Komets from 2000 until 2006, winning a Colonial Cup along the way.)

I guess we can't call Labarre, Gascon and Hukalo a third line. Third lines don't accumulate eight goals and nine assists in two games. Heck, this line might not even be back together when Pascal Morency gets back from his separated shoulder; he had been in Hukalo's spot before the injury.

The players are loving the fact that it's a different player every night who stars. Goaltender Kevin St. Pierre raved about the depth and fun that this team hadn't had in years. (It's probably no coincidence he seemed so happy about those things on a night he defeated Puhalski, who wouldn't have brought St. Pierre back this season.) When I walked into the locker room last night, after Labarre had a hat trick, the players started yelling, "J.F., you're up," since they knew he had to get interviewed. Tonight, after Gascon had a hat trick, they did the same.

• Did anyone notice what happened in the seconds prior to Mario Larocque's third-period goal? He broke his stick on a shot in the offensive zone, hustled to the bench to get another, then got back to the zone just in time to rip a slapshot into the net. He deserves credit for his hustle. Equipment manager Mark Bradtmueller really deserves credit for getting Larocque a stick in time for the feat to be pulled off.
• The Komets were pumped about Jani Honkanen's fight. They didn't know he had it in him.
• Check out the TNT Morning Show's Site, where they reference me talking about, of all things, video games. OK, I am an expert. I do a weekly spot with them Tuesday's around 9 a.m. I'm more happy they finally updated their site. As I like to say to those guys, "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World."

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Boos galore

Quite a welcome home. Greg Puhalski, the former Komets coach, got a mix of jeers and applause when he was introduced -- it was mostly booing -- before the game tonight. Puhalski is coach of the Chicago Hounds, who are making their first appearance at Memorial Coliseum this season.

The Komets lead it 2-0 after one period on goals from David Hukalo and Martin Gascon. It's no secret, Hukalo was a favorite of Puhalski -- he recommended to current Komets coach Pat Bingham that he keep him around -- so a bit of irony in Hukalo burning his former coach.

Joe Franke, the Komets' longtime equipment manager, is indeed on the Hounds' bench. He's helping them out because their regular equipment manager, Jerry Fleck, couldn't be here.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Fiery coach, fiery victory

You all wanted a fiery coach. Well, I guess you got him. And I'm not referring to Pat Bingham's bench minor penalty for shouting at referee Shaun Davis during the first period.

Nope, it was something else. After the Komets defeated the Elmira Jackals 8-1 on Friday, Bingham admitted he got a little too wrapped up in things during a tense first period. He said a player that he's coached in the past -- read between the lines and it's Frank Littlejohn -- got in his head and got him fired up.

"I'd like to tell you that everybody who has played for me loves me," Bingham said. "In this case, it was a good relationship that turned sour. I heard him over there, screaming across the ice for me to 'Shut the (expletive) up.' Because I was so, you know, hot and involved with our guys, I said things back."

Before the game, Bingham had expected this from Littlejohn, one of the UHL's top yappers, and he told himself he wouldn't respond. Because he did, Bingham was regretful.

"I guess it is comical after the fact," Bingham said. "He came out after the first period and he didn't say anything. But during the skate-around, he skated right by our bench with a big grin on his face, like he knew he was in my kitchen. By the end, their coach and their whole bench was yelling at me because I was yelling over there. "

Bingham said he regretted getting so fired up, especially since he preaches for his players to maintain their control. He also said he had promised his wife he wouldn't do this.

Oops.

Now that I think about it, though, I remember Littlejohn having kind words to say about Bingham when The Journal Gazette called him during the Komets' search for a new coach last summer.

"He's a hard working guy who demands 110 percent of his players every night, and he usually puts together a fairly tough team which plays great at both ends of the ice," Littlejohn said at the time. "You know where he stands, in fact all the time. He'll tell you how it is, and if there's a problem, you've got an open door."

Sounds like Littlejohn likes Bingham to me.

• Bingham praised his third-liners, J.F. Labarre, Martin Gascon and David Hukalo. With Labarre getting a hat trick and Hukalo adding another goal, it's no wonder.
• Defenseman Kevin Hansen will have to serve a one-game suspension for instigating a fight with Curtis Tidball in the final five minutes of the game, after Tidball cross-checked Arthur Kiyaga. "(Hansen) is a great teammate and he's been a great mentor to his defensive partner, Arthur," Bingham said. "I thought that was by far Arthur's best game and I see Arthur growing by leaps and bounds. He keeps the game simple and plays at a high speed. Those two add something for us ... and they play the game the right way."
• Last chance to vote in the poll on what kind of reception former Komets coach Greg Puhalski should get when he's at the Coliseum tonight with the Chicago Hounds.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

St. Pierre, Joe Franke return

Komets goaltender Kevin St. Pierre is back in the lineup tonight against the Elmira Jackals. He suffered an undisclosed leg injury earlier in the week that kept him out of Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Rockford IceHogs.

• Here's an interesting nugget: Tyler Hawthorne is scheduled to be a linesman Saturday in a game between Bloomington and Port Huron. His father is referee Jim Hawthorne. The UHL has said it's possible the two would work a game together in the future.
• Joe Franke, the Komets' former equipment manager and crowd favorite, will be assisting former Komets coach Greg Puhalski when Puhalski's Chicago Hounds take on the Komets at Memorial Coliseum on Saturday. The Hounds' regular equipment manager can't make it to the game for unknown reasons.
• Speaking of Puhalski, click here to read my story on his return.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

It'll be interesting

I'm intrigued to see how the Komets (8-3-0) come out Friday night against the Elmira Jackals at Memorial Coliseum.

After the first lopsided loss of the season, 5-1 to the Rockford IceHogs on Wednesday, coach Pat Bingham basically challenged his players to show they have more grit when times get tough. He felt a handful of them showed no fire once the Komets trailed big early in the game.

Against a Jackals team that is off to a good start at 8-4-0, the Fort Wayne players have a great opportunity to show their coach they're made of a lot.

• Speaking of Rockford, UHL commissioner Richard Brosal has gone on the offensive in the MetroCentre's talks about removing the IceHogs and putting an American Hockey League team in there. Check out the Rockford Register Star's coverage, including Brosal's letter to the citizens of Rockford on the deal.
• This is from WAAY-TV in Huntsville. Video of former Komets forward Kelly Miller and another player, Dan Buccella, getting interviewed. First of all, it starts off hysterically, with Buccella making like he's putting the moves on the reporter. Miller is being very businesslike, with Buccella interrupting, "Let me take this one." Strange interview, to say the least.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets humbled for first time

For the third time this season, the Fort Wayne Komets lost a game. For the first time, it was by a lopsided score.

Without the services of goaltender Kevin St. Pierre, who suffered an undisclosed injury in practice, the Komets lost 5-1 to the host Rockford IceHogs on Wednesday night.

Starting his second game of the season, backup goalie Dan McWhinney stopped 33 of 38 shots. But with little help, he was victimized by a fiery beginning from the IceHogs, who scored the first four goals of the game.

“We didn’t have a great start,” Komets coach Pat Bingham said. “That’s speaking in general terms. Some guys were ready. Others weren’t. Others didn’t want to get off the bus. We let complacency set in. It’s hard to keep a roll going.”

Fort Wayne’s lone goal of the game off the stick of center J.C. Ruid at 5:48 of the third period, trimming the Komets’ deficit to three goals. But Preston Mizzi cemented the victory for Rockford with his second goal of the game at 13:35.

Bingham bemoaned his team’s unwillingness to battle when it was down.

“I just think we were flat,” he said. “If the objective is to win games and also to get better during the season and continue to grow, I think we took a step backward tonight.”

Also scoring for Rockford (6-5-0) were Steve Yetman, who had two goals, and Dan Boeser. IceHogs goalie Frederic Cloutier stopped 25 of 26 shots.

About the only good news of the night for Fort Wayne: Defenseman Mario Larocque extended his point-scoring streak to five games, thanks to an assist.

Western Conference-leading Fort Wayne (8-3-0) plays host to Elmira on Friday night at Memorial Coliseum, where the Komets are unbeaten this season.

• Bingham terms St. Pierre's injury as "minor" and said he could play Friday. In fact, St. Pierre almost played against the IceHogs.
• The coach plans to break down a lot of video from this game and to "challenge" his players to give a better effort when faced with this kind of adversity again. "These are the situations where you want to see growth," Bingham said.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Story on Duhart

Check out this story from The Flint Journal on Jim Duhart, the player Fort Wayne fans love to hate. The Komets actually own Duhart's rights -- they got them in a dispersal draft of Missouri players last summer -- but they never came to terms with him. No teams have shown interest in acquiring his rights yet. I can tell you, despite his repuation, Duhart is a heck of a nice guy.

• The NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets have promoted assistant Gary Agnew to interim head coach. He replaces Gerard Gallant, who was an assistant coach with the Komets in 1998-99.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Gallant fired

Gerard Gallant, who was an assistant coach with the Komets of the International Hockey League during 1998-99, was fired as coach of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. Click here for some coverage on that.

For a moment, I wondered if his replacement might be John Torchetti, the former Komets head coach who has guided the Florida Panthers and Los Angeles Kings on interim terms. Torchetti and Blue Jackets general manager Doug MacLean run in the same circles. But Torchetti is in his first season coaching Moncton, a junior team, and is off to a 15-8-1 start. I don't know if he'd be the right fit for the Blue Jackets anyway. But it was a thought.

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting the new Blue Jackets coach may be assistant Gary Agnew. As memory serves, he was a candidate to coach the Komets in the late 1990s.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Gabrielsen waived

The Komets have waived forward/defenseman Jonas Gabrielsen, general manager David Franke said.  He was scoreless in one game.

"He wanted more ice time or the opportunity to explore something else," Franke said, "and we couldn't find him the ice time."

The Komets have no immediate plans to replace Gabrielsen, but when they do it will likely be with a rookie, Franke said.

• The Komets have yet to place forward Pascal Morency on injured reserve. They want to see how Morency responds to treatment after separating his shoulder last weekend. The earliest he would return to the lineup would be Saturday against the Chicago Hounds.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

More on Rockford

Here is the coverage from the Rockford Register-Star about the possibility of the Chicago Blackhawks putting an American Hockey League team into Rockford, Ill., current home of the UHL's IceHogs.

By the way, I'm pretty amused by the criticism I'm getting for calling Flint "unwatchable." Talk about taking something out of context. I never claimed to have seen every game the Generals have played. To quote myself from a Saturday blog entry: "Have you noticed how the bad teams this season are really bad? Flint, Port Huron, Quad City have been unwatchable when I've seen them." That being said, I don't think anyone could reasonably claim that a team with a 2-7-2 record, that has been outscored 47-27 and ranks eighth in goals and ninth in defense, looks anything resembling decent. Doesn't mean they won't turn it around, but right now, I haven't heard from anyone proclaiming their greatness except for anonymous message-board posters and e-mailers.

And you Quad City fans, I really don't want to hear any more from you until your winning percentage is at least above .300.

• Former Komets defenseman Rob Guinn has two goals, 10 points and a minus-2 rating in eight games for New Mexico of the Central Hockey League.
• Ex-Komets defenseman/assistant coach Troy Neumeier has three assists and a plus-5 rating in nine games with Lubbock of the CHL.
• Lance Galbraith has five goals, 13 points and 49 penalty minutes in 10 games with Idaho of the ECHL.
• With Bakersfield of the ECHL, Sean Venedam has three goals, eight points and a minus-4 rating in 10 games.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Larocque awesome, Morency hurt

I have to say, I thought Mario Larocque would be good -- but not this good. He looks so effortless out there, and he's really reaping the rewards of all the penalty calling in the UHL.

He had a goal and an assist in the Komets' 5-2 victory over the Flint Generals on Saturday night. Larocque was billed as a tough guy when he signed here -- and he is one -- but he's among the UHL's leaders in scoring, too, thanks largely to his work on the power play, where he has four goals and 12 points, both league highs.

He has scored in four straight games. What is this guy doing in the UHL?

But this was a good full-team effort for the Komets, who got contributions from the third-liners -- coach Pat Bingham was raving about things like their line changes and hustle -- and the guys you would expect, such as Jonathan Goodwin and Bruce Richardson.

It was nice to see a game that actually looked like a hockey game, not a mockery of officiating. That being said, the Komets are peeved at a few vicious hits that went uncalled -- Kevin Hansen was hit from behind, Goodwin took a hit to the knee, and K.J. Voorhees was crushed at center ice. The worst of it, though, was a hit by Marc Norrington from behind on Richardson. I can't believe Richardson got up from it. I really can't believe Norrington only got a minor penalty.

They all seemed unscathed, though, except Pascal Morency. The Komets' feisty winger has a separated shoulder. The earliest he could play, it seems, would be Friday. Don't count on it, though.

• Have you noticed how the bad teams this season are really bad? Flint, Port Huron, Quad City have been unwatchable when I've seen them.
• Komets president Michael Franke isn't talking about his meeting with the UHL's executive committee on the state of officiating. But it looks like the message got through because calls have gone down slightly around the league.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Rockford to AHL?

Take this one with a grain of salt, since it's from the Peoria Journal Star, whose hockey writer has insisted for years on referring to the UHL as a Class-A league. (Talking to many scouts, doing stories on it and having seen play in the UHL, ECHL and Central Hockey League, I can assure you it is on par with the ECHL.) But this story claims the Chicago Blackhawks are thinking of putting an AHL team into Rockford, Ill. We've heard this all before with other UHL sites, like Quad City and Fort Wayne. Geographically, it would make sense, though.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets lose

The Fort Wayne Komets had been the hottest team in the UHL – until they met the defending Colonial Cup Champions.
A goal by Nick Bootland at 17:40 of the third period elevated the Kalamazoo Wings to a 3-2 victory over the Komets at Kalamazoo, Mich.
“I wasn’t displeased with our effort or execution,” Komets coach Pat Bingham said. “I thought we played good but not great. There were pivotal moments and on that last goal we gave up, we were the victim of being stuck out there tired. ... But we battled to the end and went down fighting.”
The Komets, who play host to the Flint Generals tonight at Memorial Coliseum, got goals from defenseman Mario Larocque and center Bruce Richardson, in a game a that was back-and-forth in the scoring all night.
In a battle of the two hottest goalies in the league, Kalamazoo’s Tom Askey stopped 27 shots and Fort Wayne’s Kevin St. Pierre turned aside 39.
The Komets (7-2-0) saw their six-game winning streak halted. Kalamazoo (6-2-0) also got goals from Kory Karlander and Shawn Snider.
“(The Wings) are good and they play well at home and they know their building. If you’re sleeping, they’ll get up the ice quickly,” Bingham said. “It was two pretty evenly matched teams. For the most part, I thought we were pretty sharp and certainly we could have been better. We got better as the game went on, though.”
Both teams were scoreless on the power play.

Praise for an official

For once, let's praise an official. Ryan Hutchinson got a medal of bravery for rescuing two girls who were drowning in a lake. Hutchinson is a constable in Leamington, Ontario.

Here are two links on the matter: One and two.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Labarre injured

Komets forward J.F. Labarre will be out a week or two because of a groin injury suffered during Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Flint Generals in an overtime shootout. He has one goal and two points in eight games this season.

• Taking Labarre's place on the line with Pascal Morency and Martin Gascon, my subject of a story in tomorrow's paper, is David Hukalo.
• Daniel Goneau, who fractured a cheekbone last weekend, is back on the top line with Jonathan Goodwin and Bruce Richardson.
• You may be interested in my story on Colin Chaulk, the former Komets captain now playing in Italy.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Maybe some good news

For those of us who have been griping about the officiating, and that's about everyone, there may be some good news on the horizon.

The UHL's executive committee, which is comprised of Board of Governors members Paul Pickard of Kalamazoo, Tim Taylor of Quad City, John Butler of Bloomington and Tony Lisman of Muskegon, will have a meeting Thursday at Kalamazoo, Mich., to discuss several issues.

On the agenda is how many penalties are being called -- teams are averaging 33.44 per game, up from 25.6 last season -- which is drawing the ire from coaches and general managers around the league. (Komets coach Pat Bingham is not one of them).

The executive committee has asked Komets president Michael Franke, who has been outspoken in his criticism of what's going on with the penalties, to speak at the meeting.

• The Komets came into the season hoping to get defenseman Tyler Sloan assigned to them by Hershey of the American Hockey League. But Sloan has stuck with the Bears, totaling two goals and three points in seven games, and now the Komets don't expect to get a player from Hershey this season.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

"Bee Gees" will be back together

A sigh of relief can be breathed.

Left wing Daniel Goneau, the former NHL player who has been off to a torrid start in his first season with the Fort Wayne Komets, will be OK to return to the lineup after fracturing his cheekbone.

"That's good news that the fracture and everything is on the cheekbone," Goneau said. "It didn't touch my nose, my sinuses or my orbital bone. ... Only time is going to make it heal. I will have to play with a full visor for about four weeks."

Goneau suffered the injury when the puck struck him early in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Quad City Mallards last Friday. After missing two games over the weekend, Goneau should be back in the lineup Friday, when the Komets go on the road to play the Kalamazoo Wings, the defending Colonial Cup champions.

Goneau has three goals and nine points in six games with the Komets, who are 7-1-0. He normally skates on the top line -- The Bee Gees -- with Bruce Richardson and Jonathan Goodwin.

"I figured if I was going to get surgery -- the worst case scenario -- it would have been about three weeks," Goneau said. "I would have never sat out more. But I'm happy they don't have to go try to fix something with surgery."

The Komets have won six straight games, the longest current streak in the UHL.

Goneau said he hasn't worn a full shield since he was probably 14. He expects to practice Tuesday.

The word on Goneau wasn't the only good news of the day for the Komets. Kevin St. Pierre was selected the UHL's Goaltender of the Week for the second straight Monday. He went 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, a .972 save percentage and a 34-save shutout against Port Huron.

Elmira's Brent Cullaton was picked as Player of the Week after scoring two goals and six points in two games.

• I'm planning to be on The TNT Morning Show on 98.9 FM on Tuesday morning at about 9 a.m.
• Quad City has a league-worst 1-5-1 record. Anyone still want to yell at me for calling them overrated?
• Muskegon has the league's best record at 9-1-0. I admit it, I never thought Bruce Ramsay would be able to come in so close to the start of training camp, with a team he didn't assemble, and do this well. When he played in Fort Wayne, I was sure he's become an excellent coach. Then with the failure in Port Huron, I wasn't sure we'd hear from him again. Good to see him doing well.
• How's this for a statistic? Port Huron has scored on 4.8 percent of its power plays. The next worst team, Bloomington, has scored on 11.6. Port Huron is 1 for 57 at home. Ouch.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets win, officials lose

The Komets defeated the Port Huron Flags 6-0. You would think that would have the fans ecstatic. Instead, they were jeering toward the end of a game that seemed like it would never end.

Referee Ken Gallagher called 45 penalties and awarded 23 power plays, though I could have sworn there were more than that. It helped the Komets on the scoreboard -- they netted goals on 4 of 10 power plays -- but it created a 2 hours, 45 minute marathon that was frustrating to watch.

There were a couple of 6-on-3 situations late in the game, as the Flags pulled the goalie to try and break the shutout. Afterward, the players were miffed at what they called a lack of consistency. Komets coach Pat Bingham, however, defended Gallagher by saying the players just kept taking awful penalties.

Normally we wait until morning, but you may be intrigued to hear my postgame interview with the Komets' coach: Download bingham_on_penalties_and_6-0_win.WMA.

I'm inclined to agree with Komets goalie Kevin St. Pierre, who said after his 34-save shutout the UHL is going to lose its fans if the calls don't get more consistent.

OK, now that we have the bad stuff out of the way, how about the good?

• The Komets have been brilliant in the first periods of games this season, outscoring the opposition 11-2. Tonight was no exception, as they skated circles around the Flags.
• Their special teams? Awesome. Period.
• I know the shots looked out of whack because of the power plays -- Fort Wayne was outshot 34-27 -- but I assure you, the Komets' defense has looked sound. That's a good sign, considering how inconsistent it was last season. Mario Larocque sure is good, isn't he?
• Dan McWhinney will start in goal for the Komets on Sunday at Flint. It will be his first professional game. I asked Bingham if he was hesitant to mess with St. Pierre's hot streak. "When is a good time? Do you wait until somebody loses before you do it?" Bingham asked. Personally, I think yes, but I'm superstitious. They do have to get McWhinney some work.
• There was a late-game fight between Fort Wayne's Kevin Hansen and Colt King of Port Huron. King was given an extra minor for being an aggressor, plus a misconduct. I thought it was because he wouldn't take off his helmet and punched Hansen while he was removing his. Bingham said it was for punching Hansen while he was on the ice.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Awful hockey

The Komets lead the Port Huron Flags 4-0 after two periods. They have three power plays goals in the game and have thoroughly dominated, even forcing goalie Noah Ruden from the game.

I won't harp on this too much, because the issue is getting belabored. But this UHL hockey is almost unwatchable. Thank goodness I'm getting paid to be here. There have been 14 power plays and 23 penalties called by referee Ken Gallagher. They are calling the most ticky-tack things; if you blow on a guy, you get a penalty. Something needs to be done about this soon, because I can tell you the Komets' owners are mad, the fans are mad and the players are irked. Everyone is in the concourse right now moaning about it. No one wants to watch all special teams all the time. The amazing thing, though, is they're still missing some pretty obvious calls.

I refer you to my story on this issue early in the week: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/sports/hockey/15891666.htm

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

The word on Goneau

Here's what Komets general manager David Franke had to say about right wing Daniel Goneau, who was injured Friday when a puck struck him in the face: "He's got a fracture in his cheekbone and he'll go to the doctor on Monday. We'll find out then if he can play with this or if surgery is required. We just don't know right now."

So, Goneau could be out a week or months. If he does play anytime soon, he'll have to wear a full cage or face shield, Franke said.

With Goneau out, there have been some fans speculating there will be a return for forward Kelly Miller, who quit the team Oct. 25 because he hadn' tbeen playing much. Don't hold your breath. Because Miller's on a non-roster spot, he can't return to Fort Wayne from the Southern Professional Hockey League for 45 days from the time he left Fort Wayne.

"It goes to show you," Franke said. "He was impatient and thought he knew better."

Franke said the team has no immediate plans to bring someone else in to replace Goneau.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Not-so-fond memories

Reading about the Chicago Hounds having to postpone their first home game Friday night because of poor ice conditions reminded me a lot of what happened in the Komets' first UHL game. It was at Asheville, N.C., in 1999 and because they had no idea what they were doing down there, they didn't start making the ice until less than 48 hours before the game. Of course, it wasn't frozen enough. So they did what conventional wisdom might suggest -- they simply turned the temperature down -- and the ice looked frozen soon. It was only surface deep, though, and when the players got on the ice, it cracked beneath their skates. I remember thinking, "What are we all doing here at this level?"

You would think the UHL would have learned its lesson, but there have been so many games since postponed for similar reasons in various cities. It's  really amazing the things that go on, the mistakes, that are made in the minor leagues. Could you imagine an NHL team improperly making the ice and having to postpone a game? It would be a circus. Yet some teams in the minors cut corners in their planning or educating of their operations people and who gets the shaft? The fans. Were I a fan in Chicago, I would give them another chance -- mistakes do happen -- but I would certainly be wondering if I spent my money well on season tickets. Especially with American Hockey League and NHL teams just down the street.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

The postponed game

Here's The Daily Herald story on the postponed game at Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Friday night. What a disappointment for the fans of the new team, there to see the Chicago Hounds' first game. Chicago's coach is Greg Puhalski, the former Komets coach.

Komets beat Mallards, lose Goneau

Before we go too far, let's get the bad out of the way. Komets coach Pat Bingham said, via telephone, he doesn't know the severity of forward Daniel Goneau's injury.

He was hit in the face by a puck Friday night and taken to a Moline, Ill., hospital for testing. It's unclear when he'll be available to return. Goneau was expected to be on the bus as the Komets return to Fort Wayne.

Now for the good: The Komets defeated the Quad City Mallards 3-2 in an overtime shootout.

"We didn't light up the scoreboard," Bingham said, "but I'm extremely pleased with a lot of the things we talked about and worked on in practice during the week.  There was an attention to detail."

It resulted in goals from Bogdan Rudenko and J.C. Ruid in regulation. In the shootout, the Komets got goals from Ruid, Martin Gascon and Bruce Richardson, while goalie Kevin St. Pierre stopped 3 of 4 attempts. (The Mallards' broadcaster was whining that St. Pierre is always kicking the net off the moorings in the shootout.)

Bingham praised his team for "a gutsy effort," with several players sick and injured. He noted the Komets blocked a lot of shots and looked good defensively.

Saturday night, the Komets play host to the Port Huron Flags.

• I know everyone likes to moan and groan about the B2 Networks' internet broadcasts of games. I'm beginning to agree with you. I took a crack at it tonight and couldn't get it working until late in the second period. (Don't know if I'm getting a refund on my $6, but I don't think so.) In my probably six times of using it, I don't think it's ever gone smoothly. The good news is that the video from Quad City has several camera angles, even if they snoozed an missed one of the shots in the shootout.
• Speaking of bad deals, the Chicago Hounds' first-ever game in their supposedly NHL-caliber arena was postponed because of poor ice conditions. Whoops. Just what the UHL needed, another black eye.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Not making the trip

I just spoke with Komets general manager David Franke. He said defensemen Jonas Gabrielsen and A.J. Bozoian didn't make the trip to Moline, Ill., for Friday's game against the Quad City Mallards. Forward David Hukalo, just off a leg injury, did make the trip, however.

• Click here to read the Pro Hockey News story on Komets forward Pascal Morency.
• Since leaving the Komets, forward Kelly Miller has two assists and 12 penalty minutes in two games with Huntsville of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Huntsville went 1-1-0 with him in the lineup.
• Here's an interesting story from The Toronto Sun, intimating visors may soon become mandatory for NHL referees.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Startling number

I was just working on a story regarding the Komets' power-play unit and I came across a statistic that's just amazing.

Fort Wayne's league-leading power-play unit is on pace for 212 goals this season. Now, it's ridiculous to think they'll get anywhere near that total, assuming the number of penalties does descrease, but it sure looks as if some records could be up for grabs: The Komets' UHL mark of 83, set in 2003-04, and the UHL record of 118, set by Flint in 1995-96.

• I agree with those of you who have commented that defenseman Arthur Kiyaga didn't look very good last weekend. But let's remember, he's a rookie only three weeks into his career. It doesn't mean he doesn't have great potential. Just remember Mark Lindsay everyone.
• Still looking for a good nickname for the Bruce Richardson, Daniel Goneau, Jonathan Goodwin line. The best one I've received is the "Bee Gees." That's pretty good, I guess. At least it brings up some good musical ideas for when they score. "Mooore than a woman, more than a woman to me." OK, just kidding.
• I should give a plug to the TNT Morning Show at 98.9, since they've been gracious enough to have me on Tuesdays recently. I've done a lot of radio interviews; they've been the most fun for me.
• Here's a look at how the voting is going for the Komets bobblehead. At the risk of sounding like other reporters who can't get out of the past, how on earth is Len Thornson dead last in this? C'mon people, arguably the best player in the history of minor-league hockey. At least bump him ahead of Konstantin Shafranov. By the way, radio broadcaster Bob Chase is still ahead with 35 percent of the vote.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette