Komets put on a show, grab 18th in a row at home

Aha, I knew it. Despite the statements by some over the last couple of weeks that the record was meaningless, the Komets showed their true colors Saturday night.

After the Komets defeated the Port Huron Icehawks 5-2 for their 18th consecutive home victory, tying a franchise mark set in 1963-64, center Mathieu Curadeau said: "When you get a chance to beat a record like this, for sure the guys were talking about it. Now we're tied with it and so, yeah, we can talk a little bit more openly about it."

The Memorial Coliseum locker room was celebratory Saturday night.

After Sunday's game at Port Huron, Mich., the Komets will have a chance to get sole possession of the record Friday against the visiting Kalamazoo Wings.

Four more home victories would equal the International Hockey League record set by the Muskegon Mohawks in 1964-65.

While it may seem a little pompous of the Komets to be boasting about this mark, bear in mind, they have a 27-point lead in the standings and the way this team stays motivated is by focusing in on milestones and trying to attain them. I don't begrudge them that at all.

• A sellout crowd of 10,462 attended the game. All three sellouts this season have been for games against Port Huron, which led its broadcaster, Dennis Stuckey, to jokingly quip, "It just goes to show you, Port Huron's the biggest draw in the league."
• The referee was Scott Bokal.
• If Fort Wayne defenseman Sergei Durdin doesn't get suspended, I'll be surprised. He deserves one after kneeing right wing Brent Hughes in the second period. Durdin got a major penalty and game misconduct, and he had to fight Jeremy Tucker. Amazingly, the officiating crew didn't know which player had doled out the hit, Komets coach Al Sims said.
• Defenseman Brent Henley returned to the Fort Wayne lineup after serving his five-game suspension for cross-checking Kalamazoo's Tyler Willis. As part of that punishment, the Komets had to play one man short of a 19-player lineup, yet they didn't lose a game. On Saturday, they played with the full 19. Henley came out of the game in the second period with an apparent knee injury but returned.
• Center Terry Marchant was out with an ankle injury and defenseman Brandon Warner was out with a knee injury.
• Forty-five people took the U.S. Army's Oath of Enlistment during the first intermission on U.S. Army night. The Komets wore camouflage jerseys that were sold in a silent auction benefiting the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
• P.C. Drouin's goal-scoring streak ended at five games.
• Drouin's jersey went for the most at auction with $963. Mathieu Curadeau's was second at $848. About 10,000 was raised, Komets vice-president Scott Sproat said.
• The Komets are already talking a bit with defenseman Kevin Bertram about returning next season, even though he would qualify as a veteran under IHL rules. Bertram came out of a two-season retirement last summer and remains on active duty with the Fort Wayne Fire Department. Bertram hasn't decided yet if he wants to play next season.
• Anybody looking for a Luciano Aquino Brampton Battalion jersey? Click here.
• Kalamazoo beat up on Muskegon, 8-1. And it looks like things got nasty. Check out the penalties.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Jungle Monkey]

Got my jersey. How did you fare Hoss? Don't think you threw anyone off with your cacellation notice yesterday. =)

[Jungle Monkey]

With regard to the game...

Durdin's knee was ugly and looked intentional. I don't care for his style of play and don't see it as represenitive of this team. Hearing 10,000 people boo the call was a little silly.

Boucher had some nice saves, as did Magers.. Magers also allowed some ugly rebounds.

[gman]

Kind of tough to not boo when the refs don't even know who commited it.

[Janice]

We got 2 jerseys....Great game tonight K's....

[Hoss]

Game was great! The jersey auction sucked! Well, not really since so much money was raised for a great bunch of people that deserves it, but it was too rich for my blood. I put in for two and won none. What was up with Pence jumping up so high so quick. It was $500 by the start of the game.

JM which jersey did you get?

Jancie, you're a punk for stealing my jersey!!! (It's OK, she my lovely Sis-in-law. I can call her names all I want!) Did anyone get a list of all the final prices?

[Jerad Shaw]

JM, if I am correct, you are the one that was praising Henley for his actions at KZOO correct??? Sorry to bring it back up, but that is pretty contradictory of you!!!!

Having said that, still love your passion and wish I could have been there tonight.

[mightbite]

Hansen looked bad in the fight with margie-I wonder why Woods didn't fight margie=that stuff leads to things like the Bertuzzi & moore-McSorley &brashear-unless he had a injury Woods should of fought.

[Jerad Shaw]

Woods has done plenty. I have a feeling Sim's held down a few guys from throwing tonight. Let Durdin fight for his job! Just an observation from a far.

[Rich]

At the starting face off Woods was going to go with Margaret but she looked back at the bench and coach wouldn’t give her the go ahead. Coach didn’t want her on the IR for several weeks!!!! I would almost bet money they will go today.

[Ryne Gurney]

Anyone see the Port Huron player (don't remember who) take the net off the moorings, skate to the bench and try to throw a water bottle, but it slipped out of his hands and fly 30 feet into the air, that was classic

[Jungle Monkey]

Praising the Henley incident really has nothing to do with Durdin's cheap play. Henley smacked Willis around, a known dirtbag whose been asking for it for years. Durdin's kneeing penalty was an intentional cheapshot against against a guy that plays strait up. There was no reason for it.

I picked up Reynolds jersey. That #94 sweater blew right past my budget. I think Jake Pence's mom must have been at the game. =) Seriously though, Pence has stepped his game up a lot since the beginning of the year.

Good thing points aren't awarded for fights, we would have lost badley last night. Hansen got smoked. Durdin, well... he was Durdin.

[Ryne Gurney]

I'm surprised with the crowd we had last night, we didn't have two heavyweights square off, i guess we were a little busy scoring 5 goals.

[Jerad Shaw]

Were you at KZOO JM?? Did you see what he did to Willis?? A knee to knee is nothing compared to what cross check to the neck/chin/head can do. Once again, I didn't see the knee, but I know you were the one saying Willis deserved everything he got. That was a cheap, intent for injury. You want to hold someone to another standard for brutality, then go ahead, but don't put one act in front of the other.

[Jerad Shaw]

Since I have no edit, I want to edit on the end of my post.

I have been upset with Durdin's play and his work on the ice, and I'm not sticking up for him. That's all.

[Jungle Monkey]

Im not putting the act in front of another.. I'm judging the intent based on the reciepiant of the "brutality"... Willis is a punk. He's cheapshotted his way through the league for years, thats why I say he deserved it. Brent Hughes on the other hand, I've never seen take a cheapshot at anyone. He was skating by and took a knee that could have put him on the shelf for a long time. How many games did Willis miss? The worst that could have happened was a few missing teeth. I'm not saying what Henley did was good, I'm just saying Willis had it coming. Hughes did not.

[Jerad Shaw]

I respect your opinion, but weather Willis is a cheap shot artist or not, he didn't deserved what he got in KZOO. Frankly, Willis does his job very well. That is as an agitator. I was 3 ft. away from Henley's actions. Unless Durdin knee to knee'd a guy, then dropped 3 knee's to his face, then I don't think it applys to the long term damage that it could have caused.

[Komet Gallery]

Jerad, Willis deserved what he got from Henley... Been watching that cheapshot artist for way too many years take liberties on too many players to say otherwise... You are fighting a losing battle sticking up for Willis...

[Komet Gallery]

Yes, I was in Kalamazoo and had a GREAT view of what that punk had coming to him...

[Jungle Monkey]

It's like a when a drunk, mouthy guy gets beatup in a bar. I don't feel bad for him. (Henley/Willis)

When a guy gets sucker punched for minding his own business, it cheap and wrong. (Durdin/Hughes)

You are entitled to your opinion as well Jarad, I happy to agree to disagree.

[Greg]

Great crowd last night and great win by the Komets.

So far no one's mentioned some of the great saves Boucher had to make last night or the game would be closer.

Bokal did an okay job last night. Missed an obvious hooking call against the Komets in the second then Bertram got a questionable boarding call, IMO.

Hansen did get it handed to him by Margeitte. I don't think Woods had anything to prove by beating Margettie again.

As for Durdin, didn't see the knee so can't really comment.

[Brandon]

Atleast the Woods jersey has a good home :)

[New Komet Fan]

Really Jerad???? You don't think that taking out a guys knee doesn't have long term damage? You are such a Know-it-all! I don't know the extent of Hughes' knee injury, but if it is a blown ACL we have witnessed what a blown out ACL(Henley) does to a players ability. I think what Durdin did if intentional is worse.

[scoops]

Gret game and great crowd last night. A few of Boucher saves were amazing. I wasn't so sure about those jerseys at first but seeing them in person....I really wanted one. I was kind of shocked at what some of them went for but its all for a good cause.

[FiveMinuteMajor]

Ryne- I think that was Bogas with the water bottle. I almost had it in my lap!
Anyone see what Sterling did to himself pregame? All I saw was him sprawled on the ice and then get helped off.

[St.Christopher]

Boucher was more than amazing last night,I'm very happy we have a great 1-2 punch that can mind the net at any time. Jake Pence has taken a few beatings on this blog mostly because of his youth...strictly my opinion though. That kid last night played very well,very unselfish and even saved a possible break away goal. He's got my vote for most improved.

[Ryne Gurney]

Yeah it was Bogas did that make it into the crowd. Also, the ref wasn't horrible, but he was a wimp, he took crap from everybody.

[St.Christopher]

One more thing....Pence personifies the known fact that hard work matters!

[Jungle Monkey]

I agree on Pence. Very Improved!!

[Ryne Gurney]

Durdin did get suspended, Chaser just told me, do we know how long.

[Legault's Hawk Rocks!!]

boucher always has great saves hes A.... MAZING!!!!....n e one no how long durdins out???

[Jerad Shaw]

Thanks for the respect JM. Agree to disagree is a very good way to look at it.

New Komet fan, I'm just going to smile. Being a NEW Komet's fan pretty much says all I need to!!! Glad your aboard buddy!

[Jerad Shaw]

Durdin is automatically out for today's game for receiving a Match for the knee. The length of the suspension will be decided when the heads of the IHL get into the office tomorrow more then likely!

[chuckitt]

i dont think the crowd was booing the knee penalty. they were booing because 1. the ref never saw it 2. the linesman had to make the call and 3. it took them 10 minutes to make a simple call. durdin deserved the call and a suspension. what he did could end a carrear(SP) as to the muskeeegon games penalties, didnt surprize me to see bouchard with a spearing pnalty, hes like willis, great players but they have to restort to dirty play.

[Ryne Gurney]

Makes sense Shaw, I think it's a travesty that Durdin is playing in front of Warner

[Jerad Shaw]

I agree. I hope Warner can get back to 100% soon. He was playing very well before getting hurt!

[Ryne Gurney]

My guess is that he's fine, but they want to keep him as a rookie for next year.

Something interesting about Warner, he has won a national championship in Midget AAA, Juniors, at Michigan State, and has a chance to do it with the Komets, he's been on some solid teams.

[Jerad Shaw]

Curadeu injured. Unspecified injury.

[Jerad Shaw]

2-0 Komets. Saidachev.

[Ryne Gurney]

I really can not wait for Fridays game

[New Komet Fan]

Whatever Shaw, I seem to remember that you made mention earlier this year that you were still learning this game also. I have forgotten more about athletics than you'll ever know.

[Ryne Gurney]

Goal Aquino, 3-1 Komets

[Ryne Gurney]

Sorry, the goal went to Woods

[Greg]

Komets leading 3-1 in the third.

[Jungle Monkey]

Guinn might be back, I forgotten more....

[Homco]

I agree, from what I have heard, it seems like Durdin deserves a suspension for his conduct.

However I was too busy watching the action infront of the net and did not see the knee. Does anyone have a video of it so I can see what all this hub-bub is about?

[Ryne Gurney]

Komets win! sounds like Rieter almost scored

[Jerad Shaw]

I'm sure you have New Komet Fan! You seem very knowledgeable about athletics. I'm sure your a world class Curler and Badminton player! :)

[New Komet Fan]

Now Jerad... I thought you didn't like to type anything derogatory towards someone else because you want everyone to like you. As a matter of fact I was a great Curler, but I don't like to brag about it like someone I know does about playing NAIA basketball for 1 year.

[Jerad Shaw]

HAHA. Ahhh I see where this is heading!!! Believe me, I never brag about that! Nothing there for me to brag about! Maybe how nice my legs looked in the shorts, but that has gone by the wayside as well!

[Jungle Monkey]

Let's stay away from men bragging about their legs in shorts.