In 11 seasons of covering the Fort Wayne Komets, this has probably been the most fun I've had with a team. And it's not just because the Komets are winning, though that doesn't hurt.
I guess I have several explanations for why this season has been a hoot:
- Coach Al Sims is fun to work with. He always has something to say. One of his predecessors, Greg Puhalski, wasn't the most quotable coach. Pat Bingham was never in a good mood. I find Sims to be like former Komets coach Dave Allison -- both had coached dreadful teams in the NHL and there's nothing that they could be asked or called by me or fans that they hadn't experienced before, so it made them even keeled. Sims is often found before games checking things out from the press box or stands, not locked in a room somewhere. He's approachable. It's a more personable touch.
- The Komets have some unique personalities, like Mitch Woods and Luciano Aquino, who keep things lively in the locker room. (Although, Woods has got to clean up his language because I don't have that much time on my hands to edit audio.)
- There have been great stories, like Kevin Bertram's return to pro hockey, P.C. Drouin redeeming his game, Konstantin Shafranov not looking so old after all, Brandon Warner making it as the hometown kid, Colin Chaulk playing good as ever, with more maturity than ever.
- While I'm really sick of seeing the same opponents over and over again, and the same bad officiating, the IHL has been refreshing. Actual hitting? Fighting? Thank goodness.
- The goaltending is fascinating. Alternating Kevin Reiter and Nick Boucher, both at the top of their games, has been fun to watch. Also fun has been seeing the fans squirm in their seats as Reiter strays so far from the net.
- The makeup of a team that is so defensive minded and so penalized, all at the same time, it makes for some intriguing games.
- Throw all the other stuff in, the record chases, the regular-season championship, the idea that some of these guys, like Aquino and Mathieu Curadeau, are destined to move up in hockey, and it's been a lot of fun.
And no matter what happens from here on in, whether the Komets win the Cup or are a colossal failure in the postseason, those will be great stories to write, too.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
you summed it up pretty good jc. this team has been something special and reminds me a lot of the 73 team.
Posted by: chuckitt | March 24, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Yup, couldn't agree more.
It's been a fun year.
Are we bringing the goal song back?
Posted by: Junior | March 24, 2008 at 10:08 PM
So that was woods who yelled F*** in the interview with Aquino hehe...Oh mitch..
Its been great to be a Komets fan this year for sure!
Posted by: Andy | March 24, 2008 at 10:29 PM
**Make that the pence interview
Posted by: Andy | March 24, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Crowd Chant needs to stick around for the rest of eternity! You cannot replace it! We should play a song after the first whistle after the goal that fans can chant something...i.e. "Mas Tequila" or "Mony Mony" (Rockford)
Posted by: Henley67250 | March 24, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Darn, I thought I had edited all that out. Hard to hear sometimes. Apologies if something made it through but, well, it is a locker room.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | March 24, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Well said Cohn. I have loved being a fan this year, hopefully it will end with a cup.
Posted by: Ryne Gurney | March 24, 2008 at 11:16 PM
This has been a fun season. I have not made as many away games as I have in the past with the birth of my daughter. None the less I can't wait to see what April/May will bring.
Posted by: Shawn | March 24, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Man this season has been a blast! I travel an hour both ways to see the Komets play and bring at least three others with me. Only missed 6 home games. Been to 10 away games. To watch this team gel over the last 3 months has been magical. Although all good things must come to an end eventually it has been awesome! It is important we all as fans remember that. Anyone up for a tailgate Friday if weather permits?
Posted by: Conley | March 25, 2008 at 06:40 AM
Tailgate?
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | March 25, 2008 at 07:34 AM
Yeah mon. Just a thought. Hang out in the lot and watch all the kwings fans pull in. Haha. Sounds fun doesn't it?
Posted by: Conley | March 25, 2008 at 08:18 AM
If it works out that I head up there for Friday's game, I would definately be up for some tailgating action. I'll bring the Colts Cornhole set! Sounds like a def. plan!
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | March 25, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Right on Shaw! That's the spirit.
Posted by: Conley | March 25, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I'm down for a tailgate.
Hope some of the Kzoo fans that have been here on the blog will stop by to remind us how good they are.
=)
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | March 25, 2008 at 10:09 AM
I was wondering if anyone could help shed some light on something I noticed. On the main page a www.komets.com the is a pic of Kevin Reiter from Sat game. On his goal stick there is a web address and couldn't make it out. What is up with that?
Posted by: Skoal Apple | March 25, 2008 at 10:24 AM
It's his sisters online business.
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | March 25, 2008 at 10:32 AM
What is the web address?
Posted by: Skoal Apple | March 25, 2008 at 10:40 AM
www.mylooneypets.com
Posted by: william | March 25, 2008 at 10:48 AM
It is mylooneypets.com. Looks like a pet rescue thingee. Just checked weather and looks like rain on Friday and clear and sunny Saturday. I might melt in the rain.
Posted by: Conley | March 25, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Do we know when the first two games of the playoffs will be?
Posted by: Henley67250 | March 25, 2008 at 12:29 PM
The $2,000 bid on the Saidachev bid is correct.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | March 25, 2008 at 12:37 PM
I think it wouldn't be so bad having the same opponents over and over if they just spaced them out better. We never even seen Flint in FW for the first 2 months or so, now it is all the time (3 home games in a row, then 3 time in 3 days to end the season)I have to beleive the could do a better job with the scheduling. If done right, you should only have to see each opponent 1 or 2 times a month at home. I realize scheduling can be a nightmare, but I think it could ( and will be)improved next year.
Posted by: Pat | March 25, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Wow! Whoever is running up the bids is going to get but in the seat. That is crazy!
Posted by: Conley | March 25, 2008 at 01:06 PM
I couldn't have said it better myself Justin. I've been a fan since the wooden seats were around..sitting on daddy's shoulders to watch the fights. I haven't missed a home game this year. And I went to my first away game in K-Zoo, which happened to be when Henley got the 5 game suspension. This year has been amazing. My sister and I look forward to hockey games more than anything. Funny you mentioned the fans squirming at Reiter moving away from the net, you must've seen us in 215. And regardless of what Smith had to say..This is a phenomenal, fun year. So let the boys have some fun. Just because the league is a joke doesn't mean these boys aren't making some serious plays in it.
Posted by: Carrie Jeanne | March 25, 2008 at 01:28 PM
As for the tailgate..why not do it at the Saturday game?
Posted by: Carrie Jeanne | March 25, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Saturday sounds good.
Posted by: Conley | March 25, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Well..I'll look around then. When is this little shindig gonna get started? And most importantly..who's bringing the beer?JUST KIDDIN!
Posted by: Carrie Jeanne | March 25, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Yeah, they should play the mony mony song during the Media timeouts rather than having those dreadful singers sing for their supper. They did it once this year so far...
By the way: Congrats to Artie Kiyaga, who scored on March 15. His first pro goal in 130 games.
Posted by: Andrew | March 25, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Are you making fun of my singing?
Posted by: Brando | March 25, 2008 at 03:38 PM
I too am a poet. Wrote a little ditty in honor of Mr. Kiyaga's first goal.
My name is Artie and I finally scored a goal.....
The goalie must have left me a pretty large hole.....
I'd be the most popular ex-komet defensman if you took a poll....
Skating well backwards, sideways, or forward is not part of my game.....
Most people thought my defense was pretty lame...
Rob Guinn is the best defensman I knows.....
But "Hit Somebody" seems to think that he bl
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | March 25, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Ok...I'm new on here and I can see that sometime you people get upset with some posting. So be kind. I know at the beginning of the season everyone complained about Reiter being out of the net but don't you think he has proven himself this season. Everytime he is out someone yells for him to "Get in the net". I find that yelling more annoying then Reiter being out of the net. Coach must be fine with it or I'm sure we would be seeing a change.
Posted by: hockeyfan45 | March 25, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Hockeyfan45, welcome to the blog.
The deal with Reiter going out of his net was that he did it all the time and at the wrong times. It's fine to go out and play the puck when there is no rush comming your way, but when you have to skate around three guys to get to the puck, DON'T PLAY IT!!!
He really has stayed in his net much more as the season has moved along. I don't mind it anymore, but in the first half of the season he handled the puck more than some of our fowards...
Posted by: Hoss | March 25, 2008 at 04:37 PM
I will agree with you. My problem with it is the fans that are yelling for him to get in the net. Possibly they have gotten into the habit from the beginning of the season but I thinks it's time now to "Shut up about it"
Posted by: hockeyfan45 | March 25, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Well Hockeyfan45, here's the deal with Reiter. He's done good..and yes, he has proved himself as the season has gone along. But sometimes he's like a stray dog. He wanders off. The kids got talent, but his stats would improve if he learned to stay in the box. As for the yelling..it's a hockey game...what do you expect? We're rooting for him to get the job done, unlike the drunken a-holes who simply yell to be heard. Are we supposed to stop yelling when the ref has a bad call because we should be used to it? Where is the fun in that?
Posted by: Carrie Jeanne | March 25, 2008 at 05:25 PM
I don't think he is mad at people that yell, just people that yell dumb crap!
Two weeks ago, when we had a sell-out crowd, we had 8,000 "casual fans" yelling at the ref to call a hand pass when it was in the d-zone! Come on people! I bet these are the same "die hards" that get the wave going when we are down one in the third!!!!
Posted by: Hoss | March 25, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Agreed, but yelling at the goalie to do his job is the same thing everyone does when the ref makes a crappy call. I'm not one to argue. So it's settled..some people say dumb S*** they shouldn't..and hey it happens..but like I said before, it's hockey-as far as the wave. The kids just wanna have some fun. I prefer to pay attention to the game, but if someones doing the wave to get some crowd action going, then let them be.
Posted by: Carrie Jeanne | March 25, 2008 at 05:57 PM
Komethockeyfan45. Welcome. I couldn't agree with you more. In an early season KZOO game I had to listen to a girl scream at the top of her lungs at him to say in the net. This would be during a team clearing the puck on a PK. I wouldn't mind if it was an occasional thing, but this was the entire game. I no longer will sit in that section, but can see her jumping up and screaming all the time.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | March 25, 2008 at 06:12 PM
anyone who yells at reiter doesnt know hockey. ive said it all year that comming out and handling the puck is his style and it wont change. and to all who complain, name one time his comming out has resulted in a goal for the other team??? i cant think of one....may be wrong, but if he did let one it, it certainly didnt decide or change the game. its his style like some are stand up goalies and some are floppers nad some are butterfly goalies..as long as the results are there, who cares???
Posted by: chuckitt | March 25, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Komethockeyfan45. Welcome. I couldn't agree with you more. In an early season KZOO game I had to listen to a girl scream at the top of her lungs at him to say in the net. This would be during a team clearing the puck on a PK. I wouldn't mind if it was an occasional thing, but this was the entire game. I no longer will sit in that section, but can see her jumping up and screaming all the time.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | March 25, 2008 at 06:19 PM
chuckitt, I can think of two times that him comming out of the net to play a puck resulted on a goal. I also can name two times that him misplaying the puck would have been a goal if not for Pence stopping the shot by standing in the goal. This was also earily in the year when I think he was tring to play the puck more than he is now. I understand this is his style of play and I would not like him to change, but just be careful when picking his spots to play the puck.
Posted by: Hoss | March 25, 2008 at 07:34 PM
To the person who asked about the playoff games, I saw on the news that games 1 and 2 will be April 18th and 20th- Friday and Sunday.
JM- I loved the poem, just about spit coffee all over the monitor. :) I liked Arthur last year but that really made me laugh!
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | March 25, 2008 at 07:36 PM
To the person who asked about the playoff games, I saw on the news that games 1 and 2 will be April 18th and 20th- Friday and Sunday.
JM- I loved the poem, just about spit coffee all over the monitor. :) I liked Arthur last year but that really made me laugh!
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | March 25, 2008 at 07:37 PM
PS I will agree that the two times it didn't lose them the game, but it always changes the game when you let in a easy goal like that. How does it make the D feel if they have played thier tails off to keep a shutout, or blow out, only to have the goalie let in a goal because he went out to play the puck and it took a funny bounce. With that being said, it is the same thing as the D man making a bad play only to have the goalie bail him out, it makes the D play better. (And I will admit Reiter has done this a 100 times more than giveing up a crap goal!)
Posted by: Hoss | March 25, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Oops sorry about the double post, guess it's my turn now! :)
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | March 25, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Nice Poetry, real smooth...send that to Tulsa!
Posted by: Andrew | March 25, 2008 at 07:39 PM
JM.....hillarious. I have forgotten more about Arthur Kiyaga than Rob Guinn has forgotten about fighting.
I echo the story-lines this year Justin. This is a season that all of us will look at down the road and compare every year to. I just hope everyone is enjoying this year and not second guessing the league and such. It is amazing what is going on. What an awesome bunch of guys on one team. Best recruiting job I have seen in years in this town. And the coach lets them play hockey. Brilliant!!!
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | March 25, 2008 at 08:47 PM
FiveMinuteMajor, it was me...thanks!
Posted by: Henley67250 | March 25, 2008 at 08:47 PM
.........I want to address everyone who posts here........
I want to thank each and every one of you for being kind courteous and respectful of each other 99% of the time. We don't always agree but everyone is a Komet fan at the end of the day. Looking at the mess over on the Freedom blog makes me appreciate what good people you all are.
Also, Justin Cohn... Thank you for providing us with an outlet to discuss things. I know it can't always be fun to police. But I know I speak for many people when I say we appreciate your efforts!
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | March 25, 2008 at 09:47 PM
You caused a lot of some of those problems over there big guy.
Posted by: Atomic | March 25, 2008 at 10:55 PM
You caused SOME of those problems over there, big guy. The Freedom blog isn't a mess, but the team is so far from the Komets in terms of success, the blogs are obviously going to be a differnt tone. These Komet blogs have been bigtime messes at times as well.
Posted by: Atomic | March 25, 2008 at 10:56 PM