Ice Chips 06'-07'

Any day now, a schedule would be nice

I know the Komets are still basking in the glory of their Turner Cup championship, but it would be nice if they'd release the schedule the International Hockey League is saying should be available.

According to the IHL web site, the Komets will open their 57th season Oct. 17th at Port Huron, Mich. -- that'll be a rematch of the finals -- and play host to the Flint Generals at Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 18th.

For those of you who thought last season was way too long, given that there's only six teams, well, too bad. We're getting another 76-game campaign in 2008-09. For very limited information, click here.

Meanwhile, former Komets enforcer Jeff Worlton has been named coach of the Tri City Icehawks, a junior team based in Midland, Mich.  Click here to read more, including the note that Greg Puhalski apparently played in the NHL without anyone's knowledge. Note to people at all levels of hockey: Not only is Icehawks a weak nickname, it's getting very overused.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

The Wings have a new coach. (No, not those Wings, silly.)

The Kalamazoo Wings didn't take too long in their search for a new coach, tabbing Nick Bootland on Thursday. A player with the team for the last four seasons, Bootland seems like a solid choice.

"Priding ourselves on the ability to promote (from) within, Nick, who is a proven leader on and off the ice, (led) us to a championship as a player," general manager Wade Welsh said in press release. "We feel he will do the same as our head coach."

The Wings were coached by Brian Curran last season and he was fired shortly before the Wings missed the playoffs.

There have been a lot of surprised fans on the message boards about this one; I'm not sure why, since I'd been hearing talk of this months ago. Regardless, this seems like a solid hire to me. He knows the city, knows the league, knows the players at this level. I've also heard that this hiring will get some of the Wings' better players back on board early this summer.

Besides, the Wings can't do much worse than last season, when they didn't play inspired and, more importantly, didn't play particularly well.

Meanwhile, the Bloomington PrairieThunder and Flint Generals are continuing their coaching searches. It's not set that Bruce Ramsay will be back with the Muskegon Fury, though I expect he will be.

According to The Bloomington Pantagraph, there were only 15 resumes submitted for the PrairieThunder job as of last week. Wow, that number sure seems low to me. That should be a relatively attractive job, given the venue anyway.

Meanwhile, it was brought to my attention today that there is a vocal group of Penguins fans reading Ice Chips. I replied, it had to be a minority. You're not all pulling for the cheapshot Pens are you?

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Can I get a Cup holder with that? Paging Michael, er, Mikael.

First, the Komets break the Turner Cup. Now, the Spokane Chiefs do this to the Memorial Cup.

OK, when I broke something as a kid, I always thought the key was to act like nothing happened, not stand there stunned. They didn't get that message in Spokane, I guess.

But, clearly, they don't make Cups like they used to.

In other strange news, anyone who has followed the Stanley Cup Finals -- Go, Wings! -- has probably noticed that sudden nomenclature changes. When did Mikael, as in Samuellson, get the pronunciation "Michael?" When did Michel Therrien become "Michael Therrien?"

Or is this just Manchester native and esteemed broadcaster Mike Emrick dumbing down the verbiage for us?

A few years back, Komets star Michel Massie decided to go all "Michael" on us. He explained it was for two reasons: A) He was sick of the constant mispronunciations; and B) More importantly, he felt Michel was too feminine in the States.

Coincidentally, Massie played for Therrien in juniors.

OK, don't change your name just because Versus can't get it right. (They don't get anything right.) And certainly don't do it because it's not tough enough. (This is hockey, after all.)

Speaking of the finals, isn't it amazing to see Darren McCarty, he who began his season with Flint of the International Hockey League, two games from hoisting the soon-to-be-broken Stanley Cup? Amazing.

I wonder if he could score on Nick Boucher now.

And every time I see Paul McLean behind the Red Wings' bench, I flash back to the late 90s, him in the Memorial Coliseum locker room, celebrating his victories coaching the Kansas City Blades with a can of beer. I also remember his time with the Quad City Mallards.

I don't remember him breaking the Colonial Cup, though.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Maybe the city should have honored K's more

Driving into the office today, I heard talk on local radio that longtime WOWO broadcaster Bob Chase was shredding the city for not doing enough to honor the Komets' Turner Cup championship.

My initial thought was: Short of a parade or some piece of paper, otherwise known as a proclamation, what is the city supposed to do? This is mid-level minor-league hockey, not justification for a some shut-down-Main Street event. (Let's not forget the Komets had their end-of-season party, attended by about 1,200 people, and that was a hearty celebration.)

But then I read the transcript of what Chase said on the air -- you can read it by clicking here -- and I really thought about it. You know what? Chase is correct.

While I'm not usually one for mayoral proclamations that look good on TV but mean nothing really, the Komets are such a huge part of this city, someone in city government should have taken more notice. Chase was correct when he said, the Komets are the sole reason many people even know about this city.

Think I'm wrong? Next time you go on vacation, wear a Komets hat and you may be surprised how many people ask you about the team. Sure, some of that is Chase ego -- it was his voice that brought the Komets across the nation when WOWO could actually be heard beyond the state line -- but the Komets are known far and wide nonetheless.

So, someone scribble something on a piece of paper. Mayor Tom Henry, send a letter to the Journal Gazette's sports department ([email protected], by the way). Someone needs to take notice, this was a pretty big deal that should be honored.

Big as the Colts' Super Bowl? Uh, no way, Chaser. But pretty big just the same.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

I'm in the inbox crowd

It took a week, but my ears have finally stopped ringing from all the noise at Memorial Coliseum last week. There was some kinda big event going on there. Oh, yeah, that's right -- a Game 7 triple-overtime victory by the Komets.

Anyway, so I spent some time today going through all the e-mails I hadn't had time to answer during the playoffs. Amazing the things you get a kick out of in retrospect.

Some readers were amazed throughout the playoffs at all the negativity being espoused by other readers throughout the season, especially in what was looking like it would be "a magical conclusion." I'm not sure the Komets' Turner Cup victory was magical, but it sure was amazing to watch. Are there still people out there knocking facets of this team? Still not enough enough toughness?

One reader was incensed at my so-called bias against Kevin Reiter. I still can't believe that one. I think Reiter is a tremendous goalie. I praised him many times. I think Nick Boucher is great, too. After Boucher won the last three games of the Komets' finals comeback, does anyone think coach Al Sims was wrong to call him "the best goalie in the league" a few weeks back, even after Reiter won the league's Best Goaltender trophy?

Still, so many readers come at me with the "why aren't the Komets in the AHL" questions? I get it. I really do. Believe me, I'd rather be covering the American Hockey League. But it makes no sense for the Frankes to do it. They're a huge draw in a league that has very little overhead. Why move up, add all the expense (travel, salaries), and lose control of their own roster, when the attendance would only go up marginally if at all? It doesn't make financial sense.

I got lots of notes about the deteriorating fan behavior at the Coliseum. I've noticed it, too. You know what they say: Do unto others as you'd have done unto you.

I got even more notes berating the Komets, the Coliseum and the league for the 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 series formats. I doubt anyone hated it more than me. I had to do all the driving back and forth. I still think it was dumb. But the Komets must have been laughing all the way to the bank, what with the pivotal Game 7, after coming back from a 3-1 series deficit. And the Coliseum must have made a fortune, too, after smartly leaving the concession stands open. Still, here's hoping someone realizes  the wonderfulness of a 2-3-2 format before next April.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

More stories, more pictures, more fun

Click here to read a column by yours truly. And click here for coverage of the end-of-season party, with pictures galore.

Auction results

Click here to see them.

Look out when the Devils come calling

As Justin Hodgman signed all sorts of autographs at the Komets' annual end-of-season party, he divulged he's already received interest from an NHL team: The New Jersey Devils, who would like to see him at a pre-draft combine.

I'm sure he'll get a few more calls before all is said and done.

About 1,200 fans showed up for the annual party and several Ice Chips readers relinquished the cloak of anonymity their screen names provide, so thank you for that.

Hodgman was still glowing from his triple-overtime Turner Cup-clinching goal.

"The celebration in the dressing room was something, but I can't let you in on most of the antics," he said. "But it was amazing. You see that stuff on TV and to be a part of it in person, it was unbelievable."

Asked what players would be back next season, general manager David Franke said: "Colin Chaulk is is under contract and that's all I can tell you about right now."

So, he's intimating others have already agreed.

I've heard Cup-winning goalie Nick Boucher is interested in coming back and, no, that doesn't mean Kevin Reiter couldn't come back, too. Guy Dupuis, David Hukalo and P.C. Drouin are, in my opinion, likely to return. And Olivier Legault, Mitch Woods and Brandon Warner are also strong possibilities, I think.

This doesn't mean these guys are for sure and it doesn't mean some of your other favorites won't be back. We've seen too much happen in recent summers to get caught up in predicting rosters.

Hope you had fun at the party and that you didn't drain your bank account in merchandise.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

C'mon, K's, make it more interesting next time

Whew, I don't know about you, but I feel like I've been run over by a Zamboni.

I still can't believe Game 7 of the finals went to triple overtime. I don't care what level of hockey you're talking about, that's excitement. But just when I was thinking this was one of those wonderful sports moments that anyone would appreciate, a co-worker told me she left the building after two overtimes.

That's weak.

Anyway, the Komets are the Turner Cup champions. As you'll notice in the upcoming coverage, I'm referring to this as the greatest game in Komets history. I've run it by several people who say, there's no question. But if you have any arguments, let's hear about it now. It was the third longest game in franchise history.

I know there is a rumor out there that last night was Bob Chase's last game. As he left the press box, he said, "No way."

I did stop by the locker room on the way out of the building, to see what they were up to. I'm sure the players wouldn't appreciate me sharing most of their celebratory antics -- what happens in the room, stays in the room, as they say -- but here are some things I don't think they'd mind a fly on the wall sharing.

At one point, the players were chanting Nick Boucher's name. Kevin Reiter was clearly happy for him but also told me he wished he'd played better in his last outing. Personally, I don't think he got much help and I told him as much.

Some members of management, and their family, were smoking cigars.

A lot of the older veterans were low key in their celebrations, choosing to stay in the trainer's room or the private shower area. After more than 100 minutes of play that night, they were gassed. But one of the most jubilant was captain Guy Dupuis, who at age 38 has yet to decide if he'll play next season. He was downright giddy. 

There was way more beer in that locker room than champagne. So, it's not exactly like it is in the NHL.

Surprisingly, only one player, Mitch Woods, gave me a hard time about writing the Komets were done after going down 3-1 in the series. Refreshing to cover a team that doesn't take it personally if you knock them.

Fort Wayne native Brandon Warner just had a glow about him. He grew up dreaming of playing for the Komets. To be in that locker room celebrating a championship, of which he was a key part, was probably more like winning a Stanley Cup for him than anyone else.

I did some investigating into the durability of the new Turner Cup, which had the cup part break off when Dupuis hoisted it. Well, that thing was darn heavy, probably about 65 pounds, and the top wasn't fastened together nearly strong enough to deal with the weight distribution. But, it's not the first time the Komets have broken some hardware. The Tarry Cup was broken in the 2003 celebration. The old Turner Cup was broke in 1993, but, supposedly, it was given to the Komets that way. So maybe it's good luck. Or bad luck, if you consider they didn't repeat in those years.

OK, here's some other stuff you might be interested in:

• In case you haven't seen all the great stuff we had today: Click here for my game story. Click here for Ben Smith's column and here for his blog, which you better have bookmarked by now. Awesome slideshow, with audio, can be viewed by clicking here. We'll have more cool stuff in Wednesday's paper, so I would recommend picking up the print edition.
• If you want color reproductions of today's Journal Gazette as a keepsake, you can get information by calling: 461-8377. They'll mail the Turner Cup coverage to your home for $15.
• The annual season-ending party and jersey auction will be Wednesday at the Coliseum Expo at 6:30 p.m. Season-ticket holders and kids get in free; all others get in for $5.

On a more personal note, I want to thank all the readers for visiting Ice Chips this season. I won't get into specifics, but readership has been through the roof. I love that people around the league are making this their place for news and banter. I appreciate you all keeping the discussion witty and polite. As  one of the oldest blogs in minor-league hockey, and as the longest continuously running blog in the IHL, we take pride in all the goings on here and not bringing you fair-weather coverage.

I will continue to keep Ice Chips updated throughout the summer on a regular basis. But, thankfully, I'd like to take some time off here and there. If I don't put any new posts up, please, feel free to start some topics of your own in the comments section. Just keep it clean. And we will have some exciting changes to the blog in the near future.

And remember to check Komets Korner all the time, too.

Thanks,

Justin Cohn

Komets win Turner Cup, immediately break it

Hey, it's not a Cup until it gets some wear and tear on it. The Fort Wayne Komets captured the Turner Cup as champions of the International Hockey League and, upon hoisting it above his head, captain Guy Dupuis snapped the cup part right off.

Oops.

But the team was all smiles, all gasps, after a marathon game that took three overtimes to win. The youngest guy on the ice, Justin Hodgman, got the winner. He grabbed a Dupuis shot out of midair, dropped it to the ice and sent it past goaltender Larry Sterling.

It was about the Komets' 20th great chance of overtime. It seemed only a matter of time until they got the best of Sterling, who was phenomenal in this game.

Hodgman was at a loss for words after the game. He was named Playoff MVP by commissioner Paul Pickard. He was the right choice, the only choice. I asked him, as the 10,462 fans chanted his name, if he'd consider forgoing his final year of juniors to come back to Fort Wayne. He wasn't ruling it out.

Frankly, though, he's destined for higher levels.

This was an amazing game. I actually thought regulation was a little boring. It seemed like the Komets had it won, up 2-1 with less than a minute to go. Then a Tab Lardner shot ricocheted off the skates of two Fort Wayne players and went in.

The Komets were downtrodden in the locker room after the third period but, I'm told, were more confident with every passing minute.  Overtime was awesome to watch.

Consider this: After the Komets fell behind 3-1 in the series, they never again trailed in a game. That's what I call a comeback.

Here are postgame interviews:

Nick Boucher: Download boucher_championship.WMA

Justin Hodgman: Download hodgman_championship.WMA

P.C. Drouin: Download drouin_championship.WMA

Guy Dupuis: Download dupuis_championship.WMA

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

We're going to 3 overtimes.

Sorry for my tardiness. As you can imagine, this has been quite hectic.

The Komets and Port Huron Icehawks are going to overtime No. 3 in Game 7 of the Turner Cup Finals. We can safely say, now, that this is the greatest game in the history of Komets hockey.

And that's a lot of history -- 56 seasons worth.

I can't believe this game is still going, not just because the Komets coughed up a 2-1 lead with less than a minute remaining in regulation, thanks to a Tab Lardner shot that ricocheted off of -- count 'em -- two Fort Wayne skates before going in. No, the shock is because the Komets have been foiled by goalie Larry Sterling on about six sterling scoring chances, and they've hit a couple of posts.

Port Huron has had some good chances, too, and the officiating going its way.

Heck with it, let's go all night.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Hodgman looks heroic, but Komets' lead is 2-1

Someone check if Robbie Laird, the former Komets coach and player, who is now the director of pro scouting for the Los Angeles Kings, is in the stands. If so, Justin Hodgman may be drafted by the Kings sometime soon.

Hodgman intercepted a pass, went end-to-end and lasered a shot past Larry Sterling for a 1-0 lead in Game 7 of the Turner Cup Finals. There's a great buzz in the building, but a nervous one because the Komets haven't put this one away yet.

Sterling has made some great saves ...

... Ooops, just as  I type that, Guy Dupuis puts one in during a power play, from 40 feet out. Sorry, no way the Icehawks come back from two down. I don't see it ...

... Oops, just as I type that, Jeff Zehr scores for the Icehawks off a rebound.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

'The winner takes it all. The loser takes the fall.'

Yup, they're playing that music from "The Karate Kid" when Ralph Macchio starts beating the pulp out of the Cobra Kai. Nothing says Game 7 like that, eh?

There are people scalping tickets outside. For an International Hockey League game. Nuts.

Larry Sterling will be in net for the Port Huron Icehawks tonight. Nick Boucher for the Komets.

By the way, I'm still baffled by an e-mail I got from a reader claiming I had some bias against Kevin Reiter because I've given Boucher some praise. Flabbergasting. It's Game 7 and Al Sims is going with Boucher. Doesn't that tell you something? Anyway, for the record, I think they're both outstanding goalies.

The referee will be John Searle.

And I poked around about the Playoff MVP award. That will be decided by commissioner Paul Pickard and vice-president of hockey operations Brad Jones, with a little input from other people who don't include me.

Hopefully, they do a better job than Richard Brosal did in 2003. Brosal came along and polled all of the media before making his choice. Very few, if any, picked Tom Lawson who ultimately got the award. He had a great playoffs, but there were others who played better.

Anyway, Pickard played, coached and general managed in the game. I expect he can make a solid choice. Jones played and coached, too, so I expect he can, too.

If the Komets win, and were I to pick now, I'd go with Konstantin Shafranov. That could all change in a matter of hours, though.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Nostradamus? Or, no way?

I probably shouldn't tell you this story, but I will anyway.

After the Komets lost Game 4 of the Turner Cup Finals and fell to a 3-1 series deficit, I made a prediction. Beleaguered by all the travel, I figured, as I usually do, it was all a conspiracy against me. So, I told everyone in the press box, the following would happen: The Komets would squeak out a win in Game 5, so that I could go over 3,000 miles in the playoffs, and that they'd decimate the Icehawks in Game 6 at Port Huron, Mich., forcing a Game 7.

Then, just so there'd be nothing fun to cover in the end, I predicted the Komets would lose the finale.

I bring this up just because the first two steps have come true. So you know who to hate if the Komets do in fact lose Monday.

All that being said, no way will it happen. There are less than 1,500 tickets remaining for Game 7. (Tickets go back on sale at Memorial Coliseum at 10 a.m.) That means this could wind up the largest sporting event ever in Fort Wayne. The Komets won't lose with that kind of crowd there. No way.

Can't you just feel the Icehawks' jitters all the way from here?

It'll be an amazing atmosphere. They make fun of the lowly International Hockey League in places like Peoria, but let's see them come up with this kind of event. They rag on the Komets in Flint, but that's because they can't stomach that a fellow IHL city can have such a well-polished product, so beloved by the fans, with so much media attention, when they can hardly get people to the games.

This will be Fort Wayne's time to shine -- the hockey team, the fans, the Coliseum -- and I don't expect a letdown. So let's all behave, have fun and enjoy the night. Win or lose, it's been an exciting series and an even better season.

• Ben Smith has some Komets related stuff on his blog. Check out the part about the Freedom football team. You thought you were mad before that they took some Saturday night dates?
• Click here to see coverage from the Port Huron Times-Herald.
• Though he doesn't have the courtesy to link to the coverage he's griping about, here's a Flint Journal writer ripping on Fort Wayne yet again. By the way, getting neutral goal judges to a game wouldn't cost that much. Give me a break.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Scenes from a Game 6 for the ages

PORT HURON, Mich. -- The following are a series of vignettes from the Game 6 of the Turner Cup Finals.

• I arrive at the game and there's a definite buzz in the building. The largest crowd of the season, 3,129 fans at McMorran Arena. Not a sellout, according to the numbers, but they announce it as one anyway. Still, nothing compared to Memorial Coliseum on a good night.
• I'm thinking the Komets are going to win big in this one, until a source informs me David Hukalo, the Komets' best defensive player, is out with a hamstring injury for the rest of the series. Also, defenseman Kevin Bertram is said to be out with a rib injury. Suddenly, it seems grim for the Komets.
• Bertram is in the starting lineup. I'm reminded of the Komets' heart.
• Luciano Aquino takes a questionable penalty 1:10 in and I'm reminded the Komets can't get a call in McMorran Arena.
• Matt Reynolds strips the puck of Jamie Carroll and scores on a short-handed breakaway and I'm reminded the Komets have the veteran savvy Port Huron lacks.
• Terry Marchant makes it 2-0 with a shot from the right circle that skips between the legs of goaltender Larry Sterling. Marchant was benched in the first two games of the series; putting him back in was a brilliant decision. Sterling looks more nervous than in his Game 5 loss.
• Fort Wayne coach Al Sims had me confused with a timeout late in the second period. It was brilliant though. He rested his players before a key faceoff and it led to a 2-on-1 rush and an Aquino goal. The Fort Wayne fans, about 600 of them, are raucous. No other minor-league team has such a devoted fan base, at least not one that I've come across.
• Icehawks get a goal, then Colin Chaulk comes back with one. False hope, Port Huron, false hope.
• Sterling is yanked. Marty Magers comes in and stumps the Komets, but we've seen that before haven't we?
• Mitch Woods comes onto the ice with 15 stitches in his thigh, thanks to a skate grazing him in the second period. Ouch. That guy is tough.
• I can't believe how often Sergei Durdin gives the puck away and continues to get ice time.
• The Icehawks get two goals in the third and I'm starting to think I'll have to rewrite my story. Then, finally, the Komets play the physical game I've been calling for the entire series. Brent Henley was an animal out there. Even P.C. Drouin got chippy. The Icehawks couldn't deal with it.
• What would Larry Schmitt say here? "Komets win! Komets win! We'll see you Monday night for Game 7." Final score: 4-3 Fort Wayne in Game 6. Not bad for a team that was down 3-1 in this series days ago.
• Icehawks coach Stan Drulia is standing outside the officials' room, berating referee Ryan Carroll, who called a good game. Drulia was probably upset about a trip that wasn't called with less than two minutes left. I could go either way on making that call, but I'd rather see the boys play.
• Some Icehawks official, ticket-seller or something pretty much has to be restrained, he's so irate with either the loss or the officiating or both. All I can think is, what comes around, goes around. The officiating may have robbed Fort Wayne of a victory here in Game 2. But the Icehawks seem to have forgotten that.
• Komets president Michael Franke comes over to remind me that tickets go on sale at noon Sunday.
• Fort Wayne's locker room is jubilant. They're saying all the right things, but they also know they played all the regular season for home-ice advantage. Now they get it -- for Game 7 of the finals.
• I think to myself, there's no way they're going to lose this. Port Huron's too rattled. Memorial Coliseum is too hard a place to play. The comeback would make too good a story.
• I sit down to come up with my players of the game. For Fort Wayne, in order: Matt Reynolds, Brent Henley, Justin Hodgman, Colin Chaulk, Terry Marchant, Luciano Aquino, Nick Boucher. For Port Huron: Tab Lardner, Don Margettie, Marty Magers, Josh Aspenlind.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Woods injured, but coming back

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Mitch Woods missed much of the second period after taking a skate across his thigh. He took about 15 stitches, general manager David Franke said, and will be back for the third period.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets all over the crumbling Icehawks

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Think Al Sims can't coach? He just made one of the greatest time outs I've ever seen. Late in the second period, his team up by two goals, a faceoff in the Fort Wayne zone, and he calls timeout. I was scratching my head on that one.

But 11 seconds later, Luciano Aquino finishes off a 2-on-1 rush for a 3-0 Fort Wayne lead. The Icehawks did answer less than a minute later with a Tab Lardner goal, but Colin Chaulk came right back to make it 4-1 for the Komets and that's where we are with one minute remaining in the second period.

All night long, the Komets have been energetic. They've actually been hitting people, something we hadn't seen in the series. The Icehawks? Jittery. Very jittery.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Why we don't have 2 referees? Here's why.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- An Ice Chips reader asked the following question of me: "Why, if we have a backup referee in the building during the finals, doesn't the IHL go with two referees? Wouldn't another set of eyes help?"

So, I asked the IHL's vice-president of hockey operations, Brad Jones.

He said, first of all, any change like that would have to approved by the Board of Governors and that's a complicated process. Secondly, since everyone, players, coaches, officials, etc., got accustomed to having one referee in the regular season, it would be too drastic a change to suddenly have two referees out there.

Personally, I agree. It would change too much and be unfair all around to go with that change in the finals. I think the officiating in the finals has been pretty good, actually. So far, anyway.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets look good ... so far

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Late in the first period, the Komets lead the Port Huron Icehawks 1-0, on the strength of a Matt Reynolds short-handed breakaway goal.

The Komets are charged up. A legion of fans from Fort Wayne here doesn't hurt. The Icehawks look nervous; they're having trouble clearing their zone and are getting caught offsides.

Still, one goal for Port Huron can turn this all in the other direction.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Disinformation? Healing?

PORT HURON, Mich. -- So much for the word I received that Kevin Bertram would probably not play. He's in the starting lineup. We'll have to see how he holds up.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Big changes tonight

PORT HURON, Mich. -- It's been a long season and, yes, the Komets are a bit beat up. Forward David Hukalo, the International Hockey League's Best Defensive Forward, is out for the rest of the Turner Cup Finals with a back injury. Defenseman Kevin Bertram, I'm told, will dress but likely won't play at all because of a rib injury.

So, the Komets will insert defenseman Ken Dufresne, who has yet to play a game in the professional ranks.

It should be interesting.

By the way, the Komets, who trail the series 3-2, will go with goaltender Nick Boucher, as expected.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

The scoreboard is coming, the scoreboard is coming

This just in from The Journal Gazette's Amanda Iacone:

Allen County is now accepting bids for a new scoreboard for Memorial Coliseum. Building general manager Randy Brown said the bids were let Friday for the scoreboard and also goal cameras. The cameras will allow hockey officials to review questionable goals. County officials expect the new scoreboard will be of better quality than a scoreboard currently used inside Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The board will allow for instant replay and slow-motion video, Brown said. The bids will be opened May 27.

(Whether or not the International Hockey League would allow review of disputed goals is another matter entirely.)

Random thoughts on a series

Random thoughts on the Turner Cup Finals, which the Komets trail 3-2 to the Port Huron Icehawks, heading into Game 6 at McMorran Arena on Saturday:

• All the pressure is on the Icehawks.
• The Komets were so dependent on their rookies in the regular seasons, it's come back to haunt them in the finals because Luciano Aquino, Mitch Woods and Mathieu Curadeau have been off their normal games.
• Port Huron's fiery goalie, Larry Sterling, may blow a gasket before this series is over.
• Fort Wayne's fiery goalie, Nick Boucher, may blow a gasket before this series is over.
• Konstantin Shafranov is the oldest player in the series and he's been the best.
• Hard to believe the Komets were the most penalized team in the IHL this season; they're not playing physically at all.
• Stan Drulia is an underrated coach.
• After drawing literally hundreds of fans to some games, it's nice to see people actually showing up to a series in Port Huron.
• Doesn't that make them fair-weather fans?
• Isn't having Sergei Durdin and Jake Pence on the ice at the same time, during a tied game, risky?
• The Komets should go after Port Huron's Jamie Lovell and Muskegon's Dan Riedel in the offseason.
• Why hasn't Craig Welker officiated a game in the finals?
• Brandon Warner should be getting more ice time for the Komets.
• The IHL should bring in goal judges from neutral teams in the playoffs; it wouldn't cost that much.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

The photos are in

Sorry they were put in the wrong place at first. Here are the photos from last night's game.

By the way, I'm scheduled to be on Talkin' Sports, on 100.1 FM, Saturday. The show airs  10-11 a.m. I'm also awaiting details, for our Port Huron readers, on when I'll be on Port Huron radio Saturday morning.

Finally, I'll have a short spot Saturday night on "Sounding Off," on Indiana News Center. That'll be Saturday, 7 p.m., on NBC 33.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

See, I told you they were going to win.

C'mon, you know I was playing the whole reverse psychology thing when I predicted a Fort Wayne loss tonight. It was all sarcasm.

Oh, ye, of little faith.

The Komets won 4-2 at Memorial Coliseum, trimming their deficit to the Port Huron Icehawks in the best-of-seven Turner Cup Finals to 3-2. Game 6 will be at McMorran Arena on Saturday night.

Yeah, thanks again league for that 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 format. It's not like gas prices are high or anything.

The Komets were tense before this game and coach Al Sims tried to take the pressure off by stressing to his team they only needed to concentrate on one thing: Defense.

He didn't want them to think about offense, shooting, goaltender Larry Sterling, or anything but defense. The goals would come, he said, and they did.

It helped that the power play, albeit ugly once again, was productive with two goals after the Komets went 1 for 20 in the first four games of the series. It helped that P.C. Drouin netted a goal. It helped that Nick Boucher was solid in net. (If Sims doesn't start him in Game 6, I'd be stunned.)

And it helped that the Komets were more eager to avoid being a dismal part of history. It was pride. Lots of it.

But now they've got to do what they haven't in this series so far: Not put a stinker on the ice at McMorran. It would help if they started hitting people because they still didn't Thursday. It would help it Luciano Aquino played less tentative because they need his offense. It would help if they didn't cough up the puck in their own zone, as Sergei Durdin did tonight, causing a goal.

The Komets have a couple of days to devise a plan. And the Icehaws can stew over a missed opportunity. All the pressure's on Port Huron and the Icehawks looked mighty nervous at times tonight. A couple days of thinking about it could add to that.

Now I think it's coming back to Fort Wayne for a Game 7. But it's not like I'm in the prediction business or anything.

Why wait? Here's audio from Komets coach Al Sims: Download sims_game_5.WMA

Here's audio from Brandon Warner, who had a goal: Download warner_game_5.WMA

And here's P.C. Drouin, who had a goal: Download drouin_game_5.WMA

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Hey, a P.C. Drouin goal and a 2-0 lead

Didn't I say that Sergei Durdin would have a role to play? Well, I was a day late, but he just set up P.C. Drouin for a slapshot goal and the Komets lead the Icehawks 2-0 late in the second period of Game 3 of the finals.

Port Huron leads the series 3-1.

Fort Wayne has looked tentative throughout the period. Their passing has been off. Their power play woeful at 0 for 4. (Port Huron doesn't have a power play, by the way.) And their decision making just hasn't been good.

But this goal has brought the place to life and I don't see Fort Wayne blowing a two-goal lead at home. I don't think.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets leading 1-0 on Curadeau goal

The Komets came out a little tentatively -- they still weren't hitting anything -- but then a flurry of chances got them going. Mathieu Curadeau was the only one to put the puck in the net, during a power play, and the Komets lead the Port Huron Icehawks 1-0 after one period in Game 5 of the Turner Cup Finals.

Port Huron leads the series 3-1.

Curadeau's goal came seconds after Mitch Woods put one past Icehawks goalie Larry Sterling, only to see if ricochet off the far post and out. I think Sterling looks a tad nervous. But he hasn't been in this position before, at any level, I'm told.

The Komets really have rallied behind Konstantin Shafranov, the only player who's shown up in every game for them. He came out hard and really got the Komets going, in my opinion, tonight.

But, it's still too early to think anything's decided.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Boucher in net; warm-ups don't look good

As expected, Nick Boucher is in net for the Komets in Game 5 of the Turner Cup Finals, which Fort Wayne trails 3-1 to the Port Huron Icehawks.

I'm watching warm-ups and it's not good if you're a Fort Wayne fan -- the Komets are strolling out there. They might be nervous or they are just dispirited, tough to tell.

The only way I see Fort Wayne winning this game is via a great individual effort, like if Boucher turns in a shutout or if Colin Chaulk or Luciano Aquino just takes the team on their shoulders.

The referee is Bob Langdon, who doesn't call hardly any penalties, so the Komets would be wise to come out physically and set the tone. But they haven't done that in this series.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Check please

PORT HURON, Mich. -- The Komets were handled easily by the Port Huron Icehawks, who won 5-1 in Game 4 of the Turner Cup Finals.

That means by this time tomorrow, the Icehawks could be hoisting the Cup on Memorial Coliseum ice.  So will they? Well, this won't be popular, but I think they will.

Coming off the ice, sitting at the lockers, talking, the Komets didn't have the look or the sound of a team that had much belief it could come back. Sorry, but that's the way it seemed in there, which was quite different from the never-say-die attitude they fed me a couple days earlier.

However, I could just be giving you some reverse psychology here, and wouldn't that be wily of me to get your team going? After all, Journal Gazette columnist Ben Smith reminds me that in 2005, the Komets had the same postgame tone about them in the semifinals, and they came back to win three straight against Rockford. And the likes of Colin Chaulk, P.C. Drouin and David Hukalo, key figures in that 2005 comeback, are still on this team.

This is all about heart. Some guys, no doubt, may start thinking, "Hey, I don't really want to get on the bus for another road trip." Others know that being part of arguably the biggest disappointment in Fort Wayne sports history would be a dubious honor of which they want no part.

All I can tell you for sure is the Komets stunk up the joint tonight. They looked good very early but they coughed up the puck, missed defensive assignments, couldn't shoot into a wide-open net and I don't think I saw a decent hit all game. The third period should have been very telling; instead it coasted by with the Komets not sending much of a message by being physical. Were I a fan, I would find that particularly worrisome, especially from a team that claimed to have so much toughness.

To their credit, I heard Port Huron players not taking the Komets lightly going into Game 5. One said, "Let's get it done." Another, "They (the Komets) won't go down easy."

The Komets have been all about challenging themselves this season, even as they were dominating the regular-season standings. Now they have to meet their greatest challenge. But this dispiriting loss may have taken the life out of them. At least that's what their faces and their words said.

But actions speak louder than words. And only the Komets' actions will determine if this series goes more than one game.

• Speaking of Smith -- he keeps going on and on about the Komets. Do me a favor, bookmark the guy.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

What can you say? Komets are getting mastered.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- The Komets trail the Port Huron Icehawks 5-1 at the end of two periods. Fort Wayne is coughing up the puck left and right, not defending well and not getting great goaltending either.

They just don't look themselves. The rink has something to do with it, but more than anything the Icehawks are stifling them and the Komets aren't playing their game. And  where is the physical play? The Komets aren't hitting anything. At this point, they might as well get physical and try to get something going.

Meanwhile, the Komets have had a slew of chances at open nets and have done nothing with them. Brandon Warner, Mitch Woods and Terry Marchant all should have scored but were left shaking their heads.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Promising to unproductive

PORT HURON, Mich. -- A game that began with such promise has turned sour for the Fort Wayne Komets, who trail the Port Huron Icehawks 2-1 after one period in Game 4 of the Turner Cup Finals.

The Komets' Konstantin Shafranov opened the scoring with a wrist shot from 25 feet out and Kevin Reiter was gloving lots of close-range shots. But a power play resulted in a goal for Josh Aspenlind and four-on-four play brought a Jeff Zehr goal on a tricky wrist shot that seemed to catch Reiter by surprise.

That took some life out of the Komets, who trail the series 2-1.

During the intermission, there's a guy wearing a Komets jersey who's acting like he can't skate. First, I wonder if the Icehawks bought the jersey for the act. Second, I wonder if they'll try to return it.

Paul Costanzo of the Port Huron Times-Herald is doing a live blog from the game. And ubercolumnist Ben Smith of The Journal Gazette is here, too.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Reiter in net

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Just ran into Kevin Reiter. He will be in net for the Komets. So for those of you thinking Al Sims' breaking from his goalie rotation during the first round was a jinx, you can relax because he's not doing it again.

The Komets trail the best-of-seven Turner Cup Finals against the Port Huron Icehawks 2-1. The referee tonight will be John Searle, so I'm setting the over/under on power plays at 16.

By the way, I'm keeping on eye on defenseman Sergei Durdin in this game. I have a feeling he'll be a factor with either his offense or his giveaways. Should be fun.

Check out this drivel from the Port Huron Times-Herald. Seriously, Wikipedia as a source?

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

K's must master McMorran

Well, it's been a busy couple of days at Ice Chips. Record numbers of readership and record numbers of comments on a single post. But despite the pleas of some, I recant nothing. I still say it was far too quiet at Sunday's game and I still think you can be respectful and a good fan all at the same time.

But I digress.

So, the topic on my mind is what the Komets will do in Game 4 at McMorran Arena on Wednesday. (The Komets trail the Port Huron Icehawks 2-1 in the best-of-seven Turner Cup Finals, in case you haven't been paying attention.) Despite their success in the regular season, going 7-1, it's clear a rink that's 15 feet shorter than regulation causes the Komets some problems because they can't execute their offense as they normally do. The best way to see that? Watch when they try to set up P.C. Drouin or Guy Dupuis at the point. They don't have the time or spacing to get the pucks there.

I asked some Fort Wayne players about all this and they agreed, the Komets must play a different game at McMorran. One player pointed out that the regular-season statistics up there are deceiving because wonderful goaltending benefited the Komets.

• The Port Huron Times-Herald is on the Komets for their "diving. Click here to read it. Do the Komets do their share? Yes. Do the Icehawks, too? Absolutely. And there's no way you can tell me the Icehawks aren't playing dirtier. Just watch goaltender Larry Sterling's stick. I don't know why goalies get a pass, even if they're spearing guys.
• It appears, at least for now, that the International Hockey League will again play with six teams next season. Chicago will remain dormant after failing to come to an agreement with the Sears Centre. I still have a feeling there will be a seventh team bolting from another league to the IHL, though.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

A more familiar feeling as Komets win big, draw closer in Turner Cup Finals

Uh-oh, perhaps the Port Huron Icehawks have awoken the slumbering giants. Or, perhaps, it was just one of those nights.

Just when it looked like the Komets were toast, they came out with a more typical Fort Wayne effort, winning 5-1 in Game 3 of the Turner Cup Finals. The Icehawks' lead is down to 2-1, with the next game coming Wednesday at McMorran Arena in Port Huron, Mich.

Credit the Komets' mettle in this one. They didn't get rattled by the 3-2 overtime loss on the road Saturday. So often, teams talk about not giving up, only to lay an egg. The Komets actually delivered, even though the fans at Memorial Coliseum were in a somber silence for too much of the night.

Lot of credit should also go to Fort Wayne coach Al Sims. He made some brilliant decisions, including putting Justin Hodgman, Colin Chaulk and Luciano Aquino back together, inserting Terry Marchant into the lineup and going with Nick Boucher in net.

Hodgman had two goals and an assist. Aquino had three assists. Chaulk had one goal and one assists. Marchant had a key third-period goal. Boucher stopped 25 of 26 shots.

And the Komets finally got some traffic in front of the net, which caused problems for Port Huron goalie Larry Sterling. The Komets felt Sterling was gassed, having played three games in three nights, and was having trouble with his agility and rebounds because of it. Hard to argue with them on those points.

The key now: The Komets can't rest on their laurels just because they didn't turn in a dud performance tonight. The Icehawks will be tricky on their ice in Game 4.

And by the way, I don't think the Icehawks should be too down on themselves. Would they have thought they'd be up a game at this point, having played only once at home?

• Ben Smith was on site tonight.
• Click here to read the Port Huron Times-Herald's blog. Paul Costanzo started the night picking the Icehawks in five games and quickly made the strike-through.
• The Icehawks didn't make players available for interviews with their own media, I heard. The IHL shouldn't allow that, as far as I'm concerned. If players want to give the "no comment," on instructions from their coach, that's another story.
• On the Konstantin Shafranov shot from Game 3, the one that wasn't ruled a goal, I've heard nothing from league insiders that suggests it was, in fact, a goal. The people I trust most on the issue say it wasn't. The Komets, as you would expect, are still believing it was. Doesn't matter much now, though.
• Not to grandstand here, but I'm hearing from a lot of people in other towns about how awful some of the Fort Wayne fans have been. By other people, I'm talking about men, women and children, who are being harassed, threatened, showered with beer, just because they might clap because someone from another team scored a nice goal. Not all Fort Wayne fans are like this, of course, but for those who are: I think you should bear in mind you're representing not only a team's fan base but also the community with your actions. Just my opinion. It's a wonder other cities are ragging on Fort Wayne so much these days.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Some have a bad feeling; some think it's a conspiracy

Some in the Fort Wayne media contingent are muttering about having a "bad feeling" about where this is heading for the Komets. After taking it to the Port Huron Icehawks early, the Komets' lead is only 2-1 through two periods.

I still think the Komets are going to win, however, and it seems some from the Port Huron contingent can't stop complaining about how the officiating is so skewed in favor of Fort Wayne. Yeah, I've been hearing that all season long. It makes no sense. The Komets are the league's strongest team business-wise. If there were a conspiracy, wouldn't it be in favor of a team like Port Huron that's barely staying afloat?

Anyway, I can't believe how quiet this building has been. The Komets' fans seem more stunned and resigned to catastrophe than supportive. Hate to say it, but it's like a tomb in here for the most part.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets looking better -- much, much better.

Uh, yeah, wow. The Komets are crushing the Port Huron Icehawks ... so far.

Shots: 20-6 through one period. Score: 2-0, Komets lead.

Terry Marchant is in the lineup tonight, instead of Evgeny Saidachev. Lots more power plays awarded by referee Ryan Carroll.

But more than anything, the Komets are hitting, passing, looking more like their usual selves. It's still way to early for Fort Wayne fans to get overenthusiastic -- let's remember, they trail the series 2-0 -- but this doesn't look like a team that's ready to break out the golf clubs.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Complain all you want, if you can't finish, you can't win

PORT HURON, Mich. -- At the end of this post, you can listen to my postgame interview with Komets coach Al Sims. He's obviously upset, after his team lost 3-2 in overtime to the Port Huron Icehawks, putting his team down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Sims was flummoxed that the Komets could control so much of the play -- almost all the third period and overtime was spent in the Port Huron zone -- yet Fort Wayne lost, courtesy of a Jamie Lovell goal.

He won it on a slapshot from 30 feet out, after winning a center-ice battle for the puck with Jake Pence. That set off a 2-on-1 rush and sent the Komets home flabbergasted.

Well, if you control all of that play and only score two goals, it's clear to me, it's about finishing. The Komets aren't the offensive team right now we're accustomed to seeing.

The Komets were upset about the officiating on many levels. The first of which was that referee Bob Langdon awarded only three power plays all night, even as players were getting mugged all over the ice. I'm backing up the league on this one. This is the best referee in the International Hockey League. We all like him because he lets the players decide the game. Deal with it. You can't complain about Jim Hawthorne and Kevin Graber calling 20 power plays, then complain again because the opposite happens. That being said, there was a lot of dirty stuff going on out there, particularly by the Icehawks. (That means you, Larry Sterling, Steve Hildenbrand and B.J. Adams.)

OK, then there were the two controversial goals or, depending on how you view them, non-goals. Jeff Zehr got one for Port Huron when the puck ricocheted off his glove and went in. It counted and it should have. He made no batting motion to put it in; it was unintentional. It doesn't matter if it goes off his nose and in; if it's not on purpose, it counts.

Then there was the Konstantin Shafranov supposed goal that didn't count. Shafranov believes it went in, just under the cross bar. I was the lone non-IHL person who watched the replay about 20 times, at various speeds, and it appeared to hit the cross bar. It was grainy and it was from high up, but I'm pretty confident. And I showed it to some other people I trust, who have played the game at a high level, and they agreed -- no goal. So correct call there, too, it seems.

In the end, the Komets aren't scoring. They've been taken out of their game. The superstars aren't discernible right now. And we're two losses away from the biggest collapse in Fort Wayne sports history, if you ask me.

Here's audio from Sims: Download sims_game_2_loss.WMA

Audio from Lovell after his game-winner: Download jamie_lovell_game_2.WMA

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

The right call was made

PORT HURON, Mich. -- I watched replay of the controversial Konstantin Shafranov third-period shot about 20 times, at various speeds, with many people who know hockey. We all agreed, it hit the crossbar.

So, we have a 2-2 tie and overtime.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Tied at 2 and it's tense

PORT HURON, Mich. -- In a tense Game 2 of the Turner Cup Finals, it's tied at 2. The Icehawks just tied it up on a Jeff Zehr power-play goal. A Joe Markusen shot came his way and it redirected off Zehr's glove and in. I guess it should have counted because it didn't seem like he intended to redirect it and referee Bob Langdon, who I wish could call every game of the series, didn't hesitate in ruling it a goal, even as the Komets complained.

It's been pretty chippy. A lot of stuff going on after the whistle. That's why Langdon is great -- he lets them play the game.

By the way, Larry Sterling is such a hothead in goal. He's dirty and he never seems to stop yapping at the officials. Were I an Icehawks fan, I'd love it. I bet the Komets fans are sick of watching him, though.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

How you know it's small ice

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Yes, the McMorran Arena ice surface is 15 feet shorter than regulation. Every time I'm up here, I reminded of that so quickly.

You can tell because those races for iced pucks are so much shorter. Also, any time you play the puck, you pretty much have to be checked; it can't be avoided. Power plays seem longer because when the short-handed team clears the zone, it comes right back in. The neutral zone is tiny.

What do you have to do to win here? You can't make dumb passes because any mistake will be amplified. You have to be physical in the corners. And you absolutely have to keep traffic out from in front of your net because the goalie's going to be busy.

There are some empty seats here, but it's probably a sellout crowd. (Capacity is 3,262.)

• By the way, Ben Smith is blogging from the game.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Lots and lots of people ... for McMorran Arena

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Greetings and salutations from McMorran Arena. I will admit, I've been one of the harshest on the normally puny crowds for games up here. But this place is buzzing. There was a ton of people, from Fort Wayne and Port Huron, tailgating in the parking lot. And there was a line of Komets fans out the door. This will be exciting.

By the way, no surprise: Kevin Reiter is starting in net for the Komets and Bob Langdon is the referee.

• The Journal Gazette's coverage from the Komets' Game 1 stumble can be read here.
• Click here to read today's coverage from the Port Huron Times-Herald.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Icehawks win Game 1, thanks to turnovers galore

Someone from Port Huron asked me when the last time the fans at Memorial Coliseum had booed their own team was. Honestly, I can't remember, but it must have been in early December.

You know, before the Komets became the dominant team of the regular season.

On Friday, the Komets looked mortal once again and they were jeered once again. The Komets lost Game 1 of the Turner Cup Finals 4-1 to the Port Huron Icehawks.

How? Let me count the ways.

1) A huge amount of turnovers. 2) Not enough energy. 3) Not enough hitting. 4) No traffic in front of the net. 5) A huge amount of turnovers. 6) Stupid penalties. 7) A huge amount of turnovers. 8) Overconfidence, just perhaps.

The shots were 22-22. When was the last time that happened? The Komets averaged 40 shots per game in the first round. They gave up a couple of 5-on-3 power-play goals. A bunch of the star players were invisible.

Just an all-around yucky night for the Komets.

The Icehawks played a near-perfect road game. They didn't allow scoring chances. They capitalized on their chances. They frustrated the Komets. Going back to Port Huron, Mich., for Game 2 tonight on smaller ice, the Komets said they're readying to play hard against the boards. And the Icehawks said, since Fort Wayne played so well there in the regular season, they're taking nothing for granted.

The best players in the game, for Fort Wayne, in order: Justin Hodgman, Colin Chaulk, Mitch Woods, Evgeny Saidachev, Matt Reynolds. But really, it was hard to come up with that list. The best players for Port Huron: Kris Vernarsky, Tab Lardner, Larry Sterling, Jamie Lovell, Jamie Carroll.

The Komets really need P.C. Drouin, Guy Dupuis and Luciano Aquino to have bigger positive impacts in Game 2.

Click here to read the live blog of Paul Costanzo of the Port Huron Times-Herald.

This from Brendan Savage of The Flint Journal. And yes, he called it the Turner Kup.

By the way, with Robbie Laird, director of pro scouting for the Los Angeles Kings in the building, this wasn't the best night for the Komets to lay an egg. Who knows, maybe he'll like Hodgman, who has one more year of draft eligibility left.

For postgame reaction from Fort Wayne coach Al Sims: Download al_sims_game_1_finals_loss.WMA

For postgame interview with Port Huron coach Stan Drulia: Download stan_drulia_game_1_win.WMA

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

I'd like to be exfoliated, please

I haven't see this much face-washing outside of a dog grooming salon. Seriously, players are ripping off helmets, scratching cheeks, picking other players' noses. Just dirty stuff, by both teams. But hey, it's a heckuva lot of fun. Thankfully, for the most part, they're letting it go. This is playoff hockey.

The ice is terrible. The Komets' playmakers are generally invisible. The goaltending at both ends is solid.

It's still Port Huron leading Fort Wayne 2-1, midway through the second period.

By the way, attendance is 7,473.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Looked legal to me

I looked at replay of the Fort Wayne goal. It's not a great view of it, but it looked like Justin Hodgman came out of the corner, lost control of the puck and it ricocheted off Larry Sterling and into the net. Then there's a kicking motion, but that came before the puck went in. So, I think it was a legal goal, I just don't know how the heck it went in.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Great atmosphere, great game K's trail 2-1

Nothing was working right early for the Fort Wayne Komets, in Game 1 of the Turner Cup Finals. They looked tentative and gave up a short-handed goal and a 5-on-3 power play goal.

But that seems to have awoken the slumbering giant. Actually more than anything, I think Icehawks fiery goalie Larry Sterling did. He slashed Mitch Woods viciously, twice, just a couple of plays in what has been a pretty chippy game.

Not long after, Justin Hodgman came out of the right corner, fell and somehow got the puck in. Sterling about blew a gasket, apparently claiming the puck was kicked in. He's so emotional, which may work for or against the Icehawks.

Anyway, Port Huron leads 2-1 late in the first period.

By the way, Paul Costanzo of the Port Huron Times Herald is doing a live blog. Click here to check it out.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Game on! Car! Game on!

Let the Turner Cup Finals begin! As I predicted, Nick Boucher will be in net for the Komets tonight. And the referee will be John Searle.

Lots of people in the press box. I haven't seen it this full in years. Commissioner Paul Pickard, vice-president Brad Jones and referee Bob Langdon, who is the backup referee in case something happens to Searle, are i nthe box. So is former Komets coach/player Robbie Laird, director of pro scouting with the Los Angeles Kings.

In case you missed it, here's today's story on Matt Reynolds, the Iron Chef of Fort Wayne hockey.

And, a bit belated, here's Ben Smith's story on the 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 format.

• Tonight's game will be replayed Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. on Comcast 55 and Verizon 25.
• On Sunday, there will be a presentation made to B.J. Lomow  and his family in the amount of $6,500, raised in the charity game between the Fire Department and ex-Komets.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Words of inspiration

The Komets' practice this morning involved a lot of work on plays and technical skills. The players seemed focused but loose.

I was able to catch coach Al Sims' post-practice speech. He basically thanked the players for a good hard week of work and told them to enjoy being in the Turner Cup Finals.

He relayed some stories from early in his career with the Boston Bruins, about being in the Stanley Cup Finals as a rookie and thinking, after they lost, he'd having plenty of other chances to hoist it. He only got one but never won it.

So, the message was to relish the experience, whether the players were young or old, because chances like this don't come around often. Sims also told them not to take Port Huron lightly and that the first-round victory over Muskegon should have shown the Komets that they have to be at their best to win.

He also said if they win the Turner Cup, he's sure the championship rings would be something they'd cherish.

Kevin Hansen, who was struck in the head with a puck Wednesday, wasn't on the ice but was there. I'm not sure whether he'll play Friday.

• The Port Huron Times-Herald gave Ice Chips' readers some love, er, hate. Click here to see it.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Chaulk's story & predictions from around the league

Click here to read Ben Smith's story about what's been going on with Colin Chaulk on and off the ice.

And for Turner Cup Finals predictions from around the league, click here. Thanks to those who participated, even if everything/everybody didn't make the paper.