Ice Chips 06'-07'

On 4-2 loss, Woods and sweater vests

The Fort Wayne Komets were bested by Jason Ralph 19 seconds into the third period, and that broke open what had been a tie game, and the Bloomington Prairie Thunder went on to defeat Fort Wayne 4-2 in the first game of a home-and-home series.

The goal came after one of Fort Wayne's players missed a defensive assignment, coach Al Sims said, allowing Ralph to just tip the puck in easily. Ralph added an empty-net goal later.

Fort Wayne had recovered from an early two-goal deficit, with Jason Sessa and Evgeny Saidachev scoring late in the second period to tie it at 2.

Sims was pleased with the effort, just not the result.

"We need more of the same (Saturday), but with a better finish," Sims said.

He said Bloomington goaltender Derek Dolsen, a former Komets player, was impressive in stopping 31 shots.

"It was just a game of missed opportunities for us," Sims said.

Before the game, the Komets signed right wing Mitch Woods, who played in juniors for Battlefords. He fought Sam Ftorek -- who looks like his father, former NHL coach Robbie, just without the sweater vest -- early in the game and Sims was pleased with his effort.

"He mixed it up, like he's supposed to," Sims said of Woods.

Meanwhile, defenseman Kevin Bertram, who had missed practice with a groin injury, was in the lineup.

The attendance at U.S. Cellular Coliseum was announced at 4,531, but it was unreal how many empty seats I could see over the B2 Networks pay-per-view feed. That was anything but a packed house.

During a second-period interview with Bob Chase on WOWO, 1190 AM, Komets general manager David Franke said there should be news soon on the impending signing of Brent Henley, a defenseman on last season's Fort Wayne team. I don't think there's anything new or newsworthy there, but I thought I'd mention it.

Watching tonight's game, it sure seems Fort Wayne and Bloomington don't like each other much already. It should be fun to see them go at it Saturday.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Jaworski and George waived

The Fort Wayne Komets waived defenseman Jason Jaworski and center Michael George on Thursday, dropping their roster size to 21, the number they will likely have when they play their regular-season opener Saturday against the Port Huron Icehawks at Memorial Coliseum.

The departure of Jaworski means the Komets will move Brandon Warner and Jake Pence from their nature forward positions to defense. With them, the Komets have seven defensemen.

Franky, I'm surprised with both cuts. Jaworski has been nomadic, but I thought his experience would be a good stabilizing force on what is a very young defense. And while I know coach Al Sims was concerned with George's defensive play, he clearly had offensive skills. I bet he's picked up somewhere and puts up good numbers.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

On Aquino

Click here to read today's story on Luciano Aquino; he's going to be a good one here.

Calling all former Jackals

Former Komets forward Matt Syroczynski and former Quad City Mallards forward Justin Chwedoruk, whose rights in the International Hockey League are possessed by the Komets, were released by the ECHL's Elmira Jackals.

Fort Wayne general manager David Franke said he is interested in brining in both players, and has already called their agents, but they are evaluating other options before they decide on whether to pursue anything with Fort Wayne.

Also, the Komets continue to monitor goaltenders waived in other leagues, but for now they're sticking with their current combination of Kevin Reiter and Adam Hanna.

As for speculation the Komets would bring in enforcer Jason Bone, waived by Port Huron last weekend -- Franke said, no way.

• Don't forget, I'll be doing my weekly spot on the TNT Morning Show, 98.9 FM, Tuesday at about 9 a.m.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

We've got cuts -- 4 of them

Fort Wayne Komets coach Al Sims informed four players they had been cut, just minutes after his team's 7-4 loss to the Kalamazoo Wings on Saturday night. The players were defensemen Clay Lewis and Randy Upshall, goaltender Shawn Monette and center Dustin Hughes.

There will probably be about two more players cut before the regular-season opener Saturday against the visiting Port Huron Icehawks.

None of the cuts were surprising. Lewis had seven penalty minutes in two preseason games. Upshall was minus-3 in two games. Monette allowed four goals on 14 shots in 29:30 of work. Hughes was minus-3 in one game. None of them scored a point.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets Korner is up and running

The newly renovated Komets Korner page is up and running. We're still making improvements, but hope you'll enjoy it.

Click here. Or you can always go to www.journalgazette.net, then on the pulldown menu go to sports, professional, Komets.

Sirokov story, plus pictures

Click here to read the aforementioned story on Maxsim Sirokov.

Pictures from practice can be viewed by clicking here.

Giggles, newcomers and translations needed

I don't know yet if Al Sims can teach forechecking or break down a neutral-zone trap,  but I can tell you he has a better sense of humor than his two predecessors, Pat Bingham and Greg Puhalski.

The Komets opened training camp today and Sims had the room in stitches as he described some of his new players; a welcome change from the usual non-descriptive introductions.

On Kevin Bertram, who came out of retirement to rejoin the Komets, Sims said: "He played in the firemans' league last year and has made the big jump to AA hockey from there."

OK, it was funnier in person.

On Guy Dupuis, Sims told the room how he was a poor-skating "plodder" as a second-year player with the Komets and Sims thought "he'll be lucky to play 10 games at this level." Dupuis is in his 18th pro season now, and he's the Komets' captain.

Sims also slipped up and called the IHL the UHL, then quipped, "I'll have to put a dollar in the jar for that."

But there was actual news: The Komets have brought in defenseman Maksim Sirokov and defenseman Jason Jaworski, bringing their ranks to the 27 players they expected.

Sirokov's story is particularly interesting. He has wanted to come over from Latvia for a couple of years but could never get a visa, some believe because his coach there has such pull with the government. He quietly got his visa approved, though Sirokov was mum on some of the details, and he came over last week. He did so with the help of the Komets, defenseman Sergei Durdin and some other players in the minors, like Jan Jas.

Sirokov could be a whopper of a player. He had 10 goals and 37 points in 47 games last season. How good? Good enough that I've heard whispers he might not be at this level long.

I will have a story on Sirokov in Tuesday's paper. I had to get Durdin to serve as interpreter.

As for Jaworski, he's skated for Muskegon, Adirondack, Elmira, Quad City and Port Huron. He sat out last season after the birth of a child.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

A new goaltender

The Fort Wayne Komets have signed goaltender Adam Hanna, coach Al Sims said, and he will join Kevin Reiter and Shawn Monette in net for the Komets when they open training camp Monday at Memorial Coliseum.

Hanna, 26, played 11 games last season for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League, going 5-2-1 with a 3.04 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. He also played two games for Long Beach of the ECHL, but was not the goalie of record in either game.

His season was shortened because of hand and knee injuries.

The signing of Hanna comes less than a week after Shawn Degagne informed the Komets he would not be coming to Fort Wayne because he aggravated a shoulder injury. Reiter will be the Komets' No. 1 goaltender, while Hanna and Monette, a rookie, will battle for the No. 2 spot.

"(Hanna) is somebody we've heard good things about and he can be spectacular at times," Sims said, pointing out Hanna's time at St. John's University from 2003 to 2006, when in each of his seasons his GAA was 2.02 or better and his save percentage was .920 or better.

There's an outside chance the Komets will have a fourth goaltender in town for training camp, Sims said.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

No goaltender to introduce, so you get this

I guess I didn't know there was a question about it, but apparently mascot Icy D. Eagle will, in fact, be back for the Komets' first season in the new International Hockey League. I'm not sure this will help either the toughness or goaltending voids, but at least I can reasonably assume there will still be a Nutcracker dance with a tutu come the holidays.

This will be his 14th season with the team. It says Icy is 16; that's only 21 years younger than defenseman Guy Dupuis.

In case you're wondering, it is true that Icy began his career with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles for two years, before making his Fort Wayne appearance in a 1994 All-Star Game. He returned to Fort Wayne for the playoffs and became a permanent fixture after the Golden Eagles disbanded.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Degagne gone before he's begun

The Fort Wayne Komets believed they had the best-laid plans. But you know what they say about those, right? They go awry.

Shawn Degagne, who had been slated to battle with Kevin Reiter for position as the No. 1 goaltender, giving the Komets what they thought would be a league-best tandem of netminders, has re-injured the shoulder that kept him out almost all of last season with Elmira of the United Hockey League. Degagne will not be reporting for training camp Oct. 8.

"He won't be ready for the beginning of season," said Komets coach Al Sims, whose team is preparing for its first season in the new six-team International Hockey League. "We're proceeding as if Shawn won't be playing this year. But we definitely need two guys who can play and we'll move to find what we need before the start of training camp."

Degagne couldn't be reached for comment but Sims said the injury happened while Degagne was working out at in his hometown of North Bay, Ontario, and that the minimum recovery time was put at weeks by doctors, but that Degagne was "not optimistic about it."

Degagne, 28, a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Ranges in 1997, has spent most of his career in the Central Hockey League. His last full season, 2005-06, saw him go 24-16-2 with a 3.05 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage for Amarillo. Last season, he was 2-2-0 with a 3.25 GAA and .902 save percentage in four games for Elmira.

The good news is that the Komets still have Reiter, 25, who spent last season with Laredo of the CHL, going 17-6-1 with a 2.33 GAA and a .915 save percentage, and Sims said the Komets can survive fine with him as the sole No. 1. But the team would like to bring in another top-notch netminder for hearty competition and Sims said there are several available.

The Komets do have rookie Shawn Monette on their roster, too, and a good showing in training camp could pay dividends for him. But Monette, who was 32-13-2 with a 2.92 GAA last season for the Dauphin Kings, will likely play in the Southern Professional Hockey League and be a possible goalie of the future for Fort Wayne.

Degagne was put on a non-roster spot and is eligible to come off Nov. 9, at which time the Komets will reevaluate; Sims said it's not impossible to think he'll play in Fort Wayne this season, but it is unlikely.

Meanwhile the Komets were dealt some more bad news when defenseman Jamie Dowhayko informed them he would be playing in Germany instead of Fort Wayne, Sims said. He had two goals and seven points in 29 games last season with the University of Manitoba.

• Also, check this out. Design your own Komets jersey.

For more on this story, check out Saturday's editions of The Journal Gazette

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Tickets, signings and more

On Monday, I brought you a blog entry in which Komets president Michael Franke denied the accuracy of a Prohockeynews.com report that said the team was offering discounts on tickets to bring back former season-ticket holders. Prohockeynews.com has since recanted its statement.

Speaking of tickets, single-game tickets for the upcoming season go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at Memorial Coliseum and www.ticketmaster.com.

Also, the Komets have signed forward Olivier Legault and defenseman Clay Lewis.

Legault, 20, had 16 goals and 32 points in 44 games last season with his junior team, Terrebonne. He was a fourth-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Lewis, 24, had 10 assists and 85 penalty minutes in 34 games last season with Buffalo State.

Finally, the International Hockey League will hold its training camp for officials at McMillen Arena on Saturday. It was a staple there in the United Hockey League and the IHL's vice-president of hockey operations, Brad Jones, will be running the camp.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Where's the beef? Not with Durdin.

OK, I did my best Clara Peller and asked "Where's the Beef?" Rather, I asked Komets general manager David Franke, "Where's the toughness."

So get off my back.

Franke admitted, it is an area on which they're still working.

"We're still looking for more toughness," Franke said. "We're close to putting something together with a 6-foot-5 rookie forward, which will help. ... But the one thing we've always felt is that if you're going to be tough, you have to be able to play, too. We're not interested in our 19th man being somebody who will see the ice only a couple times per game. You have to be able to contribute. I'm not that worried about that end of it; that part usually takes care of itself (in the offseason).

"We do have (defensemen) Kevin Bertram and Kevin Hansen -- they're both big kids -- and I'm not worried. We'll be fine. But it is an area we're still working on and we will continue to right through training camp. There will be guys who are tough and won't catch on in other leagues."

Meanwhile, the Komets continue to be in touch with tough guy Brent Henley, who tore a knee ligament in the playoffs last season, Franke said. But Henley won't be able to play until December, Franke said, so he's in no rush to sign with anyone.

But the news of the day was this: Even though it had seemed to be an impossibility because he was going to Europe, defenseman Sergei Durdin rethought things and signed with the Komets. The team's No. 1 pick in the dispersal draft this summer -- he had eight goals and 43 points in 69 games with Quad City last season -- Durdin is a top-pairing type of defenseman.

"We always liked the way he played against us," Franke said.

Look for Durdin to run the point on the power play along with Guy Dupuis.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Sessa joins Komets

The Fort Wayne Komets signed forward Jason Sessa, who spent last season with Memphis of the Central Hockey League, scoring 30 goals and 54 points in 64 games.

"I'm very excited to be coming to Fort Wayne," Sessa said. "Knowing the atmosphere and the kind of teams Fort Wayne has every year, I'm excited we were able to work out a deal."

Sessa, 30, should be familiar to Fort Wayne fans -- he played against them in the United Hockey League between 2003 and 2006, surpassing the 30-goal plateau twice.

"We look at Jason as being one of our top six forwards," Komets general manager David Franke said. "He played against us when he was in Quad City and Elmira and he knows the electricity that goes on in our building with the number of fans we get, and he knows we have a good chance to win everything here. We're excited to have him. He always played very well against us and we always considered him one of the bets players in the league."

A fourth-round draft pick of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs in 1996, Sessa played three seasons at Lake Superior State University and has played parts of six seasons in the American Hockey League. He is 6-foot-1, 200 pounds.

"I look at him as being a power forward," Franke said. "He goes to the net and plays hard and he's got a good amount of skill. We hope he can get 25 to 35 goals for us."

Sessa said to be careful with the power forward description, since he doesn't consider himself a bruiser.

"I'll hit when I have to, but I just go out there and try to be reliable, offensively and defensively," he said, "and I try to do what I do best and not be a liability on the ice."

Meanwhile, the Komets added rookie goaltender Shawn Monette to their preseason roster, where he will join netminders Kevin Reiter and Shawn Degagne. Monette played junior hockey last season for the Dauphin Kings, going 32-13-2 with a 2.92 goals-against average.

"(Monette) has got a job already down in Knoxville of the (Southern Professional Hockey League), but we're bringing him into camp to find out if he's a guy we'll look at if we have a call-up to one of our goalies or sickness," Franke said. "He'll only be an airplane flight away. ... I expect him to get into an exhibition game and we'll give him a good look."

The Komets have 13 forwards, five defensemen and three goalies so far for their inaugural season in the new International Hockey League. Training camp opens Oct. 8.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Old-time hockey is back ... literally

When the Fort Wayne Komets said they were going to get back to old-time hockey in the new International Hockey League, I guess they meant it.

Today, they signed Konstantin Shafranov, the former NHL player who was the Rookie of the Year in the old IHL with the Komets ... in 1996.

Shafranov is 38.

So let's get this straight. The Komets have the coach from 1989 to 1993, Al Sims, back. They have a defenseman, Guy Dupuis, who was here in 1991-92. Another defenseman, Kevin Bertram, was fighting fires the last couple years. What's next? Oh yeah, you know Pokey Reddick is on general manager David Franke's speed dial.

I'm kidding. Maybe.

But in all seriousness, the signing of Shafranov should be a good one. He's always had great skills; he just better have his head in the game. He was kind of all over the place in 1999-2000, when he was last here, yet he still had 1.5 points per game. To the Komets' credit, they're not promising he'll be a top-line player. They'd better not be; he hasn't played more than 51 regular-season games since his last stint with the Komets. But I won't argue about a guy who has played in the NHL, World Championships and the Olympics until he shows up at the rink walking with a cane, and Franke insisted he won't be doing that.

Besides, Dupuis is 37 and he ruled last season.

Meanwhile, former Komets coach Greg Puhalski didn't get the job in Kalamazoo. That went to Brian Curran, the former Quad City Mallards coach. Either way, you're getting boring hockey, so I would have gone with the coach who had a better record, but what do I know.

Check out Wednesday's editions of The Journal Gazette for more on the signing of Shafranov.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Shaf is back

The Komets have signed 38-year-old forward Konstantin Shafranov -- for the fourth time in his career. Click here to see the release and I will have more on the signing this evening.

Some hearty competition

The Fort Wayne Komets' signing of goaltender Shawn Degagne sets up what should be one of the most fascinating position battles in years. He and Kevin Reiter will compete for playing time, said coach Al Sims, who likes to go with the hot hand. With so many three games in three nights weekends, though, they'll both come in handy. It's been a while since the goaltending situation wasn't mostly predetermined around here: Kevin St. Pierre was the unquestioned No. 1 for four seasons, Tom Lawson for one before that, Doug Teskey for three before that.

To find the kind of goalie competition we will see here, you probably have to go back to 1998-99, the Komets' last season in the first incarnation of the International Hockey League, when Bruce Racine and Pokey Reddick were going at it. But even that's sort of a stretch because Racine was so good; you really have to go back to 1995-96, when Bob Essensa and Peter Ing were competing. Go a little further and Al Sims is coaching the Komets to a Turner Cup and Dakota Fannings hadn't even been born yet. Whew.

I believe Reiter will ultimately see the bulk of the playing time. If Degagne' s shoulder acts up -- he's recovering from a separation -- then all this will be moot. But the Komets have researched his health and believe he will be OK.

Meanwhile, the re-signing of center Terry Marchant is interesting because he came to the Komets via a trade that Sims made as general manager of the Flint Generals last season. I wonder if Marchant ends up playing center or wing alongside Colin Chaulk.

The third player signed today, Michael George, may sound familiar because he was in on a tryout with the Komets last season. The Komets loved the kid but he didn't have the appropriate work visa and ended up playing senior hockey in Canada. He will go to training camp with Syracuse of the American Hockey League before joining the Komets, Sims said.

Sims said he feels a lot better about his team today -- it has 15 players -- then he did before the signing of the last week. On paper, the Komets do look good, but where's the toughness they'll need in the new IHL?

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Marchant back, Degagne finally signs

The Komets have re-signed forward Terry Marchant, added goaltender Shawn Degagne and signed forward Michael George. Click here to see the press release and check back this evening for more on these signings from me.

Congrats, Fort Wayne

In case you missed it, Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal has ranked Fort Wayne the No. 1 minor-league sports city in the nation. Click here to read an early version a story on it. Needless to say, the Komets and their fans are a big part of this, so congratulations to all. I feel as if Fort Wayne is always overlooked as a great sports town, so it's nice to see someone, or some publication, take notice.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

You've got yourself a goalie

Sorry for the delay, but I've been down at Terre Haute for the Colts' training camp. The Komets have signed five players, most notably goaltender Kevin Reiter and forward Brandon Warner, a Fort Wayne native.

Click here to read the press release.

The signing of Reiter concludes two offseasons of general manager David Franke trying to get the former Missouri goaltender to Fort Wayne. The Komets have assured him he will be the No. 1 goalie. Franke said the Komets are close to bringing Shawn Degagne in to be the No. 2.

That means that Dan McWhinney, last season's backup, is likely out of the mix. Franke said they would trade McWhinney's rights if he wishes to remain in the International Hockey League. Franke also said they are not concerned about Degagne's shoulder, which was separated last season and kept him out of the lineup most of the campaign, because they have done research on his health.

Meanwhile, even though Warner is listed on the Komets' roster as a defenseman, and he's willing to give it a try, he said he's under the impression he'll be playing forward, where he spent most of his collegiate career. He was on Michigan State's national championship team. He grew up watching the Komets and said it was a dream to wear the orange and black. He also hoped to bring down some good luck from East Lansing.

Even though I will take some credit for getting the Warner bug in the Komets' ears and have asked him for a percentage of his paycheck -- I kept asking Franke if he had thought about giving him a look last season, when I was trying to figure out how they'd polish off their playoff roster, and I even remember Franke writing the name down in a notepad -- the Komets said it was former captain Colin Chin who called in the suggestion to the team offices. Regardless, Warner was raved about at the junior level, too, and with there having been few hometown kids to have success in the pros, it would be nice to see this one pan out.

As for the other signings, on paper, Matt Reynolds looks sound. He had 17 goals and 45 points in 56 games last season with Rio Grande Valley of the Central Hockey Leagye.

Check out tomorrow's Journal Gazette for more on the signings.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets going after local star

The Fort Wayne Komets have been in contract talks with Brandon Warner, a Fort Wayne native who played last season for Michigan State's national championship team, Komets general manager David Franke confirmed. Warner, 5-foot-11, 166 pounds, went to Carroll and played junior hockey for the Pittsburgh Forge. He had two goals and six points in 23 games with Michigan State. Franke said there could be news on a goaltender signing or two Wedneday. He said neither Shawn Degagne, Kevin Reiter or Dan McWhinney had signed on yet.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

What Bertram had to say

Defenseman Kevin Bertram said he's both excited and nervous about rejoining the Komets after a two-year retirement.

"I'm really excited about it, aside from the nervousness," Bertram said. "It's been two full seasons since I've played. That's the part I'm not really sure about, if I can do it, but I'll have to find out. The only thing I can worry about is making sure I'm in the best shape I can be."

Bertram said he got the itch to play in the pros again, and learned he could balance hockey and a full-time job at the Fire Department, while coaching Snider's hockey team last season.

One of the apprehensions with re-signing with the Komets was the risk of injury, but he said everyone's been supportive. Also, he's been on skates with the Fire Department team for the last couple of years.

Bertram said, since it will take some time to re-acclimate to the speed of the pro game, he may have to be more of a physical enforcer early on.

"There is going to be a transition time," he said. "I might not be the guy they go to on the penalty kill right off the bat. If (being physical) is what I have to do to help the team, I'll step up. But my goal is to at least play how I played my last season (with the Komets)."

• Matt Syroczynski signed with Elmira.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Komets sign 4 players

Click here to read an early version of the story. More on this in tomorrow's editions of The Journal Gazette.

McAllister an Everblade

The ECHL's Florida Everblades signed forward Kyle McAllister, who was scoreless in four games late last season with the Fort Wayne Komets.

More on Richardson leaving

Bruce Richardson made quite an impression in his first season with the Fort Wayne Komets.

He had 15 goals, 47 points and 135 penalty minutes in 57 games, endured a painful injury -- a torn labrum in his hip -- that required surgical repair, helped coach the Komets to a regular-season championship and became wildly popular with fans at Memorial Coliseum.

His first season, however, was his last with the team.

According to Komets general manager David Franke, Richardson will play next season for the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League.

"It's a disappointment," Franke said. "But we made him a very good offer -- a very good offer -- and it had a second year that was his option. Obviously, he felt he needed to do this. We have no ill will. We'll move on as a franchise and Bruce will, too."

Richardson, 30, was a player/assistant coach with the Komets. It's unclear if he'll have the same role with Wichita, and it's also unknown if the Komets will have another player/assistant under new coach Al Sims.

"It just depends on who we come across this summer," Franke said.

Early in the summer, the Komets felt they were close to re-signing Richardson, who had nothing but good things to say about the team. But that was before head coach Pat Bingham left for an assistant-coaching job with Bridgeport of the higher-level American Hockey League and before the Komets' United Hockey League reformed as the six-team International Hockey League.

While the IHL's move toward more physical play would seem to suit Richardson's rough-and-tumble style, it seems the money was too good to turn down.

"It's a very nice contract (he got from Wichita), from what I've heard from his agent," Franke said, "and he went for it. The Central Hockey League is throwing a lot of money around out there."

Richardson couldn't be reached for comment, but last week he told The Journal Gazette: "We just have to look at the good and the bad from both teams. I have a wife and two kids and you have to consider what's best for the family and everything."

More will be coming on this later in the day and in tomorrow's paper.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Richardson is leaving Komets

Center Bruce Richardson will play next season with Wichita of the Central Hockey League.

"It's a disappointment," Komets general manager David Franke said. "But we made him a very good offer -- a very good offer -- and it had a second year that was his option. Obviously, he felt he needed to do this. We have no ill will. We'll move on as a franchise and Bruce will too."

Richardson spent one season with the Komets as a player/assistant coach.

I will have more on this later in the day.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Gascon 'out of mix'

The Fort Wayne Komets did have interest in bringing back center Martin Gascon but, according to general manager David Franke, he's likely to play in Europe next season. "He's out of the mix," Franke said. Meanwhile, the Komets have been informed by the agent of Bruce Richardson, who has been weighing offers between the Komets and an undisclosed team from the Central Hockey League, that a decision may not come until late next week, Franke said.

The Komets have now gotten in contact with all of the players they selected in a dispersal draft last month. They had trouble getting in touch with their top pick, defenseman Sergei Durdin, who is in his native Latvia. Through his agent -- the same agent as Richardson -- the Komets got word to Durdin and are waiting to hear back to learn if he has interest in playing in Fort Wayne.

Also, former Komets goaltender Kevin Weekes signed with the New Jersey Devils.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Bye, bye Morency

Pascal Morency, who played last season for the Komets, has received a two-way contract offer to play for the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. That's the team that former Komets coach Pat Bingham is now an assistant with.

But here's the trick: If Morency is sent down from the AHL, Bridgeport would like all its players to go to Utah of the ECHL. The Komets are trying to work something out to get Morency back if he's sent down, but Komets general manager David Franke said: "It's probably a done deal and Pascal is going there to Utah if he doesn't make the AHL roster."

Morency may even get an invitation to the New York Islanders' training camp.

With more bad news, Franke said Matt Syroczynski wants to play in the ECHL next season and the Komets are out of the picture.

OK, need some good news? Defenseman Guy Dupuis is close to re-signing -- it could happen as soon as Thursday -- and the Komets hope to hear from Bruce Richardson within five days, and they're confident he will return. The Komets have also made contract offers to David Hukalo and Kevin Hansen.

Finally, click here to read a story on the new IHL from ProHockeyNews.com.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Introducing the new site, the new K's

First of all, make sure you check out the The Journal Gazette's new web site: journalgazette.net. Bookmark it. We will be making improvements in the coming weeks and months, but it's a really good start. Click here to read the story about the site.

The URL for this blog, Ice Chips, remains the same. We will be working on bringing back Komets Korner, and it'll be better than ever before this season begins. In the meantime, click here for the Komets page and bookmark that.

Now, for the news of the day:

Here are the players the Fort Wayne Komets got in today's International Hockey League dispersal draft of players from Rockford, Quad City, Elmira and Chicago.

Round, player, position, former team, stats
1, Sergei Durdin, D, Quad City, 8 goals, 43 points, 69 games
2, Justin Chwedoruk, F, Quad City, 24 goals, 68 points, 71 games
3, Brett Pilkington, C, Quad City, 29 goals, 73 points, 73 games
4, Jesse Bennefield, RW, Rockford, 22 goals, 44 points, 52 games
5, Anthony Pototschnik, RW, Quad City, 0 points, 10 PIM, 6 games
6, Mike Sgroi, LW, Elmira, 3 points, 26 PIMs, 4 games
7, Travis Granbois, F, Quad City, 3 goals, 8 points, 45 games
8, Erik Anderson, C, Elmira, 13 goals, 50 points, 75 games
9, Mike Kautz, D, Chicago, 2 goals, 13 points, 70 games
10, Will McMahon, F, Quad City, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 game
11, Shawn Degagne, G, Elmira, 2-2-0, 3.25 GAA, .902 SP
12, Bobby Kukulka, RW, Elmira, 24 goals, 36 points, 50 games
13, Frank Littlejohn, RW, Elmira, 42 goals, 59 points, 71 games
14, Chaz Johnson, RW, Rockford, 14 goals, 26 points, 45 games

Komets coach Al Sims was ecstatic with the way it turned out.

"I think we're really pleased," he said, "considering we had the sixth (and final) pick. We didn't think Sergei Durdin would be available. He's one of the top defensemen in the league. ... You want guys who show up and play hard and he certainly did that this season."

As for getting Chwedoruk and Pilkington, Sims said they were steals.

Keep an eye on Degagne; Sims said he's known the goalie for years and tried to sign him before. He believes this could be a good goalie for the Komets. Meanwhile, Sims has called Dan McWhinney, the Komets' backup last season, but said he hasn't heard back. The Komets are still hopeful he'll return, though.

As for the late picks of big names like Littlejohn, Johnson and Kukulka, it was a strategic move by the Komets. Those players are expected to play in either the American Hockey League or with Elmira in the ECHL; but if things fall through, the Komets wanted their rights.

Some teams snatched up players already committed in early rounds, which seems like a mistake to me. Draft guys you can actually get to your teams; save the late rounds for the gambles. You reading Flint?

Looking around the league, I thought Flint had a strange draft taking guys like Frederic Cloutier, signed in Europe, and Nathan Lutz, maybe off to the ECHL. Port Huron had a great draft getting goalie Marty Magers, forward Drew Otten and a lot of toughness. If Kalamazoo gets Cris Busby in, the Wings will be scary.

I'm guessing, in most cases, these teams will get three of their drafted players into training camp.

"If we can get our top three picks signed," Sims said, "it'll have been a successful draft."

By the way, check out the new poll on the left side of this page.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Ruid out, dispersal draft in

While the Fort Wayne Komets wait to hear from defenseman Guy Dupuis and center Bruce Richardson, both of whom having received contract offers, one player who won't be back next season is center J.C. Ruid.

Ruid was the Komets' leading scorer last season, with 43 goals and 94 points, and he finished third in league MVP voting behind Muskegon forward Todd Robinson and former Fort Wayne goaltender Kevin St. Pierre.

Ruid has signed to play in France, Komets general manager David Franke said.

"He's cashing in on the big season he had here," said Franke, whose team had made a contract offer to Ruid. "There was no way we could match that offer."

The Komets are set to introduce recently hired coach Al Sims at a news conference Tuesday. Sims who guided the Komets to a 1993 championship in the now-defunct International Hockey League, is a former coach with the NHL's San Jose Sharks.

The Komets are also making preparations for an upcoming dispersal draft of players from Rockford, Quad City, Elmira and Chicago, teams which have moved to different leagues or, in the case of Chicago, folded this offseason.

Franke said players from Port Huron, which recently suspended operations, won't be available because the Flags are expected to get new ownership and be revived later this week. Franke said a format and schedule for the dispersal draft hasn't been determined yet. It could take place at the league meetings next week in Las Vegas, though.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Goodwin retires

Jonathan Goodwin may not have any NHL games on his resumé, but he’ll always have May 10, 2005.

That's when he scored on a one-timer from the slot, 14:46 seconds into overtime at Memorial Coliseum, to give the Komets a 2-1 victory in Game 7 and an improbable series victory over the Rockford IceHogs, after Fort Wayne had trailed three games to one.

“It was a pretty big moment in my career, and it’s something I’ll never forget – especially since it’s on YouTube now,” Goodwin said Wednesday, after confirming he was retiring.

Goodwin, 25, always dreamed of making it to the highest echelon of hockey. Despite three impressive seasons with the Komets – he had 87 goals and 180 points in 217 regular-season games – he never made it beyond the AA level.

“I’m really disappointed I didn’t move up,” he said. “I think everybody who plays wants that same thing. Obviously, it can’t happen for everybody. I had a couple of shots (in training camps), but I guess I didn’t do well enough.”

So, with a new fiancée and the realization he needed something more stable, he’s opted to make his living off of skates. An accounting major at Providence, he has begun working in sales for Pro Tool and Supply in Massachusetts.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a little bit,” Goodwin said. “After the playoffs ended and we had lost, I was a little bummed out. A job opportunity came up and I decided I didn’t want to be too old when I did enter the work force. Hopefully, this it works out for the best.”

Goodwin, 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, was a two-time all-star with the Komets, was selected as the team’s Rookie of the Year and to the UHL’s all-rookie team in 2005, and he twice won the Komets’ community service award.

Though he never helped the Komets to a Colonial Cup championship, he got them to the finals by taking a pass from Rob Guinn, flipping the puck into the net and sending 6,012 fans into a frenzy that fateful night in May of 2005.

“It was very difficult decision to retire,” Goodwin said. “I still love to play. But when it came down to it, (this) will be the best decision for me.”

• By the way, I could use a little help. I'd like to compile a database of fans who would be willing to help me out should I need fan input for future stories. If you're willing, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with your name, phone number and e-mail address. I will keep them -- confidentially, of course -- and maybe get in touch from time to time if the need arises. Thanks in advance.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Bingham leaving Komets for AHL

Pat Bingham’s reign as coach of the Fort Wayne Komets was successful.

And it was short.

Bingham guided the Komets to a 51-21-4 record and the Tarry Cup regular-season championship in his first season with the team. Then he said goodbye Monday, accepting a position as an assistant coach with the Bridgeport (Conn.) Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League.

Bingham, 38, held the same post with the Sound Tigers in the 2005-06 season, but he was a victim of housecleaning by the team’s parent club, the NHL’s New York Islanders.

“The opportunity to be hired by the Islanders as an assistant with their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport is a great opportunity for me and my family,” Bingham said in a statement. “Fort Wayne was a great place to coach and everyone treated me well. I'm proud of the great season we just completed and the next coach in Fort Wayne will be a lucky person.”

Bingham, who had been a head coach for five seasons in the UHL, Central Hockey League and ECHL, wound up one of two finalists for the Komets’ head-coaching post last summer. It came down to him and John Marks, his elder by 21 years.

In the end, one of the attributes the Komets liked about Bingham was his ambition to succeed so he could move up. That could come back to haunt them; he’s leaving halfway through his two-year contract with the Komets.

“It’s a great move for his career and for him. Bridgeport, they wanted Pat. It’s not like he went after it, they came after him,” said Bruce Richardson, a player/assistant coach with the Komets last season.

“He’s getting one step closer to the NHL and his goal. Any athlete or coach, if they have the chance to get to the next level, they’d take the job. … He’s cashing in on the season we had and he deserves it. I told him, ‘You have to take that job.’”

With the Sound Tigers, Bingham will work under head coach Jack Capuano. Bingham will be the senior assistant coach – that’s a new position – and he’ll be charged with working with forwards, the power play and doing extensive video breakdown.

“I think Pat brings to the table incredible leadership, wonderful coaching ability and knowledge,” Sound Tigers president Howard Saffan said. “He’s won at every level and there’s no doubt, he’s a winner. … Remember one thing: I know the man and he deserved the opportunity to come back. When we had an opening at the American Hockey League level, he was the first phone call we made.”

Komets general manager David Franke couldn’t be reached for comment.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

K's coach moves on

Pat Bingham has resigned his post as coach of the Komets to become an assistant coach with the American Hockey League's team in Bridgeport, Conn.

To see the press release, click here. Check back later today and I will have more news.

Frenchy's comments

Here is what goaltender Kevin St. Pierre, who will sign with Tulsa of the Central Hockey League, had to say tonight:

On going to Tulsa because his wife, Heather, is from nearby Wichita, Kansas: "I feel my kids should grow up and see their grandparents. It being two and a half hours away, it's a good situation. The kids will enjoy it."

On if money played a factor: "To tell you the truth, it has nothing to do with the money. I'm placing this on family and how much time is left in my career. I was there in Fort Wayne for four years. I didn't get a championship but other than that I didn't know what else I could have done. It was time for a new challenge."

On the decision to go to Tulsa: "It was really tough. Fort Wayne's pretty hard to beat with the fan support and all that. But they expect more than most people. I had a great time there. I have no complaints. My wife followed me for years and it's time for me to follow her for the family."

On being disappointed he never won a Colonial Cup for a city he loved off the ice, doing charity work and such: "Obviously, I feel like I didn't do my job because I didn't get the championship. But I did the best I could. I did great things for the city and the town. I feel I overachieved off the ice."

Hopes for the Komets: "I hope they do well. I wish them luck. A lot of rumors are going to come out that they didn't offer me enough. That's not the case. We never got to the point where they made an offer. I just did this on my own."

Great guy. Good luck, Frenchy.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

St. Pierre leaving K's

General manager David Franke considers goaltending for the Fort Wayne Komets to be one of the top jobs in minor-league hockey.

The post is now open.

Franke confirmed that Kevin St. Pierre, winner of the UHL’s Best Goaltender Award and the Komets’ MVP Trophy, has accepted an offer to play for the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League.

“Now, we’ll start the hunt for a new goalie,” Franke said Tuesday, when it also became likely that standout defenseman Mario Larocque would be playing elsewhere next season.

In St. Pierre’s impressive four-season run with the Komets, he went 147-54-13 and became the franchise’s all-time leader in shutouts with 23 shutouts. He also became the UHL’s record-holder in shutouts with 26. He was the league’s MVP and Best Goaltender in 2003-04.

St. Pierre helped Fort Wayne to regular-season championships in 2004 and this season. Despite leading the Komets to the Colonial Cup Finals in 2005, he never took the Komets to a playoff championship, something his predecessor as No. 1 goalie, Tom Lawson, did in one season with Fort Wayne.

After being ousted 4-1 by the Rockford IceHogs in the Western Conference Finals, the Komets were leaning toward trying to bring back St. Pierre, 32. But the decision was made for them when they learned of the contract offers he was receiving from teams in other leagues. Franke said to keep St. Pierre would have jeopardized the Komets’ ability to stay under the salary cap.

“We had a meeting last Friday and talked about a wide variety of things,” Franke said. “His was an offer in Tulsa he couldn’t refuse and that’s fine with us. To be honest with you, I think he wanted to make a change. Maybe it’s time for us to make a change in goal, too. Kevin did a (large) amount of good work for us. He felt bad we weren’t able to win the championships we were looking for.”

St. Pierre couldn’t be reached for comment; his voicemail stated he was out of town. Neither Fort Wayne coach Pat Bingham nor Tulsa general manager Corey MacIntyre could be reached either.

Last season, St. Pierre went 42-18-3 with a 2.24 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage and five shutouts. In the playoffs, he was one of the few Fort Wayne players to excel, going 5-5 with a 2.55 GAA, a .917 save percentage and two shutouts.

Check out Wednesday's editions of The Journal Gazette for more on St. Pierre's departure.

By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Larocque likely to Europe

Defenseman Mario Larocque isn't ruling out a return to the Fort Wayne Komets, but the 29-year-old defenseman said he's likely to play in Europe next season.

He has been in negotiations with a team in Austria.

"I'm talking with a team there," Larocque said. "I haven't signed anything yet, but I'm considering it."

Larocque had 27 goals and 67 points in 76 regular-season games with the Komets. He was a second-team all-star and tied for third in voting for the UHL's Best Defenseman Award, which went to teammate Guy Dupuis.

A first-round draft pick in 1996, Larocque played five games with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning in 1998-99. He is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds.

Asked if a return to the Komets was possible, Larocque said: "As of now, I have no clue. I'm looking overseas for sure. ... But I want to keep my options open."

Larocque expected to speak with Komets general manager David Franke this week. Franke couldn't be reached for comment.

"I've always wanted to go play in Europe," Larocque said. "I'm the kind of guy who likes to have new experiences and to travel. At some point, I've always wanted to move on (from North America). This could be good timing."

The Komets lost 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals to the Rockford IceHogs, who lead the Kalamazoo Wings 2-0 in the Colonial Cup Finals. In the playoffs, Larocque had two goals and seven points in 10 games. His 40 penalty minutes led all players.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Fun article

Most fun I've had on an article all season long: Click here.

Meanwhile, this from trainer Shawn Dundon, who is helping to sell the jerseys of recently deceased fan Stacy Musice, also known as "Jersey Guy":

All of these are available on eBay:

1) Kevin Schmidt 50th Anniv Komet Jersey

2) Tyler Masters Cinci Cylcones

3) Mike McKay Hull (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)

4) Guy Dupuis IHL All Star Jersey from 1999

5)  Frederic Bouchard 01-02 50th Komets Black Jersey

6)  Kelly Hurd 95-96 Houston Aeros IHL Jersey

Seney gone

The Komets left two players off their playoff roster -- defenseman Mike Dombkiewicz, who has a back injury anyway, and center Scott Seney. Seney was picked up by the Chicago Hounds in the waiver draft, so he will take on the Komets in the first round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Chicago will have a goaltending change. They picked up Dave Lemanowicz from Elmira and released Brendan Cuthbert, which is notable because Cuthbert played more down the stretch. I'm not sure who will start for the Hounds in the playoffs, but I would guess it'll be Marty Magers.

I'm not surprised Seney was the guy the Komets let go, especially after seeing J.F. Labarre and Arthur Kiyaga play so well at Kalamazoo, Mich., on Saturday. But here's a question: Will we see Brent Henley anytime soon? I'm guessing they should stick with the existing lineup, at least until they lose a game or two, which I don't think will be in this round.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Huge crowd, huge game, new player

Memorial Coliseum is packed with 10,462 fans -- only the second time this season with a sellout -- and it's no surprise. We've got Bob Chase bobbleheads (1,000 of them given away), season-ticket exchanges and a sort of huge hockey game that could decide the Tarry Cup.

Sometimes this does feel like a true hockey town -- I'm from Detroit, so I do have high standards -- and this is definitely one of those nights.

Both the Komets and the Muskegon Fury came out hard, albeit a little tentative in the first couple of minutes. Midway through the first period it's scoreless and fights have almost broken out three times. Lots of excitement and, in particular, great goaltending at both ends.

Meanwhile, general manager David Franke has informed me that the team will be bringing in rookie defenseman Erick Trombley, a 6-foot-3, 203-pounder who had been with Victoriaville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He had 10 assists in 54 games and should be joining the Komets on Saturday.

The Komets must have their playoff roster in by 10 a.m. Monday and the waiver draft will be at 1 p.m.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Domber done/jersey sales

According to the UHL web site, Komets defenseman Mike Dombkiewicz has been placed on a non-roster spot. He will therefore be unavailable for the playoffs. No surprise here; he's been limited to 40 games this season because of a back injury. This means one more position has to be decided before the Komets turn in their playoff roster.

Meanwhile, this comes from Komets trainer Shawn Dundon, who is helping to sell off some of the jerseys of recently deceased longtime fan Stacy Musice, known as "jersey guy" to some:

1) Bruce Ramsay  99-00 Komets Autographed Jersey EBay #110111442755
2) Marc Barlow Bowling Green CCHA Autographed Jersey  Ebay #110111447537
3) David Mayes 99-00 or 00-01 Port Huron Flags & BorderCats Autographed Jersey  EBay # 110111472299
4) Andy Townsend 04-05 Autographed Komets Jersey with Championship Series Patch  EBay # 110111474347
5) Jim Logan 98-99 Autographed 25th Anniversary Michigan K-Wings Jersey  EBay # 110111476700

Thanks for mentioning them on your blogs.  All jerseys were listed tonight (or I mean this morning 1230 am!) on a 10 day auction.  All local bidders can pick up the jerseys to save on shipping costs!

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Who will stay, who will go?

When the Komets turn in their playoff roster, they'll be allowed to carry 19 players, not including two amateur additions, coach Pat Bingham said. That means the Komets will have to trim two  players from their ranks before the postseason begins.

Here's why: Fort Wayne currently has 22 players on its roster, but center Kyle McAllister qualifies as one of the two amateurs.

So, while out at the rink, I can't help but watch and wonder who's battling for position. The most likely candidate to find himself off the roster seems to be defenseman Mike Dombkiewicz, who has missed about half the season because of a back injury and wasn't on the ice today. (He led the Komets in playoff scoring last year.) If he's not close to 100 percent come next week, it's unlikely the Komets will take a gamble on him.

That leaves one more player to go. I see this going down in one of two ways: The Komets will add a solid amateur defenseman and then opt to leave either A.J. Bozoian or Arthur Kiyaga off the playoff roster; or I could see Scott Seney and J.F. Labarre, who has been struggling with an arm injury, battling for the remaining forward position.

Frankly, I think the latter is more likely. If the Komets cut a forward, they will still have 11 remaining, which gives them one healthy scratch.

Bingham didn't tip his hand as to what he's thinking, so that's just guesswork on my part. Regardless, there will be tough decisions ahead; I don't see any real weak link on the roster who I think will be easy to leave off the playoff roster.

In any case, it sure seems like UHL teams should be able to carry 20, plus two amateurs, in the playoffs. You come all this way and then can't keep someone who has contributed all season? Strange.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Trades could be upon us

Fort Wayne Komets general manager David Franke and coach Pat Bingham met Monday to discuss their options heading into Friday's 3 p.m. trade deadline.

"We're trying to see if we can upgrade the team, if possible," Franke said. "I had a meeting with the coach, and we talked for awhile, to see which players we might be willing to part with and what we might need."

Asked what the Western Conference-leading Komets need, Franke was vague, saying, "Maybe a forward or maybe a defenseman."

There's reason to believe defense would be the priority, though, because Mike Dombkiewicz is out indefinitely with a back injury.

"Right now, I'm not holding out hope he'll be able to play anytime soon," Franke said. "I just don't know. Maybe in the playoffs."

Dombkiewicz, who has five goals and 16 points in 40 games, returned last weekend from a month-long absence with the same back injury.

The Komets also will be missing defenseman Brent Henley from Wednesday's game against Quad City, as he serves the final segment of a three-game suspension for physical abuse of an official.

In better news, the Komets expect to get forward J.F. Labarre, who has four goals and 10 points in 24 games, back from a broken arm sometime this week. Forward Kelly Miller, who has a separated shoulder and one assist in seven games, is at least a week away. David Hukalo, who has a broken finger and 13 goals and 25 points in 50 games, is at least two weeks away from returning.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Tatts and tales

I know this may not directly be related to the UHL, but here's a link to an interesting story I came across from the Toronto Sun about athletes, including those in hockey, and their tattoos. I must say, I've noticed some tattoos penetrating minor-league hockey in recent years.

Some accompanying stories specifically about hockey players can he found by clicking here, here, here, and here.

Meanwhile, as for the Komets, forward David Hukalo had surgery on his broken finger and is expected to be out at least three weeks, general manager David Franke said. J.F. Labarre could return to the lineup from his broken arm March 2. Kelly Miller, who has a separated shoulder, is still a few weeks off. And Mike Dombkiewicz, who has a back injury, is getting checked by doctors but for now is day-to-day.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

They said to blame it on fatigue

The Fort Wayne Komets lost 2-1 to the league-worst Bloomington Prairie Thunder on Sunday night. There were two  pervasive explanations doled out by those in the Fort Wayne locker room: Fatigue and missed opportunities.

Uh, OK.

I don't dispute the Komets are correct on either account. They did just play eight games in 10 days and that's a horrendous stretch. They also dictated most of the play, outshooting the Prairie Thunder 32-24 and getting a plethora of great chances down the stretch.

Still, I thought Bloomington did a good job. No matter how you cut it, they have taken the last two against the Komets, so they must be doing something right. They played with only 16 players in this one, so give the expansion team some props.

The Komets did credit Bloomington goalie Steffan Braunlich for having a stellar game. But that was about it. The rest of the talk was about how the Komets didn't get the job done themselves. That's true. They couldn't finish things off around the net and sometimes didn't make the easy pass to the open man. You should want your team believing the only way they lost was through fault of their own. So I don't know why they would have entered fatigue into the equation. Bloomington was playing its third in three nights, so it wasn't exactly rested.

All in all, the K's played a good game. And they've taken 12 of their last 15 games. Fans should be pretty happy.

By the way -- Pascal Morency, color me impressed. He's making a lot of things happen.

• The Komets are appealing the instigation penalty against Brent Henley from Saturday night. If they lose, he'll have to serve a one-game suspension for getting it in the final five minutes of the game.
• David Hukalo will probably be out a few weeks; he broke a knuckle when he was slashed Friday.
• J.F. Labarre and Kelly Miller have been back on the ice working. Still, they're a couple weeks away with their injuries, I think. Labarre has a broken arm. Miller has a separated shoulder.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Ready for Richardson

The Komets did practice today, and they were laughing a little bit about Fort Wayne's response to the weather. What can I say? These guys are from Quebec, so this is nothing to them.

Their plan is to leave for Chicago by noon on Wednesday, figuring eight and a half hours should be plenty of time to make that trip. And they will go directly from Chicago to Moline, Ill., for Friday's game against the Quad City Mallards.

Here's hoping this trip goes better than the one in 2005, when they were headed to Kansas City via air before their flight was canceled. The Komets ended up getting stranded in Detroit and needing a vehicle to get back to Fort Wayne. But somehow, their equipment did make its way to Kansas City.

In more positive news, center Bruce Richardson will be back in the lineup Wednesday, after missing 19 games because of a torn labrum in his hip. He can hardly contain his excitement and has no worries that he'll jinx the Komets, who have won 10 of their last 11 games. (The Komets are 19-10-1 with Richardson in the lineup.)

Head coach Pat Bingham commended Richardson for his assistant-coach work when he was out. Bingham said it made things much easier in terms of line changes, monitoring who was tired and who wasn't and just managing everything behind the bench.

Aside from Richardson, look for right wing Bogdan Rudenko to return to the lineup Friday. He missed the last three games with a broken nose, suffered in practice.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

All-Star Game story, Eastern Conference wins 11-6

By Justin A. Cohn
The Journal Gazette

Plenty of strange stuff took place at Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday night.

There were 17 goals scored, netminders were switched on the fly, the referees didn’t call a single penalty – yes, in a UHL game – and a player scored by accidentally sweeping the puck into his own net.

That player was Fort Wayne’s Mario Larocque, whose quip during an interview chimed through the public-address system – as he was on the bench and the game was still going on – made for the most priceless moment of the night.

“Hey, a goal is a goal in my book,” Larocque said with a chuckle.

On any other night, such a remark would draw extra laps at practice the next day. But this wasn’t a normal night. It was the UHL’s All-Star Game, attended by 7,311 fans at the Coliseum.

It was the eighth time the UHL has held an All-Star Game, the second time in Fort Wayne. This one saw the Eastern Conference defeat the Western Conference 11-6.

So that’s a clear statement the Eastern Conference is better, right?

“It means nothing of the sort,” said Komets center J.C. Ruid, a member of the Western Conference. “It means they got lucky tonight. They’ve got good players, but we’ve got good players here, too. No one’s going all out, so you can’t compare one side to the other in a situation like this.”

Nonetheless, led by two goals and two assists from All-Star Game MVP Brent Cullaton of Elmira, who won the fastest-skater competition during the first intermission, the Eastern Conference outshot the Western Conference 56-31.

The Eastern goals came from Cullaton, Dave Van Drunen of Muskegon who also had two goals, along with Fury players Evan Kotsopoulos, Mike Watt, Rustyn Dolyny and Todd Robinson, Kalamazoo players Justin Cross and Nick Bootland, and Elmira’s Dale Lupul. Robinson had five points on the night.

Scoring for the Western Conference were Jonathan Goodwin of Fort Wayne, Don Parsons of Quad City, Kevin Ulanski and Nathan Lutz of Rockford, plus Chad Woollard of Quad City, who had two goals. Goodwin had three points on a night that saw only a handful of checks.

“It was a lot of fun, but it’s always hard to play those types of games because guys aren’t going 100 percent out there,” Larocque said. “There are guys all over the place. But the basic thing is we had fun and hopefully I’ll be back (in it) next year.”

If for no other reason than he’d like to atone. When Larocque accidentally slid the puck into his own net 2:09 into the second period, it tied the game at 4 and started off the Eastern Conference on a surge of seven straight goals that cemented the victory.

“When I get a hold of him, I’ll let him know it’s inappropriate to be doing that. Especially in a big game tonight, he goes and does that and it’s inexcusable,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin was being as sarcastic as possible, laughing the whole way. And his teammates were there to join in the ribbing of the good-natured Larocque, who went on to blame the goaltender – his Fort Wayne teammate, Kevin St. Pierre.

“Everybody has scored into their own net,” St. Pierre said. “It’s just funny that it happened here in an All-Star Game where everybody could see it. Now the guys in the league will know about it. ... I didn’t say anything to him. But I wasn’t happy about it. I’m not going to lie.”

St. Pierre stopped 31 of 37 shots before he left the game, with play going on, because he saw the Eastern Conference swap goalies on the fly seconds beforehand. The Western Conference backup goalie, Frederic Cloutier of Rockford, stopped 14 of 19 shots. For the Eastern Conference, Tom Askey of Kalamazoo stopped 14 of 18 shots and Clayton Pool of Muskegon turned away 11 of 13.

There were six Fort Wayne players participating, all of whom started thanks to an on-line fan vote, including defenseman Guy Dupuis, who captained the Western Conference team, and forward Martin Gascon. Fort Wayne center Bruce Richardson couldn’t play because of a hip injury but served as an assistant to Pat Bingham, the Fort Wayne head coach who was the Western Conference coach, too.

The Komets’ former league, the International Hockey League, held All-Star Games in Fort Wayne in 1963 and 1999. Another game, not officially recognized by the IHL but ultimately termed a “hidden All-Star Game,” took place at the Coliseum in 1957 with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings defeating the IHL All-Stars 11-3.

The UHL first brought its All-Star Game to the Coliseum in 2004, when 8,119 fans saw the Eastern Conference defeat the Western Conference 8-3. With the skills competitions and several off-ice activities for league personnel, much more was going on this time.

“This game showcases the market, hockey and the league,” Coliseum general manager Randy Brown said. “If we develop a couple converts, get new fans from this game, maybe turn them into season-ticket holders for the Komets, it’s a positive. This has been a good thing for the market.”

Goodwin, whose parents came in to watch him play, agreed.

“I had fun playing with different guys,” Goodwin said, “and I think Fort Wayne did a really good job. I think the fans had a lot of fun with the skills competition and it was all a really good time.”

Notes: Kelly Miller, who left the Komets early in the season to play in the Southern Professional Hockey League, will rejoin the Komets on Thursday, general manager David Franke said. ... Defenseman Jani Honkanen has been waived. His rights were picked up by Quad City, Franke said, but he plans to return to Europe.

Familiar face, familiar story

The Komets have re-signed defenseman Ryan Jorde, who played 60 games with the team last season and scored three goals and nine points in 60 games. He began this season with Victoria of the ECHL, tallying five assists in 23 games.

He could be in the lineup Wednesday, when the Komets play at Rockford, Ill. When Jorde is activated, the Komets will have to trim one player from their roster. That puts Jani Honkanen, Arthur Kiyaga, A.J. Bozoian and Mike Dombkiewicz on the hot seats. Bear in mind, Bozoian and Kiyaga are rookies, so their presence gives the Komets more flexibility in the lineup since the must play four rookies every game.

As for today's game, the Komets trail the Flint Generals 3-2 after one period of play. Per their recent custom, the Komets coughed up a lead; they were ahead 2-0 after 12 minutes of play.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

All-Stars announced; Jorde coming

When the UHL All-Star Game takes place at Memorial Coliseum on Jan. 17, the local fans will have plenty of familiar faces to applaud.

The league announced its all-star rosters and selected to play for the Western Conference team were Fort Wayne goaltender Kevin St. Pierre, defensemen Guy Dupuis and Mario Larocque, plus forwards Jonathan Goodwin, Bruce Richardson, J.C. Ruid, Bruce Richardson and Martin Gascon.

Richardson won’t be able to play because of a torn labrum in his hip – he is expected to have surgery on that Thursday – and Gascon made the team as a replacement. Because of that, every Fort Wayne player who was on the ballot for coaches, general managers and reporters to choose from, wound up an all-star.

Komets coach Pat Bingham will coach the Western Conference because of his team’s winning percentage as of Jan. 1.

Each conference team is comprised of 18 skaters and two goaltenders, and each franchise must be represented by at least two players.

The starting lineups for the game will be determined by fan voting between Thursday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Fort Wayne fans are probably about to see a change in the makeup of the Komets’ defensive unit.

The team is close to signing defenseman Ryan Jorde, who skated with the Komets last season, tallying three goals, nine points and 107 penalty minutes in 60 games. Jorde is 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, a ninth-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2001.

“I’m on my way to town right now,” Jorde said Wednesday afternoon. “I’m coming there to play and I know we’ll figure something out. I’m not looking to break the bank or anything. I’m looking forward to working something out with them.”

Jorde, 24, came close to signing with the Komets last summer but opted to play for Victoria of the ECHL instead. After tallying five assists and 34 penalty minutes in 23 games, and learning the Salmon Kings might trade him, he asked to be released so he could pursue options in other leagues.

“The team was losing and we weren’t doing good,” he said. “There were a lot of great players but it wasn’t jelling well. … I just wanted to try playing in Canada for a year. It didn’t work out. It was trial and error.”

Said Komets general manager David Franke: "We're hopeful we can work something out with Ryan, but we haven't met yet face-to-face. Something could get done by this weekend."

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Richardson injured, to have surgery

Bruce Richardson, the Fort Wayne Komets’ center, assistant coach and emotional leader, had been in pain for months.

And he knew surgery was in his future.

But when he took an awkward hit from Chicago defenseman Tom Zabkowicz in Sunday’s 4-2 Komets victory, belief became reality at Memorial Coliseum.

“(Sunday) was kind of the icing on the cake when I fell down on that leg,” Richardson said. “You realize sometimes you’re pushing the button too hard. I realized it in that game.”

Richardson will have surgery this week on a torn labrum, which is cartilage that runs around the hip socket.

He expects to miss between four-and-eight weeks of playing time with the Western Conference-leading Komets, depending on how severe the injury is deemed to be by doctors.

“For two months, the way I am, it’ll be hard for me to stay away from the rink,” Richardson said. “I’ll be on crutches for a while but I’ll be there to work with the guys, look at video and help guys be more consistent. I want to be behind the bench helping (coach Pat Bingham). And I’ll keep myself in shape and do my rehab because my main thing is to play.”

Richardson, 29, has nine goals and 28 points in 30 games during his first season with the Komets.

He said this is the first major injury of his career, if you discount broken orbital bones which didn’t keep him from playing much.

Richardson’s hip had been bothering him for more than a month, yet he continued to play even though he often couldn’t practice. His condition was hard to diagnose.

“We didn’t know what was going on and I’m hard guy to get to stop playing. I kept playing and the pain was getting worse and worse,” Richardson said. “I want to play hockey and wanted to have a good year. But two months (of recovery) will get me back in time to (get back in shape) and ready for the playoffs.”

In the meantime, the Komets, who are 19-10-1 overall, 8-7-1 in their last 16 games, will look to improve upon their consistency. Sunday’s victory was a step in the right direction.

“That’s as close to 60 minutes as we’ve played in (awhile),” Bingham said. “Well, it’s never really 60 minutes. You’re always looking for the elusive 60 minutes, the elusive perfect game with perfect decisions all over the ice. We made a great deal of them and carried momentum and play most of the game.”

The game Sunday, played in front of 9,413 fans at the Coliseum, brought plenty of special-teams action – Fort Wayne was 2 for 10 on the power play, Chicago was 2 for 9 – and it helped erase the sting of Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Kalamazoo Wings.

“Things are starting to come together, I think,” Fort Wayne center J.C. Ruid said. “For a little while, we figured that we’d win games instead of working hard to win games. We’re starting to come together as a team and believe that if we play the 60 minutes, we’re going to win.”

Chicago (11-17-1), which is coached by Greg Puhalski, the former Fort Wayne coach, opened the scoring 9:26 into the first period. Center B.J. Radoslovich redirected a Greg Koehler shot into the net during a 5-on-3 power play.

Ruid answered during a power play at 12:37, with his 20th goal of the season, when he jammed the rebound of own shot past goaltender Marty Magers. One minute later, Magers got into a fight with Fort Wayne’s Pascal Morency.

Fort Wayne went ahead 2-1 on Matt Syroczynski’s goal from long range at 17:27 of the first period, and Ruid set up right wing Bogdan Rudenko for a power-play goal and a 3-1 lead at 17:35 of the second period.

The Komets cemented the game with right wing David Hukalo’s goal, off a rebound, at 7:10 of the third period. The Hounds answered with a Bob Rapoza power-play goal at 10:11, but they couldn’t get anything else, even though they pulled the goalie for a 6-on-3 advantage in the final 1:31 of play.

The Komets outshot the Hounds 45-25, including 16-2 in the first 17 minutes of play.

Fort Wayne goaltender Kevin St. Pierre made 23 saves. Magers stopped 35 of 39 shots, while his backup, Corey Wogtech, stopped all six shots he faced.

The Komets play Wednesday at Elmira, N.Y., on Wednesday. Richardson is likely to have his surgery Thursday.

“These are the types of things that happen during a season,” Richardson said. “And it’s a part of playing hockey.”

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Hansen likely in

It's likely that Komets defenseman Kevin Hansen, out since Dec. 8 with a concussion, will be in the lineup tonight.

I've heard mixed statements on whether or not Kalamazoo coach Mark Reeds, who missed his team's game Friday for personal reasons, will be back behind the bench tonight at Memorial Coliseum. If he's not, general manager Paul Pickard will coach the defending Colonial Cup champions.

• A column from the Fayetteville Observer on the decrease in toughness in the Southern Professional Hockey League can be read by clicking here. I guess it's going on everywhere.
• Komets general manager David Franke attended the college hockey game at the Coliseum this afternoon, which saw third-ranked Notre Dame defeat Northern Michigan 4-3. He was hoping to find some players to bring in down the line. As for the game, it was exciting, well played and, best of all, well officiated. Mark Wilkins, who used to call Komets games in the International Hockey League, was the referee. Wish we could get him in the UHL.
• I reported several weeks back that Flint Generals star Tony Tuzzolino might leave the team to play in Europe. According to The Flint Journal, he hasn't yet decided on that, so he's still with the Generals. His brother, Nick, left the Komets last week to return to juniors.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette