Ice Chips 06'-07'

Ice Chips has moved. Bookmark it, baby.

Salutations, loyal readers of Ice Chips.

The address for this page has changed. Please bookmark the following page and use it in the future: http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/Section?Category=BLOGS11

I would appreciate it if you passed on the change to any interested parties now and in the future.

We'll see you at the new digs.

-- Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Changes on the horizon

Before we go any further, I must let you know that Ice Chips will be undergoing some exciting changes in the near future. On Wednesday, be sure you come to the web site (you should be several times daily, anyway), so you can see what we have in store for you.

Meanwhile, some of the Komets' most hated rivals will not be back in the International Hockey League next season. Robin Bouchard, the longtime over-hyped star of the Muskegon Fury, is going to play for the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League; and Tyler Willis, the great agitator from the Kalamazoo Wings, is going to Europe.

I should have linked to this earlier, but those of you wishing to catch up on the status of Jason Baird, the recently signed Muskegon player who was horrifically injured when the lawnmower he was riding exploded, his wife has a blog that is quite emotional: Click here.

And, I've had lot of people ask me, on this blog and elsewhere, how they can get their hockey fix in Fort Wayne this time of year. Well, the best bet is to go to McMillen Ice Arena to check out the league action Wednesdays. There are games at 5:30 and 7 p.m. (Yes, I'm playing. Go Blue!) The playoffs of that league, which features players of various skill levels, begins Aug. 13. There will be an off week and then the championships on Aug. 27.

There also is some good pickup hockey which you can see or participate in, Fridays, at 9:15 p.m.

Come the fall, there will be tons more you can partake in at McMillen. Check out their site by clicking here.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

K's look IHL's best ... so far

I've been giving some thought as to which teams in the International Hockey League look the best so far. Here are the rankings, bearing in mind it's still early in the offseason and this will all drastically change:

1) Fort Wayne: The defending champions have already signed much of their star talent, including Colin Chaulk, Guy Dupuis, P.C. Drouin and Nick Boucher, and coach Al Sims is back. They still need to bring in some more youthful skill players, to replace Mathieu Curadeau and Luciano Aquino, assuming they don't return. But things look really good in Fort Wayne so far.

2) Port Huron: Like the Komets, the Icehawks aren't messing with a good thing. Goalie Larry Sterling is solid. Jamie Carroll, Tab Lardner and Jeff Zehr will light it up offensively. And Jamie Lovell is a nice defenseman.

3) Muskegon: Lots of big moves, lots of new talent, like Frank Littlejohn, Chad Woollard. Losing Jason Baird to a horrific offseason injury -- he was burned badly in an accident -- will hurt the Fury, but there's time for it to recover. Still, I'm waiting for the Fury to take on the physical persona of its coach, former Komet Bruce Ramsay.

4) Flint: I'm not too impressed so far, mostly because the faces are too familiar. With a full season, Justin DePretis should be a star in this league, though, and a healthy Matt Spezza could be a good goalie. But I'm surprised the Generals stuck with Peter South as coach, after he took over on an interim basis last season, and I'm not sure they have any players yet who will scare the opposition offensively or physically.

5) Bloomington: I'm really not sure about the hire of Jarrod Skalde as coach. I just believe, given the region and the arena, this should be a really attractive job, but the PrairieThunder hasn't gone with proven coaches. Still, with new ownership, hopefully this team will pay the bills and actually get and keep some talent. So far, there's some promise, with forwards Don Parsons and Jon Booras, but there's much work to be done for a team that simply must win this season.

6) Kalamazoo: Wow, new rookie coach Nick Bootland has nothing we can even analyze yet. Jason Tapp is a so-so goalie and Glenn Detulleo is  a solid center. Beyond that, the Wings have lots of work to do. It would be sad to see a proud market field another mediocre-to-bad team this season.

• Fort Wayne-native Brian Gratz, a former goaltender with the Komets, has been hired to coach the Jersey Rockhoppers of the  Eastern Professional Hockey League. Last season, he coached the Indiana (Penn.) Ice Miners of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League, which suspended operations when his team was 31-1-0.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

No gold star for this one

You really can have too much of a good thing and they're about to prove that in Kalamazoo, Mich. They've been coloring the ice for years at Wings Stadium -- green on St. Patrick's Day, pink on Valentine's Day -- and now they're going, um, gold.

OK, I know this makes me a grinch since this is raising money for a great charity -- click here to read about it -- but I'm not lovin' it, pardon the pun. When it was just green ice, it was really cool. I thought pink ice, with hearts for faceoff markers, was was taking away from the uniqueness.

Now, this is going overboard. There are other ways to raise money and still get the McDonald's sponsorship. But, it'll be fun to see them skating on yellow ice. Hopefully, they know not to eat it.

By the way, the Wings signed goalie Jason Tapp.

• Interesting story out of the Flint Journal: The Generals are bringing in a hypnotherapist to work with the team. OK, I've heard worse ideas, but it's interesting that they let this go public before they signed most of their team. I wonder if it would give some players, those a little less, oh, adventuresome, pause.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

K's should have tryouts

So, I have a suggestion for the Komets. Tell me what you think.

I think the Komets should have open tryouts for hockey players in the Fort Wayne area. Now, before you start calling me crazy, I'm not suggesting, necessarily, that there is actually another Colin Chaulk lurking in our territory, although, you never know.

But I believe it would actually benefit the Komets to know what kind of talent, if any, is available in the Fort Wayne area. Why? Because of all those many times the team has to play short of a full lineup because of injuries or emergencies that come up.

I think it would behoove the team, should they suddenly find themselves down a man hours before a game in Flint, Mich, that they can call Player X or Player Y, get them under contract and have a warm body for the bench. Maybe they won't be all that good, but a decent skater is better than no skater. Hey, the equipment manager has had to play in the past, so you never know when you might need a guy, and it would save the hassle of trying to track someone down from Saskatchewan or someplace like that.

And if nothing else, it would be good public relations locally, a lot of fun for the many recreational players around to town (no, I'm not including myself in that list), and would perhaps give the team some extra players for those optional practices which are often so worthless.

Besides, I have seen a few guys out at McMillen Ice Arena who wouldn't look completely out of place with the likes of the International Hockey League.

Hey, just an idea, as I'm hanging out down in Terre Haute at Colts training camp.

• In less happy news, the wife of former Komets player Terry McDougall has died. Click here to see the obituary.
• The Flint Journal took a few weeks off from the incessant bashing of Fort Wayne, which was kind, given all the sad news in the local hockey community in recent weeks. (See previous posts if you don't know what I'm referring to with that.) But the newspaper was back at it in this entry: Click here, where the Journal also suggests the IHL should have an All-Star Game.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Ex-Komets are everywhere

Former Komets player Mike Butters, who played for the team from 1989 to 1991, was named general manager of the American Hockey League's Norfolk Admirals. The selection was made by the Admirals' parent club, the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning.

• Former Komets forward Blake Stewart, the journeyman of the International Hockey League, has re-signed with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder.
• Aaron Wilson, a short-timer with the Komets, has signed with Muskegon.
• Chris Busby, who spent time with the Komets, has retired.
• Sean Venedam, the popular former Komets forward, is in the blogosphere. Click here to read an entry about recently deceased ex-Komet Rob Guinn.
• For those wanting an update on Jason Baird, the recently signed Muskegon player who was burned over 60 percent of his body when a lawnmower he was riding exploded, click here. To read the news account of what happened, click here.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

More shocking news from the IHL; update on Reiter

It's uncanny how bad news always comes in threes. Recently signed Muskegon forward Jason Baird was critically injured in a landscaping accident near Youngstown, Ohio, the Fury said in a statement.

Click here for the team's release. Here's more from Greg Rajan.

This comes less than a week after ex-Komets defenseman Rob Guinn died at 32 in a car accident and former Komets player Hartley McLeod died at 81.

For more uplifting news: I ran into goaltender Kevin Reiter, and he said it's still possible he will return to the Komets to split time with goalie Nick Boucher. Reiter is very interested in playing in Europe, though, but intimated that if he plays in North America, it will be in Fort Wayne.

I'd put the chances of his return at 50 percent.

As for those who keep saying there's some sort of rift between Reiter and Boucher -- no way. When Boucher re-signed with Fort Wayne, one of his first calls was to Reiter, and he hopes the championship pair is reunited.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

More on Guinn, McLeod

The memorial for former Komets player Rob Guinn, who died Saturday at 32, is later today in Ames, Iowa. I was asked to give a eulogy but, unfortunately, was unable to attend. However, I wanted to share with Guinn's many fans the written piece I sent to his wife, Brooke, to be  shared with the attendees at the service. It was one of the more difficult things I've written.

You can read it by clicking here: Download guinn_eulogy.doc

Meanwhile, the services for former Komets player Hartley McLeod, who died Monday at 81, will be Friday, 11 a.m., at Trinity United Methodist Church, 609 Putnam St., with calling one hour prior.

Calling also goes 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at D.O. McComb & Sons Foster Park Funeral Home, 6301 Fairfield Ave.

Click here to read the entire obituary on McLeod, well known in Fort Wayne also as the founder of Hartley's Place restaurant, who was also a linesman in the International Hockey League.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Updates, we've got updates

I have some more updates on the Komets' front.

• The Komets are still hopeful they can sign goaltender Kevin Reiter, who couldn't be reached for comment, but general manager David Franke said he's also getting interest from Europe.
• Forward Mitch Woods has signed with Cincinnati of the ECHL, Franke said.
• Playoff MVP Justin Hodgman has been invited to a second rookie camp by the Minnesota Wild, Franke said, and the Wild now has his NHL rights. If he doesn't stick, he'll probably go back to juniors.
• Right wing Luciano Aquino is trying to get a two-way contract with an NHL team or an AHL contract; in other words, he's trying to play at a higher level than the International Hockey League. "We want him back," Franke said, "but on a scale of 1 to 10, it's probably only a 4 or 5 that it happens."
• The Komets would very much like to get center Mathieu Curadeau back but they haven't had much discussion with his agent. Curadeau, too, would like to play at a higher level.
• The Komets are hopeful to have forward Olivier Legault back, too, but that has stalled somewhat.
• Right wing Evgeny Saidachev has an offer from the Komets, but he's also receiving interest from the Central Hockey League.
• The team has a meeting set up with defenseman Brandon Warner, a Fort Wayne native, and the Komets hope they can sign him soon.
• Defenseman Kevin Hansen is has a meeting set up with the Komets, but I'm hearing he could be CHL bound.
• Defenseman Brent Henley is a question mark; he wants to get a tryout with an NHL team or could wind up in Europe.
• Forward Terry Marchant is unlikely to receive an offer from the Komets.
• Defenseman Ken Dufresne is expected to go to Canadian University.
• THIS ADDED LATE: The Komets are close with David Hukalo, so I expect him to be back.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Funeral and donation information for Rob Guinn

I just got this information from Brooke Guinn, widow of former Komets defenseman Rob Guinn, who died in a car accident Saturday at the age of 32. He is survived by a 5-month-old daughter, Olivia.

There will be a celebration of Rob's life Wednesday at Grandon Funeral in Ames, Iowa, 414 Lincolnway. The phone number there is 515/292-2273. It will be from 5 to 7 p.m., with a short service.

Those attending are asked to bring memories of Rob.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent to the Rob Guinn Memorial Fund, to support Olivia's future education. Those can be sent to the Leighton Legal Law Firm, 802 N. Clinton Street, Suite 1, Bloomington, Ill., 61701.

On-line condolences and memories of Rob -- they are putting together a scrapbook for Olivia -- can be sent to the family at [email protected].

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

I guess it finally hit me -- pow -- like a Rob Guinn hip-check

I must admit, even though I have to write about death quite often -- more often than you might think, as a sports writer -- I find myself affected today.

The Monday death of Hartley McLeod, who was 81 and had battled Alzheimer's and dementia, was of course sad news. But he wasn't a player in my time here, wasn't of my era, wasn't someone I knew other than a handshake over a steak at his restaurant.

Rob Guinn, however, was my age -- 32. His daughter, Olivia, is 5 months old, while mine is 16 months old.

That hits home.

His wife, Brooke, writing to me, "I have no doubt in my mind that she and I were his last thought," that shook me.

I have received several e-mails and calls from people shocked by Guinn's death, which came Saturday after a car accident in Iowa, after an elderly man ran a stop sign. There aren't too many players I've come across that I feel completely safe in declaring, "Now that was a good guy."

Guinn was one of them.

I recall him leaving practices wearing scrubs because he was taking nursing classes. They called him Gaylord Focker, a reference to "Meet the Parents," because of it. He took it as a compliment. He had his toughness questioned by readers on this very blog, as incredulous a thing as anything I've read, considering he didn't miss a single game in two seasons here.

I guess it didn't quite settle into my brain Sunday night, as I tried to find out what happened, where it happened, who might know about it. But after things cooled down in the office today, I started remembering some things about Guinn -- how he was always a go-to guy for comment in the locker room because of his maturity, how many appearances he made in the Fort Wayne community, that great play he made to set up Jonathan Goodwin for the Game 7 winner in the 2005 semifinals.

Sad stuff.

The truest testament to Guinn I can give you comes from the readers, some of whom are former teammates and reporters who covered him. Check out the comments section of the last few posts and you'll see.

Meanwhile, for all those who asked how to get in touch with the family with well-wishes, I will pass them along when I have them, so check back.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Former Komet McLeod dies, while K's still mourn Guinn

Hartley McLeod, who played for the Komets from 1954 to 1958, died Monday at the age of 81, his son said.

McLeod, who went on to be a linesman in the old International Hockey League for 10 years, founded the upscale restaurant Hartley's, 4301 Fairfield, Ave., in 1983.

He was at the Covington Manner Health and Rehabilitation Center, said his son, Hartley McLeod Jr., and died of natural causes following a battle with Alzheimer's and dementia.

"Oh, (hockey) was very important to him," said McLeod Jr. "He was born and raised in Selkirk, Manitoba, and he left when he was 15 years old to go play junior (hockey) in Western Canada. That was his life until (he stopped refereeing). All his best friends were hockey players. Gordie Howe was one of his closest friends."

A left wing, McLeod's best season came in 1955-56, when he tallied 28 goals and 66 points in 60 games.

McLeod's death came two days after 32-year-old former Komets defenseman Rob Guinn died in a car accident in Greene County, Iowa, when another driver, 65-year-old Jon Anderson, ran a stop sign and collided with him, according to the Des Moines Register.

Guinn is survived by a 5-month-old daughter, Olivia, and wife Brooke.

Brooke sent this e-mail to The Journal Gazette:

"If there's one thing I can say about Rob, it is that he loved Olivia and me with all his heart. He was such a wonderful father and husband, taking care of Olivia during the day while I was at work. No matter where we went Rob was carrying her, playing with her and most of all loving her. I have no doubt in my mind that she and I were his last thought. I will miss him more than words can say and am so thankful for the outreach of support I have gotten from all of the organizations Rob has played with, fans, and former teammates. It is such a blessing to know he was loved so much. He lives on through Olivia and me."

Brooke said a trust fund will be set up for Olivia, with details to follow.

Guinn was best known for his toughness -- despite several injuries, he didn't miss any games in two seasons with the Komets from 2004 to 2006 -- and for setting up Jonathan Goodwin's goal in overtime of Game 7 of the 2005 United Hockey League semifinals. That completed a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.

McLeod is survived by wife Wanda, daughter Pamela Downs, son John Getts and McLeod Jr., who also went on to referee professionally.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Former Komet Rob Guinn dies -- updated

Rob Guinn, a defenseman with the Fort Wayne Komets from 2004 to 2006, has died according to sources.

Guinn, 32, died in a car accident, confirmed Kevin St. Pierre, who was a teammate of Guinn's for two seasons in Fort Wayne and last season with Tulsa of the Central Hockey League.

Guinn's internet page at Facebook.com included a message from his wife, Brooke, reading: "It is with great sadness that I let you know that Robert James Guinn passed away Saturday. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend and will truly be missed."

Guinn tallied 15 goals and 68 points in 156 games with Fort Wayne. He finished last season with Bloomington of the International Hockey League.

He was selected in the eighth round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, by the Edmonton Oilers.

According to the Des-Moines Register, Guinn died after another driver failed to stop at an intersection, causing a collision, and Guinn's car landed in a ditch.

Guinn was one of the nicest players I've come across here, not to mention one of the toughest and most underrated. This is sad news.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Look at the rivalries

I'm on vacation right now, but fear not -- I wouldn't leave you without a topic to ponder.

Today, I give you the list of the Komets' top rivals from the past nine seasons. (That covers the team's time in the AA level of hockey.)

10) Asheville Smoke -- There were some memorable, physical games against the short-lived team from the south.

9) Missouri River Otters -- They weren't always the most exciting games, but the River Otters and Komets had good, close, defensive-minded games that would have you afraid you'd miss the pivotal goal.

8) Muskegon Fury -- Fort Wayne fans love to hate some of the the Fury's skill players, who through the years have had a penchant for diving and whining. And there have been some good games, too.

7) Binghamton Icemen -- Remember that great playoff series in 2000? Too bad the Icemen departed this level not long afterward.

6) Port Huron Icehawks -- Anyone else think the Komets' comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to take the Turner Cup from the Icehawks' clutches will be the start of a good rivalry? Me too.

5) Flint Generals -- These teams have hooked up for some nice melees. And there have been some nice off-ice incidents, including some Generals officials allegedly measuring the Komets' sticks to check their legality, then calling for referee inspections during the game. For years, the Komets have responded by guarding all their equipment up there.

4) Kalamazoo Wings -- Geographically, this should be a monster rivalry. Especially since the Fort Wayne contingent is what gets Wings Stadium rocking. But the Komets have dominated and there's seldom any heat. Could we get a good line brawl to change all that? Olivier Legault, make that happen, please.

3) Elmira Jackals -- Yup, they brawled, especially when Robbie Nichols was with the Jackals and Pat Bingham coached the Komets. And they always seemed to be on the ice for strange happenings, like when Joe Franke, the equipment manager, was forced to play for the Komets. It had the makings of a great rivalry except the United Hockey League brass kept messing it up by scheduling too few games between the teams.

2) Quad City Mallards -- It fizzled over the years, especially once Brian Curran started coaching those boring Mallards teams, but these teams were just so good and kept meeting in the playoffs. There was hatred, even between front-office types.

1) Rockford IceHogs -- Didn't you just love to hate the way they played? They celebrated every goal like it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Steve Martinson was always stirring stuff up on and off the ice. They were always running the Komets' goalies. C'mon, admit it, you hated them.

Drouin's back in Fort Wayne -- for good

P.C. Drouin has had a home in Fort Wayne for years, so I figured his re-signing with the Komets was because of comfort and convenience.

It turns out it's more than that -- he's linking the future of his hockey career to this town, to the Fort Wayne Komets.

He just likes the place so darn much.

"It was a very easy decision," Drouin said, after re-signing with the Komets on Thursday. "I wanted to come back and that was my plan the whole way. I had such a great year and want a chance to repeat that. I want to finish my career here. I knew that a long time ago. But now it's definitely more certain. You won't see me going anywhere (else)."

Asked how long he'll continue to play, Drouin plans to take it "year to year."

A former NHL player with the Boston Bruins, this will be his fourth season with the Komets since 2004. After starting the season in Europe, he joined the Komets last November and was a key component in sparking them to regular-season and playoff championships. He had 23 goals and 74 points in 62 regular-season games, then three goals and seven points in 13 playoff games.

Drouin, 34, recently became an agent with Three Rivers Insurance Group.

He and center/assistant coach Colin Chaulk are the only players signed for next season, though head coach Al Sims will be back, too.

• The Flint Generals have given their head-coaching job to Peter South, who was one of the three assistants that ran the team after Kevin Kerr was fired last season. South is a former scout with the Komets, who coached them in one game and then raided their roster with big contract offers. He did decent job with the Generals, who made the playoffs and lost in the first round, but I'm surprised the team didn't go for someone with a more proven track record. But maybe that team can improve with some stability behind the bench.
• Still no progress on Youngstown's possible entrance to the IHL. Click here to read more. Despite some reports to the contrary, adding the SteelHounds to the IHL's ranks would be great. I would add a new partner that fits well geographically, has a good arena and decent ownership group. And we don't really want to go another season with just six teams, two of them likely bad, do we? I'm not reading to much into the SteelHounds' rift with the Central Hockey League. What kind of morons really thought that travel and possible subsidization of it by the league would work? Youngstown and the IHL makes sense and will work. But someone need to let owner Herb Washington in on the skill of the IHL.
• Welcome back to one of my favorite bloggers -- Greg Rajan -- who was without a team to cover in Corpus Christi, Tex., for what? Ten minutes. He used to be one of those guys who bashed the IHL with no credible evidence, but we here at Ice Chips have whipped him into shape.
• The Chicago Wolves won the American Hockey League's Calder Cup. If Wolves coach John Anderson, the former Komets player who has been the most overlooked coaching prospect in, perhaps, all of sports, doesn't get an NHL job, there is no justice in the sports world. Oh, wait, we already know there isn't.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

A look at the new scoreboard

You asked for it, you got it. These are artist renderings of what the new scoreboard at Memorial Coliseum will look like.

Download scoreboardrendering.pdf

There are some important things to realize about these:

1) The top and bottom rectangles will actually be round, 360-degree LCD display ribbon boards. They will be capable of switching from advertising to graphics that correspond with games, such as denoting goals.

2) The design of the advertising panels on the side may change.

3) While it's hard to tell from this, the size difference between this scoreboard and the old one will be very dramatic.

Thanks to the folks at the Coliseum for getting these to me.

• There still has been no announcement out of Muskegon regarding the future of coach Bruce Ramsay, but this makes it sound like he's going to be back. Although the last comment, about "crash and burn" hockey, that sure sounds like a bad choice of words.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Seems like Drouin's coming back

I ran into Colin Chaulk and P.C. Drouin at the Mad Anthonys Charity Classic for Children on Monday. They looked like twins, with their matching black-and-orange golf shirts -- not the best choice for the 90-degree weather, I'd say.

Anyway, I told Drouin fans were abuzz with talk about if and when he would be re-signing with the Turner Cup champion Komets. (For the record, Chaulk is the only player already under contract.)

Drouin said the answers were: "If is probably. When is soon."

I wouldn't buy your jerseys until it's official, but as I've said all along, I'd expect him back.

Meanwhile, I've knocked the International Hockey League and, more critically, it's predecessor, the United Hockey League, countless times in the past. But a couple weeks of covering the Fort Wayne Freedom of the Continental Indoor Football League has taught me the IHL is a more well-oiled machine than I thought.

The Freedom, in case you didn't know, has had ownership changes, coaching changes, payroll issues, and has missed the playoffs. But check this out: The league's best team quit just before the playoffs began, all because Flint, which has an IHL team, didn't show up for a game.

So, knock the Franke family and this league all you want, they do things pretty well and we sometimes forget that.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Soon, they'll be replaying Drouin slapshots at the Coliseum

This just in from Journal Gazette reporter Amanda Iacone: The Memorial Coliseum scoreboard, complete with walking taco animations, will officially be a thing of the past.

A new four-sided video scoreboard will replace the 15-year-old matrix scoreboard this summer.

Allen County will play White Way Sign & Maintenance Co., which is based in Illinois, $1.1 million for the scoreboard, shot clocks and other items. Plus, New York-based HD Group, Inc., will install hockey cameras and video equipment for $182,310.

It will all be installed in August and September.

This means replays are now a possibility, though I wouldn't count on International Hockey League officials utilizing them. This should help the Coliseum's bid to host a NCAA hockey playoffs, too.

Check out Saturday's editions of The Journal Gazette for more on this.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Frenchy looking for help

Former Komets goaltender Kevin St. Pierre is holding a golf outing benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. It will be June 14 at Noble Hawk Golf Links in Kendallville.

For those wanting information, call Tim Dykstra at 1-888-GOLF-321.

The fee for a four-person team is $240, which includes greens fees, carts, lunch, dinner and beverages. There will also be gift bags and awards. The tournament will have a 2 p.m. shotgun start.

The tournament coordinators will help individuals looking for a team.

They are also looking for sponsors or prize donations.

JDRF was founded in 1970 by parents of children with juvenile diabetes, which the second most prevalent disease among school-age children.

• Click here to see the latest out of Youngstown on the SteelHounds' possible move to the International Hockey League.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

IHL interested in adding Youngstown

International Hockey League commissioner Paul Pickard told me he is interested in adding the Youngstown (Ohio) SteelHounds to his league's ranks. He will have exploratory talks with the team soon and if the two sides decide to move forward it could happen in time for next season.

"We've had conversations and we'd like to get together face-to-face," said Pickard, whose IHL has six teams, including the Turner Cup-champion Fort Wayne Komets. "Obviously, there are many things that have to be taken into consideration. We're only three weeks away from our annual Board of Governors meeting and our schedule is already completed. ... We would entertain changing it, if it were the right situation. The nice thing is Youngstown is not a start-up franchise. It's been doing business for a few years."

The SteelHounds were booted from the Central Hockey League on Monday for undisclosed reasons and are alleged to be interested in both the IHL and ECHL. Pickard said Youngstown would certainly fit the IHL's geographical framework, which is aimed at cost certainty through reduced travel costs and solid ownership.

Step one for Pickard will be a meeting with owner Herb Washington.

While I've heard for months that the IHL was hoping Youngstown would come to the IHL, Pickard said he's never made any advances toward that team -- until today.

"They weren't really on my radar as a representative of this league," Pickard said. "I was trying to do things the way I'd want to be treated. I don't want to go into another league, one of our competitors, and try to court a team away from it. As far as we were concerned, they were part of the Central Hockey League and I had no contact with the CHL or Youngstown."

Youngstown is about 266 miles from Fort Wayne. The SteelHounds are coached by former Fort Wayne player Kevin Kaminski.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Lucky number 7?

So, you may recall, not so long ago I was predicting that the International Hockey League would have seven teams next season, regardless of what the higher-ups or the schedules said.

To steal a line from John "Hannibal" Smith, I love it when a plan comes together.

As I suspected, the Youngstown SteelHounds are out of the Central Hockey League, though the team claimed it was a shock. Click here to read about it. And there's more from later in the day: Click here.

The SteelHounds are coached by former Komets player Kevin "Killer" Kaminski, who coached in the IHL (with Missouri) when it was the United Hockey League.

Though they won't talk about it on the record, the IHL has coveted Youngstown because of its proximity to the rest of the league. And even though the spin has been the SteelHounds believe they'd be a better fit for the ECHL, it'll make much greater financial sense for them to be in this league.

We'll have to keep our eyes on this situation.

Speaking of the CHL, it's dropping teams left and right. I hope this won't spell the end of one of the best hockey blogs in the minors -- that of Greg Rajan -- who once called me an "Uberblogger."

Though I've read elsewhere it's not official, this site claims that former Flint Generals coach and ex-Fort Wayne player Kevin Kerr will coach in juniors with the Atlanta Knights.

And I'd like to thank those of you who have been rubbing in the Penguins' triple-overtime victory. Sorry to say, your elation won't last. I picked Red Wings in six coming into the series and I'm sticking with it. By the way, how horrible have those goaltender interference calls been? Here's hoping that garbage doesn't trickle down to the minors. Now you're supposed to control your momentum while attacking the net and not brush a goalie's sleeve? Yuck.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

We have a schedule, not much else

Finally, the Fort Wayne Komets released their schedule. Click here to see it. Nothing earth-shattering there. Another 76-game schedule. Yes, they're playing on Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.

I can't believe a six-team league has an unbalanced schedule against opponents, but what's one more game against Flint anyway?

As I reported over the weekend, the season opens Oct. 17 at Port Huron, Mich.

Komets general manager David Franke said today that the team is still having end-of-season meetings with players and that no contract offers have yet been extended. (Center Colin Chaulk is the only player under contract.) Franke said he doesn't expect either defenseman Guy Dupuis or left wing Konstantin Shafranov to retire, so I'd say chances of both returning are good.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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