Ice Chips | Journal Gazette

Shots at K's unnecessary

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:37:00 EST

It's funny sometimes how people look for reasons to lambaste the Komets, even when they haven't done anything to deserve it ... yet.

Looking at CBA between CHL, players' union

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:24:00 EST

Komets general manager David Franke never doubted a collective bargaining agreement between the Central Hockey League and the Professional Hockey Players' Association would be ratified.

Some random things

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:51:00 EST

I know I'm a little late with posting this one, but did you ever think former Komets player Tomas Klempa would get traded for the likes of Jesse Bennefield?

Slow news day, so enjoy this

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:13:00 EST

C'mon, admit it, you enjoyed this video. I know I loved it.

Reiter ready to go

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:19:00 EST

There really is no substitute for taking shots from the likes of Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis.

Reiter coming back

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:15:00 EST

The Komets have reunited Nick Boucher and Kevin Reiter with hopes that the goaltending tandem is as successful this season as it was in 2007-08.

Boucher, Bears fall in semis

Justin A. Cohn — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:13:00 EST

Komets goaltender Nick Boucher led the Sydney Bears to the semifinals of the Australian Ice Hockey League season, but they lost 2-1 to the Melbourne Ice, who went on to the win the playoff championship.

What Reiter had to say

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST

Got an e-mail from Kevin Reiter, who has been talking about re-signing with the Komets.

K's 2nd goalie probably Reiter

Justin A. Cohn — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:55:00 EST

A championship goaltending duo could be back for the Komets this season, when the team joins the Central Hockey League.

Don't diss Scotty, or Pawlowski, or Bloomington

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:40:00 EST

I'm a little frazzled since a friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, although he's a hockey writer....in the south....and blogs a lot....told me he thought Scotty Bowman was a little overrated.

Overrated coaches

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:40:00 EST

We'll also get into the retirement of Lou Piniella, the idiocy of LeGarrette Blount and the prosecution (persecution) of Roger Clemens. And, of course, the re-signing of Olivier Legault.

Not sure how to feel about this

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:34:00 EST

A friend of mine sent this to me and I'm not sure how to feel about it, and that has nothing to do with me not caring much for country music.

Team breakdown

Justin A. Cohn — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:38:00 EST

So, let's take a look at what the Komets might look like, in terms of line combinations and defensive pairings.

As they said in "Dave" ...

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:31:00 EST

This advertisement recently popped up on the Komets' Web site -- www.komets.com -- and I know it has gotten some discussion on various sites.

Kromm coach in Evansville

Justin A. Cohn — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:03:00 EST

Finally, the Evansville Icemen have introduced a coach. And it's the coach we assumed it would be all along -- Rich Kromm.

What Franke said about Legault

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:40:00 EST

"At the end of the day, we felt more comfortable with Olivier right now than going with an unknown."

K's sign Legault

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:23:00 EST

Despite the Komets' denials earlier in the summer that they were discussing a roster spot with Olivier Legault, they have added the enforcer to the training camp roster for their first season in the Central Hockey League.

Don't miss tonight's show

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:05:00 EST

We'll be discussing the Indianapolis Colts, the farcical end to the PGA Championship, Justin's foiled attempt at entering the NBA draft and the creepiest vampire movie you haven't heard of ... yet.

Still waiting on goalie news

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:56:00 EST

The Komets have moved no closer to inking a second goaltender to back up Nick Boucher next season, general manager David Franke said.

Just some thoughts

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:20:00 EST

Don't mean to be a pessimist, but which do you think will happen first: Steve Carrell winning an Oscar? Or the Evansville Icemen hiring a coach?

Skalde hot

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:55:00 EST

Now we know why Jarrod Skalde abruptly resigned his post as coach of the Bloomington PrairieThunder -- to take over as coach of Cincinnati in the ECHL. I don't blame him. Cincinnati has won two championships in the last three years.

Skalde leaves Bloomington

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:46:00 EST

Jarrod Skalde has resigned as coach of the Bloomington PrairieThunder, according to The Pantagraph.

Nolan out of mix

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:24:00 EST

Negotiations between the Komets and former Flint Generals goaltender Rob Nolan have broken off.

Answering some questions

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:07:00 EST

ANDERSON -- Checking in from Colts training camp, and I have to say that my e-mail and text messages have been blowing up. The people want to know my thoughts on a few Komet-related matters, so here we go: Are the Komets going to bring in toughness.

More on Warner; conferences named

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:47:00 EST

Defenseman Brandon Warner grew up a fan of the Komets, and he's helped them to three playoff championships. He'll back to vie for No. 4.

Warner re-signs

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:40:00 EST

Huntertown-native Brandon Warner has re-signed with the Komets for a fourth consecutive season.

Youth hockey needs some help

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:07:00 EST

The Komets Squirt AA travel hockey team, which is has players 9 and 10, and plays 60 games in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, is need of some assistance. They are looking to defray the costs of practice ice time, tournaments and referees.

Komets re-sign DeAngelis

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:45:00 EST

The Komets re-signed defenseman Frankie DeAngelis, who helped them to their third straight championship in the IHL last season.

Ex-Komet behind Pens bench

Justin A. Cohn — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 13:36:00 EST

The Pittsburgh Penguins named Todd Reirden, a 39-year-old former defenseman with the Komets, an assistant coach. Reirden, who coached Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the American Hockey League last season, skated 15 games with the Komets in 1997-98.

Preseason scoop

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:37:00 EST

According to the Dayton Gems, there will be a preseason home-and-home series between the Komets and Gems. They will play at Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 7 and at Hara Arena in Dayton on Oct. 9.

Rumor control

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:31:00 EST

Despite the rumor, the Komets have made no inroads into having former Komets enforcer Olivier Legault at training camp, general manager David Franke said.

Back and on the record (updated)

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST

While these items were well documented in my absence, I do want to go on record briefly with my takes:

K's captain returning

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:57:00 EST

Click here

CHL will re-seed in playoffs

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:34:00 EST

Ben Smith and I caused quite the little stir last week

Komets schedule: Some Mudbugs, lots of Gems

Ben Smith — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:04:00 EST

The Central Hockey League, fortified with four former IHL clubs, unveiled its 2009-2010 schedule Friday, and it begins with a bang for the Turner Cup champion Fort Wayne Komets: a season-opening showdown against the CHL's Miron Cup champs, the Rapid City Rush.

Mitch is outta here ... sort of

Ben Smith — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:10:00 EST

Heard from Mitch Woods last night, who says he's retiring again from pro hockey. Although not from hockey entirely.

And now, just to muddy the waters further ...

Ben Smith — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:44:00 EST

... check out the bottom section of this

Komets add three more

Ben Smith — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:24:00 EST

The Fort Wayne Komets announced the signing of three rookies Wednesday, bringing its preseason roster to 18.

Franke, Lewis talk about playoffs?! Playoffs?!

Ben Smith — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:26:00 EST

"We've got Game," co-hosted by Justin Cohn and I, did a good 40 minutes Tuesday with CHL commissioner Duane Lewis and Komets president Michael Franke, talking about the playoff format, the relationship between the CHL-IHL, the schedule and more.

Mac heads west, and stuff

Ben Smith — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST

Scratch one tough guy.

Franke, Lewis highlight this week's show

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:03:00 EST

This week's edition of "We've got Game," the internet radio show co-hosted by Justin Cohn and Ben Smith, will feature interviews with Central Hockey League commissioner Duane Lewis and Komets president Michael Franke.

Syro hangs 'em up

Ben Smith — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:30:00 EST

David Franke comfirmed to me today that Matt Syroczynski is retiring, at the tender age of 27.

The word from Bouch

Ben Smith — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:06:00 EST

From Australia, a few comments from Nick Boucher, pretty much confirming Komets general manager David Franke's assessment that he's happy to be back in black-and-orange:

Add two more

Ben Smith — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:56:00 EST

Local favorite Kaleigh Schrock and a significant piece of two Komets' Turner Cup teams, Mathieu Curadeau, have agreed to terms.

Playoffs?! You talkin' about playoffs?!

Ben Smith — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:19:00 EST

The Central Hockey League has released its regular season and playoff format, the former not much of a surprise at all, the second frankly a head-scratcher.

Bouch, O.C. are back

Ben Smith — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:54:00 EST

Two big pieces have fallen into place for the Komets.

Changing of the guard in QC

Ben Smith — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:54:00 EST

Quad City's big-talking owner, Chris Lencheski, has cut and run.

Some stuff from Da Show (updated)

Ben Smith — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:58:00 EST

Had a chance to catch up with Fort Wayne native Brian Gratz, the new coach of the Dayton Gems, and talk a little CHL conference alignment on "We've Got Game" tonight.

Komets add two more

Ben Smith — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:55:00 EST

Add two more names to the Komets' growing 2010-11 roster.

Komets' compass points North

Ben Smith — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:53:00 EST

So now the Fort Wayne Komets can program Rapid City, S.D., into the GPS. Also Evansville, Wichita, Kan., Windsor Colo., and Independence, Mo. Those cities, along with IHL holdovers Fort Wayne, Quad City, Dayton and Bloomington, Ill., will comprise the reconstituted Central Hockey League's North Division in 2010-11.

What do we think?

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:34:00 EST

So on the heels of the Komets' signing of P.C. Drouin, what do we think of what the team has done so far with the roster? I would say, the Komets look solid, but not overwhelming yet.

Drouin re-signs with Komets

Justin A. Cohn — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:32:00 EST

P.C. Drouin doesn't want to wear a uniform with anything but the Komets' logo on it, not ever again.

Hukalo retires; Wings settle lawsuit

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:32:00 EST

When the Komets traded Kevin Kotyluk to the Kalamazoo Wings for David Hukalo on Nov. 16, 2004, few could have envisioned the effect it would have for Fort Wayne.

Torchetti to Thrashers

Justin A. Cohn — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:57:00 EST

Former Komets coach John Torchetti, who helped the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup as an assistant coach, is joining the Atlanta Thrashers as an associate coach. Click here

From reserve system to T-Rob

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:24:00 EST

The Komets have eight players under contract for next season. As far as I can tell, that's way ahead of anyone else in the IHL-Central Hockey League collective.