Muskegon Lumberjacks forward Robin Bouchard scored his 683rd goal today and became the all-time leading goal scorer in minor-league hockey history.Bouchard's goal came at 14:10 of the first period against Quad City. Bouchard, 36, is a former player with the Komets.

The response was immediate, energetic and overwhelmingly positive. As soon as the draws for the upcoming NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Championships were announced on TV Sunday morning, local organizers erupted into cheers because the four teams headed to Memorial Coliseum represent a dream scenario for Fort Wayne's first foray into the hosting the tournament.

Here's what Muskegon's Robin Bouchard had to say after he netted his 682nd goal, tying him with Don Parsons for most in the history of minor-league hockey. He had a hat trick Saturday in a 4-3 victory over the Komets.Bouchard played two games with the Komets in the old IHL during 1996.

Robin Bouchard's time as a member of the Fort Wayne Komets was short. He spent but two games with them during 1996 in the old IHL, just one step below the NHL, before opting to return to his comfort zone in the lower-echelon Colonial Hockey League. Driving away from Memorial Coliseum was one of the pivotal moments in Bouchard's career, but he has returned many, many times as a nemesis of the orange and black.

What has been a magically exciting game -- seriously, it has been great -- has now become a historic one.Muskegon's Robin Bouchard scored with a shot from the right circle, catching goaltender Tim Haun completely off guard, and it completed a hat trick and tied the game at 3 in the second period at Memorial Coliseum.

A hockey fan could not ask for much better action than what the Komets and Muskegon Lumberjacks have provided thus far at Memorial Coliseum.Muskegon and Fort Wayne are tied at 2 at the end of the first period. Both Lumberjacks goals came from Robin Bouchard, who is now two away from setting the all-time goal-scoring record in minor-league hockey. The current mark of 682 is held by Don Parson.

There's a good, palpable vibe at Memorial Coliseum tonight as the Komets ready to take on the Muskegon Lumberjacks, who have a four-point edge on Fort Wayne for first place in the IHL.

Clint Keller has photos from the Komets' 5-3 victory over the Quad City Mallards on Friday night. To see them,

Having not seen the Komets play, in person, in more than three weeks, I was impressed.Their 5-3 victory over the Quad City Mallards was all about Fort Wayne's tenacity.

When you're playing well, the bounces go your way. Or is it, when the bounces go your way, you start playing well?I don't know. Whatever.The point is this: Some kooky things are going in favor of the Komets, who lead the visiting Quad City Mallards 2-1 during the first period Friday.

That's right, folks, after three long weeks, I'm back in the fold.Thanks to Ben Smith for filling in so well on the Komets beat while I was gone, and thanks to all the well wishes I received from Ice Chips readers.

The IHL trade deadline -- extended for a week this year -- passed at 3 p.m. today. Silently.

Dialing back the season to 70 games,as the board of governors decided to do in the second part of the semiannual meeting yesterday, is the right thing to do.

The Komets' 3-0 week yielded a couple of individual honors.

This just in: The Komets have placed injured forward Brad MacMillan on 14-day injured reserve. He's expected to miss two weeks at minimum.

Oh, what the heck. They were getting tired of third place anyway.