Ice Chips | Journal Gazette

Komets goalie Boucher retires

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:39:23 EST

Coach Al Sims and captain Colin Chaulk retired, and now so has the goaltender who backstopped them to four championships between 2008 and 2012.

Komets coaching update

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:10:58 EST

Komets general manager David Franke still believes he will have a coach in place by June 1, though he declined to get into specifics about potential candidates – with one exception.

Boucher to wear tie, not mask

The Journal Gazette — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:22:42 EST

Ruoff Home Mortgage issued this news release today:

Is Dundon done?

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:04:42 EST

I got a tip that the Komets' longtime athletic trainer, Shawn Dundon, will no longer be with the Komets next season.

Komets coach Al Sims retires

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:49:56 EST

Sims, 60, guided the Komets to five championships between 1993 and 2012, with a stint coaching the NHL's San Jose Sharks in between.

Sims on his retirement

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:35:20 EST

“To win five championships in 10 seasons here, and to be with the players who were all a part of those championships, those are my most vivid memories."

Cherry talks about Sims

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:01:21 EST

Famed coach and commentator talked about Al Sims, his former player, who retired today.

Henry awards Bob Chase a Key to the Fort

Justin A. Cohn — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:33:43 EST

The longtime Komets broadcaster was presented the “Key to the Fort” at the Mayor's office. It is a hand-forged replica of the iron key that was at the fort in the days of Anthony Wayne, circa 1790.

Some updates

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:16:45 EST

There's nothing new to report on the Komets' coaching situation, as neither the Komets nor Al Sims has called me back.

Candidates to coach K's

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:49:22 EST

One can't help but wonder if the Komets are evaluating other potential candidates before deciding if Al Sims is still their guy. Here is a look at some potential candidates for the job.

Update on Sims, more

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:56:00 EST

General manager David Franke said the Komets have yet to "finalize" anything, as it pertains to the coaching situation. So coach Al Sims, who won championships in 1993, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012, remains blowing in the wind.

Trenton ceases operations

The Journal Gazette — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:36:19 EST

The Trenton Titans have ceased operations and will not compete in the 2013-14 season, the ECHL said Tuesday.

Latest on ECHL in Indy

The Journal Gazette — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:19:35 EST

Indianapolis is seeking a return to pro hockey once Pepsi Coliseum is revamped, the Indianapolis Business Journal has reported.

Pensacola title honors ex-Komets

The Journal Gazette — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:24:35 EST

Gary Graham, a former Komets assistant, and ex-Komets players Gerry Festa and Jeremy Gates were part of the Pensacola team that won the Southern Professional Hockey League championship on Sunday.

Thoughts on coaching situation

Justin A. Cohn — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:18:53 EST

I've had a lot of people asking when the Komets will make a decision -- either way -- on the future of coach Al Sims.While the Komets have said they are in no rush, and that it could be weeks before we hear, I have to wonder why that is.

Alternate point of view

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:16:19 EST

I would like to share with you an email I got from a reader pertaining to Colin Chaulk.

Make sure you read this

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:38:56 EST

Give this a read. Hopefully it's different than anything else you read on the subject over the last day: Click here

Longtime Komets captain Colin Chaulk retires

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:12:31 EST

Colin Chaulk decided Friday to end a playing career that included five championships with Fort Wayne: the UHL championship in 2003, IHL championships in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the CHL title of 2012.

Another take on Chaulk

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:36:02 EST

Here's another take on the retirement of Colin Chaulk -- click here

Chaulk video highlights

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:35:50 EST

Check out some terrific Colin Chaulk plays from the last two seasons. The Komets' longtime star retired today after leading Fort Wayne to five championships since 2003.

Coaching update

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:07:48 EST

Komets general manager David Franke is in Cincinnati, scouting the playoff series between the Cyclones and the Toledo Walleye.

Evansville names new coach

The Journal Gazette — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:20:59 EST

Evansville has hired Jeff Pyle as head coach and director of hockey operations, effective July 1, the club said today.

Congrats to Graham

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:09:36 EST

Pensacola of the Southern Professional Hockey League, which is coached by Gary Graham, a native of Fort Wayne and former assistant coach with the Komets, is in the championship series.They are taking on Huntsville

This is amazing

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:31:22 EST

For the second time this season, the Anaheim Ducks have used a former Komets player as an emergency backup goaltender.

Chaulk's team advances

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:14:15 EST

Fort Wayne Youth Hockey's Komets Bantam team, which is competing in the Tier II 14-and-under 2A championships, went 1-1-1 in pool play to advance to the semifinals at the USA Hockey National Championships in Charlotte, N.C. Komets captain Colin Chaulk is one of the coaches.

Wild ride for Lasch

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:58:43 EST

It's been a wild ride for Ryan Lasch this season.He went from Norfolk to Fort Wayne to Norfolk to Europe to Toronto (via a trade by the Anaheim Ducks with the Toronto Maple Leafs).

Are Peoria, Indy coming?

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:22:01 EST

In what is an increasingly confusing situation, the Peoria Journal Star reported that the ECHL does indeed have interest in getting Peoria back into the league.

The fights of the season

Justin A. Cohn — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:45:18 EST

I'm sure you are having some withdrawal from Komets hockey, so I put together this video. It is a reel of fights from the Komets' recently ended season, and there are lots of them.

Cousineau to Norfolk

Justin A. Cohn — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:05:13 EST

Goaltender Marco Cousineau, who was limited to 11 games this season with the Komets because of a groin injury, has been called to Norfolk of the American Hockey League. He was 3-7-0 with a 3.55 goals-against average and a .886 save percentage for the Komets.

Here's a great question

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:08:53 EST

OK, in the comments section, tell me the former Komets player you most want to see win a championship in the ECHL season.

Deslauriers traded

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:22:17 EST

Goaltender Jeff Deslauriers, who was 6-8-1 with a 3.25 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage for the Komets this season, was traded by the Anaheim Ducks to the Minnesota Wild before the trade deadline.

Make sure you look here

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:15:59 EST

Today, I had a story on the devoted fans of the Komets. I hope you will read it be clicking here

Fun night for fans

Justin A. Cohn — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:28:43 EST

The Komets held their annual end-of-season party and jersey acution, raising $16,125 for local charities.

It was a stormy season

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:14:22 EST

To read a postmortem on this Komets season, click here.

Komets win finale

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 22:20:11 EST

If you're a fan of the Komets -- and there were 9,919 of them at Memorial Coliseum tonight -- you must be wondering where this was all season long. In the finale of their first ECHL season, the Komets got two goals from Thomas Beauregard, engaging in three fights, two of which left Wings players bleeding on the ice, and defeated Kalamazoo 4-2,

See K's brawl, win

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST

The Komets finally gave me something to shoot in the video tonight, with three fights and a 4-2 victory in the final game of the season.

That was Chaulk's 1st win

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 23:05:34 EST

The Komets' 4-2 victory tonight was the last of the 2012-13 season, but the first of Colin Chaulk's head-coaching career.In a manner of speaking.

Schrock hurt

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 21:17:03 EST

If this is Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock's last game with the Komets, I hope it doesn't end like this. He had to be helped off the ice late in the second period, after Brett Lysak awkwardly came down on his leg during a hit.

Putting on a (fight) show

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 20:21:35 EST

The game between the Komets and Wings is scoreless, but Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock, the longest-tenured Komet on the ice, got the crowd going early.

Last chance for some

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:00:07 EST

Tonight is the season finale between the Komets and Kalamazoo Wings.

An amazing thing to watch

Justin A. Cohn — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 04:58:36 EST

Komets lose; to finish under .500

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:35:21 EST

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Despite a sterling performance from goaltender Jeff Deslauriers, the Komets lost their fifth straight game, ensuring they will finish with a sub-.500 record for the first time since 1996-97.

Deslauriers stars again

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:11:47 EST

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Komets lost 3-2 to the Kalamazoo Wings, but goaltender Jeff Deslauriers was amazing (as you will see later tonight in my postgame video). As I've written, I don't understand the people knocking him. He's an NHL-caliber goalie who can make saves very few at this level can make.

Komets offense struggling

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:19:09 EST

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- After two periods, the Komets trails the Kalamazoo Wings 3-1 at Wings Stadium. Fort Wayne had almost no offense in giving up two goals that periods. They did give up a goal to Kory Karlander after a cross-ice pass and a goal to John Armstrong after a pass from behind the net.

Still can't hit a barn

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:33:08 EST

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Amazing to me that, in the next-to-last game of the season, the Komets still haven't figured out to shoot the puck on net during breakaways.It's tied at 1 after one period at Wings Stadium.

Peoria to ECHL?

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:36:05 EST

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Not surprisingly, the St. Louis Blues have pulled out of Peoria. Click here.

K's fans are amazing

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:11:06 EST

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Komets fans are amazing. Here we are with a meaningless game between the Komets and Kalamazoo Wings -- well, except for pride -- and I see a lot of Fort Wayne fans here at Wings Stadium (aka Coliseum North).

Most awesome thing ever

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:32:52 EST

I can't stop watching this -- click here -- because it's just too great.

Had he been here sooner ...

Justin A. Cohn — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:47:26 EST

Today's story on the Komets -- off their 3-2 loss to the Toledo Walleye on Wednesday night -- focuses on Matt Syroczynski.

Komets lose to Toledo

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:15:40 EST

The Komets are out of the playoffs. The Toledo Walleye is fighting for better playoff positioning. And the Komets sure made those fish nervous Wednesday night. It was tied until Fort Wayne's Jamie Milam turned the puck over in the waning minutes at Memorial Coliseum, allowing Aaron Bogosian to get a shot on goal and Kyle Rogers to net the 3-2 winner for the Walleye.

Urban legend, video

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:25:24 EST

There was some buzz on the internet that Komets president Michael Franke had blasted the Norfolk affiliation in the second intermission interview on WOWO, during the 3-2 loss tonight.

K's trailing ... again

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:58:58 EST

After two periods at Memorial Coliseum, the Komets trail the Toledo Walleye 2-1.The only goal of the second period came from defenseman Ben Youds, who finished off an odd-man rush with a rebound.

Syro keeps it up

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:09:43 EST

In 26 games since coming out of retirement, Matt Syroczynski has nine goals and 17 points for the Komets.Not bad.

Things to be excited about?

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:00:51 EST

Just in time for the final three mind-numbing games of the season, the Komets have brought in a new player: 5-foot-9 forward Lindsay Sparks, who had been with the University of Michigan.He had four goals and eight points in 16 games this season.

'Way to go, Charlie'

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:52:02 EST

As Bob Chase would say, "Way to go, Charlie."Click here to read today's story on Komets goaltender Charlie Effinger.