I keep hearing the argument, more from people outside of Fort Wayne, that the Komets' improvement this season is more indicative of their strength of schedule than anything else.

I don't buy that, but I'll let you make the call.

The Komets are 13-7-0 and one point out of first place in the Turner Conference. Through 20 games last season, they were 5-14-1.

All of their victories have come against Rapid City (four), Evansville (three), Dayton (three), Quad City (two) and Bloomington (one).

Those teams have a combined winning percentage of .508.

That doesn't seem that bad to me.

I don't, personally, think you have reason to be anything but excited about the way the Komets have performed. Only eight players are back from last season and look at the way the newcomers are producing: Brett Smith 10 goals, 26 points; Bobby Chaumont 6 goals, 25 points; Chris Auger 10 goals, 19 points; Jamie Milam 7 goals, 15 points; Jean-Michel Rizk 9 goals, 12 points.

Only two players, Colin Chaulk and Jesse Bennefield, have negative plus/minus ratings and I don't see that continuing for either.