Komets sign four
July 18, 2007The Komets have signed right wing David Hukalo, defenseman Kevin Bertram, right wing Bobby Kukulka and center Travis Granbois.
Hukalo was the UHL’s defensive forward of the year, and Kukulka scored 25 goals in 61 games with three teams. Bertram has essentially been retired for three years but he’s only 30, and gives the Komets a veteran without costing them a veteran roster spot. Granbois had eight points last year as a rookie in 45 games. He’ll still have rookie status this year.
July 18, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I was wondering about Bertram’s status. He’ll be a tweener so the Komets still have 6 spots open.
July 18, 2007 at 12:58 pm
what is th status of huk alo and kukulka?
July 18, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Four interesting signings. Has Bertram still been playing rec level hockey in town?
July 18, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I would hope Bertram’s been on the fireman hockey team.
With Hukalo’s injuries I would think he’s a tweener as is Kukulka.
July 18, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I was not sure if that was just a team that got together for charity events of if they played in a league in town. If he can still play the way he did a few years ago I think it is a great signing.
July 18, 2007 at 1:51 pm
bertrams only 30 so it shouldnt take him long to get back into playing mode. did he quit the firehouse or is he on loa or what?
July 18, 2007 at 2:00 pm
What’s the latest on Pascal and Chaz? Anything new?
July 18, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I hope Bertram comes back as the guy that was willing to drop the gloves and play physical. Not the guy he retired as.
July 18, 2007 at 2:31 pm
According to David Franke, Pascal said he wants to go to Utah if he doesn’t make Bridgeport. He doesn’t want to be left out of the loop. Nothing on Johnson.
July 18, 2007 at 2:43 pm
That makes sense from the point of veiw that if Pascal wants to make the NHL he needs to be playing the style the NHL plays which is not what the IHL wants to do.
July 18, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Pascal will go where Bingham tells him to go, and that will be Utah. I was a Bingham supporter, but in retrospect he hurt the K’s more in the long run than he helped in the short term.
July 18, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Interesting point of veiw, care to expound on that JM?
July 18, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Overall, I like these signings. I was surprised with Bertram returning…..But, this is a good group to begin with.
Tony, The FWFD team (The Fire) and the FWPD team (The Freeze) do play a regular schedule in a league that is made up with public safety professionals from other Police and Fire Departments from cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, New York. Most of the teams are from larger communities and former professional hockey players are permitted as long as they are employed by the public safety agency they play for.
The FWFD usually does well since it has 3 former K’s on the roster.
July 18, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Bob thanks for the info. I know all of the service departments have softball and basketball leagues up here but I am not sure about hockey.
I also agree with JM about coach Bingham. No one can take away from what he did during his one season but I was not a fan of his “duck out of town and run” ending to his tenure.
Most of the players he brought in were going to follow him either wherever he goes or wherever he suggests they play. Very few of those guys that came in last year did so because of the Komets organization or the city itself and so when Bingham left there and adding to it the chaos of the league it was going to be pulling teeth to get any of them to stay.
July 18, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Disclaimer above I am exhausted so if I make even less sense than normal you will know why.
July 18, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I doubt that the “style of play” in the IHL had any real bearing on Morency’s decision to play in Utah rather than here if given the choice. Trotting out the arguement to slam the new league is unsubstianted, if not just tiresome.
As his goal is to play in the AHL, why he would remove himself from the scouting loop and come here doesn’t make any sense. NYI aren’t going to send a scout to Utah and make a special trip here just to keep an eye one him. That’s the real reason.
July 18, 2007 at 5:41 pm
What real chance does Pascal have making the NHL anyway? Hate to sound that way. I am a huge Pascal fan too. I just think that eventually he will find out that it takes more than giving 100% every shift. I hope he finds what he is looking for. I too agree with the Bingham notion. Seems like he left the team and took all the players with him or sent them elsewhere and left the organization empty. Was there some kind of conflict between Bingham and the front office that we don’t know about. For such a great tight-knit bunch of guys….looks like things weren’t as rosy as they might have seemed.
Hope Bertram can turn it back on……not sure about that one.
Kukulka was outstanding for Port Urine last year. We all know what Huk gives you….play making skills and lots of heart. He makes things happen and puts loads of pressure on the other team by stealing pucks and being a pest. I just hope he can shed the “Ryan Severson” hands he was blessed with. Seems like Huk makes a huge steal and heads to the net and loses the puck like Severson or Adam Lewis would. I bet Huk has a great year.
Don’t know a thing about the other guy.
Chaulker will be next.
July 18, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Hit Bingham used Fort Wayne as a parking space while he waited for another career opportunity. He did what was best for his career and really had no care as to how he left Fort Wayne because in his grand plan his time with the Komets was just a small stop along a long road. So he brought in players that he thought would make him look good quickly so he could make a good impression on the upper leagues. Give him credit, he did almost everything he wanted to do. He just didn’t finish.
July 18, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Chaulker is next I tell you. Jungle Monkey really did buy a new pair of shoes on Blue Light special. What a stud.
July 18, 2007 at 6:06 pm
As for Pascal making the NHL, well as I pointed out before, Todd Reirden played almost 200 NHL games after leaving the Komets. Did anyone ever look at him and think he was NHL material? Pascal was not the most talented player but part of making it is getting noticed and between his hustle and his yap on the ice, getting noticed is something he is good at. Would he be a career NHL guy? No. Could he be someone getting a 2-3 game at a time call up to be an end of the bench guy who would give a team 4-5 hustle shifts while a regular is injured? Sure.
July 18, 2007 at 6:18 pm
I’ll just bet JM didn’t spend $300 on those shoes, either!
July 18, 2007 at 6:23 pm
JM must have bought shot gun shells, shoes, bubble gum, lawn chairs, and spam all for under $20 that night. And he talked Chaulker into coming back…..what a dude!
July 18, 2007 at 6:51 pm
What is Trevor Edwards doing? I always thought he was the best 2-way player on a bad Port Huron team.
July 18, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Then JM got a good deal on that stuff! The shotgun shells alone are going to set a guy back $20 if not more. Good ammo is not cheap.
I don’t completely buy into the “being out of the loop” argument regarding Pascal. Fort Wayne is a lot closer to NY than Utah….thus less of a drive and/or cheaper airfare. Plus, since the last time I checked…we are living in the 21st Century….so the people in NY must think that this area does not have telephone service, the internet and the newspapers are still printed by hand. Please, give me a break.
I’m sure this saga will drag on for another few months.
July 18, 2007 at 9:34 pm
bob youve got to know that the big time operations are really awful cheaply run. they spend big bucks on the players, but believe me, the assistant coaches and the scouts are paid pretty low, so yes the organization wouldnt want their scout to have to make another stop in ft wayne when all he has to do is go to utah and see all the prospects at one time. pascal could make a living as a part time player in the ahl cause the bottom tier of guys in that league are really bad, so dont belittle him for living out his dream.
July 18, 2007 at 9:52 pm
hey Tony E Coach Bingham did a great job of coaching here. He brought in good players and did what he was suppose to do. It’s not like he planned on coaching here for only 1 year. When the opportunity knocks you have to jump on it. The Bridgeport job opened up and he took it. He will FINISH in a much higher league if he stays where he is.
This is a great opportunity for Bertrum as well, he can play hockey and work for the fire department at the same time. He is a great guy, but just what I wanted to see. Players in this league that can play on a part time basis. I hope that doesnt water down the talent in this league. I’m not sure what kind of message that sends to players. A guy can work full time and play for the Komets as well. Is this a good thing? Maybe it is.
July 18, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Hey I herd a rumor that Chaulker wants to come back and has been in contact with the Komets. I was told that he can get out of his contract in Italy, but he would lose alot of money by doing so. I was told that if he can find a way to make up that difference here (a side job) he will be back. This is just what I heard. I don’t know if it is true. Maybe Blakes can find out.
July 18, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Two UHL Standouts Join Elmira For First ECHL Run
July 18, 2007
ELMIRA, NY – The Elmira Jackals, proud member of the ECHL’s North Division, announced today the signings of Luke Stauffacher and Matt Syroczynski for the 2007-2008 season. They join returning Jackals 2006-2007 leading scorer Frank Littlejohn as the first three players signed for Elmira’s first ECHL campaign.
We lose another.
July 18, 2007 at 10:39 pm
we all knew Syro wanted to leave for the ECHL….good luck to him…
July 19, 2007 at 5:43 am
Didnt Bertram have numerous problems with his hands and/or wrists towards the end of his last Komets tenure which prohibited him from mixing it up to much in his last season or so???
July 19, 2007 at 7:02 am
Anybody see this from the IHL website? It’s a press release from Musky about Robin B. Long winded? Very much so.
“THE ALL-TIME PREMIERE CAREER CANNONEER IS BACK WITH THE FURY IN THE NEW IHL”
http://www.ihl-hockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=382&Itemid=2
July 19, 2007 at 7:09 am
Syro better toughen up if he’s going to play for Martinson. Not a huge loss in my opinion. A big guy that played really small.
July 19, 2007 at 7:14 am
for some reason muskegons press release titles are always rhyming and retarded
July 19, 2007 at 7:58 am
“I don’t completely buy into the “being out of the loop” argument regarding Pascal. Fort Wayne is a lot closer to NY than Utah….thus less of a drive and/or cheaper airfare. Plus, since the last time I checked…we are living in the 21st Century….so the people in NY must think that this area does not have telephone service, the internet and the newspapers are still printed by hand. Please, give me a break.”
It wouldn’t matter if he were playing a few blocks away from the Nasseu(sp) Coliseum if nobody was watching him in the IHL. Why would he want to make an AHL team with the intent of making the NHL and then hope to get sent down to a league that likely will be lightly scouted at best. This makes no sense. Maybe you know something we don’t and he has a large contigent of disappointed puck bunnies in FW that want him back.
July 19, 2007 at 8:04 am
How about I put the spin on Morency this way Skate. As I understand it, the NHL/AHL/ECHL affiliations still have playing systems. the Islanders are going to play a certian way and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers are going to play a similar way (or should) which means the Utah Grizzlies will follow. Morency, if he’s sent down wants to be kept in the loop of what the Sound Tigers and the Islanders expect and even though the scouts may make a trip or two I’m sure the coaches and GM’s talk on a regular basis. The information loop would still be better in the ECHL than the IHL.
July 19, 2007 at 9:19 am
Where is the REAL Komet Warrior?? Not one MAN in that entire posting!!
July 19, 2007 at 9:21 am
Or did someone with two posting ID’s slip up and now we get to guess who KW really is…………..
July 19, 2007 at 9:28 am
I thought it…. you said it, Tony
July 19, 2007 at 10:00 am
I am sure Blake can track IP addresses on this and knows who it is. Of course there is no need to tell anyone because in all reality KW has done nothing wrong but MAN I wish I knew if I was right in my thinking LOL.
July 19, 2007 at 10:02 am
I was thinking one thing though. I would think every hockey player would want to go to Utah. Aren’t you allowed to legally have multiple wives there still? LOL.
July 19, 2007 at 11:31 am
Best of Luck to Syro! He’s a great player and will be missed in Ft. Wayne!!
July 19, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Chuckitt,
My comments were’nt intended to belittle him. In fact I think he has a good future ahead of him and I wish him well. However, I’m sure that you and I have both seen our share of players get called up just to fill a roster spot.
I would rather see him (or anyone) get a chance to play instead of sitting on the end of the bench or in the stands.
Regarding cheaply run big operations….I know. I work for a company that fits that description perfectly!
July 19, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Tony - why on earth would any man want more than one wife?
July 19, 2007 at 5:14 pm
And by the way - do any of you really think Morency had a choice with which team the bottom part of a 2-way contract is signed with? If he wants to sign with an AHL team (which I’m sure he does) that team will dictate where he does and doesn’t play.
July 19, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Well. I guess until next year when I get one I will not be able to answer if I would want more than one. Check back with me on that
July 19, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I promise that you will not want more than one.
July 19, 2007 at 6:41 pm
If the AHL is smart, then they would put Morency at least on the 3rd line just to draw fans. He does have a lot of energy and skates hard every shift. I wish him the best and hope he chooses to come back in the 3-4-5 years.
July 19, 2007 at 6:41 pm
the next 3-4-5 years
This thing needs an edit button.
July 19, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Tony,
Trust me, as much as I love my wife Kathleen….having ONE is a full time job. Been on the “job” for 5 years as of August 3rd.
However I consider myself to be fortunate and blessed to have her in my life. How she puts up with me is still a mystery!
July 19, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Now this a signing of TOUGHNESS of which we have not sign anyone as yet that compares to this dude.
http://www.ihl-hockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=385&Itemid=2
July 19, 2007 at 10:30 pm
That’s a big dude. Lot’s of pim’s.
July 19, 2007 at 10:38 pm
You know that there is no such thing of toughness in hockey any longer and that guys aren’t taught to play tough and that the leagues don’t play tough and no one knows how to hit or fight anymore…….Oh, that was last years excuse for the Komets…..right? And then Henley is signed and gets benched for 4 or 5 games in a row 2 or 3 times last year due to how much he makes supposedly.
But this is the new IHL where Kevin Bertram is our new enforcer. LOL I like Bert. But come on, Flint is going to be scary tough this year.
July 19, 2007 at 10:51 pm
And Henley was signed last season after the team and media went on and on about how this team didn’t need an Enforcer and that they would not sign anyone to enforce the ice because they liked the the team just as it was…….remember that one?
And lots of players in this league took notice of Mr. Henley when he was on the ice and lots of players decided not to mess with him or cheapshot any onf our guys for the most part. But……..we didn’t really need an Enforcer. Ha
July 20, 2007 at 6:27 am
Henley was signed after Hansen got beaten to a pulp in Elmira. Someone took notice that the Jackals felt very different about toughness.
July 20, 2007 at 7:32 am
Yep, but Henely is more than likely not going to play in the Fort this year. He is more than likely be in the CHL or ECHL. On the other hand he may not play at all depending how bad his knee is. I am not against what has been sign by the K’s but not one of them is a guy who can “keep order”. Bert will have to prove he can still do it after being out for 2 seasons.
July 20, 2007 at 7:58 am
Kevin Bertram is a firefighter playing hockey….not the other way around. The only thing he has to prove is that he still has the skills to play the game. He shouldn’t be looked upon as our enforcer or someone you should be relying on for a tilt every night. Don’t disappont yourself as we haven’t signed that kind of player yet. He is merely a defenseman first who can also fight if needed.
July 20, 2007 at 9:46 am
I don’t think Henley will play in the ECHL because he got a long suspenson last year and we signed him and the ECHL wouldnt let Henley layed till it was up, thats why we had him for a few weeks and he didn’t play any games. Henley is known for going pscho and doing stuff that doesnt need to be done.
July 20, 2007 at 9:47 am
what does the Komets see in Granbois?
July 20, 2007 at 10:01 am
His rookie status probably has something to do with it.
July 20, 2007 at 11:05 am
I’ve heard/read a lot of good things about Granbois.
July 20, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Greg –
You are, of course, right in pointing out that “systems” aspect. NYI, unless they are different from every other NHL team, teaches their players to play the NYI NHL system in the minors so when (if) they get called up they are not totally lost at the next level.
As a minor issue, Morency might not want to be viewed as not being a team gut or being a loner more interested in himself than the overall good of the team and his teammates.
July 21, 2007 at 7:57 am
I can see that point as well.
July 21, 2007 at 11:14 am
and he would be looked apon as being a problem if he didnt want to go to utah. but who kknows, he might get sent there and play so bad or sit on the bench so long that he could get realeased.
July 23, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I would see Syro getting released (or quitting) the ECHL before Morency. If Syro doesn’t have an NHL contract, he’s gonna have a hard time getting ice time — regardless of his talent level relative to his teammates — in front of NHL-contracted guys.
July 23, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Does Elmira have an affiliation to the NHL yet?
July 23, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I saw no evidence of one yet on their website. (Nor did I see any evidence of Doug Teskey).
Wikipedia (for what it’s worth) says it’s TBD.
Whoops, time for Judge Judy.
July 25, 2007 at 8:13 am
The Komets will be signing Chaulk here soon to keep up with the other teams in trying to make the league’s PR disaster of an off-season go away. Wonder how much they had to shell out to get him out of his Euro contract?
July 25, 2007 at 9:22 am
The future signing of Chaulk has nothing to do with the “disaster” that you called the offseason. It’s still early, (Late July) the talent level of the new I will be the same if not better then last years U.