There were a couple of words spoken more than any others during the Komets’ practices last week: battle and defense.

Komets broadcaster Bob Chase, who is ill, will miss a second straight game tonight when the Komets play host to the Dayton Gems at Memorial Coliseum.There was no local radio coverage of Friday's game at Moline, Ill.

Nick Boucher made 30 saves as the Komets defeated Quad City 3-2 Friday in Moline, Ill.

The Komets might be only two points out of first place in the Turner Conference – they are 25-13-2 and behind Evansville – but the feeling right now isn’t one of supreme confidence.

There’s less than a week until the CHL’s Monday trade deadline, and the Komets are evaluating the need for changes.“Are we actively looking to make a change? No,” general manager David Franke said.

Frankie DeAngelis scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Komets held on for a wild 7-5 victory at Arizona on Friday.The Komets led 4-1 after the first period.

Komets head coach Al Sims believes his assistant, Gary Graham, is ready for a head-coaching job at the professional or top-tier junior level.

Win at Quad City keeps Komets atop conference
The Komets remained atop the Turner Conference with a 4-1 road win over Quad City on Sunday.

The Komets beat themselves as much as Tulsa beat them Saturday night.Fort Wayne, which came into the game with the second-best power-play efficiency in the CHL (22.

The Komets are calling this their “Redemption Weekend,” after they lost three in a row and their stranglehold on the Turner Conference lead last week.

Brett Smith is probably going to miss his third straight game tonight with a concussion because of a clip by Bloomington’s Ryan Palmer.

With 20 teams, and another already slated for next season in Orlando, Fla., the ECHL seems to be on more solid ice than the 14-team CHL.

With 20 teams, and another already slated for next season in Orlando, Fla., the ECHL seems to be on more solid ice than the 14-team CHL. And with five ECHL teams within five hours drive of Fort Wayne, it would seem to make sense for the

The Komets rose to the top of the CHL with a steadfast refusal to yield leads once a game reached the third period.Sunday night, the Komets finally yielded.

The Komets would come back to the CHL next season if the membership remains at 14 and the nearby Dayton Gems were still part of the league.

The Komets were playing as the first-place team in the CHL for the first time this season. But they didn’t look like a first-place team Friday night.

The Komets would rather be the hunted than the hunters.And now they are.They resume play after the all-star break today at Memorial Coliseum against the Bloomington Blaze.

Nick Boucher stopped 36 of 39 shots in 1 1/2 periods and Brett Smith had a goal, as the Komets’ representatives fared well in a 6-4 victory by the CHL All-Stars over the host Arizona Sundogs at Prescott Valley, Ariz.

Were the CHL following a more common format – conference vs. conference – then the Komets would certainly have more than two participants in today’s all-star game at Prescott Valley, Ariz.

It’s the all-star break and the Komets are atop the CHL at 22-9-1. That’s an improvement of 10 victories and 18 points over last season, when the Komets were in last place.

The Komets are atop the 14-team CHL with a record of 22-9-1 – that’s one point better than Wichita, the Berry Conference leader – and what a difference that is compared to last season.

Down a goal with just more than four minutes remaining Sunday night, the Komets did what they’ve done more than anyone this season – they found a way to win.

All the Komets’ fans wanted to see Friday was Larry Sterling, the Dayton goaltender they love to razz. Now, they probably don’t want to see him again.

Komets goaltender Nick Boucher looked out at the ice, where teammate Jean-Michel Rizk was one of the last players still practicing.“He’s a stud,” Boucher said.