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.FORT WAYNE – Colin Chaulk knows fans are wondering why he didn’t leave the fighting to the Komets’ tough guys, Brent Henley, David Starenky or Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock.
“If you are any kind of competitor, any kind of leader, you want people to do what you ask of them. And you have to be willing to do it yourself, too,” said Chaulk, who went after Bloomington’s Ryan Palmer 1:08 into Tuesday’s 3-2 win at Bloomington, Ill.
Chaulk has a handful of fights each season, but in this one, he suffered concussion-like symptoms and left the game. A Palmer punch had sent him backward and Chaulk’s head hit the ice.
Despite being examined by two doctors and passing his concussion tests, it was decided Chaulk shouldn’t return to the game. A decision on his availability for Friday night at Memorial Coliseum against the Blaze will be made after a skate that morning, general manager David Franke said.
“I feel pretty good today,” Chaulk said Wednesday. “No headache.”
The Komets had lost two in a row coming into the game, so they needed a spark. Palmer had been the player who clipped all-star Brett Smith on Jan. 13, earning a one-game suspension. Smith missed five games with a concussion.
Coupled with the Aaron Dawson kneeing of Artem Podshendyalov on Sunday, and Chaulk was ready to send a message.
“Yeah, I went after him,” Chaulk said. “I pretty much felt that with the stuff that had happened before, it (was needed), and I felt the team needed a spark. It just didn’t go as planned. Maybe you shouldn’t plan that stuff.”
As for Jesse Bennefield, who was put on injured reserve to make room for Leo Thomas on Tuesday, Franke said it’s a leg injury. He wouldn’t confirm whether it’s the same issue, an infection, that cost Bennefield 14 early-season games.
Note: The Komets Legends’ roster for the March 10 game against Detroit Red Wings alumni is expected to include: Eddie Long, George Drysdale, Bobby McNeil, Bob Phillips Sr., Ron Ullyot, Dale Baldwin, Doug Teskey, Martin Burgers, Derek Gauthier, Dave Norris, John Hilworth, Adam Lewis, Doug Rigler, Carey Lucyk, David Hukalo, Ian Boyce, Chad Dameworth, Brian McKee, Dustin Virag, Parris Duffus, Paul Kobylarz, Kevin Bertram, Jim Logan and Steve Salvucci. The coaches will be Chuck Adamson, Robbie Irons, Reggie Primeau and Ron Burman. The game will be at 5 p.m. Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. game against Evansville will be good for both.
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