Fort Wayne Komets
| Fort Wayne Komets | |
|---|---|
 2016–17 ECHL season | |
 | |
| City | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| League | ECHL |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | Central |
| Founded |
1985 (Current ECHL franchise) 1952 (First IHL franchise) |
| Operated |
1990–present (Current ECHL franchise) 1952–1990 (First IHL franchise) |
| Home arena | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum |
| Colors |
Orange, black and white |
| Owner(s) | The Franke Family |
| Head coach | Garry Graham |
| Captain | Jamie Schaafsma |
| Media |
WOWO (1190 AM) WKJG (1380 AM) |
| Affiliates | Independent |
| Franchise history | |
| First IHL Franchise | |
| 1952–1990 | Fort Wayne Komets |
| 1990–1991 | Albany Choppers |
| Current ECHL Franchise | |
| 1985–1990 | Flint Spirits |
| 1990–present | Fort Wayne Komets |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 12 (1959–60, 1962–63, 1972–73, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09) |
| Division Championships | 1 (2015–16) |
| Conference Championships | 1 (2011–12) |
| Turner Cups | 7 (1962–63, 1964–65, 1972–73, 1992–93, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10) |
| Ray Miron President's Cup | 1 (2011–12) |
| Colonial Cups | 1 (2002–03) |
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This team was previously a member of the Central Hockey League and the International Hockey League. They have won four post-season championship titles in the original IHL in 1963, 1965, 1973 and 1993, four in the UHL/second IHL in 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and one in the CHL in 2012. In all of North American professional hockey, only the Original Six teams of the NHL and the Hershey Bears of the AHL have played continuously in the same city with the same name longer than the Komets.
History
The original Komets franchise played in the previous iteration of the International Hockey League from 1952 until 1990. The original IHL franchise then moved to Albany, New York in 1990 as the Albany Choppers. Only two days later, the Franke family of Fort Wayne bought the Flint Spirits, moved them to Fort Wayne, and took the Komets name and history. The Albany Choppers would only play part of one season before folding on February 15, 1991.[1]
In 1999, the second IHL Komets franchise joined the United Hockey League (which later took the IHL name in 2007). In 2010, the UHL/IHL ceased operations and the Komets joined the Central Hockey League along with the surviving members of the their former league. The left the CHL for the ECHL in 2012.
On July 22, 2014, the Komets announced a one-year affiliation deal with the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, providing a direct line to Colorado's American Hockey League affiliate for the 2014–15 season, the Lake Erie Monsters.[2][3] After a successful season and partnership proving beneficial to all parties, on July 21, 2015, the Komets announced a continuance of the affiliation with the Avalanche and new AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage on a two-year deal through the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons.[4] However, the Avalanche and Komets mutually agreed to end the affiliation one season early in 2016.[5]
Season-by-season results
This is a partial list of the last ten seasons completed by the Fort Wayne Komets. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Fort Wayne Komets seasons
| Season | League | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Playoffs |
| 2006–07 | UHL | 76 | 51 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 106 | 263 | 187 | 1932 | Lost in Semifinals |
| 2007–08 | IHL | 76 | 56 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 120 | 280 | 186 | 1978 | Won Championship |
| 2008–09 | IHL | 76 | 46 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 104 | 288 | 213 | 1678 | Won Championship |
| 2009–10 | IHL | 76 | 50 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 105 | 263 | 183 | 1589 | Won Championship |
| 2010–11 | CHL | 66 | 31 | 27 | 5 | 3 | 70 | 187 | 204 | 1352 | Lost In Quarterfinals |
| 2011–12 | CHL | 66 | 40 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 83 | 228 | 187 | 1272 | Won Championship |
| 2012–13 | ECHL | 72 | 33 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 70 | 205 | 246 | 1385 | Did Not Qualify |
| 2013–14 | ECHL | 72 | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 84 | 215 | 215 | 954 | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 2014–15 | ECHL | 72 | 48 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 102 | 251 | 200 | 1033 | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 2015–16 | ECHL | 72 | 40 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 89 | 240 | 200 | 1196 | Lost in Conference Finals |
Records as of the conclusion of the 2015–16 season.[6]
Retired numbers
The Komets have honored over 40 personnel in three sections - Executive Builders, Team Personnel and Media - in the Komets Hall of Fame established in 1988. They have also retired numbers to honor 15 people over the course of their history.[7]
| No. | Player | Position | Tenure | Date of honour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adamson, ChuckChuck Adamson | G | 1962–67 | October 26, 2013 |
| 2 | Dupuis, GuyGuy Dupuis | D | 1991–2011 | October 29, 2011 |
| 5 | Pembroke, TerryTerry Pembroke | D | 1964–78 | 1988 |
| 6 | Repka, LionelLionel Repka | D | 1958–69 | 1988 |
| 11 | Thornson, LenLen Thornson | C | 1957–69 | 1988 |
| 12 | Primeau, RegReg Primeau | C | 1960–69 | 1988 |
| 16 | Long, EddieEddie Long | RW | 1952–66 | 1988 |
| 18 | Laird, RobRob Laird | LW | 1974–89 | March 6, 2002 |
| 26 | Chin, ColinColin Chin | C | 1986–96 | November 17, 2007 |
| 30 | Irons, RobbieRobbie Irons | G | 1967–81 | 1988 |
| 33 | Boucher, NickNick Boucher | G | 2007–12 | October 26, 2013 |
| 40 | Chase, BobBob Chase | Media | 1953–2016 | 1993 |
| 58 | Ullyot, KenKen Ullyot | Owner | 1958–82 | 1988 |
| 59 | Lister, ColinColin Lister | Owner | 1959–85 | 1988 |
| 77 | Fletcher, StevenSteven Fletcher | LW | 1990–2002 | November 17, 2007 |
Current roster
| # | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 |  |
Baptista, MasonMason Baptista | C | L | 26 | 2016 | North York, Ontario | Komets |
| 3 | |
Beaupré, GabrielGabriel Beaupré | D | L | 24 | 2014 | Levis, Quebec | Komets |
 |
Binkley, JasonJason Binkley | D | R | 24 | 2016 | Powell, Ohio | Komets | |
| |
Cazzola, MikeMike Cazzola | C | L | 25 | 2016 | Guelph, Ontario | Komets | |
| 20 | |
Cheek, TrevorTrevor Cheek | LW | L | 23 | 2015 | Vancouver, Washington | Komets |
| 8 | |
Crunk, TaylorTaylor Crunk | LW | L | 21 | 2016 | San Jacinto, California | Komets |
| 15 | |
Embach, MikeMike Embach | LW | L | 28 | 2013 | Orland Park, Illinois | Komets |
 |
Erlich, DanielDaniel Erlich | LW | L | 25 | 2016 | Thornhill, Ontario | Komets | |
| 28 | |
Friedmann, DavidDavid Friedmann | RW | L | 23 | 2016 | Toronto, Ontario | Komets |
| |
Hartzell, EricEric Hartzell | G | L | 27 | 2016 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota | Komets | |
| |
Leonard, CurtisCurtis Leonard | D | L | 24 | 2016 | Napanee, Ontario | Komets | |
| |
Martin, ColeCole Martin | D | L | 22 | 2016 | Arlington, Texas | Komets | |
| |
Milan, DanDan Milan | D | L | 24 | 2016 | Detroit, Michigan | Komets | |
| 31 | |
Nagle, PatPat Nagle | G | L | 29 | 2014 | Rochester, Michigan | Komets |
| |
Nieuwendyk, ChaseChase Nieuwendyk | F | L | 25 | 2016 | Georgetown, Ontario | Komets | |
| |
Robertson, MattMatt Robertson | RW | L | 24 | 2016 | Rohnert Park, California | Komets | |
| 22 |  |
Schaafsma, JamieJamie Schaafsma (C) | F | L | 33 | 2015 | Chatham, Ontario | Komets |
| |
Shea, BobbyBobby Shea | D | R | 26 | 2016 | Harrison Township, Michigan | Komets | |
| 44 | |
Sol, CodyCody Sol | D | L | 25 | 2014 | Woodstock, Ontario | Komets |
| 19 | |
Szydlowski, ShawnShawn Szydlowski (A) | RW | R | 26 | 2013 | St. Clair Shores, Michigan | Komets |
| 51 | |
Thomas, KyleKyle Thomas | RW | R | 26 | 2015 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Komets |
| 48 | |
Thompson, GarrettGarrett Thompson | C | L | 26 | 2015 | Davison, Michigan | Komets |
| |
Tremblay, CarlCarl Tremblay | D | R | 21 | 2016 | Quebec, Quebec | Komets | |
| |
Vail, BradyBrady Vail | C | L | 22 | 2016 | Palm City, Florida | Komets | |
| 29 | |
Weber, WillWill Weber | D | L | 28 | 2015 | Gaylord, Michigan | Komets |
Franchise records
Scoring leaders
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed regular season.
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; * = still active with the team
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts |
| Len Thornson | C | 763 | 412 | 807 | 1219 |
| Eddie Long | RW | 801 | 425 | 427 | 852 |
| Colin Chaulk | C | 581 | 187 | 497 | 684 |
| Terry McDougall | C | 507 | 249 | 395 | 644 |
| Colin Chin | C | 660 | 246 | 390 | 636 |
| John Goodwin | LW | 480 | 200 | 387 | 587 |
| Guy Dupuis | D | 945 | 126 | 417 | 543 |
| Reg Primeau | C | 452 | 200 | 342 | 542 |
| Merv Dubchak | RW | 437 | 321 | 218 | 539 |
| Robbie Laird | LW | 520 | 223 | 276 | 499 |
Regular season
- Most goals in a season: Merv Dubchak, 72 (1965–66)
- Most assists in a season: Len Thornson, 93 (1966–67)
- Most points in a season: Len Thornson, 139 (1966–67) & Terry McDougall, 139 (1978–79)
- Most penalty minutes in a season: Andy Bezeau, 590 (1995–96)
- Most wins in a season: Kevin St. Pierre, 43 (2003–04)
- Most shutouts in a season: Kevin Reiter, 7 (2007–08) & Kevin St. Pierre, 7 (2003–04)
Team records
- On March 28, 2008, the Komets set a new professional hockey record of 23 straight home wins. They defeated the Kalamazoo Wings 4–3.[9] The record ended at 25.
- On April 12, 2008, the Komets set a new Fort Wayne hockey record of 56 wins in a season. The previous record of 53 was set in 2003–04.[10]
- On May 15, 2010, the Komets defeated the Flint Generals in Game Five of the IHL Turner Cup Finals to win the series, 4 games to 1, earning the Komets a "three-peat" after winning the Turner Cup in 2008 and 2009 as well.
See also
References
- ↑ Chuck Miller THE IHL'S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET: THE 1990-91 ALBANY CHOPPERS
- ↑ "Komets announce affiliation with NHL's Avalanche and AHL's Monsters". WANE-TV. 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
- ↑ "Colorado affiliation could be different and better for Komets". News-Sentinel. 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
- ↑ "Komets put together two-year deal with Avalanche". News-Sentinel. 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
- ↑ "Komets, Avalanche Terminate Affiliation". OurSports Central. July 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Fort Wayne Komets Standings". hockeydb.com. 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ↑ "Komets Hall of Fame". Fort Wayne Komets. 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
- ↑ "Fort Wayne Komets - Team - Roster". Fort Wayne Komets. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
- ↑ "Komets Historical Win". Fort Wayne Komets. 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
- ↑ "54th win sets new Fort Wayne franchise record". Fort Wayne Komets. 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Wayne Komets. |
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