Fort Wayne Advances to Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals
Published on April 27, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
GLENDALE, AZ - The Fort Wayne Komets have won the Turner Trophy as the Central Hockey League's Turner Conference champions for 2011-12, claiming the title with a 6-4 victory over the Missouri Mavericks on Thursday night in the 30th Game 7 in CHL playoff history.
Fort Wayne will be making their first trip to the Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals in their second season in the CHL and will be taking on the Wichita Thunder in the battle for the Cup.
The path this year for the Komets included an Opening Round six-game series win over the Rapid City Rush (four games to two) and their 4-3 series win over the Mavericks in the conference finals. The Komets earn the series win despite becoming the first CHL team to drop the first two games of a conference final on home ice. Fort Wayne battled back from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits in the series to advance to the Finals.
The Komets finished atop the Turner Conference after the regular season with a 40-19-7 record (87 points) and were the top seed in the conference playoffs. During the regular season, Fort Wayne was 19-8-6 on home ice and a league-best 21-11-1 on the road.
Fort Wayne is celebrating their 60th Anniversary season and are battling for their ninth league title. Prior to joining the CHL, the Komets won eight league titles including seven International Hockey League (IHL) crowns and one United Hockey League (UHL) title.
Fort Wayne is coached by Al Sims who is in his ninth season behind the bench for the Komets. Sims has guided the Komets to four IHL championships including an incredible stretch of three straight (1993, 2008, 2009 and 2010).
The Turner Conference and Turner Trophy is named for Joseph Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario who played professionally with the Detroit Red Wings before serving in World War II with the United States Army. Turner was killed on December 13, 1944 in Belgium during battle. Turner drew distinction as an amateur goaltender in the Michigan-Ontario amateur league playing on teams in Detroit and Windsor.
The Komets and Thunder will get the Finals underway on Saturday night at the INTRUST Bank Arena and Game 2 has been set for Sunday in Wichita. The remainder of the Finals schedule will be announced shortly.
Follow all the CHL playoff news, notes and happenings on www.centralhockeyleague.com and at the CHL's Playoff Headquarters.
Central Hockey League Stories from April 27, 2012
- Shots from the Point for April 27, 2012 (Finals Edition) - CHL
- Mavericks Announce Summer Hockey Camp Dates - Kansas City Mavericks
- Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Statistical Preview - CHL
- On-Ice Officials for Finals Announced - CHL
- On-Ice Officials for Finals Announced - CHL
- Ray Miron President's Cup Schedule Set - Wichita Thunder
- Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals Set - CHL
- Thunder to Face Fort Wayne Komets in CHL Finals - Wichita Thunder
- Komets Saddle Mavericks 6-4 in Game 7; Win Turner Trophy, Advance to CHL Finals - Fort Wayne Komets
- Fort Wayne Advances to Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals - Wichita Thunder
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