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 Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Roll into Playoff Position, Week 23 Yields Four Points

March 24, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets skated four games in five nights during week 23 and gained four points with a pair of victories to take over sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, improving to 30-23-11 and 71 points after 64 games.

The week ahead -- Three weeks and eight games remain on the 2013-14 slate. This week the Komets skate a pair at South Carolina Friday and Saturday at 7pm each night. The Stingrays trail first-place Kalamazoo by two points and second-place Reading by a point in the tight battle for first place in the Eastern Conference and home ice advantage for at least the first three rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The two matches at North Charleston Coliseum (6,712) this weekend are the only meetings of the season. The Komets also skated two games at South Carolina last season going 1-0-1 in the short series. The Stingrays, 3-1-1 in their last five games, are coming off a 5-1 home loss to Greenville Sunday and are idle this week until they face the Komets Friday.

Week 23 in review -- Wednesday the Komets kicked off a stretch of three home games in four nights with a 5-4 setback to the Orlando Solar Bears. It was the only meeting of the season between the two teams. Mike Embach (LW) netted his second hat trick of the season and 3rd as a pro while Shawn Szydlowski (RW) also scored for Fort Wayne. Netminder Ben Meisner started for the Komets and made seven saves on 10 shots before local native Larkin Saalfrank entered the game in relief at the 11:13 mark of the second period for his first pro appearance. Saalfrank completed the game making eight saves on 10 shots.

Friday the Komets edged the visiting Gwinnett Gladiators 2-1 on goals by Szydlowski and Embach. University of Connecticut standout Matt Grogan earned his first pro win in his first pro start making 23 saves on 24 shots before leaving the game due to an ailment at 8:23 of the third period. Another new goalie in the Komet lineup that night, Kevin Murdock from Lake Superior State University, also made his pro debut stopping all four Gwinnett shots he faced in 11:37 of relief. Szydlowski scored the first goal of the game for Fort Wayne. Embach netted the game winner for a Fort Wayne season-high four-game goal-scoring streak. The Komets completed the season series with the Gladiators at an even 1-1-0.

Saturday the Komets started a home-and-home series against the Kalamazoo Wings at the Memorial Coliseum with a 4-3 shootout win. Scott Fleming (C), Kenton Miller (C) and Joe Southorn (D) hit the net for the Komets during regulation. After a scoreless overtime, William Lacasse (D) scored the only goal needed in the sixth round of the extra session, his only shootout attempt of the season, to give Fort Wayne the win. Goaltender Grogan made 30 saves on 33 shots during regulation and overtime and stopped all six Kalamazoo shooters in the shootout for his first pro win.

Sunday at Kalamazoo the Komets dropped the back-end game of the home-and-home series against the Wings 5-3. Embach scored his 20th goal of the season as a Komet. Aaron Clarke (LW) and Fleming also scored for the Komets. Grogan suffered the loss making 22 saves on 27 shots in his third straight start.

It's a new Komet record -- Friday's game against Gwinnett saw two goalies make their pro debuts with the Komets. Matt Grogan and Kevin Murdock became the seventh and eighth Komet goalies, respectively, to appear in Fort Wayne games this season to set the Fort Wayne all-time record of most goalies in a season at eight. The old record was seven, set in 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98 and 1999-00.

Milestones and markers -- To sum up, three goaltenders made their pro debuts last week with the Komets; Larkin Saalfrank (Wednesday vs Orlando), and Matt Grogan and Kevin Murdock (Friday vs Gwinnett)......Sy Nutkevitch (C) skated his 100th pro game Wednesday vs Orlando.....Simon Danis-Pepin (D) reached a career high of 17 assists this season with two helpers Saturday vs Kalamazoo.....Jace Coyle (D) matched his career highs of 23 assists and 31 points with an assist Saturday.

Komet leaders -- Brandon Marino leads the ECHL with 54 assists and 78 points.....Chris Auger leads the Komets and ranks third in the ECHL with 26 goals.....Auger and Scott Fleming lead with +11.....Kaleigh Schrock leads with 151 penalty minutes.

TIP-A-KOMET TUESDAY AT APPLEBEE'S -- The Komets invite all fans to another Tip-A-Komet benefit at Applebee's North Clinton location by the Coliseum this Tuesday, March 25, from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Fans have a chance to be served dinner by a Komet player as the entire team will be on-hand for the special night at Applebee's. Tips benefit Applebee's Vera Bradley Foundation fundraising efforts. For more information fans can call the Komet office at 260-483-0011.

BUS STUFF FOR COMMUNITY HARVEST FOOD BANK -- The annual campusLink Bus Stuff to benefit Community Harvest Food Bank will take place again this year during Komet home games Wednesday, April 2, Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6. Komet fans can save $2.00 off their upper arena game ticket with a food donation at each game. The Komets ask that fans bring canned or packaged food for donation. The goal is to donate enough food to fill a campusLink bus to benefit hungry families served by the Community Harvest Food Bank. Additional contributions can be made by stuffing the CitiLink/CampusLink buses at IPFW, Ivy Tech and Community Harvest locations.

Bus Stuff News Conference Wednesday -CitiLink will host a news conference this Wednesday, March 26, at 10am at the Citilink Central Station, 121 West Baker Street, Fort Wayne, to announce plans for this year's annual food drive for Community Harvest Food Bank. The CampusLink Bus Stuff is supported by Ivy Tech, IPFW, Community Harvest and Citilink as well as the Komets. Representatives will be on hand for the media event Wednesday.

Hottest Ticket In Town -- Komet single game tickets are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com. For ticket information and special savings on Komet Group Ticket packages, visit www.komets.com or call the Komet office at 260-483-0011.

Komet hockey on WOWO and Xfinity KometCast -- The legendary Bob Chase is celebrating his 61st consecutive season behind the Komet microphone. Komet games are broadcast on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and FM 92.3. All broadcasts, home and away, can also be heard worldwide at www.komets.com at Xfinity KometCast.

Sound Off with the Komets Monday Nights on 21Alive -- The Komets, 21Alive and title sponsor PHP present Sound Off with the Komets, a live weekly televised sports program each Monday night during the Komet season at 7:30pm on WPTA TV 21Alive. The show features highlights, interviews and call-ins as Komet players and personnel serve as co-hosts with 21Alive's Tommy Schoegler. Tonight, Monday, March 24, forward Matt Carter will be Tommy's guest.


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