Komets Expand Roster by Three; Nagle, Thomas to Return
July 12, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release
Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets announced Tuesday that three more players have agreed to terms and push the 2016-17 roster to nine players. Goaltender Pat Nagle and forward Kyle Thomas will be returning from last season. The Komets also have added rookie defenseman Carl Tremblay.
Nagle, 28, will be between the posts for Fort Wayne for his third straight season and sixth as a pro. The veteran goalie logged career highs last season of 51 appearances, 28 wins (28-12-8), five shutouts and a 2.36 goals-against average and was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week on two occasions.
The Bloomfield, Michigan native began his pro career with Florida in the ECHL in 2011-12 appearing in 39 regular season games before helping the Everblades win the 2012 Kelly Cup Championship posting a 1.42 goals-against average in six playoff games. Nagle joined the Komets in the summer of 2014 after spending the 2013-14 campaign with Idaho. The netminder opened 2014-15 with a four-game win streak and also enjoyed call-ups to the AHL with Rochester, Grand Rapids and Utica during the year. Nagle has a Fort Wayne career record of 51-19-10 entering the 2016-17 season and overall totals of 84gp, 4,907 minutes, six shutouts, a 2.41 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.
Thomas, 26, will be entering his third consecutive season with Fort Wayne. The Waltham, Massachusetts native made his pro debut in the ECHL with Reading appearing in six games during 2013-14. In 2014-15 Thomas began the year logging a game with Quad city before joining Columbus in the SPHL where he skated 19 games and ranked fourth on the cottonmouths with eight goals and 15 points before joining the Komets in January for 23 games. Last season the right wing scored career season highs of 15 goals, 25 assists and 40 points. He was named Fort Wayne's Most Improved Player for the year, received the Mr. Hustle award and collected the Rookie of the Year award. Thomas added 16 playoff games scoring three goals and eight points while helping the Komets to the third round of post-season play.
Tremblay, 21, finished a four-year juniors career last season with Val d'Or in the QMJHL. The Malbaie, Quebec native ranked second among Val d'Or defensemen scoring 20 assists and 25 points in 68 games. Prior to last season Tremblay appeared in three seasons with Chicoutimi. Tremblay finished his juniors career without missing a regular season game his last three years for 204 straight games.
The Komet roster of nine players includes one goaltender, two defensemen and six forwards. In addition to Nagle, Thomas and Tremblay, the Komets roster also includes Mike Embach (F), Shawn Szydlowski (F), Taylor Crunk (F), Jamie Schaafsma (F), David Friedmann (F) and Cole Martin (D).
Komet star forward Leo Thomas retires-- Three-time Fort Wayne champion Leo Thomas has announced his retirement from professional hockey as a player. Thomas has announced that he will become the assistant coach with Macon of the SPHL. Thomas will team up with Macon head coach and former Komet Kevin Kerr.
"I would like to thank every organization I have played for during my professional career," Thomas said. "Fort Wayne in particular is where my heart always wanted to be. I made a lot of friends on and off the ice while playing for the Komets."
"Leo is a great friend of the Komets and was a big part of our organization," said Komet President Michael Franke. "We are grateful for his contributions and are excited about his new opportunity in Macon."
Thomas will officially start his new job as Macon's assistant coach on August 1.
"Leo Thomas was a good player and teammate in Fort Wayne," Komet general manager David Franke said. "We won championships together and always had a good relationship. I'll miss seeing 'Leo the Lion' on the ice! I'm very happy for him and happy Kevin Kerr has given him this opportunity."
Thomas began his pro career with the Flint Generals of the UHL in 2003-04, his first of 13 pro seasons. Thomas made his Fort Wayne debut in 2008-09 skating 60 IHL games and helped the Komets win the 2009 IHL Turner Cup championship scoring three goals and eight points in 11 games. Thomas led the Komets in 2009-10 with 33 goals and 60 points in all 72 regular season games before earning his second IHL championship with the Komets contributing five goals and 11 points in 12 playoff games. The Toronto, Ontario native was also aboard for the 2012 CHL Presidents' Cup scoring three goals and nine points in 18 playoff games. Thomas returned to Fort Wayne last season and scored four goals and 14 points in 26 games. He also served 23 SPHL games with Mississippi during the year.
Thomas scored Fort Wayne career totals of 90 goals, 87 assists, 177 points and 248 penalty minutes in 262 regular season games and added 13 goals, 21 assists, 34 points and 42 penalty minutes in 59 playoff games .
Komets to skate three preseason tilts-- The Komets will skate three exhibition games, two at home and one on the road. The preseason schedule is as follows:
Friday, Oct. 7, Indy Fuel at Fort Wayne Komets, 8pm ET (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum)
Saturday, Oct. 8, Fort Wayne Komets at Indy Fuel, 6pm ET (Indiana Farmers Coliseum)
Monday, Oct. 10, Brampton Beast at Fort Wayne Komets, 7:30pm ET (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum)
Opening night for the 65th season of Komet Hockey in Fort Wayne is Saturday, Oct. 15 against the Quad City Mallards.
See 2016-17 Komet schedule
Season tickets and group tickets for 2016-17 are on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. Call the Komet office at 260-483-0011 or visit komets.com for information.
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ECHL Stories from July 12, 2016
- Terry Shafer, Anthony Beauregard Sign with Fuel - Indy Fuel
- Komets Expand Roster by Three; Nagle, Thomas to Return - Fort Wayne Komets
- Nailers Name Jeff Christian as Head Coach - Wheeling Nailers
- Johnny McInnis Back with Solar Bears for 2016-17 - Orlando Solar Bears
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