Komets Add Seven To Roster
August 25, 2004 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release
Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets announced the addition of 7 players to the preseason roster today including 1 former Komet. Also, 3 skaters will be returning from last season. Veteran defenseman Tom Nemeth, a former Komet from the 1997-98 IHL season, has agreed to terms. Winger Tim Krueckl (KREW-kul), defenseman Andy Townsend and goaltender Kelly Shields have signed on for a return visit from last season. Defenseman Shane Kenny, forward Jeff Worlton and rookie forward Ben Blakeley have also agreed to terms for the upcoming 2004-05 campaign.
Nemeth, 33, will be entering his 12th pro season after stints in the UHL (Columbus, 34gp, 3g, 12a, 15pts, 6pim) and ECHL (Toledo, 28gp, 1g, 9a, 10pts, 4pim) last year. Fort Wayne fans will remember Nemeth from the 24 games he appeared with the Komets in the IHL during the 1997-98 season (3g, 3a, 6pts, 12pim). Besides Fort Wayne, Nemeth also skated with Kalamazoo and Cincinnati for a total of 110 regular season IHL games (110gp, 8g, 25a, 43pts, 54pim). Nemeth was selected by Minnesota in round 10 of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft and appeared in 67 AHL regular season games with Rochester during stints in 1994-95 and 1997-98 (67gp, 4g, 20a, 24pts, 38pim).
Krueckl, 25, will be returning to Fort Wayne after an 8-game pro-debut with the Komets at the end of last season's regular season schedule. Krueckl also finished his college career last year skating 33 games with Lake Superior State in the NCAA.
Townsend, 26, skated 23 games with the Komets last year (1g, 1a, 0 pim) from Dec. 17 to the end of the regular season. From 1999 to 2003 the defenseman complete 4 seasons at Western Michigan Unversity NCAA.
Shields, 24, will be starting his 2nd pro season with the Komets. Last year the rookie netminder appeared in 15 games earning an 8-4-1 record and 2.52 goals-against average. Shields was honored last season with the Komet's Most Improved Player Award for the year.
Kenny, 27, will be entering his 8th pro year after playing 4 games last season with the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL in addition to appearing in 40 games with Laval of the Quebec Senior league. Kenny has also skated stints in the AHL, IHL and ECHL during his career. The New Brunswick native was selected by Philadelphia in round 2 of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.
Worlton, 24, will be entering his 4th pro year. Last year the Minnesota native appeared in 41 games with Cincinnati during his 3rd season in the ECHL registering 2 assists and 172 penalty minutes.
Blakeley, 26, completed a 5-year stint with St. Thomas University CIS last season and will be looking to start his pro career.
With the addition of the 7 players, the Komet roster now includes 10 forwards, 7 defensemen and 3 goaltenders for a total of 20 players.
Komets vs. Kalamazoo Wings AND Kaminski's Otters in preseason action.....a 2nd home exhibition game has been added to the Komet's preseason tuneup. Former Komet Kevin Kaminski will make his UHL coaching debut when he returns to Fort Wayne with his Missouri River Otters Wednesday, Oct. 6 for a 7:30pm practice tilt at the coliseum. It will mark Kaminski's first appearance in Fort Wayne since his first and only season as a player with the Komets during the 1990-91 IHL season when he set a new Komet record for penalty minutes in a season with 455 minutes. In addition and as previously released, the Komets will meet the Kalamazoo Wings for a home-and-home preseason series starting in Fort Wayne at the coliseum Friday, Oct. 8 at 8pm. Saturday night, Oct. 9, the two teams faceoff at 7:30 at Wings stadium in Kalamazoo. The Komet's 2004-05 regular season schedule starts on the road Friday, Oct. 15, at Elmira against the Jackals. The season begins with 4 games on the road then the Komets return to Fort Wayne for their home opener Saturday, Oct. 23, against the Flint Generals at 7:30pm.
Season tickets still on sale..... Komet season tickets for the 2004-05 season are still on sale at the Komet office, 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. For more season ticket information, fans can call the Komet office at (260) 483-0011. For the Komet's 2004-05 complete season schedule and more information visit the Komets official website at www.komets.com.
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