CHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Clinch 51st Playoff Appearance

March 14, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN | Monday, March 14, 2011 -- The Komets have clinched a playoff spot and will appear in post-season play for the 51st time in the 59-year history of the Fort Wayne franchise when the CHL playoffs begin the week of March 28.

The Komets dropped both games of a trip to Colorado and Rapid City for week 22 of the 2010-11 campaign. Fort Wayne falls to 11-14-3 on the road and, with only two road games remaining, will complete the season without a winning road record for the first time in 10 years. However, the Komets are 16-11-3 at home with six games remaining on Coliseum ice and can post a winning record at home for the 14th consecutive season. Fort Wayne holds eighth place in the Turner Conference trailing seventh-place Dayton by three points with two games in hand. The K's are 10 points shy of fourth-place Missouri with eight games remaining in the push for home-ice advantage in the playoffs. The Komets will skate eight games over a span of 11 days to complete the 2010-11 schedule. Six of the remaining eight games are at home.

ABOUT LAST WEEK Friday, March 11, at Colorado 6 Fort Wayne 1 It was the first ever meeting between the Komets and Eagles. Fort Wayne goaltender Kevin Reiter posted his third straight loss in his sixth straight appearance. Defenseman Brandon Warner scored the Fort Wayne goal assisted by Tab Lardner and Colin Chaulk. It was the only trip of the season to Colorado. The Eagles will visit Fort Wayne to close out the season with a pair of games March 25 and 26.

Saturday, March 12, at Rapid City 3, Fort Wayne 1 Despite out-shooting the Rush 37-26, the Komets extended their road winless streak to five games (0-4-1). It was the second and final meeting of the season with Rapid City taking the series 2-0-0. Leo Thomas scored the lone Fort Wayne goal with assists from P.C. Drouin and Guy Dupuis. Netminder Nick Boucher registered his third straight loss making 26 saves.

ABOUT THIS WEEK Wednesday, March 16, Bossier-Shreveport (34-24-3, 71 points) at Fort Wayne Komets (27-25-6, 60 points), 7:30pm ET Friday, March 18, Bossier-Shreveport at Fort Wayne Komets, 8pm ET The Komets will host Bossier-Shreveport Wednesday at 7:30pm ET and Friday at 8pm ET. Fort Wayne visited Bossier-Shreveport for a pair of victories in January and the Mudbugs are visiting this week to complete the four-game series. The Mudbugs (34-24-3, 71 points) are in a battle for second-place in the Berry Conference with Texas (69 points) and Tulsa (67 points) and have clinched home-ice advantage for the first round. Bossier-Shreveport is riding a five-game win streak after completing a perfect four-game week last week.

Saturday, March 19, Fort Wayne Komets at Evansville IceMen (18-31-11, 47 points), 8:35pm ET The Komets will travel to Evansville Saturday for the 11th and final meeting of the season with the IceMen at 8:35pm ET. The Komets are 5-3-2 in the season series. The IceMen are beginning week 23 on a three-game winless string. Evansville visits Dayton Thursday and hosts the Gems Friday before welcoming the Komets Saturday.

Sunday, March 20, Bloomington PrairieThunder (34-18-6, 74 points) at Fort Wayne Komets, 5pm ET Sunday the Komets return home to host Bloomington at 5pm ET in a possible preview of the first round of playoffs. The PrairieThunder (34-18-6, 74 points) currently own the CHL's best winning percentage in the Turner Conference at .638. Sunday's meeting will be the 9th meeting of the year with one remaining the following Tuesday at Bloomington. The PrairieThunder is home to Missouri Wednesday and Bossier-Shreveport Saturday before traveling to Fort Wayne Sunday.

CAREER MARKS Mathieu Curadeau has 97 career assists. P.C. Drouin has 288 career goals. Colin Chaulk has appeared in 492 Fort Wayne career games and can reach 500 appearing in all eight games remaining. Chaulk has 595 Fort Wayne career points. Goaltender Nick Boucher has posted 95 Fort Wayne career wins.

Season Ticket Exchange Night Wednesday -- This Wednesday is Season Ticket Exchange Night when the Komets host the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at 7:30pm. Season ticket holders can exchange their unused Komet tickets from previous 2010-11 home games for tickets to this Wednesday's game at the Coliseum Ticket Office.

Friday night MARATHON NIGHTS -- Friday nights are Marathon Nights at Komet home games. Fans can take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer with three fill-ups when the Komets host the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs this Friday at 8pm. Fill Up Cards are available at participating Marathon stations.

Sunday Wendy's Family Skate with the Komets -- this Sunday is another Family Skate Day with the Komets courtesy of Wendy's. Fans are encouraged to bring their skates for a free skate with their favorite Komets immediately following Sunday's game with the Bloomington PrairieThunder.

Great seats available -- Tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com. The Komets offer discounts on group tickets sold at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. For more information visit the Komet office, call 260-483-0011 or visit the Komets' website at www.komets.com.

KOMETS ANNUAL COMMUNITY HARVEST FOOD BANK DONATION NIGHTS MARCH 16, 18 AND 20 The Komets are once again proud to participate in the Community Harvest Food Bank's Bus Stuff by offering fans a chance to donate canned and packaged food for the Community Harvest Food Bank during their annual food drive this week. Fans can take advantage of a $2.00 off ticket price offer with when they donate canned and packaged foods at Komet games this week March 16th, 18th and 20th. Fans can also make contributions by stuffing the Citilink/campusLink buses at IPFW, Ivy Tech and Community Harvest locations.

BUS STUFF NEWS CONFERENCE -- Citilink will host a news conference Tuesday, March 15 at 10am on the circle drive at the Memorial Coliseum to announce plans for the annual food drive for Community Harvest Food Bank which begins at the Komets' game Wednesday night. The CampusLink Bus Stuff is supported by Ivy Tech, Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne, Community Harvest and Citilink as well as the Komets. Representatives will be on hand for the media event Tuesday.

Komet Hockey on News Talk 1190 WOWO -- Bob Chase is celebrating his 58th consecutive season behind the Komet microphone broadcasting radio-rinkside and can be heard on News Talk 1190 WOWO and at www.komets.com where games are webcast at Xfinity KometCast .

Komets.com -- The official website for the Fort Wayne Komets is www.komets.com. In addition to live gamecasts, the Komets' home on the web also features news, stats, interactive fan features and information as well as real-time scoring via the CHL and Pointstreak.

Check out the Fort Wayne Komets Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2011


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