Komets Clinch Playoffs; Boucher, Schrock IHL Players Of The Week
March 22, 2010 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release
Fort Wayne, IN - The Komets won three out of four games played to complete week 23 at an improved 41-19-1-2 for 85 points and moved to within six points of first-place Muskegon with 13 games remaining and two games in hand over the league-leader.
In last week's action the Komets started the week with a 4-3 win in their last visit of the season at Port Huron. The Komets were 2-3-0-0 in five meetings at McMorran Arena. Friday the Komets grounded the visiting Quad City Mallards 5-3 to reach the 40-win mark for the eighth consecutive season. Saturday the Komets completed the home double-header with a 4-3 setback to Muskegon. The week concluded with a 5-0 whitewashing of the Gems in Dayton with Nick Boucher posting his second shutout of the season stopping a team season high 44 shots. Colin Chaulk (C) posted his third four-point game of the season scoring two goals and adding two assists. Chaulk's second assist of the game gave him 50 assists for the sixth time in his career.
This week the Komets will hit the road for three games in three nights starting at Muskegon Friday at 7pm. The Komets are 4-5-0-0 in nine previous meetings after last Saturday's 4-3 home loss to the Lumberjacks. The second-place Komets trail the Jacks in the race for the Huber Trophy by six points. Muskegon also has the week off until their meeting with the Komets Friday.
Saturday the Komets return to Dayton for a 7:30pm faceoff at Hara Arena. The Komets lead the series 8-3-0-0. Saturday's game will be the Komets' eighth of nine visits to Dayton where they are 6-1-0-0 after last Sunday's 5-0 win at Hara Arena. The Gems skate at Bloomington Wednesday and host Port Huron Friday before facing the Komets Saturday.
Sunday the Komets travel to Flint for a 4pm faceoff. It will be the first meeting since the Generals defeated the Komets in both games of a home-and-home series March 6 and 7. Sunday's match will be the fifth of six at Perani Arena where the Komets are 1-2-0-1 in three previous meetings. Flint is 7-2-1-0 in their last 10 games and continues to chase Bloomington for a fourth and final playoff spot. The Generals trail Bloomington by five points with 12 games remaining. Flint is idle until the Komets visit Sunday.
Next Komet home game Thursday, April 1st. No Foolin'! The Komets' next home game is Thursday, April 1st against the Dayton Gems at 7:30pm. It'll be the third and final Thursday home game of the regular season. The Komets are 2-0 in previous Thursday home tilts. It will be Season Ticket Exchange Night. Komet fans can exchange their unused tickets from earlier Komet home games for tickets to the game April 1st.
Komets clinch for 50th playoff appearance.....the Komets will be in the playoffs for the 50th time in their 58-year history. When the Komets defend their back-to-back Turner Cup championship titles in April it will be their 43rd appearance as a member of the IHL. The Komets also qualified for seven UHL playoff runs.
Streaking Komets: Goaltender Nick Boucher has won six straight road games.....Konstantin Shafranov (LW) has a three-game point-scoring streak (2 goals, 3 assists).....Colin Chaulk (C) is riding a three-game point and assist scoring streak (3 goals, 4 assists).
Milestones: Boucher celebrated his 100th Fort Wayne career game Wednesday with a 4-3 win over the visiting Port Huron Icehawks.....Chaulk registered his 400th Fort Wayne career point (assist) Friday against Quad City.....Matt Syroczynski (LW) scored his 100th pro goal Saturday against Muskegon.
Komets game-worn Camo Jersey auction raises over $9,000.....The Komets raised over $9,000 for the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund in an auction of their Army Jerseys worn Saturday night against Quad City. The Komets' Army camo jerseys were sold in a silent auction during the game with Guy Dupuis' sweater yielding the most at $1,222.00. Kaleigh Schrock's game worn jersey fetched the second highest amount at $750.00.
Boucher, Schrock named IHL Players of the Week
Nich Boucher was named the IHL Goaltender of the Week and winger Kaleigh Schrock was honored as Rookie of the Week for the period ending March 21.
Boucher won both of his appearances for the week and registered a 1.50 goals-against average stopping 74 of 77 shots for a.961 save percentage. Boucher, 29, also snagged his second shutout of the season 5-0 over the Gems at Dayton Sunday stopping all 44 shots faced for his sixth straight road win.
The Leduc, Alberta native improved to 16-8-1-0 for the season and improved his save percentage to tie teammate Tim Haun at an IHL-high.922.
The award is Boucher's second Goatender of the Week honor this year. The netminder also received the Goaltender of the Month award for January.
Schrock scored three goals and one assist for four points during the week.
The Fort Wayne native leads Fort Wayne rookies with 18 goals after scoring goals in each of the first three games of the week.
Schrock, 25, passed an assist on the game winning goal Friday against Quad City and completed the week at plus-one. This is the second Rookie of the Week award for Schrock this year.
Hottest Ticket In Town.....still plenty of great seats available for all upcoming Komet home games. Tickets 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.
Komet Hockey with Bob Chase......follow the Komets worldwide at www.komets.com Comcast KometCast with Bob Chase, in his 57th consecutive season calling Komet action. The Komet Hockey broadcast can also be heard on Fort Wayne radio outlets WOWO AM 1190 or ESPN AM 1380 depending on availability. All games broadcast can be heard at www.komets.com
Comcast KometCast.
Komets.com.....the official website of the Fort Wayne Komets is www.komets.com. In addition to featuring free webcasting of live Komet game radio, Komets.com also provides fans and media with up-to-date team stats, news, interactive fan features and information. Fans can also follow all Komet games with real-time scoring via the IHL and Pointstreak by clicking the Scoreboard at Komets.com.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 22, 2010
- Mallards To Help Out At Area Hardee's, Meet Fans Tomorrow, Wednesday - Quad City Mallards
- Schaafsma Earns League Honor - Flint Generals
- Komets Clinch Playoffs; Boucher, Schrock IHL Players Of The Week - Fort Wayne Komets
- Bouchard Makes Minor League History - IHL 2
- IHL Announces Weekly Honors For Week Twenty-Three - IHL 2
- Robin Bouchard Becomes Minor Pro Hockey's All-Time Greatest-Ever Goal Cannoneer - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lumberjacks Weekly Notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
