CHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Gain Two Points for Week 21; the Bucks Stop Here this Weekend

Published on March 12, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets continue in a Turner Conference battle for first place with Evansville as they enter the final two weeks of 2011-12. The final six games of the season will determine who gets home-ice advantage at least through-out the first two rounds of post-season play. The Komets will begin the final run for the top trailing the IceMen by two points after collecting two points in three games played last week. Fort Wayne begins week 22 with a 36-18-6 record and 78 points following last week's 0-1-2 outcome.

In review of week 21, the Komets began the week dropping a 4-3 decision at Dayton Tuesday, snapping a four-game point streak. It was the second straight loss to Dayton who the Komets will face the final three games of the season.

Friday the Komets began a two-game home series against rival Evansville with a 5-4 shootout loss. Saturday, extra time was again needed for the IceMen to take a 4-3 win over the Komets in another shootout setting up a tight race to the finish for the top spot in the conference over the last two weeks of the season.

Komets of the week -Center Colin Chaulk had at least a point in each game of the week for a three-game point streak (1 goal, 3 assists). Winger Bobby Chaumont netted a pair of goals Saturday to reach 62 points on the season, eclipsing his career best of 60 points set in 2006-07. Chaumont leads the Komets with 41 assists and 62 points while right wing Chris Auger leads with 24 goals. Winger Kaleigh Schrock scored his first three-point game of the season Friday netting a goal and adding two assists. Center Brett Smith and winger Stephon Thorne each added three points to their totals with a goal and two assists each for the week.

Shootouts are us -Extra time has been needed to determine the outcome in eight of the last dozen Komet games with Fort Wayne going 4-4 in those games. Five of the last 12 have been determined by shootouts (1-4) while the Komets have three straight wins in overtime.

Special K's -The Komets had a string of 14 successful penalty kills until Evansville scored on the power play Friday. The Komets finished the week allowing only one power play goal in 11 penalty kills. The Komets also scored three power play goals on 11 chances. The Komets rank second in the CHL with the man advantage (46/226, 20.4%) while ranking fifth on the penalty kill (239/286, 83.6%).

Red Wings Alumni 8, Komet Legends 5 -- The Komet Legends fell 8-5 to the visiting Detroit Red Wing Alumni club prior to Saturday night's Komet/Evansville game. Scoring for the Komet Legends were David Hukalo (2 goals), Steve Salvucci, Derek Gauthier and Derek Ray. The Red Wings Alumni goals were scored by John Ogrodnick, Teemu Oska, Tim Hrynewich, Joey Kocur, Steve Guolla (2 goals), David Harlock and John Hillworth. Doug Teskey and Tony Manning took turns in the Fort Wayne net while George Bowman and Eddie Mio split time between the Red Wing posts.

Looking ahead -The Komets will play host to Laredo for a home double-header this weekend in the only games scheduled. Then the Komets will finish the season the week of March 19 with four games in five nights starting with a visit by Quad City Wednesday, March 21. The Komets will face Dayton the last three games of the season with the Gems visiting Friday, March 23 before the Komets travel to Hara Arena for one final faceoff in Dayton at 7pm Saturday, March 24. The season concludes with the Komets hosting Dayton Sunday, March 25.

GAMES THIS WEEK

- Laredo visits for home double-header Friday and Saturday -- The Komets will have the week to prepare for a home double-header weekend against the Laredo Bucks this Friday night at 8:00 and Saturday at 7:30pm. It will be the first ever meetings for the Komets and Bucks. Laredo (24-33-3, 51 points) most likely will not qualify for post-season play as they trail fourth-place Rio Grande Valley in the Berry Conference by 12 points with six games remaining. The Bucks are coming off a 4-3 home win against Arizona Sunday, snapping a five-game winless skid (0-3-2). Laredo is idle until their trip to Fort Wayne this weekend.

Hottest Ticket In Town -- Tickets for all 60th Anniversary Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at TicketMaster. The Komets offer discounts on group tickets sold at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. For more ticket information visit the Komet office, call 260-483-0011 or visit the Komets' website at www.komets.com.

KOMETS OUT AND ABOUT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK

Tip-A-Komet Tuesday at Applebee's -- The entire Komet lineup will be serving it up for the Vera Bradley Foundation Tuesday night at Applebees on North Clinton, located by the Coliseum, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Fans can have dinner at Applebee's with a Komet player serving as waiter for the evening. All tips benefit Applebee's Vera Bradley Foundation fundraising efforts.

Open Komet Practice Wednesday night at Lutheran Health Sports Center -- The Komets will hold an open practice Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8:30 at Lutheran Health Sports Center, 3869 Ice Way in Fort Wayne. Fans are welcome to this behind the scenes look at a Komet practice session. Coach Al Sims and selected players will wear wireless microphones and fans can listen in as they dine at the Thirsty Penguin Restaurant in the upper level of the Sports Center with a clear view of the practice on the ice. Players will be available for photos after practice. Practice will conclude with a "Hardest Shot" competition between selected players.

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 games this weekend on Friday and Saturday and continuing Wednesday, March 21. Komet fans can save $2.00 off their game ticket with a food donation at each game. The Komets ask that fans bring canned/packaged food for donation as the goal is to donate enough food to fill a campusLink bus to benefit hungry families served by the Community Harvest Food Bank.

INC Soundoff with the Komets Monday nights -- The Komets, I ndiana's News Center and title sponsor PHP present a live weekly televised sports program on Monday nights at 7:30 on WPTA TV 21 Alive. The half-hour show is televised live from Wrigley Field Bar and Grill each week with INC's Tommy Schoegler as host and will feature highlights, interviews and call-ins as Komet players and personnel serve as co-hosts.

TONIGHT, March 12, Komet guests will be defenseman David Starenky and forward J.M. Rizk.

60th Anniversary Komet Hockey on WOWO -- The Komets and WOWO Radio News-Talk 1190 AM have partnered once again for 2011-12. Broadcaster Bob Chase will call the action for his 59th consecutive season radio-rinkside. All games broadcast on radio, home and away, can be heard online at Xfinity KometCast. Most games will be broadcast on WOWO Radio News-Talk 1190 AM with ESPN Radio AM 1380 as an alternative when scheduling conflicts occur.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2012


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