ECHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Grab Eastern Brass Ring

Published on December 30, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets have sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference of the UHL for the first time this season. 5 points in 3 games played for the week (2-0-1) has put the Komets on top of the East with 42 points, 3 points ahead of 2nd-place Adirondack and Port Huron.

The Komet's stingy defense continues to be one of the top stories in the UHL as the Komets allowed only 1 goal in the 3 games played for a 0.33 goals-against average and turned back 63 of 64 shots for a .984 save percentage for the week. The Komets have the fewest goals against in the UHL with 77 after 32 games for a 2.41 goals against average per game and have allowed a league best 24.7 shots against per game.

Friday Tom Lawson earned his 4th shutout of the season stopping all 16 shots faced in regulation but had to take the shootout loss as the Komets dropped a 1-0 shootout at Flint. The Komets extended their streak of being unbeaten in regulation on the road to 9 straight.

Saturday the Komets returned to Fort Wayne and blitzed Flint 4-1 in the 2nd of a home-and-home weekend series against the Generals. Lawson registered his 12th win of the season making 19 saves on 20 shots.

Sunday the Komets stoned the visiting Rockford IceHogs 4-0 with netminder Parris Duffus getting credit for the shutout. Duffus stopped all 12 shots faced before leaving the game to a slight injury at 12:35 of the 2nd period. Lawson kicked out all 16 shots faced in the remainder of the game to preserve the shutout. Winger Dustin Virag netted his first pro hat trick in the win and added an assist for a 4-point night. Winger David-Alexandre Beauregard dished his 100th career UHL assist and skater Ryan Severson appeared in his 100th pro and Fort Wayne game. The win extended the Komet's streak of being unbeaten in regulation to 7 straight games. It also was the Komet's 5th straight home victory. The Komets stopped all 9 Rockford power plays faced in the game and extended their penalty kill success streak to 23. An attendance of 6,432 was on hand for Sunday's win marking the 5th straight Komet home game attended by 6,000+ fans.

The Komets will ring in the new year against the Muskegon Fury in the traditional Fort Wayne New Year's Eve game Tuesday night at 7:35. It will be the 4th Fort Wayne UHL New Year's Eve game with the Komets 2-1-0 overall after suffering a 3-2 loss to the visiting Missouri River Otters last season. It's the 47th game on the eve of a new year in the 51 year history of the Komet franchise (29-13-1-3). While in the IHL the Komets faced Muskegon 3 times on New Year's Eve; 1960 (6-1 FW win), 1962 (5-3 Mus win) and 1967 (4-2 FW win).

After New Year's Eve, the Komets will be on the road until Saturday Jan. 11 when Port Huron visits at 7:35pm.

Komet player nominees:
Player of the Week- Dustin Virag (RW), 3gp, 3g, 2a, 5pts, 4pim, +3, 1 hat trick
Goaltender of the Week- Tom Lawson, 3gp, 1-0-1, 147:25, 1 ga, 0.41 ave, 51/52, .981 spct, 1 shutout

Komet games this week (week of Dec. 30, 2002):
Tuesday, Dec. 31, Muskegon at Fort Wayne
Friday, Jan 3, Komets at Muskegon, 7:30pm
Saturday, Jan 4, Komets at Port Huron, 7:05pm

All Komet games this week will be webcast at the Komet's website at www.komets.com, KometCast. Also, all 3 games this week will be broadcast on WOWO Radio AM 1190 with Bob Chase calling the play-by-play.

Komet practices this week:
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.....10am at the coliseum

Komets office hours this week:
Tuesday, 12/31.....9am-2pm
Wednesday, 1/1.....closed
Thursday and Friday, 1/2 and 1/3.....10am-5pm

Komet leaders: Kelly Perrault 33a, 37pts. Bobby Stewart 15g, 3gwg. Jake Ortmeyer +14. Kevin Kotyluk 103 pim. David-Alexandre Beauregard 8 ppg.

League leaders: Jake Ortmeyer leads UHL rookies with +14. Kelly Perrault leads UHL defensemen with 33 assists and 37 points (t-DaCosta RKF). Tom Lawson leads UHL goalies with 1.72 average, .930 save percentage and 4 shutouts.

Reddick out 6 weeks.....over the weekend the Komets received word that goaltender Pokey Reddick will be sidelined up to 6 weeks due to a shoulder injury. Reddick will return to his home in Las Vegas for continued rehabilitation on his ailing shoulder. Doctors hope that the 6 week-rest and rehab will allow Reddick to return to the Komets and finish out the season. Also on the injured reserve list is defenseman Kevin Bertram (14-day, 12/20) and Ken Boone (21-day, 10/21).

Horns a-plenty.....Komet fans will be treated to free party horns Tuesday night while supplies last. 5,000 horns will be handed out as fans enter the turnstiles for the traditional New Year's Eve Komet game.

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