CHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Home Winning Streak Reaches Four; IceMen Return Saturday

December 12, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets gained four points for week eight of the 2011-12 CHL campaign and continue trailing first-place Evansville (13-5-1, 27 points) in the CHL's Turner Conference by a point. The Komets won two out of three for the week and improved to 13-6-0 for 26 points after 19 games.

After stumbling 3-1 at Bloomington Friday, the Komets returned to Fort Wayne and shut out the Evansville IceMen 5-0 Saturday before doubling up the visiting Dayton Gems Sunday 4-2 to extend their home win streak to four games.

The Komets have won eight of their last nine games. During their current four-game home win string the Komets have outscored their opponents 16-3.

Komets of the week--

-Goaltender Nick Boucher (12-3-0) continues with the hot hand scoring another shutout, his second of the season, and allowing only two goals in the two games played stopping 66 of 68 shots for a 1.00 goals-against average and .971 save percentage for the week. Boucher enters week nine leading CHL goaltenders with 12 wins, a 2.08 goals-against average and .930 save percentage after 16 appearances while riding a seven-game winning streak.

-Right wing Chris Auger scored points in two of three games. Auger had a career night Saturday scoring four goals and adding an assist for a five-point game to lead the Komets to a 5-0 crushing of the visiting Evansville IceMen. One of Auger's goals were scored on a penalty shot, awarded while shorthanded at 8:51 of the third period. While scoring his first career hat trick, Auger also became the first Komet in seven years to score four goals in a game. The last four-goal game was also witnessed by a Fort Wayne crowd when Sean Venedam netted four goals against Richmond on Dec. 17, 2004 at the Memorial Coliseum. The last four-goal game by a Komet on the road was Mitch Messier's four-goal performance May 4, 1994 at Cincinnati.

Milestones--

-Forward Tom Mele netted his first career goal Saturday in the Komets' 5-0 win over Evansville.

-Veteran Leo Thomas has skated 198 Fort Wayne career games.

-Veteran Colin Chaulk has scored 690 points during his all-time career (regular season and playoffs) with Fort Wayne.

Getting defensive-- The Komets have a league-best 2.47 goals-against average per game while holding a third-best shots-against average per game of 29.8. The Komets have two defensemen among the CHL's top ten defense leaders. Jamie Milam ranks fourth while leading Fort Wayne defensemen with seven goals and 15 points. Frankie DeAngelis ranks eighth among CHL defensemen with 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists).

Bennefield back on the ice-- Left wing Jesse Bennefield returned to the ice Sunday after missing 13 games while serving on the injured reserve list. Defenseman Dustin Molle has been moved from 10-day to 30-day I.R. and J.M.

Rizk has been placed on 10-day injured reserve.

GAMES THIS WEEK

Komets head for Wichita Tuesday-- The Komets will skate their only game of the season at Wichita Tuesday night at 8:05pm ET. It will be the first of two meetings this year between the two teams. The Thunder make their lone appearance in Fort Wayne March 4. The Komets were 2-1-0 in games against Wichita last season. The Thunder (13- 7-0, 26 points) reside in second place in the Berry Conference and trail Allen by four points with a game in hand. Wichita is coming off a 2-1 home win over Texas Saturday and are 5-3-0 in their last eight games. Wichita is second only to Fort Wayne in attendance in the CHL this season averaging 5,679 fans per game at Intrust Bank Arena (13,400) in Wichita, Kansas. The Komets have attracted an average of 7,678 fans per home game. Thunder leaders include forwards Alex Bourret (16 assists, 23 points) and Aaron Davis and Brett Hemingway with nine goals each. Wichita's leading netminder Adam Russo (9-4-0) has earned a 2.73 goals-against average and .893 save percentage in 13 appearances. Russo has also appeared in stints with Quad City and Port Huron.

Komets start home and home series against IceMen Friday at Evansville-- The Komets will skate a brief home- and-home series against Evansville (13-5-1, 27 points) this weekend. The set begins Friday night at 8:15pm ET at the new Ford Center (8,800) in downtown Evansville. This weekend's series may be a battle for first place in the Turner Conference as the Komets begin the week trailing first-place Evansville by a point. It's the sixth meeting of 13 this season with the Komets holding a 3-2-1 series edge. Evansville has won their last four straight home games. The Komets were the last team to beat the IceMen on Evansville ice on Nov. 17, 5-2. It was the only home loss of the season suffered by Evansville in seven home games. The IceMen are idle until they face the Komets Friday.

Komets return Saturday to host Evansville-- The Komets and IceMen will return to Fort Wayne for a 7:30pm faceoff at the Memorial Coliseum Saturday. The Komets are 2-1-0 over the last three Evansville visits. It's the fifth of 11 Komet Saturday home games this year. The Komets will complete a busy stretch of six games in nine nights Saturday when they host Evansville. The Komets will then start a slate of six games in 11 nights to finish out the 2011 calendar when they host Texas Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Operation Komet Kare Package continues Saturday-- Komet fans can support our troops by bringing donations such as books, magazines, DVD's, snacks, T-Shirts, soap, socks and other gift items to the next Komet home game this Saturday, Dec. 17 against the Evansville IceMen at 7:30pm. For more information on types of items to donate please call the Komet office at 260-483- 0011.

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. INC Soundoff with the Komets Monday nights -- The Komets, along with Indiana'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 show is televised live from Wrigley Field Bar and Grill each week throughout the 2011-12 season with INC's Tommy Schoegler as host. Komet players and personnel will serve as co-hosts during the half-hour program. The show will also feature highlights, interviews, call-ins and special segments. TONIGHT, Dec. 12, Komet legends Eddie Long and George Drysdale will be special guests.

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 December 12, 2011


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