ECHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Legendary Executive, Owner, GM, Coach Ken Ullyot Passes

Published on December 12, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN --- Former Komets executive, owner, general manager and coach Ken Ullyot passed away Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the age of 92.

"Ken was a great guy," Komet Majority Owner and CEO Stephen Franke said. "I grew up in his era and he was the foundation of my love for Komet hockey. Ken told me when we bought the franchise to savor the wins and when you wake up the next morning you'll still be excited. Forget about the losses before you go to bed. It has been good advice for 24 years."

Ullyot came to Fort Wayne to coach the Komets in 1958. The legendary icon of Komet Hockey also served the team as general manager and owner at different times until he retired in 1986. Ullyot led the Komets to the 1963 IHL Turner Cup as a coach, the 1965 championship as general manager and the 1973 Turner Cup Title as an owner.

In addition to the three IHL championships, the Komets made seven trips to the finals under Ullyot's direction. In 1997 The Hockey News named Ullyot the IHL's All-Time Greatest General Manager. In addition, the IHL honored it's Western Conference Champion by presenting them with the Ken Ullyot Trophy.

During his tenure as an IHL governor, Ullyot and Komets business manager Colin Lister were credited with keeping the IHL alive through some very lean years. "Kometland is sad today with the passing of 'The Father' of the Komets, Ken Ullyot," Komet general manager David Franke said. Ken may not have been one of the original founders of the franchise, but with his arrival in 1958 he started a lot of what we still see with the organization today. If not for Ken Ullyot this franchise would never be where it is today with the on-ice success and players making their homes in Fort Wayne after retirement. Ken was the best coach the Komets had in their 62-year history. He not only kept the Komets going but also helped save the IHL on many occasions. The Franke family has been proud to keep the tradition going that Ken started back in 1958."

The Komets retired jersey number 58 in honor of Ullyot's first season with Fort Wayne. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was inducted into the Comcast Xfinity Komet Hall of Fame in 1987. "We have lost the father of Komet hockey, who continued to follow his beloved Komets to the end," Komet president Michael Franke said. "It goes without saying that without Ken Ullyot Komet hockey would never have survived to celebrate 62 years. He was a great supporter of ours over the past 24 years and things will never be quite the same."

Ullyot and his wife, Violet, were residents of Fort Wayne for 55 years where they raised their daughter Donna and son Ron. Ron is a former Komet player and coach. Ullyot and his son Ron were one of the very few father-son combinations who had won IHL Turner Cup Championships.

Ullyot was preceded in passing by his wife Vi in 2009.

Services are pending.

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