ECHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Open 62nd Season Saturday; Walleye Visit for Home Opener

Published on October 16, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets will open their 62nd season of play in Fort Wayne when the puck drops on the 2013-14 ECHL campaign Saturday night at the Memorial Coliseum at 7:30. The season features 36 home games while 36 road games are scheduled.

Gary Graham will make his regular season debut as Komet head coach. Graham has replaced Al Sims who announced his retirement after last season. Graham served as an assistant coach to Sims for four seasons before coaching Pensacola to the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) Presidents' Cup Championship last year.

The Komets will be entering their second season of play in the ECHL and reside in the North Division of the Eastern Conference with rivals Evansville, Toledo, Cincinnati and Kalamazoo. The 22-team league will be celebrating its 26th season of Premier "AA" Hockey.

Komets 2-1-0 in preseason-- The Komets won two out of three preseason games during the first week of training camp last week. Wednesday, Oct.9 the Komets clipped the Nailers in Wheeling 4-3. Friday the Komets fell 5-2 at Kalamazoo against the Wings. Saturday the Komets rebounded with a 6-2 win in Fort Wayne in a rematch with the Nailers. Forward Chris Auger led the Komets with five points (3g, 2a) scoring a goal in each of the three preseason games played while skater John Dunbar followed with three goals and four points while skating all three preseason tilts.

Komets add Walch to roster-- The Komets announced today that defenseman Brad Walch has inked a tryout agreement and has been added to the preseason roster. Walch, 22, completed four seasons of juniors play with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL in 2011-12. The Saginaw, Michigan native sat out last season due to injury after appearing in the AHL's Hershey Bears training camp. "We're excited to have him here," said Komet head coach Gary Graham. "Brad brings with him a lot of character and toughness on defense and was a leader while playing for Saginaw in the OHL."

Komet roster-- Currently the Komet preseason roster of 21 players includes 11 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders. Returning from last season are forwards Brandon Marino, John Dunbar, Chris Auger, Matt Firman and Kaleigh Schrock and defenseman Jeremy Gates. Click here for the complete roster.

Walleye visit for season opener-- The Komets will open the 2013-14 campaign hosting the Toledo Walleye Saturday night at the Memorial Coliseum. The Walleye finished in second place in the North Division last year. In 11 meetings during 2012-13 the Komets were 4-7-0 against Toledo. The old time rivals have met a total of 379 times since their first meeting in 1952 in the old International Hockey League. The Komets are 195-155-29 all-time against a Toledo team. Saturday night's meeting will be the first of six visits to Fort Wayne by the Walleye this season and the first of nine meetings total. It's also the only game of the season premier weekend for both clubs.

Grab your seat early-- Over 10,000 fans have witnessed each Komet home opener the past 11 seasons. Many festivities are planned prior to opening faceoff Saturday night. Ceremonies get underway at 7:30pm wit the traditional introductions of Komet Legends. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the home opener festivities. Still plenty of great seats are available.

33 of 36 home games on weekends and holidays-- The Komets will host a total of 11 home games on Saturdays this year, 13 on Fridays and seven on Sundays for a total of 31 weekend home games. The Komets will also host the traditional holiday home games including Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve nights. The first of only three Wednesday night home games begin when the Komets host Kalamazoo Feb. 26.

Tickets on sale-- Komet Hockey single game tickets and season tickets for 2013-14 are on sale now. Single game tickets can be purchased at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Season tickets are on sale at the Komet office, 1010 Memorial Way, Fort Wayne. For ticket information visit komets.com or call the Komet office at 260-483-0011.

Friday night Marathon nights continue-- Friday nights will continue to be Marathon Nights at Komet home games. Fans can take advantage of the buy-one-get-one-free ticket offers for any of the 13 Friday night home games beginning Nov. 8 when Wheeling visits for an 8pm faceoff. Fill-up cards are available at all participating Marathon stations.

Komet hockey on WOWO, and Xfinity KometCast with Bob Chase-- The legendary Bob Chase will be radio-rinkside for his 61st consecutive season when the Komets open 2013-14 Saturday. Fans will be able to follow the action again this season on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and FM 92.3. All broadcasts, home and away, will also be heard worldwide at www.komets.com at Xfinity KometCast.

Sound Off with the Komets returns to Monday Nights on 21Alive-- The Komets, 21Alive and title sponsor PHP present Sound Off with the Komets, a live weekly televised sports program each Monday night during the Komet season at 7:30pm on WPTA TV 21Alive. The half-hour show will be televised from Champions Bar and Restaurant in downtown Fort Wayne and will feature highlights, interviews and call-ins as Komet players and personnel serve as co-hosts with 21Alive's Tommy Schoegler.

Check out the Fort Wayne Komets Statistics

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