Komets Pull within Three Points of First-Place Icehawks
January 26, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release
Fort Wayne, IN - The Komets gained more ground on first-place Port Huron in the race for the top of the IHL earning five of a possible six points in three games played last week to improve to 22-14-1-5 for 50 points and second place, three points behind the leading Icehawks.
The week started with a 5-4 shootout loss at Kalamazoo Friday night. The Komets rebounded Saturday at Muskegon chopping the Lumberjacks 10-3. It was the second time this season the Komets reached the 10-goal plateau (also 11-3 home win opening night over Flint). It was the first time the Komets scored 10 goals in a road game in 14 years. The last time was in the IHL playoffs in April, 1995 at Peoria, a 10-4 win.
Sunday the Komets posted their first shootout victory of the season edging the PrairieThunder at Bloomington 4-3 to cap a 2-0-0-1 week.
The Komets will return to Bloomington Wednesday for an 8:05pm faceoff. Wednesday's game was originally scheduled for Feb. 14 at Bloomington, but had to be moved to make room for a concert at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
This weekend the race to the top of the IHL continues as the Komets will host Port Huron in back-to-back games Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 7:30pm. The Komets are 0-3-0 so far this season when the Icehawks visit, but are 5-1-0 when playing at McMorran arena and lead the season series 5-4-0 overall. Port Huron boasts the IHL's best road record at 14-5-1-1 and is unbeaten on the road in 11 straight games. Before the Icehawks visit for a pair Friday and Saturday, Port Huron will host Muskegon Tuesday.
Komet streaks.....Goaltender Nick Boucher is unbeaten (in regulation) five straight (3-0-0-2).....center Mathieu Curadeau has an IHL high six-game goal and point streak (6 goals, 2 assists).....winger Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn is riding a three-game goal and point streak (4 goals, 5 assists).....the Komets are unbeaten in six straight games (4-0-0-2) and have a road unbeaten streak of four games (3-0-0-1).
Versteeg-Lytwyn Pepsi IHL Player of the Week.....Winger Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn, acquired off waivers from Flint Jan. 15, was named the Pepsi IHL Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 25. The left winger scored four goals, passed five assists and earned a plus/minus of +6 in three games played. Versteeg-Lytwyn registered a six-point outing Saturday night in the Komets' 10-3 win at Muskegon scoring a goal and adding five assists. The Sharon, Ontario native has appeared in six games with Fort Wayne since Jan. 16 scoring points in each game except one (5 goals, 6 assists), helping the Komets to a 4-0-0-2 record over the period.
First time in 47 years.....Versteeg-Lytwyn's five assists Saturday night in Muskegon was the first time a Komet player passed five assists since Dec. 17, 2004 when Colin Chaulk had five helpers in a 9-4 home win vs. Richmond. The last time a Komet player had five assists on the road was 47 years ago on March 18, 1962, when Reggie Primeau became the only player in Fort Wayne franchise history to record six assists in a road game in an 11-5 win at Indianapolis. As an interesting side note, Saturday night Komet rookie Ryan Potts, Primieau's grandson, scored his first pro points (two assists).
Road improvements.....After 22 road games last season the Komets were 12-8-1-1. This season the Komets are slightly improved at 13-7-0-2.
Welcome back.....Center Mathieu Curadeau appeared in all three games over the weekend after returning from a stint with the AHL's Norfolk Admirals and has picked up where he left off extending his goal-scoring streak to an IHL high six games. Curadeau registered three goals, a shootout winning goal, and two assists for five points since his return.
8 is enough.....The Komets had a total of eight players missing games last week due to injuries. On the 30-day injured reserve list are center Colin Chaulk and winger Olivier Legault. Defenseman Jake Pence is on the 45-day I.R. while goaltender Sebastien Laplante is on the 60-day I.R. Also out of the lineup this past week due to injuries were defensemen Kevin Bertram and Brandon Warner and forwards Dominic Osman and Brad MacMillan.
KOMETS PLANNER
Komet games coming up
Wednesday, Jan. 28......Komets at Bloomington PrairieThunder, 8:05pm (FW time), WKJG/ESPN Radio AM 1380
Friday, Jan. 30.....Port Huron Icehawks at Komets, 8pm, WOWO Radio AM 1190
Saturday, Jan 31.....Port Huron Icehawks at Komets, 7:30pm, WOWO Radio AM 1190
All games broadcast on radio are webcast free at www.Komets.com Comcast KometCast
Komet practice schedule
Tue. Jan. 27.....10am-11:30am at McMillen Ice Arena
Wed. Jan. 28.....10am-11am at McMillen Ice Arena
Thu. Jan. 29.....10am-11:30am at McMillen Ice Arena
Fri. Jan. 30.....10am-11am at McMillen Ice Arena
Sat. Jan. 31.....11am-noon at the Coliseum
Tue. Feb. 2.....10am-noon at the Coliseum Komets Schedule
Tickets.....Komet tickets are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com. The Komets offer discounts on group tickets sold at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. For more information visit the Komet office, the Komets' website at www.komets.com, or call 260-483-0011.
Komet Hockey On The Web and Air.....Most Komet games are broadcast on WOWO Radio AM 1190 with Bob Chase at the Fort Wayne microphone for his 56th consecutive season. Some games will be aired on WKJG/ESPN Radio AM 1380 as an alternative when conflicts occur. All games aired on radio will also be available free on the internet at Comcast KometCast at www.komets.com. Fans can follow the official scoring of all Komet games this season by clicking on the "Scoreboard" at www.komets.com.
Komets.com.....The official website of the Fort Wayne Komets is www.komets.com. In addition to featuring free webcasting of live Komet game radio, Komets.com also provides fans and media with up-to-date team stats, news, interactive fan features and information. Fans can also follow all Komet games with real-time scoring via the IHL and Pointstreak by clicking the Scoreboard at Komets.com.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 26, 2009
- Deck Dealt To Port Huron - Flint Generals
- Defenseman Kyle Deck Earns IHL Weekly Honor - Flint Generals
- Wednesday PrairieThunder Game - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Ludzik Earns Third IHL Weekly Honor - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Icehawks Complete Trade with Flint - Port Huron Icehawks
- Komets Pull within Three Points of First-Place Icehawks - Fort Wayne Komets
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- IHL Announces Weekly Honors - IHL 2
- Shootout Sunday - IHL 2
- Generals Weekly - Flint Generals
- Lumberjacks Weekly Notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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