Komets Reach Second Straight 100-point Season
April 4, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release
Fort Wayne, IN — The Komets took 3 out of 4 games played for the week to gain 6 points and improve to 48-23-5 for 101 points after 76 games. It's the 2nd straight season the Komets have hit the 100+ point mark after finishing last season with 112 points. The Komets move into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference, 2 points ahead of Rockford, with 4 games remaining in the 2004-05 regular season.
The week started with a rare Monday night game at Kansas City, rescheduled from Jan. 5. The Komets overpowered the Outlaws in a shootout 5-4. Colin Chaulk (C), Jason Kean (D), Chris Grenville (RW) and Tom Nemeth (D) scored for the Komets in regulation. P.C. Drouin (LW) and Dustin Virag (RW) each scored in the shootout for the win. Goaltender Tyler Masters earned the victory making 18 saves in regulation while stopping all 4 K.C. shooters in the extra frame.
Friday the Komets clipped the visiting Muskegon Fury 3-2 in a shootout and become the only team unbeaten by the defending Colonial Cup Champs this season. Kean and Jonathan Goodwin (RW) notched Komet goals in regulation. Goodwin also contributed in the 7-round shootout with a goal along with tallies by Drouin, Virag and Chaulk. Masters registered his 4th straight win stopping 24 of 26 Fury shots in regulation. It was the last meeting of the season with the Komets sweeping the series 6-0-0. It was the only season series lost by the Fury this year.
Saturday the Komets traveled to Frasier, Michigan, and dropped a 3-2 decision to the Motor City Mechanics. Shane Kenny (D) and Danny Stewart (LW) scored for the Komets while Masters made 51 saves on a record 54 shots allowed in his 7th straight appearance. Fort Wayne wins the season series vs the Mechanics 4-2-0.
Sunday the Komets returned to Fort Wayne for the final regular season home game. The Komets cooled the Adirondack Frostbite 2-1 and extended their home win string to 4 games. Grenville scored his 30th goal of the season marking his 7th pro 30+ goal season and 5th in the UHL. Newcomer Mike Wiggins (LW) netted his first pro goal. Wiggins signed an ATO (Amateur Tryout Agreement) and was added to the Komet roster before Saturday's game at Motor City. Goalie Cory Campbell picked up the win making 22 saves on 23 shots in his first appearance with the Komets since signing on March 24.
The Komets hit the road for their final 4 regular season games before the playoffs. Wednesday the Komets skate at Kansas City at 7pm. Friday the Komets face the River Otters in Missouri at 7:05pm. Saturday the Komets head to Quad City for a 7pm faceoff before returning to Kansas City for a 3pm regular season finale Sunday.
Playoff tickets for the first 2 Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and www.TicketMaster.com
Season Ticket Holders 2005 Komet playoff ticket packages continue to be available for pick-up at the Komet general offices, 1010 Memorial Way, Fort Wayne, IN. Regular business hours are 9am-5pm Monday thru Friday. Free Komet Yard Signs are available to season ticket holders picking up playoff tickets.
Komet leaders: Colin Chaulk (C) 72a (league high), 91pts.....Sean Venedam (LW) 38 goals, 303 shots.....Jonathan Goodwin (RW) 8 game winning goals (league high), 11 power play goals.....Troy Neumeier (D) +47 (league high, and so far the best +/- of a Komet player since joining the UHL).....Jeff Worlton (RW) 341 penalty minutes, 33 major penalties (league high).....Kevin St. Pierre 2.28 goals-against average and .922 spct.
Komet Ironmen.....3 players have skated all 76 Komet games to date including Sean Venedam, P.C. Drouin and Rob Guinn.
Komet's Player of the Week: Colin Chaulk (C), 4gp, 1g, 3a, 1 sog, -1. Komet's Goaltender of the Week: Tyler Masters, 3gp, 2-1-0, 179:54 min, 9ga, 3.00 gaa, 93/102, .912 spct.
Hello Mr. Wiggins.....Saturday the Komets added rookie forward Mike Wiggins to the roster. Wiggins, 25, has completed 3 seasons at University of Wisconsin-Superior where he led the Yellowjackets this past season with 30 goals and 47 points in 29 games and was named the NCHA Player of the Year. Wiggins scored his first pro goal, the game winner, Sunday night in the Komet's 2-1 home win over Adirondack.
Venedam voted MVP.....Sean Venedam (LW) was honored with the Komet's MVP award, as voted by the players, during the end-of-season player awards presentation after Sunday night's game against Adirondack. Venedam is playing his 3rd season with Fort Wayne and leads the Komets with 38 goals after appearing in all 76 games to date. Troy Neumeier took the Komet Defenseman of the Year award while Jonathan Goodwin was awarded the Komet Rookie of the Year. The complete list of player awards can be viewed by clicking here.
Record attendance for home finale.....the Komets attendance of 10,525 at the regular season home finale Sunday against Adirondack sets a new UHL and Fort Wayne franchise attendance record for single game attendance during a UHL regular season. The Komets held the previous record of 10,507, set twice, 10/25/03 vs Kalamazoo and 2/7/04 vs Flint.
Komets top 100 again.....for the 2nd straight season the Komets have gone over the 100 point mark in the regular season. The Komets have 101 points (48-23-5) after 76 games with 4 games remaining. Last season the Komets reached 112 points (53-17-6) in the 2003-04 76-game campaign. It's the 11th 100-point season for the 53-year-old Fort Wayne franchise (9 IHL, 2 UHL).
KOMET CALENDAR
Upcoming games:
Wednesday, April 6.....Komets at Kansas City Outlaws, 7pm (Radio: WOWO AM 1190)
Friday, April 8.....Komets at Missouri River Otters, 7:05pm (Radio: WOWO AM 1190)
Saturday, April 9.....Komets at Quad City Mallards, 7pm (Radio: WOWO AM 1190)
Sunday, April 10.....Komets at Kansas City Outlaws, 3pm (Radio: WOWO AM 1190)
Listen to free live game radio of Komet hockey at www.komets.com Comcast KometCast.
Next Komet home practices:
Tuesday, April 12.....10am-11:30am at McMillen Ice Arena
Wednesday, April 13.....10am-11:30am at McMillen Ice Arena
Thursday, March 31.....10am-11:30am at McMillen Ice Arena
Komets.com.....the Komet's official home on the web is www.komets.com. Updated Komet news and information plus stats, schedules, upcoming events, Comcast KometCast and more can be found at the Komet's home on the web at www.komets.com
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 4, 2005
- Blackned and Daigle earn league-wide honors - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Mallards Enter Final Week in Final Playoff Spot - Quad City Mallards
- Kerr featured in Sports Illustrated - Kalamazoo Wings
- Kalamazoo Wings Week In Review - Kalamazoo Wings
- Outlaws snap losing streak, enter final week of regular season - Kansas City Outlaws
- Branch named UHL Goalie of the Month - Motor City Mechanics
- Kansas City's Lee and Muskegon's Daigle earn weekly honors - IHL 2
- Muskegon's Blackned and Motor City's Branch earn monthly honors - IHL 2
- Komets Reach Second Straight 100-point Season - Fort Wayne Komets
- Mechanics Riding 8-0 Hot Streak - Motor City Mechanics
- IceHogs ready for home stretch - Rockford IceHogs
- Playoff lives on the line in last week of regular season - Flint Generals
- Fury closing in on second Tarry Cup crown - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Muskegon Fury notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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