IHL 2 Fort Wayne Komets

Komets select two, lose three in IHL drafts

July 2, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN - The International Hockey League held it's draft for expansion teams Dayton and Quad City Thursday. The Dayton Gems and Quad City Mallards will begin play in the IHL when the 2009-10 begins in October.

Winger Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn was taken in the first round by Dayton. Goaltender Sebastien Laplante was chosen by Quad City in the fourth round and center Mathieu Curadeau was selected by Dayton in the fifth round.

Teams were allowed to protect 13 skaters and one goaltender and could lose a maximum of three players.

In addition to the expansion draft, the IHL also conducted a dispersal draft for the rights of players on the 2008-09 final roster of the IHL Kalamazoo Wings, who have elected not to participate in the 2009-10 IHL campaign.

The Komets selected right wing Justin Cross in the first round and then picked left wing Blair Stayzer in the second round.

Cross, 27, skated his third pro season last year with the Kalamazoo Wings scoring 14 goals and 42 points in 55 games while accumulating 24 penalty minutes.

Stayzer, 28, appeared in 47 games with Kalamazoo last season netting five goals and 12 points. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 225-pound skater registered 132 penalty minutes during his ninth career year. Stayzer began his pro career in 2000 after being selected by the Calgary Flames in round seven of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

For more information on Thursday's IHL drafts, visit www.ihl-hockey.com.




International Hockey League 2 Stories from July 2, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central