CHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Skate to Top of Turner Conference; Gems Visit Friday

December 19, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets gained four points in three games played for week nine of 2011-12 to improve to 15-7-0 after 22 games. After stumbling 5-3 at Wichita to start the week on Tuesday, the Komets rebounded with a sweep of a home-and-home series against Evansville Friday and Saturday to complete the week with 30 points after 22 games. For the first time this season the Komets enter the week in first place in the Turner Conference holding a two-point margin over second-place Evansville.

The Komets have won four of the last five outings and are 10-2-0 in the last dozen. The Komets haven't lost a game on home ice since Nov. 18 (5-0-0) and both losses in the last 12 games have been on the road.

Komets of the week --

- Bobby Chaumont scored his first hat trick of the season in the Komets' 5-3 win at Evansville Friday. The winger also dished an assist in each game Tuesday and Saturday for a six-point week (3 goals, 3 assists) and four-game point-scoring streak. Chaumont enters the week leading the Komets with 21 assists

- Brett Smith posted a six-point week with a goal and five assists to extend his point streak to five games and leads Fort Wayne with 31 points and +16.

- Colin Chaulk also netted six points for the week (2 goals, 4 assists) to push his point streak to four games.

- Veteran goaltender Nick Boucher extended his home winning streak to five games with a 7-4 win over the visiting Evansville IceMen Saturday. In his last five home starts the netminder has stopped 161 of 168 shots for a 1.40 goals-against-average and .958 save percentage. Overall Boucher (13-4-0) enters week 10 leading CHL goaltenders with 13 wins and a 2.30 goals-against average in 18 appearances and leads CHL star-of-the-game leaders with 28 star points.

Streaking Komets --

- The Komets pushed their home winning streak to five games with their 7-4 win over Evansville Saturday. Saturday's win was Fort Wayne's fourth straight victory over Evansville to give the Komets a 5-2-0 series edge after seven meetings. The next four meetings will be at Evansville with the IceMen returning to Fort Wayne for a pair of back-to-back games in March to finish the season series.

- Goalie Nick Boucher posted his fifth straight home win Saturday.

- Center Brett Smith has points in his last five straight games (2 goals, 6 assists) and is riding a three-game assist streak (5 assists).

- Center Colin Chaulk is riding a four-game point and assist streak (3 goals, 5 assists).

- Right wing Bobby Chaumont enters the 10th week of the season with a four-game point and assist streak (3 goals, 5 assists).

Milestones --

- Veteran center Leo Thomas skated his 200th Fort Wayne career game Saturday. 2011-12 is Thomas' fourth straight season in Fort Wayne, first appearing with the Komets in 2008-09.

- Colin Chaulk has scored 696 points, all-time (regular season and playoffs), during his Fort Wayne career. Chaulk is skating his ninth season in Fort Wayne.

- Bobby Chaumont has appeared in 198 CHL career games. Before joining the Komets this year, the seven-year pro skated in the EIHL last year with Braehead, enjoyed three years of CHL play in stints with Mississippi and Laredo and skated one season in the ECHL with Dayton.

Defensive and offensive --

- Komet defenseman Jamie Milam leads Fort Wayne defensemen with 16 points and tops all CHL defensemen with eight goals.

- The Komets rank third in the CHL with 2.68 goals-against average per game while allowing a CHL third-best 29.6 shots against per game. The Komets lead the CHL with an average of 3.77 goals per game and rank seventh with 33.2 shots per game. The Komets lead Turner Conference rivals with 83 goals and are the stingiest team in the division with 59 goals against.

Special K's -- The Komets faced nine power plays during the three games of the week stopping all but one for an 88.9% penalty kill rating. The Komets scored on two of nine power plays and lead the CHL with a 25.0% power play rating (19/76). Last week the special K's were 2/6 with the man advantage in two road games and own the CHL's best road power play record with 27.9% (12/43).

GAMES THIS WEEK-- two before the Christmas break

Texas Brahmas invade Wednesday -- The Komets will welcome the Berry Conference Texas Brahmas (12-8-5, 29 points) for their only visit of the season, and first ever, Wednesday at 7:30pm at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. It's the only meeting of the 2011-12 season. The Komets skated at Texas last year one game, a 3-2 overtime win. The Brahmas make their home in North Richland Hills, Texas, just outside of Fort Worth. The Brahmas enter the week in fourth place in the Berry Conference, trailing first place Wichita by five points. Last year Texas finished the season fourth in the Berry Conference and ninth overall in the CHL. Texas is led by skater Chad Woollard (Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL, Quad City Mallards UHL) with 11 goals, 12 assists and 23 points. The Brahmas are coming off a 1-0-2 week and are 1-2-2 in their last five games while 5-2-2 in their last nine. The Brahmas are idle this week until their first ever trip to Fort Wayne Wednesday.

Komets at Dayton Friday -- The Komets will complete the week with a trip to Hara Arena in Dayton for a 7pm faceoff against the Gems Friday. The Komets lead the season series 3-1-0, winning the last two meetings. The last meeting was Dec. 11, a 4-2 Komet home win. Friday's game will be the fifth of 14 meetings this season and third of seven trips to Dayton. Dayton has won their last two games after suffering a season-high five-game losing streak. The Gems (10-10-4, 24 points) trail the first-place Komets by six points in the Turner Conference and will host Texas Thursday before making the trip to the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne Friday.

After Friday's game at Dayton the Komets will enjoy a brief two-day Christmas break Saturday and Sunday before getting back on the ice for practice Monday. Next week the Komets will finish the 2011 calendar year with four games in five nights. Tuesday, Dec. 27 Bloomington visits for a 7:30pm faceoff. The Missouri Mavericks will be in town for a 7:30pm start Thursday, Dec. 29 before the Komets skate at Evansville Friday, Dec. 30 at 8:35pm ET. Then the Komets host the traditional Fort Wayne New Year's Eve game Saturday, Dec. 31 as Bloomington returns to help the Komets welcome in 2012.

Hottest Ticket In Town -- Tickets for all 60th Anniversary Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at TicketMaster. The Komets offer discounts on group tickets sold at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. For more ticket information visit the Komet office, call 260-483-0011 or visit the Komets' website at www.komets.com.

INC Soundoff with the Komets Monday nights -- The Komets, along with I ndiana's News Center and title sponsor PHP, present a live weekly televised sports program on Monday nights at 7:30 on WPTA TV 21 Alive. The show is televised live from Wrigley Field Bar and Grill each week throughout the 2011-12 season with INC's Tommy Schoegler as host. Komet players and personnel will serve as co-hosts during the half-hour program. The show will also feature highlights, interviews, call-ins and special segments. TONIGHT, Dec. 19, center Brett Smith and defenseman David Starenky will be special guests.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2011


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