Komets sweep into second place with six points
March 16, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release
Fort Wayne, IN - The Komets earned six points in week 22 to improve to 34-17-3-8 and 79 points. The Komets pulled within four points of IHL leader Port Huron with four weeks and 14 games remaining in 2008-09.
The week began with a 3-1 win over the IHL leading Icehawks at Port Huron Friday night. Saturday the Komets stopped the Kalamazoo Wings 5-2 in front of a sold-out Fort Wayne crowd of 10,511 at the Memorial Coliseum. It was the Komets' third sell-out this season. Fort Wayne owns the second highest per-game home attendance average in minor league pro hockey of 7,892. Sunday the Komets scored a 4-3 victory at Bloomington to take a sweep of the three games played for the week.
The Komets extended their winning streak to five games and have lost in regulation only twice in their last 18 outings. Fort Wayne has won their last four straight road games and have the IHL's best road record at 21-8-0-4. With 13 home wins this season and nine home games remaining, the Komets appear to be headed toward their first season in franchise history (57 years) of having a better record on the road than at home.
Looking ahead the Komets skate four games this week, two on the road and two at home. Tuesday the Komets visit Port Huron for a 7:30pm faceoff. The Komets have a chance to pull within two points of the first-place Icehawks in their last visit to McMorran Arena of the season. The Komets are 6-1-0 in seven visits to Port Huron and lead the series 7-5-0 overall.
Friday the Komets host the Icehawks at 8pm and begin a stretch of five home games in nine nights. Friday will mark the 14th of 15 meetings this season and the sixth of seven on Fort Wayne ice where the Komets are 1-4-0 against Port Huron so far.
Saturday the Komets travel to Bloomington for the first of a home-and-home series on back-to-back nights. It's the sixth of seven Komet games at Bloomington where the Komets are 3-1-0-1 after five meetings at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The Thunder, 4-1-0-1 in their last six games, host Kalamazoo Friday before facing the Komets Saturday.
Sunday the Komets return home to welcome Bloomington at 5pm for the final Sunday Fort Wayne home game of the regular season. It's the Thunder's fifth of seven visits to Fort Wayne where the Komets ar 2-1-0-1 in four meetings to date.
IHL names Boucher Goaltender of the Week.....Nick Boucher has been named the Southern Sports Supply IHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending March 15, 2009. Boucher won both games played to extend his winning streak to three games and move ahead of IHL goalies with an overall 2.64 goals-against average and .912 save percentage after 41 games. The netminder backstopped the Komets to a 3-1 win over league-leading Port Huron Friday making 34 saves on 35 shots. Saturday Boucher earned his 21st win of the season making 23 saves on 25 shots in a 5-2 victory over the visiting Kalamazoo Wings. For the week Boucher allowed three goals in two games for a 1.50 goals-against average and stopped 57 of 60 shots for a .950 save percentage. The award is the third weekly award for Boucher this season.
Komets meet trade deadline with deal for Aldoff.....The Komets met the IHL trade deadline last Thursday, March 12th by dealing forward Dominic Osman and defenseman Dylan Row to Kalamazoo for veteran defenseman Rod Aldoff. Aldoff, 38, is in his 14th career year and answered the call by registering four assists in his first three games with the Komets over the weekend.
Streaking Komets.....Defenseman Rod Aldoff has a three-game assist streak (4 assists).....winger Olivier Legault has a three-game point streak (2 goals, 1 assist), his first three-game point streak of his career.....defenseman Guy Dupuis is riding a four-game point streak (1 goal, 4 assists).....goaltender Sebastine Laplante is unbeaten in his last eight appearances. Laplante has not been beaten in regulation since returning from 60-day I.R. January 28.....netminder Nick Boucher has a three-game win streak, his third of the season.
Milestones: Defenseman Rod Aldoff dished his 300th pro assist Saturday night at Kalamazoo and scored his 400th pro point (assist) Sunday at Bloomington.....defenseman Guy Dupuis scored his 100th Fort Wayne career goal Saturday vs. Kalamazoo and is five goals shy of tying the Komets' franchise record of 105 goals by a defenseman set by Jim Burton in 1988-89.
Red Wings Alumni outlast the Komet Legends.....No oxygen tanks were needed for the Detroit Red Wings Alumni to turn back the Komets Legends Saturday night 4-1. Both teams skated the two 20-minute running time periods to the delight of an estimated 3,000 fans who turned out prior to the current-day Komets/Kalamazoo game. Dustin Virag scored the lone Komet tally while Tom Williams scored a pair and Dan Newman and Dennis Hextall each had a goal for the Red Wings Alumni. Former Komet goalie Parris Duffus made 19 saves on 23 shots while former Red Wing star Eddie Mio stopped 20 of 21 Komet Legends shots.
Over $10,000 raised in Komets Army Jersey Auction......During the Komets' 5-2 win Saturday night over the visiting Kalamazoo Wings Fort Wayne fans participated in a silent auction for the camouflage green and orange army jerseys worn during the game by the Komets. $10,077 was raised in the auction, with proceeds benefiting the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Komet captain Guy Dupuis' number 2 army jersey fetched the most at $1,000. Second was the number 15 sweater of Brad MacMillan and third highest was Mathieu Curadeau's number 94 at $767.
"Live From Radio Rinkside" signing at Komet Kuarters Wednesday.....Legendary Komet broadcaster Bob Chase will be at Komet Kuarters this Wednesday night, March 18, to meet Komet fans and sign his new book "Live From Radio Rinkside". Copies of Mr. Chase's new book will be on sale and he will be available to autograph new book purchases along with the News Sentinel's Blake Sebring and Komet players P.C. Drouin and Leo Thomas. The book signing will be held from 5pm-7pm.
KOMETS PLANNER
Komet games coming up
Tuesday, Mar. 17.....Komets at Port Huron, 7:30pm, WKJG/ESPN Radio AM 1380.
Friday, Mar. 20........Port Huron Icehawks at Komets, 8pm, WOWO Radio AM 1190
Saturday, Mar. 21....Komets at Bloomington PrairieThunder, 8:05pm (FW time), WOWO Radio AM 1190
Sunday, Mar. 22......Bloomington PrairieThunder at Komets, 5:00pm, WOWO Radio AM 1190
All games broadcast on radio are webcast free at www.Komets.com Comcast KometCast
Komet practice schedule
Tue. Mar. 17......10am-11am at McMillen Ice Arena
Wed. Mar. 18....11am-noon at McMillen Ice Arena
Thu. Mar. 19.....10am-11:30am at McMillen Ice Arena
Fri. Mar. 20......10am-11am at the Coliseum
Tue. Mar. 24.....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 March 16, 2009
- Blast from the Past - Kalamazoo Wings
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- Merlini Earns Rookie Of The Week Honors - Port Huron Icehawks
- Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With The Port Huron Icehawks - Port Huron Icehawks
- Komets Army Jersey auction nets over $10,000 - Fort Wayne Komets
- Komets sweep into second place with six points - Fort Wayne Komets
- IHL Weekly Honors For Week Twenty-Two - IHL 2
- Battle For First Place Begins - IHL 2
- MacMillan and DiPace Suspended - IHL 2
- Lumberjacks Regroup for Home Stretch - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lumberjacks Weekly Notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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.
