ECHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets take 7-point week

February 17, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets took 7 points in 4 games played for the week going 3-0-1 to earn the top spot in the UHL with 71 points (32-16-7, .645 pct) after 19 weeks of the 2002-03 campaign. It's the best UHL Komet record after 55 games since Fort Wayne joined the league in 1999.

The week started with their 30th win of the season, 6-1 over the visiting Elmira Jackals Wednesday. Komet goalie Tom Lawson picked up his 22nd win on 24 saves in his 40th appearance of the season. Bobby Stewart and Kevin Kotyluk each netted a pair. Stewart's 2nd goal of the game was his 30th of the season and makes the center the 5th Komet to score 30 goals in a UHL season.

Friday the Komets dropped a 2-1 shootout at Muskegon. Sean Venedam scored the lone Komet goal in regulation while Lawson suffered his 6th shootout loss stopping 17 of 18 shots in the last visit to Muskegon of the season.

Saturday the Komets skated to a 3-2 win at Missouri. Kotyluk scored the game winner, his 3rd goal of the week. Lawson earned his 23rd win of the season making 29 saves on 31 shots in his 5th straight start and extended his streak of being unbeaten in regulation to 5 straight games.

Sunday the Komets returned home to clip the Quad City Mallards 4-3 for Fort Wayne's 6th straight home win. All 4 Komet goals were on the power play snapping a streak of 39 straight power play chances without a goal. Netminder Cory Campbell registered his first Komet win and 3rd career victory making 18 stops on 21 shots. Campbell also dished an assist for his first pro point. The win extended the Komet's regulation unbeaten string to 6 games.

This week the Komets will skate another 4 games in 5 nights and their first ever triple-header home weekend. Wednesday the Komets visit Kalamazoo before hosting 3 games in 3 nights Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the coliseum. Friday the Rockford IceHogs visit for a 7:35pm faceoff. Saturday night the Komets host Missouri at 7:35 and Sunday the Adirondack IceHawks come to town for a 5:05pm start.

Tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For the week: 4gp, 3-0-1...Massie 1g, 4a...Stewart 2g, 2a...Virag 1g, 3a...Kotyluk 3g...Bertram 2g, 1a...Beauregard 2g, 1a...Lewis 1g, 2a...Venedam 1g, 2a...Perrault 1g, 2a...Neumeier 2a...Schmidt, Severson, Campbell, Barlow 1 assist each...Lawson 3gp, 118:00, 2-0-1, 4ga, 1.33 ave, 70/74, .946 spct...Campbell 1gp, 1-0-0, 3ga, 18/21...PP: 4/22, PK: 16/20, shots for: 128, shots against: 95.

Komet leaders: Points-Dustin Virag (54); Goals-Bobby Stewart (30); Assists-Kelly Perrault (45); plus/minus-Jake Ortmeyer (+20); PIM-Kevin Kotyluk (203); PPG-David-Alexandre Beauregard (12); GWG:-Bobby Stewart (6); shots-Bobby Stewart (216).

Komet streaks: 6-game home winning streak.....goaltender Tom Lawson unbeaten in regulation 5 straight games.....forward Kevin Kotyluk has earned penalty minutes in each of his last 12 straight appearances (69 pim, 1/24/03-present, current league high).....defenseman Kevin Schmidt has appeared in 129 straight games since starting last season with the Komets.

U-Leaders.....leading the UHL defensemen is Kelly Perrault with 191 shots, 45 assists and 53 points. The Komets have the best penalty kill in the league with a success rate of 85.9% (250/291). The Komets have the stingiest defense with the lowest goals against per game average of 2.47 and fewest shots against per game of 1,348 or 24.51 per game. Also, the Komets have allowed the fewest short handed goals against with 7.

Komets of the week: Goalie Tom Lawson gets the nomination for UHL Goaltender of the Week after posting a 2-0-1 record for the week, 4 goals against for a 1.33 goals-against average, and stopping 70 of 74 shots for a .946 save percentage. Getting the nod for Player of the Week nomination was left winger Michel Massie (1g, 4a, 9pim, +2). Massie had at least a point in each game to extend his point streak to 5 games (2g, 4a).

Chaulk expected back Friday...Komet captain Colin Chaulk missed games Friday, Saturday and Sunday last week while away attending to family matters. Chaulk is expected to return to action this Friday night when the Komets host Rockford.

Selleke suits up for the weekend.....winger Jason Selleke, who skated 42 games this season with the Komets before joining the Indianapolis Fire Department, helped to fill the void in the Komet's roster this past weekend skating in games Saturday and Sunday. Selleke may join the Komets on further weekends this season if necessary.

Milestones...Michel Massie has dished 99 career assists...Kelly Perrault has passed 99 UHL assists...Troy Neumeier has 99 pro points...Greg Puhalski has coached 199 UHL regular season wins.

Ironman Schmidt.....defenseman Kevin Schmidt, the only skater to appear in all 74 Komet games last season, has skated all 55 Komet games to date this season for a total of 129 straight Komet games, shattering the old record of 95 games set by Mike McKay (1/9/01-2/22/02).

Saturday is Marathon Night.....the Komets have teamed with Marathon to offer fans a chance to get gas at Marathon for a free Komet ticket offer. 3 fill-ups stamped on a Marathon/Komet Fill Up card gets customers a "Buy One, Get One Free" ticket offer good on select Marathon nights at Komet home games all season long. The next Marathon Night is this Saturday, Feb. 22, when the Komets host Misssouri at 7:35pm. Fill Up cards can be redeemed at the Coliseum Ticket Office.

KometCast worldwide.....Komet fans from all over the world can catch Komet hockey on the internet via Comcast KometCast, an exclusive Fort Wayne Komets webcast presentation available at www.komets.com. Comcast KometCast features play-by-play by Bob Chase. Get team stats, information, UHL standings and more at www.komets.com.

Check out the Fort Wayne Komets Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 17, 2003


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