ECHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Top the East for Fifth Straight Week

Published on January 20, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN --- For the 5th straight week the Komets hold the top spot in the UHL Eastern Conference with a 23-13-6 record and 52 points. The K's are 2 points ahead of 2nd place Elmira setting the stage for a first-place battle this weekend between the 2 clubs at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne Friday and Saturday nights.

The Komets started the week with an 8-3 loss to the visiting Flint Generals Wednesday night. Friday the Komets traveled to Adirondack where goalie Tom Lawson earned his 5th shutout and 15th win of the season 3-0 making 30 saves in his 30th appearance of the year. Saturday the Komets dropped a 5-1 decision at Port Huron despite outshooting the Beacons 40-25. Sunday the Komets returned home and earned a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the visiting Missouri River Otters. Sunday's announced attendance was 6,922 marking the 10th straight Fort Wayne home game attended by a 6,000+ crowd.

The Komets were 1-2-1 for the week outshooting opponents 132-100 in the 4 games. The Komets allowed 3 power play goals in 15 times shorthanded and continue to lead the UHL with an 86% success rate on the penalty kill (196/228). Also, the Komets scored 7 power play goals on 28 chances for a 25% success rate with the man advantage.

This week the Komets have 3 games on the docket. Wednesday the K's travel to Rockford for the 4th of 5 games at the Metrocentre this season. Then the Komets return home to host the highly penalized Elmira Jackals Friday and Saturday at the Coliseum at 7:35 each night. Tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For the week: Chaulk 2g, 1a...Stewart 2g, 1a...Perrault 1g, 2a...Virag 3a...Kotyluk 1g, 1a...Ortmeyer 1g, 1a...Venedam 2a...Severson 1g...Selleke 1g...Beauregard 1g...Stevens, Massie, Barlow 1 assist each.....Lawson 3gp, 150:40, 1-1-1, 7ga, 2.79 ave, 54/61, .885 spct, 1 shutout.....Duffus 2gp, 89:13, 9ga, 6.04 ave, 30/39, .769 spct.

Komet leaders: Points-Kelly Perrault (45); Goals-Bobby Stewart (21); Assists-Kelly Perrault (40); plus/minus-Jake Ortmeyer (+12); PIM-Kevin Kotyluk (134); PPG-David-Alexandre Beauregard (11); shots-Bobby Stewart (162).

Baker added to roster.....the Komets announced Jan. 17 that forward Ron Baker was added to the Komet roster. Baker, 25, saw his first pro action during the Komet's 3-0 win at Adirondack that night. Baker appeared in 12 games (4g, 6a) at the start of this season with York University, Toronto. Previously the Oshawa, Ontario native skated 3 seasons with the University of Alabama-Huntsville (91gp, 33g, 43a).

It's a new Komet record.....winger David-Alexandre Beauregard scored his 11th power play goal of the season in the Komets 3-0 win at Adirondack Friday night setting a new Komet UHL record of 11 power play goals in a single season. The old record of 10 was set by Jason Goulet during the 1999-00 season.

Komets topping the UHL.....the Komets lead the league:
-in overall attendance (140,762) and per home game average attendance (7,038)
-with an 86% success rate on the penalty kill
-in lowest goals against with 111 and 2.64 per game average
-in lowest shots against with 1,036 and 24.67 per game average

Komet leaders: Tom Lawson leads goalies with 1.93 goals against average, .921 save percentage and 5 shutouts; Kelly Perrault leads defensemen with 40 assists, 45 points and 156 shots; David-Alexandre Beauregard leads with 11 power play goals (T-Bouchard, Muskegon); Defenseman Jake Ortmeyer leads rookies with +12.

Milestones: Kelly Perrault skated his 300th pro game Saturday 1/18 at Port Huron.....Dustin Virag appeared in his 100th pro game and Kevin Schmidt played his 200th pro game Sunday 11/19 vs Missouri.

On the edge.....David-Alexandre Beauregard has 399 career points.....Colin Chaulk has 96 career goals.....Troy Neumeier has appeared in 499 pro games (North America).....Dustin Virag has skated 99 games as a Komet.

Komet sightings....Tuesday, Jan. 21, Colin Chaulk and Sean Venedam will visit Irwin Elementary school at 2pm as part of the PHP People Helping People program. Also, Kevin Kotyluk and Jake Ortmeyer will make an appearance at the Omega Restaurant on Coliseum Blvd. Tuesday from 6pm to 7:30pm.

Beauregard, Massie at Meijer Sunday.....this Sunday, Jan. 26, wingers David-Alexandre Beauregard and Michel Massie will make an appearance at the Meijer store on Maysville Road to meet and greet Komet fans from 2pm to 3pm.

Friday 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 Friday, Jan. 24, when the Komets host Elmira at 7:35pm. Fill Up cards can be redeemed at the Coliseum Ticket Office.

Muhammad Ali visits Komets Feb. 8.....former Boxing Champion of the World Muhammad Ali will make a special appearance Saturday, Feb. 8 when the Komets host the Kalamazoo Wings at 7:35pm. The Champ will be on hand to spend some quality time with local children facing their own fights against life threatening illnesses and to help recognize all of the "A" students in attendance as part of the Comcast annual Report Card Night at Komet Hockey. A portion of the ticket sales that night will be donated to various children's charities by the Komets and select corporate partners.

Get in the Zone.....the Komets and Hagerman Construction, the main contractor for the renovation of the Memorial Coliseum, have set up the "Komet Construction Zone" for the 2002-03 season giving local children's organizations a chance to see Komet hockey. 50 tickets to sit free in the "Construction Zone" will be donated to a local children's organization. In addition to the free tickets, groups will receive official Hagerman construction helmets and more courtesy of Hagerman Construction and the Komets. Tickets can be ordered through the Komet office at (260) 483-0011.

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 the Komets website at www.komets.com. Comcast KometCast features play-by-play by Bob Chase in his 50th season of calling Komet hockey radio-rinkside. Komet team stats, information, UHL standings and more also can be found at www.komets.com. Stats and standings are updated each morning during the season.

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ECHL Stories from January 20, 2003


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