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ECHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Top UHL with 75 Points after 20 Weeks

February 24, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets gained 4 points in 4 games for the week to top the UHL with a Fort Wayne high of 75 points after 59 games. The Komets lead 2nd place Elmira by 3 points with a 34-18-7 record and .636 point percentage going into week 21 of the 2002-03 campaign. The Komets are on pace to break their record of 90 points in a UHL season set in 2000-01 and last season, 2001-02. At their current rate, the Komets would finish the season with 97 points.

An attendance of 8,236 was announced at the Komet's game Sunday (Feb. 23) giving Fort Wayne a total season attendance of 206,881 (7,133 ave) after 29 home games and the distinction of being the first UHL team to top 200,000 in attendance this year. Last year after 29 home games the Komets had a total attendance of 182,444 (6,291 ave). Fort Wayne is on pace to break it's highest attended UHL season of 235,512 set last year.

The games (2-2-0): Wednesday night the Komets started their 3rd straight week of 4 games in 5 nights with a 4-3 loss at Kalamazoo. Tom Lawson picked up his first loss in regulation in 6 starts stopping 13 of 17 shots. The first penalty shot in a Komet game this season was awarded to Kalamazoo (Tyson Turgeon, made) ......Friday the Komets began their first ever 3-game home weekend with a 5-2 win over Rockford. Cory Campbell backstopped the Komets in his 3rd Fort Wayne start and registered his 2nd win of the season making 25 saves on 27 shots. It was the Komet's 4th straight win over Rockford and 7th meeting of the season (5-1-1).....Saturday the Komets doubled up the visiting Missouri River Otters 4-2 scoring 4 unanswered goals in the 3rd period to seize their 8th straight home win. Goaltender Lawson earned his 6th straight home win allowing 2 goals on 18 shots.....Sunday the visiting Adirondack IceHawks handed the Komets their 7th regulation loss at home this season in 29 games 5-2 and snapped the Komet's home win string at 8 games. Lawson made 16 saves on 21 shots. It's only the 7th time this season in 45 appearances Lawson has allowed more than 3 goals against in a game.

This week.....the Komets will get another 3-game weekend underway Friday night when the Rockford IceHogs return to Fort Wayne for a 7:35 start. Saturday at 7:35pm the Komets remain home to host Muskegon in the Fury's last visit of the season. Sunday the Komets make their last trip to Port Huron for a 5:05pm faceoff.

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

Week in stats: 4gp, 2-2-0.....Massie 3g, 2a...Stewart 2g, 3a...Virag 1g, 3a...Beauregard 2g, 1a...Chaulk 1g, 2a...Venedam 1g, 2a...Ortmeyer 3a...Severson 1g, 1a...Kotyluk 1g, 1a...Perrault 2a...Baker 1g...Bertram 1g...Neumeier 1a....Lawson 3gp, 173:11, 1-2-0, 11ga, 3.81 ave, 45/56, .804 spct...Campbell 2gp, 65:45, 1-0-0, 2ga, 1.82 ave, 26/28, .929 spct...PP: 4/22, PK: 11/14.....shots for: 134, shots against: 84.

Komet leaders: Points-Dustin Virag, Bobby Stewart (58); Goals-Bobby Stewart (32); Assists-Kelly Perrault (47); plus/minus-Jake Ortmeyer (+24); PIM-Kevin Kotyluk (217); PPG-David-Alexandre Beauregard (14); GWG:-Bobby Stewart (7); shots-Bobby Stewart (229).

Komet streaks: defenseman Kevin Schmidt has appeared in 133 straight games since starting last season with the Komets.....defenseman Troy Neumeier has appeared in 96 straight games since joining the Komets last season (Jan. 6, 2002)....winger Michel Massie has a 3-game point streak (3g, 2a).....defenseman Jake Ortmeyer is riding a 3-game assist streak (3a).....Kevin Kotyluk has penalty minutes in 7 straight road games (46 pim, 1/29-present).

Milestones: Ron Baker scored his first career goal Wednesday at Kalamazoo.....3 milestones were hit in Friday's game vs Rockford: Greg Puhalski coached his 200th regular season UHL win, Michel Massie dished his 100th career assist, and Kelly Perrault passed his 100th career UHL assist......Saturday Troy Neumeier registered his 100th pro point (N. America).

U-Leaders.....leading the UHL defensemen is Kelly Perrault with 205 shots, 47 assists and 55 points.....Tom Lawson leads goaltenders with a 1.99 goals-against average and 6 shutouts.....Jake Ortmeyer leads UHL rookie defensemen with +24.....the Komets have the best penalty kill in the league with a success rate of 85.6% (261/305), the stingiest defense with the lowest goals against per game average of 2.53 and fewest shots against per game of 1,432 or 24.27 per game, and the Komets have surrendered the fewest short handed goals at 8.

Komets of the week: Goalie Cory Campbell gets the Komet nomination for UHL Goaltender of the Week for his appearance in 2 games (65:45) and 1-0-0 record (2ga, 1.82 ave, 26/28, .929 spct.). Winger Michel Massie gets the nomination for Player of the Week appearing in all 4 games played and earning points in the last 3 straight games (3g, 2a, 5pts).

Severson, Venedam and Icy to appear on St. Jude radio-thon.....Ryan Severson, Sean Venedam and Komet mascot "Icy" will make an appearance on a radio-thon for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital hosted by local radio station WBTU this Tuesday, Feb. 25. Severson, Venedam and Icy are scheduled for a 5pm-6pm appearance during the radio-thon at Glenbrook Mall, Center Court.

Tuesday at Omega.....from 6pm-7pm Marc Barlow and David-Alexandre Beauregard will meet and greet Komet fans during an appearance at Omega restaurant, on Coliseum Blvd., accross from Northcrest Shopping Center this Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Tip-A-Komet for MDA Wednesday.....this Wednesday, Feb. 26, all Komet players will be at O'Charley's waiting tables from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. O'Charley's is located at Jefferson Point and all tips received will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association

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.

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