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IHL 2 Fort Wayne Komets

Komets trade Virag to Kalamazoo for Luciuk

December 5, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets announced today that they have dealt winger Dustin Virag to the Kalamazoo Wings for veteran center Andrew Luciuk.

Luciuk, 28, is in his 8th pro year after starting the season in England with the Star Sheffield Steelers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (11g, 17pts, 8 pim).

Luciuk started his career in 1998-99 appearing in 11 games with Florida of the ECHL before joining Asheville in the UHL for 38 games. He went on to skate a total of 7 seasons in the UHL adding stints in Muskegon (99-00, 00-01, 01-02, 02-03) and Kalamazoo (03-04, 04-05). As a member of the Muskegon Fury, Luciuk appeared in the 2000 UHL All-Star Classic and enjoyed a UHL Colonial Cup Championship in 2001-02. Last year Luciuk netted 19 goals and 49 points in 54 games with Kalamazoo.

The Edmonton, Alberta native also skated 1 game in the IHL during the 1999-00 season with Detroit and appeared in a total of 4 AHL games in stints with Rochester, Manitoba and Grand Rapids. Luciuk is expected to join the Komets later this week during their eastern road swing.

Virag, 29, skated all of his pro career to date in Fort Wayne except 1 game. That game was in 2001 with St. John of the AHL at the end of his 4th season at St. Thomas University. The winger started his Fort Wayne career in 2001-02 and owns the record of most regular season UHL games played by a Komet at 291 and most UHL career goals by a Komet at 91.

Additional Komet player moves.....also during the past week, goaltender Kevin Kurk, Josh VanderBregggen (D), Matt Hunter (LW) and Todd Nowicki (RW) all agreed to terms and have been added to the Komet roster while players Zach Sikich (G), Shawn Smith (D) and Damir Brujic (D) have been placed on waivers.

For the week......the Komets were 0-3-0 in 3 games played last week starting with an 8-5 home loss to Muskegon Friday night. Saturday the Komets dropped a 4-1 decision to the visiting Rockford IceHogs before being clipped 1-0 at Muskegon Sunday afternoon.

Looking ahead.....this week the Komets will skate a 4-game eastern road trip. Wednesday the Komets faceoff at Elmira at 7pm. Friday the Komets tangle with the Vipers at Roanoke at 7:30pm. Saturday the Komets are at Richmond for a 7:30pm start against the RiverDogs and Sunday the Komets finish the 4-game trip with a 5:30pm match against the Danbury Trashers.

The Komets next home game is Friday Dec. 16 against the Adirondack Frostbite at 8pm. Tickets for all 2005-06 Komet regular season home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Group discounts are available by calling the Komet office at 260-483-0011.

Komet leaders.....P.C. Drouin (LW) 18 points.....Drouin and Colin Chaulk (C) 11 assists.....Mark Smith (C) 9g, 4ppg, 3gwg.....David Carpentier +5.....Lance Galbraith (LW) 93pim.....Guy Dupuis (D) 87 shots. -Komet Stats-

Milestones.......A.J. Bozoian (D) netted his first pro goal Friday (12/2) vs. Muskegon.....Mark Smith (C) skated his 300th pro game Saturday (12/3) vs Rockford.....Jeff Worlton (RW) appeared in his 200th pro game Sunday (12/4) at Muskegon.

Komet Hockey on WOWO, and ESPN Radio......most of the Komet games are broadcast on WOWO Radio AM 1190 this year with Bob Chase at the Fort Wayne microphone for his 53rd consecutive season. Some games will be aired on WKJG/ESPN Radio AM 1380 as an alternative when conflicts occur. This week however, none of the 4 Komet road games east will be aired. When games are broadcast on the radio they are also available via the internet at www.komets.com Comcast KometCast. Fans can join Bob for the Sprint P.C.S. Pregame Show 15 minutes prior to the faceoff of each Komet game broadcast.

Komets.com.....the official website of the Fort Wayne Komets is www.komets.com. In addition to live game radio, the Komet's home on the web also features stats, news, interactive fan features and information as well as real-time scoring via the UHL and Pointstreak. Scoring of all Komet games can be viewed as it happens at the Scoreboard at www.komets.com.

Fort Wayne weekly UHL nominations:
Komet Player of the Week: Colin Chaulk (C), 3gp, 2g, 2a, -1, 11 pim.
Komet Goaltender of the Week: Kevin St. Pierre, 3gp, 0-2-0, 138:39, 9 ga, 3.90 gaa, 52/61, .852 spct.

KOMET CALENDAR
Games this week:
Wednesday, Dec. 7.....Komets at Elmira Jackals, 7pm (No Fort Wayne radio)
Friday, Dec. 9.....Komets at Roanoke Valley Vipers, 7:30pm (No Fort Wayne radio)
Saturday, Dec. 10.....Komets at Richmond RiverDogs, 7:30pm (No Fort Wayne radio)
Sunday, Dec. 11.....Komets at Danbury Trashers, 5:30pm (No Fort Wayne radio)
-Komet Schedule-

Komet practices coming up:
This week all Komet practices will be on the road.
Next Komet home practice is Tuesday, Dec. 13.....10am-11:30am at the Coliseum

Hicksville Bank teams with Komets for Coat Drive.....gently-used coats and blankets will be accepted for the needy at the next Komet home game Friday, Dec. 16. Fans can also drop off coats and blankets at Hicksville Bank's Fort Wayne Loan Center at 927 E. Dupont Road across from the Pine Valley Shopping Center during the holiday season. For more information call the Komet office at 260-483-0011.

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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.

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