ECHL Fort Wayne Komets

Komets Win First Colonial Cup, Party Wednesday Night

May 5, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release


Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets finished a record breaking and award winning 2002-03 season by capturing the UHL Colonial Cup last night with a 2-1 overtime win over the visiting Quad City Mallards to take the final best-of-seven series 4 games to 1. A Fort Wayne crowd of 10,593 witnessed the culmination of an incredibly memorable campaign. The Komets shattered many regular season and playoff records during the year. The 10,593 fans that watched the championship winning game, in itself, was a new record attendance for a single UHL and Fort Wayne game ever played.

It was the first UHL title for the Komets and 5th title for the Fort Wayne franchise including 4 IHL championships in 1963, 1965, 1973 and 1993. Last night's match was the 43rd series win (out of 80), 190th playoff win and 389th playoff game in Fort Wayne's 51-year history.

During the 2002-03 regular season the Komets topped the UHL with a record of 44-21-11 for 99 points to snag the Tarry Cup (regular season championship). In the post-season the Komets took out the Port Huron Beacons with 3 straight wins in the best-of-five first round. The Komets eliminated Elmira with 4 consecutive wins in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals before defeating the 3-time champion Quad City Mallards 4 games to 1 in the finals.

Komet goaltender Tom Lawson appeared in all 12 playoff games and was named the MVP of the playoffs after posting an 11-1-0 record and leading UHL netminders during the post-season with a UHL record 1.68 average, .935 save percentage and 2 shutouts. His 2 shutouts ties the UHL record and the Fort Wayne franchise record for shutouts in a playoff season.

Winger Dustin Virag led the Komets in the playoffs with a +12 rating and 18 points. Virag and center Colin Chaulk each led the UHL post-season with 12 assists while skater Bobby Stewart led the league with 10 goals. Virag finished the run for the cup with a league high 10-game point-scoring streak (6 goals, 11 assists).

Komets Year In Review.....the annual Fort Wayne Komets Year In Review will be available soon. All media will be contacted by the Komet office when it's completed.

KOMETS CHAMPIONSHIP CUP PARTY AND JERSEY AUCTION WEDNESDAY.....the annual Komet jersey auction will be conducted at the Komet's championship party to be held thisWednesday night (May 7) from 6:30PM to 10PM in Expo 3 at the coliseum, 4000 Parnell Avenue in Fort Wayne. Light snacks will be available with a cash bar. Komet Championship T-Shirts ($10 each) and Hats ($16 each) will be on sale. Komet championship cup team pictures courtesy of Instant Copy will be given away free while supplies last. The Journal-Gazette and News Sentinel will each have special comemorative edition newspaper for all fans in attendance. Tickets will be sold at the coliseum ticket office starting at 5PM Wednesday. Komet season ticket holders can get in free with their Komet I.D. card. Otherwise, tickets are $5.00. Toddlers 2-years-old and under will be admitted free.

Check out the Fort Wayne Komets Statistics



ECHL Stories from May 5, 2003


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