Fort Wayne Komets

The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This team was previously a member of the Central Hockey League (CHL), the original International Hockey League (IHL), and the second International Hockey League (UHL/IHL). Founded in the original IHL They have won four post-season championship titles in the original IHL in 1963, 1965, 1973, and 1993, four in the UHL/second IHL in 2003, 2008, 2009, and 2010, one in the CHL in 2012, and one in the ECHL in 2021. In all of North American professional hockey, only the Original Six teams of the NHL and the Hershey Bears of the AHL have played continuously in the same city with the same name longer than the Komets.

Fort Wayne Komets
CityFort Wayne, Indiana
LeagueECHL
ConferenceWestern
DivisionCentral
Founded1985 (Current ECHL franchise)
1952 (First IHL franchise)
Operated1990–present (Current ECHL franchise)
1952–1990 (First IHL franchise)
Home arenaAllen County War Memorial Coliseum
ColorsOrange, black and white
     
Owner(s)The Franke family/Scott Sproat
Head coachJesse Kallechy
MediaWOWO (1190 AM)
WKJG (1380 AM)
AffiliatesEdmonton Oilers (NHL)
Bakersfield Condors (AHL)
Franchise history
First IHL Franchise
1952–1990Fort Wayne Komets
1990–1991Albany Choppers
Current ECHL Franchise
1985–1990Flint Spirits
1990–presentFort Wayne Komets
Championships
Regular season titles12 (1959–60, 1962–63, 1972–73, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09)
Division titles2 (2016, 2018)
Conference titles2 (2012, 2021)
Turner Cups7 (1963, 1965, 1973, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2010)
Ray Miron President's Cup1 (2012)
Colonial Cups1 (2003)
Kelly Cups1 (2021)
Current season

History

The original Komets franchise played in the previous iteration of the International Hockey League from 1952 until 1990. The original IHL franchise then moved to Albany, New York in 1990 as the Albany Choppers. Only two days later, the Franke family of Fort Wayne bought the Flint Spirits, moved them to Fort Wayne, and took the Komets name and history. The Albany Choppers would only play part of one season before folding on February 15, 1991.[1]

In 1999, the second IHL Komets franchise joined the United Hockey League (which later took the IHL name in 2007). In 2010, the UHL/IHL ceased operations and the Komets joined the Central Hockey League along with the surviving members of their former league. They left the CHL for the ECHL in 2012.

For the 2014–15 season, the Komets entered into a one-year affiliation with the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, providing a direct line to Colorado's American Hockey League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters.[2][3] After a successful season and partnership proving beneficial to all parties, on July 21, 2015, the Komets announced a continuance of the affiliation with the Avalanche and new AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage on a two-year deal through the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons.[4] However, the Avalanche and Komets mutually agreed to end the affiliation one season early in 2016.[5] After a season operating independently of an affiliation, the Komets agreed to a one-year affiliation deal with the Arizona Coyotes and their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners,[6] but did not extend the affiliation after the deal ended.[7]

On August 21, 2018, the Komets announced a new one-year affiliation agreement with the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights and AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves.[8] The affiliation was later extended for the 2019–20 season.[9] The affiliation with the Golden Knights ended on May 19, 2022.[10]

On July 27, 2022, the Komets announced a new affiliation agreement with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers and their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.[11]

Season-by-season results

This is a partial list of the last ten seasons completed by the Fort Wayne Komets. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Fort Wayne Komets seasons

Regular season Playoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAPIMStandingYear1st round2nd round3rd roundKelly Cup
2012–13723335137020524613854th, North2013did not qualify
2013–1472362475842152159543rd, North2014W, 4–1, REAL, 2–4, CIN——
2014–157248182410225120010332nd, North2015W, 4–1, KALL, 3–4, TOL——
2015–16724023728924020011961st, Midwest2016W, 4–3, CINW, 4–0, UTAL, 1–4, ALN—
2016–17724519629826421012922nd, Central2017W, 4–1, QCL, 1–4, TOL——
2017–18724620519829021610782nd, Central2018W, 4–1, CINW, 4–2, TOLL, 3–4, COL—
2018–19763626468223324811323rd, Central2019L, 2–4, TOL———
2019–20623123627021822010443rd, Central2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–2151291732631701369253rd, West Conf.2021—W, 3–2, WICW, 3–1, ALNW, 3–1, SC
2021–22724025618726722512712nd, Central2022L, 3–4, WHL———
2022–23723431437527027514504th, Central2023L, 3–4, CIN———

Records as of the conclusion of the 2022–23 regular season.[12]

Players

Current roster
Updated July 24, 2023.[13]
Team roster
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
– Canada Morgan Adams-Moisan RW R 26 2023 La Tuque, Quebec Komets
20 Canada Matt Alvaro LW L 27 2021 Toronto, Ontario Komets
– United States Tristan Ashbrook RW R 25 2023 Manistique, Michigan Komets
22 Canada Shawn Boudrias RW R 24 2021 Laval, Quebec Komets
– Canada Francois Brassard G L 29 2023 Gatineau, Quebec Komets
44 United States Noah Ganske D R 24 2023 Bloomington, Minnesota Komets
– Canada Joe Gatenby D R 26 2023 Kelowna, British Columbia Komets
7 Italy Stefano Giliati LW L 36 2022 Montreal, Quebec Komets
23 Canada Jacob Graves D R 28 2022 Barrie, Ontario Komets
4 Canada Darien Kielb D L 24 2022 Hamilton, Ontario Komets
90 Canada Dan Maggio D R 32 2023 Windsor, Ontario Komets
21 United States Joe Masonius D L 26 2022 Spring Lake, New Jersey Komets
79 Canada Marcus McIvor (A) D R 29 2020 Whitby, Ontario Komets
– Canada Joseph Nardi LW L 26 2023 Edmonton, Alberta Komets
– Canada Kamerin Nault LW L 28 2023 Winnipeg, Manitoba Komets
34 Canada Rylan Parenteau G L 26 2022 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Komets
74 Canada Tristan Pelletier RW L 22 2022 Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec Komets
– Canada Darian Pilon LW L 25 2023 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Komets
94 Canada William Provost C L 21 2023 Senneterre, Quebec Komets
– Canada Parker Saretsky F R 24 2023 Wainwright, Alberta Komets
28 Canada Cameron Supryka D L 21 2023 Belleville, Ontario Komets
– Canada Nolan Volcan LW L 25 2023 Edmonton, Alberta Komets

Retired numbers

The Komets have honored over 40 personnel in three sections - Executive Builders, Team Personnel and Media - in the Komets Hall of Fame established in 1988. They have also retired numbers to honor 16 people over the course of their history.[14]

Fort Wayne Komets retired numbers
No. Player Position Tenure Date of honor
1Chuck AdamsonG1962–1967October 26, 2013
2Guy DupuisD1991–2011October 29, 2011
5Terry PembrokeD1964–19781988
6Lionel RepkaD1958–19691988
11Len ThornsonC1957–19691988
12Reg PrimeauC1960–19691988
16Eddie LongRW1952–19661988
18Rob LairdLW1974–1989March 6, 2002
26Colin ChinC1986–1996November 17, 2007
30Robbie IronsG1967–19811988
33Nick BoucherG2007–2012October 26, 2013
40Bob ChaseMedia1953–20161993
58Ken UllyotOwner1958–19821988
59Colin ListerOwner1959–19851988
77Steven FletcherLW1990–2002November 17, 2007
91Colin ChaulkC2002–2013February 19, 2017
504[lower-alpha 1]Al Sims[15]Coach1989–93, 2007–13March 25, 2017
  1. For his career wins as coach

Notable NHL alumni

List of Fort Wayne Komets alumni who played more than 25 games in Fort Wayne and 25 or more games in the National Hockey League.

Franchise records

Scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed regular season.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; * = still active with the team

PlayerPosGPGAPts
Len ThornsonC7634128071219
Eddie LongRW801425427852
Colin ChaulkC581187497684
Terry McDougallC507249395644
Colin ChinC660246390636
John GoodwinLW480200387587
Guy DupuisD945126417543
Reg PrimeauC452200342542
Merv DubchakRW437321218539
Robbie LairdLW520223276499

Regular season
  • Most goals in a season: Merv Dubchak, 72 (1965–66)
  • Most assists in a season: Len Thornson, 93 (1966–67)
  • Most points in a season: Len Thornson, 139 (1966–67) & Terry McDougall, 139 (1978–79)
  • Most penalty minutes in a season: Andy Bezeau, 590 (1995–96)
  • Most wins in a season: Kevin St. Pierre, 43 (2003–04)
  • Most shutouts in a season: Kevin Reiter, 7 (2007–08) & Kevin St. Pierre, 7 (2003–04)

Team records
  • On March 28, 2008, the Komets set a new professional hockey record of 23 straight home wins. They defeated the Kalamazoo Wings 4–3.[16] The record ended at 25.
  • On April 12, 2008, the Komets set a new Fort Wayne hockey record of 56 wins in a season. The previous record of 53 was set in 2003–04.[17]
  • On May 15, 2010, the Komets defeated the Flint Generals in Game 5 of the IHL Turner Cup Finals to win the series, four games to one, earning the Komets a "three-peat" after winning the Turner Cup in 2008 and 2009 as well.

See also

References
  1. Miller, Chuck. "The IHL's Dirty Little Secret: the 1990-91 Albany Choppers". Chuck the Writer.
  2. Bailey, Chuck (July 24, 2014). "Komets announce affiliation with NHL's Avalanche and AHL's Monsters". WANE-TV. Archived from the original on July 29, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  3. Sebring, Blake (July 24, 2014). "Colorado affiliation could be different and better for Komets". The News-Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  4. Sebring, Blake (July 21, 2015). "Komets put together two-year deal with Avalanche". The News-Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  5. "Komets, Avalanche Terminate Affiliation". OurSports Central. July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  6. "Coyotes Announce ECHL Affiliation With Fort Wayne Komets". Tucson Roadrunners. July 31, 2017. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  7. Sebring, Blake (June 18, 2018). "Fort Wayne Komets, Arizona Coyotes and Tucson Roadrunners end affiliation". The News-Sentinel. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  8. "Komets announce affiliation with NHL's Vegas Golden Knights". Fort Wayne Komets. August 21, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  9. "Golden Knights And Fort Wayne Komets Renew ECHL Affiliation Agreement". Vegas Golden Knights. August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  10. "Komets Seek New Affiliation". Fort Wayne Komets. May 19, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  11. "Komets Announce Affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers". Fort Wayne Komets. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  12. "Fort Wayne Komets Statistics and History [ECHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  13. "Fort Wayne Komets Elite Prospects". Elite Prospects. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  14. "Komets Hall of Fame". Fort Wayne Komets. August 15, 2015. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  15. Cohn, Justin A. (March 23, 2017). "Sims thrilled about Komets saluting 504". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  16. "Komets Historical Win". Fort Wayne Komets. 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
  17. "54th win sets new Fort Wayne franchise record". Fort Wayne Komets. 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
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