Komets First to Reach 50 Points in ECHL

January 5, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL) - Fort Wayne Komets News Release





Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets earned five points in week 12 of 2014-15 and improved to 24-6-2 for an ECHL best 50 points after 32 games.

Monday the Komets fell to the Quad City Mallards 7-5 in the only visit of the season by Quad City, snapping a six-game home unbeaten streak and three-game home win streak.

Wednesday the Komets celebrated New Year's Eve in Fort Wayne by doubling-up the Indy Fuel 6-3 and remain unbeaten (7-0-0) after seven meetings with the Fuel this season. The Komets improved to 39-14-5 after 58 New Year's Eve home games.

Friday the Komets slipped 5-4 in a shootout against Wheeling in Fort Wayne. It was the first loss of the year for the K's out of six shootout decisions.

Sunday the Komets celebrated Winterfest at Toledo with their sixth shootout win this season 3-2. The outdoor game was originally slated for Saturday night at Fifth Third Field but due to poor weather conditions the game was moved to Sunday. It was the first outdoor game for the Komets in their 63-year history and it was the first win against division rival Toledo in four meetings this season.

The Komets become the first team in the ECHL to reach 50 points this season. It's only the second time the Komets have reached the 50-point plateau after 32 games in the 63-year history of the club. The 1958-59 Komets were 25-6-1 for 51 points after 32 games. Also by comparison, in 2007-08 when the Komets finished with a team record 120 points, they had 44 points after 32 games. In 2003-04 the Komets had 40 points after 32 games and went on to finish with 112 points.

Leaders of the week-- Eric Faille scored four goals and six points and Shawn Szydlowski also posted a six-point week (2g, 4a). Drew Daniels dished five assists and while Gabriel Beaupre (2g, 2a), Matthew Pistilli (2g, 2a), James Martin (4a) and Thomas Frazee (2g, 2a) each registered four points. Mike Embach and Brett Perlini each collected a pair of goals and an assist. Roman Will started three of the four games (1-1-1, 189:01).

Komet streaks-- Faille had points in each game of the week for a four-game point-scoring streak (4g, 2a).....goaltender Roman Will has started and won the last two straight games for a two-game win streak.....Pat Nagle extended his home win streak to four games and his home unbeaten streak (6-0-1) to seven games Wednesday before being loaned to Rochester of the American Hockey League.

Milestones-- Frazee skated his 100th pro game Monday against Quad City.....Daniels registered his first 3-point game (3a) of the season Monday.....Faille had his first two-game as a pro Friday against Wheeling.....Szydlowski logged his fifth three-point game of the year and dished his 100th pro point in his 100th career ECHL game Friday.

Komet leaders-- Szydlowski leads with 18 goals and 38 points (third in the ECHL).....Embach and Martin are tied with the most assists at 21....Martin leads ECHL defensemen with 21 assists and 27 points.....Daniels leads with +23.....Faille leads Komet rookies with 16 goals (second among ECHL rookies) and 16 assists.....Nagle improved to 16-4-1 and ranks sixth among ECHL goaltenders with 2.40 goals-against average and ranks second with 16 wins.

Iron men-- Szydlowski, Faille, Martin, Frazee and Daniels have appeared in all 32 Komet games to date.

The week ahead-- The Komets are heading south this week for three games in three nights against East Division foes. The week begins with the Komets' first ever trip to Greenville (21-12-1, 43 points) for a pair of games Friday and Saturday at 7:00 each night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena (7,044). The Komets will have a chance to avenge a 3-1 loss against the Road Warriors when Greenville made their only visit of the season to Fort Wayne Nov. 22. The Komets are 2-2-0 against the Road Warriors all-time. Greenville is playing its 15th season in the ECHL and sits in second place in the East Division of the Eastern Conference, four points behind first-place Florida. The Road Warriors are 2-3-0 in the their last five games after posting a five-game win string. Greenville is idle this week until the Komets visit for games Friday and Saturday.

Sunday the Komets finish the week with a 2:05pm matinee at Gwinnett (10-19-1, 21 points). It's the only trip of the season to The Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,355) in Duluth, Georgia and the first of three meetings this season. Gwinnett will visit Fort Wayne for a pair of games Feb. 20 and 21. The Komets' only previous trip to Gwinnett was for two games during 2012-13 (1-1-0). Last year the Komets split a two-game home series 1-1-0 against the Gladiators. Gwinnett is struggling to get out of the cellar of the East Division trailing sixth-place Orlando by 12 points. The Gladiators are 3-4-0 in their last seven games following a five-game losing skid. Gwinnett plays host to South Carolina Thursday and Saturday before facing the Komets Sunday.

Next home games-- The Komets will return to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Friday, Jan. 16 at 8pm when the Evansville IceMen visit under the direction of their new head coach, and former Komet head coach, Al Sims. The Komets will then skate at Kalamazoo Saturday night, Jan. 17 before hosting the Wings on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 5pm.

KIDS SEAT FREE Sunday, Jan. 18-- The Komets will host Kalamazoo on another Kids Seat Free Night, courtesy Aunt Millie's, Parkview Health and the Komets on Sunday, Jan. 18. Any child under the age of 12 can see the game for free with a full-priced adult ticket purchase. Fans are also invited to bring their skates for a free postgame skate courtesy Wendy's.

Friday night, Jan. 16, Marathon Night-- Plan ahead as the Komets continue to provide affordable ticket options this year with the Marathon Fill-Up Card for all Friday night games during the regular season. Fans can earn a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer with the purchase of three fill-ups at any participating Marathon location. Save with your Marathon Fill-Up Card for the Komets' next Friday night home game Jan. 16, when Evansville visits at 8pm.

Komets Ticket information-- Komets tickets may be purchased at the Coliseum Ticket Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Discounted Group Tickets are also on sale for all Komet home games at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. For more information on Komet single game tickets and group tickets, call 260-483-0011 or visit www.komets.com or call 260-483-0011.

Komet Hockey on WOWO Radio and OmniSource Radio Recycle on the web-- Bob Chase is celebrating his 62nd season behind the Komet microphone this year. Follow the Komets on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and FM 92.3 for most games this season. This Sunday's game at Gwinnett will air on ESPN Radio AM 1380 and FM 106.7 due to Colts playoff football on WOWO. Also, Shane Albahrani will be making the trip south this week to broadcast Komet games at Greenville and Gwinnett in Chase's absence. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide on the web at Komets.com presented by OmniSource Radio Recycle.

Sound Off with the Komets on 21Alive Monday nights-- The Komets, 21Alive and SportONE/Parkview Icehouse present Sound Off with the Komets, a live weekly telecast each Monday night at 7:30. The show airs on WPTA TV 21Alive from the SportONE/Parkview Icehouse, 3869 Ice Way in Fort Wayne, featuring highlights, interviews and call-ins. Komet players and personnel will serve as co-hosts with 21Alive's Tommy Schoegler. Tonight, Monday, Jan. 5, Komet forward Shawn Szydlowski will be Tommy's guest. All Komet fans are welcome to attend.

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