Fort Wayne Komets

History

There have been two different hockey teams known as the Fort Wayne Komets. The original Komets franchise was founded in 1952 in the International Hockey League. In 1990 they moved to Albany, New York and became the Albany Choppers. They only played part of one season in Albany before folding on February 15, 1991.

The second team was founded in 1985 in Flint, Michigan where they were known as the Flint Spirits. In 1990, only two days after the first Komets team left Fort Wayne, the Franke family of Fort Wayne bought the Flint Spirits, moved them to Fort Wayne, and took the Komets name and history. From 1985 to 1999 they also played in the IHL, then in 1999 they moved to the United Hockey League (UHL). In 2007 the UHL changed its name to the International Hockey League, which became available when the previous IHL ceased operations in 2001. In 2010 that league also ceased operations, and the Komets joined the Central Hockey League (CHL) along with the surviving members of their former league. In 2012 they left the CHL for their current league, the ECHL.

Affiliations

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. 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. However, the Avalanche and Komets mutually agreed to end the affiliation one season early in 2016. 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, but did not extend the affiliation after the deal ended.

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. The affiliation was later extended for the 2019–20 season. The affiliation with the Golden Knights ended on May 19, 2022.

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

On May 28, 2024, the Komets and Edmonton Oilers extended their affiliation agreement for the 2024–25 season.

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

Records as of the conclusion of the 2023–24 regular season.

Players

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.

Notable NHL alumni

List of Fort Wayne Komets alumni who played more than 100 games in the IHL and 100 or more games in the National Hockey League/World Hockey Association.

• Eric Boguniecki
• Bruce Boudreau
• Vyacheslav Butsayev
• Bob Fitchner
• Bernie MacNeil
• Rob Murphy
• Pokey Reddick
• Duane Rupp
• Vladimir Tsyplakov

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

• Alex Belzile

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

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. 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.
• 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.

References

References

1. Miller, Chuck. "The IHL's Dirty Little Secret: the 1990-91 Albany Choppers".
2. Bailey, Chuck. (July 24, 2014). "Komets announce affiliation with NHL's Avalanche and AHL's Monsters".
3. Sebring, Blake. (July 24, 2014). "Colorado affiliation could be different and better for Komets".
4. Sebring, Blake. (July 21, 2015). "Komets put together two-year deal with Avalanche".
5. (July 19, 2016). "Komets, Avalanche Terminate Affiliation".
6. (July 31, 2017). "Coyotes Announce ECHL Affiliation With Fort Wayne Komets".
7. Sebring, Blake. (June 18, 2018). "Fort Wayne Komets, Arizona Coyotes and Tucson Roadrunners end affiliation". [[The News-Sentinel]].
8. (August 21, 2018). "Komets announce affiliation with NHL's Vegas Golden Knights".
9. (August 7, 2019). "Golden Knights And Fort Wayne Komets Renew ECHL Affiliation Agreement".
10. (May 19, 2022). "Komets Seek New Affiliation".
11. (July 27, 2022). "Komets Announce Affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers".
12. (May 28, 2024). "Komets to continue partnership with Edmonton".
13. "Fort Wayne Komets Statistics and History [ECHL]".
14. (August 15, 2015). "Komets Hall of Fame".
15. Cohn, Justin A.. (March 23, 2017). "Sims thrilled about Komets saluting 504". [[The Journal Gazette]].
16. (November 2010). "Komets Historical Win". }} {{Dead link.
17. (November 2010). "54th win sets new Fort Wayne franchise record". }} {{Dead link.