Komets acquire scoring ace Alex Belzile

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets announced Tuesday that right winger Alex Belzile has been acquired from the Idaho Steelheads in exchange for the rights to defenseman James Martin.Belzile (bell-ZEEL), who turned 24 yesterday, will be entering his fourth pro year after ranking second with Idaho last season scoring 69 points including career highs of 28 goals, 41 assists, 113 penalty minutes and a team-high +24 in 63 ECHL games. Belzile was on board with Alaska in 2013-14 for the ECHL Kelly Cup Championship. The St-Eloi, Quebec native made his pro debut in 2012-13 logging 40 games with Gwinnett and adding 14 AHL games with Hamilton. In 2011-12 Belzile completed his fourth year of juniors scoring career highs of 70 assists, 92 points and +31 with Rimouski in the QMJHL before leading the team in the 2012 playoffs with 18 assists and 25 points in 21 post-season games.Martin scored nine goals and 41 points in 60 games with the Komets last season and added a goal and four points in 12 playoff games and will be joining Idaho for his fifth pro year.The Komets also announced that defenseman Randy Cure has been added to the preseason roster. Cure, 25, appeared in 30 games last season with Evansville scoring a goal and four points. Cure made his pro debut in 2013-14 skating seven games with Elmira after capping his senior year at Mercyhurst College where he dished a career best eight assists en route to winning the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA-NCAA) regular season title.In addition player news, the Komets have learned that defenseman Alex Boak, originally added to the Fort Wayne preseason roster, has retired from professional hockey and has accepted a coaching position in the college ranks.

The Fort Wayne preseason roster of 24 includes 15 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders.

Home opener Oct. 17-- The 64th season of Komet hockey opens with a home-and-home series against long time rival Kalamazoo. The season opener is slated for Kalamazoo Friday, Oct. 16 before the Komets' home opener against the Wings Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7:30pm. The Komets will skate three exhibition games. Wednesday, Oct. 7 the Komets visit Indy for a 6pm tune-up against the Indy Fuel at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The game will be closed to the general public. The Komets will host Evansville in exhibition Friday, Oct.9 at 8pm and Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7:30pm at the Memorial Coliseum.-See Komets schedule-Season tickets for 2015-16 are on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. Call the Komet office at 260-483-0011 or visit komets.com for more information. -Season tickets-