Komets gain split at Wheeling

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets split a two-game visit at Wheeling for week 15 and earned two points to share the Eastern Conference lead with Toledo with a 28-9-3 record and 59 points, eclipsing last year's record of 21-17-2 and 44 points at the 40-game mark. The Komets current record is second only to the club's all-time best start of 30 wins and 61 points (30-9-1) after 40 games set in 1959-60.-ECHL Standings-

Week 15 in review-- Friday the Komets fell 5-4 in their first visit of the season to Wheeling. The game marked the return of forward Shawn Szydlowski after a three-game stint with Binghamton in the AHL. Szydlowski marked his return with a three-point night (1g, 2a), his sixth three-point outing of the season. Mike Embach (2g, 1a) and Drew Daniels (1g, 2a) also registered three-point games. It was Embach's third multi-goal game of the season and his fourth three-point affair. Goaltender Roman Will (4-4-2) suffered his third straight loss in his fourth straight start making 20 saves.Saturday the Komets rebounded with a 4-1 victory in the second of a two-game set at Wheeling and evened the season series at 1-1-1. Netminder Garrett Bartus (2-0-0) posted his second win of the season with Fort Wayne in his first start since Dec. 26 making 18 saves on 19 shots. C.J. Severyn scored the first four-point game by a Komet this season scoring a goal and adding three assists. Christian Ouellet netted the game winner, his second of the season, while Brett Perlini and Szydlowski also contributed tallies. Milestones and streaks-- Embach skated his 100th career Fort Wayne game (regular season and playoffs) Friday at Wheeling.....Garrett Meurs finished the week riding a three-game road point streak (1g, 2a).....Severyn has a four-game road point and assist streak (1g, 6a).....Szydlowski extended his point streak to three games (3g, 2a).

Komet leaders-- Szydlowski and Embach lead with 43 points each (tied for fifth in the ECHL).....Szydlowski leads with 21 goals while Embach has dished a team-best 26 assists.....Daniels leads with +29 (second in the league).....Daniels and James Martin are tied for second among league defensemen with 24 assists each.....Martin leads league defensemen (T) with 30 points and leads Komet defensemen with six goals.....Cody Sol tops out at 84 penalty minutes.The week ahead-- The Komets return home this week for a weekend double-header at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The Komets will host the Elmira Jackals (21-16-5, 47 points) Friday at 8pm. It's the first of three meetings this season. The Komets were 2-3-2 in seven meetings with the Jackals last year. Elmira will be battling for playoff position during the second half as they hold fourth place in the East Division after 42 games, trailing first-place Florida by nine points and leading fifth-place Orlando by six points. The Jackals are 2-2-1 in their last five games after taking a three-game set at Brampton over the weekend 2-1-0. Elmira skates at Cincinnati Wednesday before visiting Fort Wayne Friday.

Saturday division rival Toledo (27-6-5, 59 points) will be in town for what could be a battle for first place in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are knotted at the top of the East heading into this week's play. The Komets are 1-2-1 after four meetings against the Walleye with three remaining. The Komets clipped Toledo 3-2 in a Winterfest shootout at Toledo in the last meeting. The Walleye are 3-1-1 in their last five outings and finished last week with a 5-2 home win against Wheeling Sunday. Toledo will host Cincinnati Friday before traveling to Fort Wayne Saturday.Pink the Rink Weekend-- This weekend will feature the fourth annual "Pink the Rink" nights as the Komets and the Vera Bradley Foundation team to fight breast cancer and promote awareness for early detection and treatment. The Komets will wear special jerseys that will be sold during a silent auction during Friday's game against the Elmira Jackals and Saturday's match against the Toledo Walleye. Net proceeds will be donated to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.OmniSource Season Ticket Recycling Night Friday-- Friday night season ticket holders have a chance to exchange their unused season tickets from previous games of the season for tickets to see the Komets face the Elmira Jackals at 8:00, compliments of OmniSource.Friday night Marathon Nights-- 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 at this Friday night's Komet home game against the Elmira Jackals.

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-- Follow the Komets on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and FM 92.3 with Bob Chase radio-rinkside. 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. 26, defenseman Drew Daniels will be Tommy's guest. All Komet fans are welcome to attend.

KOMETS WEEKLY PLANNERFriday, Jan. 30...............Elmira Jackals at Komets, 8pm ET, WOWO AM 1190 and FM 92.3Saturday, Jan. 31..........Toledo Walleye at Komets, 7:30pm ET, WOWO AM 1190 and FM 92.3

Komet practice schedule

Tuesday, Jan. 27...........Practice 10am-11:30am at SportONE/Parkview IcehouseWednesday, Jan. 28......Practice 10am-11:30am at SportONE/Parkview IcehouseThursday, Jan. 29..........Practice 10am-11:30am at SportONE/Parkview IcehouseFriday, Jan. 30............... Practice 10am-10:45am at the ColiseumSaturday, Jan. 31..........Practice 10:30am-11:15am at the ColiseumMonday, Feb. 2.............Practice 10am-11:30am at the ColiseumTuesday, Feb. 3............Practice 10am-11:30am at the Coliseum