Komets add four to preseason roster

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets announced Wednesday that they have expanded the preseason roster to 24 players with the addition of a pair of defensemen and two forwards. Will Weber and Trevor Cheek have agreed to terms for a second campaign in Fort Wayne. Brady Vail has inked an agreement for 2016-17 and the Komets have acquired Dan Milan from Wichita in exchange for future considerations.Weber, 27, skated 64 games with the Komets last year scoring eight assists and 11 points while accumulating 103 penalty minutes. The defenseman also played two AHL games with San Antonio. Weber also appeared in all 16 Fort Wayne playoff games.

Weber was selected by Columbus in round 2 of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft before joining Chicago in the USHL his first year after high school. He made his collegiate debut with Miami University-Ohio in 2008-09 leading defenseman with three goals and earning a team-high 75 penalty minutes. The Gaylord, Michigan native helped Miami University-Ohio to the 2009-10 regular season championship and named the CCHA's Best Defensive defenseman. Weber was on board as the Redhawk's captured the 2011 CCHA Tournament championship and served as captain during his senior season in 2011-12 before making his pro debut appearing in two AHL games with Springfield. Weber spent two seasons with Springfield in the AHL from 2013-2015 before joining the Komets last year.Cheek, 23, shared last season with San Antonio of the AHL and Fort Wayne. The forward scored four goals and nine points in 34 games with the Rampage while ranking fifth with the Komets scoring 17 goals and adding eight assists for 25 points in 28 games. The Vancouver, Washington native made his pro playoff debut with the Komets scoring five goals and 13 points while skating all 16 playoff games.

Cheek signed an entry level contract with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche in 2013 and participated in two complete seasons in the AHL with Lake Erie before splitting last season between the Komets and San Antonio.Vail, 22, will be entering his fourth full pro season after leading Orlando last year with 38 assists and ranking second with a career best 58 points in 70 games. The center started his juniors career in 2009-10 when he became the second youngest to skate for the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL scoring four goals and eight points in 48 games.The Palm City, Florida native was selected by Montreal in round 4 of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and made his pro debut during 2012-13 appearing in 12 AHL games with Hamilton.

Vail completed a five-year juniors stint in 2013-14 leading Windsor with 32 goals and added 51 assists to rank second on the Spitfires with 83 points in 67 OHL games. Vail made his ECHL debut in 2014-15 scoring 15 goals and 29 points in 64 games with Orlando and participated in the ECHL All-Star Team. The skater has accumulated ECHL career totals of 35 goals, 52 assists and 87 points in 134 games.

Milan (MY-lann), 24, has spent the last two seasons with Wichita in the ECHL scoring 26 assists, 27 points and 310 penalty minutes in 138 regular season games with the Thunder. Last year the Detroit, Michigan native led Wichita for the second straight season with 132 penalty minutes.In 2010-11 Milan earned All-Rookie Team honors in his first year of juniors with Moncton in the QMJHL and signed an entry level contract with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011. The defenseman made his pro debut in 2012-13 appearing in 43 ECHL games with Florida. Milan will be entering his fifth pro year after amassing totals of three goals, 32 assists, 35 points and 372 penalty minutes in 184 ECHL career games.

The Fort Wayne roster of 24 players includes 14 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders. See preseason roster

Three preseason games slated-- The Komets will skate three exhibition games, two at home and one on the road. The preseason schedule is as follows:Friday, Oct. 7, Indy Fuel at Fort Wayne Komets, 8pm ET (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum)Saturday, Oct. 8, Fort Wayne Komets at Indy Fuel, 6pm ET (Indiana Farmers Coliseum)Monday, Oct. 10, Brampton Beast at Fort Wayne Komets, 7:30pm ET (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum)

Home opener Oct. 15-- The Komets will open the season with a home-and-home series against the Quad City Mallards starting Friday, Oct. 14 at Quad City. Both teams return to Fort Wayne for the Komets' home opener Saturday, Oct. 15.See 2016-17 Komet schedule

Season tickets and group tickets for 2016-17 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 information.