Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets announced Wednesday that Ferris State graduates Jason Binkley and Matt Robertson have agreed to terms and have been added to the 2016-17 preseason roster.
Binkley, 24, skated 43 ECHL games with Utah last season and added two games at the end of the season with Cincinnati. The defenseman started a four-year collegiate career at Ferris State in 2011-12 and was on board for the CCHA regular season championship.
The Powell, Ohio native completed his four-year stint with the Bulldogs in 2014-15 and was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team. Binkley also made his pro debut that year appearing in seven ECHL games with South Carolina. Binkley enters this season with pro totals of two goals and nine points and 52 ECHL games.
Robertson, 24, completed his four-year term with Ferris State last season winning the WCHA Championship. The WCHA Scholar Athlete also earned a spot on the All-Academic Team for the second straight year. Robertson finished a two-year juniors stint with Smiths Falls in the CCHL (Central Canada Hockey League) in 2011-12 leading the league with 47 goals. The forward was named to the CCHL First All-Star Team while winning the CCHL Sportsmanship Award.
The Rohnert Park, California native made his college debut with Ferris State in 2012-13. In 2013-14 Robertson ranked third on the Bulldogs with 12 goals and tied for most points (19) in the sophomore class. In 2014-15 the skater led Ferris State with 17 assists, 23 points and +7 in 34 games and was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team.
The Fort Wayne roster grows to 19 players with the addition of Binkley and Robertson. The preseason roster includes 12 forwards, six defensemen and one goaltender. 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)
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. 15m.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.