Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets skated four road games in five nights for week five of the 2016-17 campaign and gained five points to improve to 7-3-2 and 16 points after 12 games. It was the only trip of the season for the Komets to Tulsa, Missouri and Wichita.The week started on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at Tulsa with a 4-3 overtime loss. The Komets rallied from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game and send it into overtime where they earned a point. Jamie Schaafsma, Kyle Thomas and Shawn Szydlowski each potted goals for the Komets. Eric Hartzell suffered his second straight overtime loss in his sixth straight appearance making 32 saves on 36 shots.-Gamesheet-
Friday and Saturday the Komets scored back-to-back victories at Missouri to earn a sweep of both games against the Mavericks. Goaltender Keegan Asmundson earned the 6-4 win Friday in his first appearance of the season stopping 16 of 20 shots. Gabriel Desjardins registered his first two-goal game of the year. Mike Embach, Curtis Leonard, Garrett Thompson and Trevor Cheek each contributed goals. Embach also dished two assists for a three-point night. Saturday netminder Eric Hartzell enjoyed his first road win of the year 6-1 stopping 30 of 31 shots. Six players scored for Fort Wayne including Mike Cazzola, Desjardins, David Friedmann, Embach, Szydlowski and Cody Sol.-Friday's gamesheet--Saturday's gamesheet-
Sunday the Komets spotted the Thunder at Wichita five goals before mounting a comeback. Fort Wayne rallied again with three unanswered goals by Friedmann, Schaafsma and Szydlowski but the Thunder held on for a 5-3 win and snapped the Komets point streak at five games. Hartzell suffered his third loss of the year stopping 12 of 16 shots. Asmundson made six saves on seven shots in relief.-Gamesheet-
The Komets return home to host Quad City Friday at 8pm before enjoying a rare Saturday and Sunday off.Komet streaks-- Five Komets completed the week and returned home riding point-scoring streaks. Shawn Szydlowski has points in seven straight games (5g, 6a) and has points in five straight road games (4g, 5a), Jamie Schaafsma also had points in each game last week for a four-game point streak (2g, 3a) and has had at least a point in each road game played this season for a seven-game road point-scoring streak (4g, 5a), Mike Embach has a three-game assist and point streak (2g, 4a), David Friedmann has a three game point streak (2g, 2a) and Cody Sol finished with points in the each of the last three games of the week (1g, 4a).Komet leaders-- Szydlowski leads with six goals and 14 points.....Szydlowski and Sol are tied at the top with eight assists....Sol leads the Komets and ranks second in the ECHL with +13 and 40 penalty minutes.-Teamstats-Icing the puck-- The Komets finished the week out-shooting their opponents 146-110 and were 4/17 on the power play while going 20-23 on the penalty kill in the four games played. Fort Wayne's PK unit ranks second in the ECHL with 89.7% (52/56). The Komets are 5-1-0 when leading after the first period and 7-0-0 when leading after the second period. The Komets are 6-0-0 when scoring first.
THE WEEK AHEADFriday, Nov. 18, Quad City (7-3-1, 15 points) at Komets (7-3-2, 16 points), 8pm-- The Komets will host division rival Quad City Friday night. It's the third of 12 meetings this season and the second of six visits by the Mallards. The third-place Komets hold a 2-0-0 series lead after two meetings and lead fourth-place Quad City by a point in the Central Division. Each team has logged 12 games and each team is idle until Friday's match. The Mallards are riding a four-game point streak (3-0-1) and are 7-1-1 in their last nine games, having lost only one game in regulation since opening the season with two straight losses. After Friday's game in Fort Wayne, Quad City will return home to host Wheeling in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday.-Schedule-
TIP-A-KOMET Tuesday at Applebee's-- The Komets invite all fans to the Tip-A-Komet benefit at Applebee’s North Clinton location by the Coliseum Tuesday from 6:30pm-8pm. Fans have a chance to be served dinner by a Komet player as the entire team will be on-hand for the special night at Applebee’s. All tips benefit Applebee’s Make-A-Wish Foundation Fundraising efforts. For more information fans can call the Komet office at 260-483-0011.Kids Seat Free Friday-- Once again this season the Komets feature Kids Seat Free Nights. The next Kids Seat Free Night is this Friday when Quad City visits, courtesy Aunt Millie's, Parkview Health and the Komets. Any child under the age of 12 can see the game for free with a full-priced adult ticket purchase.
Friday night Marathon Nights-- Again this year Komet fans can save on their Friday night tickets with Marathon. Fans can earn a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer with the purchase of three fill-ups at participating Marathon locations. Save with your Marathon Fill-Up Card this Friday when the Komets face the Mallards.Looking ahead-- After this week the Komets will host the Kalamazoo Wings for Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov. 24 at 7:30pm and then Quad City returns Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7:30pm. It will be Military Appreciation Weekend as the Komets pay tribute to the U.S. Military with special jerseys both nights. A silent auction for each game-worn jersey will be held each night, with the final bids being placed during the 2nd Intermission Saturday. Proceeds will support the Military Families program of Associated Churches. Also, all military, active and veterans, can take advantage of the Komets' Military Appreciation Ticket Offer where they can buy one ticket and get one free with a military I.D. for both games Thanksgiving weekend courtesy of Komets Hero Salute Corporate Partner, Fifth Third Bank.
Also at the games on Thanksgiving and Saturday, Nov. 26, Komets Kare Package returns to benefit our veterans through the Veterans Administration Health System. Items collected will be distributed to over 45,000 veterans in the VA throughout Northeast Indiana. Non-food items are sought, such as gift certificates, games, toys, magazines, personal toiletries, coloring books, caps, gloves, blankets, cleaning supplies, T-shirts, underwear and more will be accepted.
REPORT CARD NIGHT Saturday, Nov. 26-- The Komets present the annual PHP Report Card Night Saturday, Nov. 26 when the Mallards return to Sweetwater Ice at the Memorial Coliseum. Students with an "A" or "A Equivalent" on their most recent report card earn a free ticket and have a chance to win a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bonds for future education. Report cards or letters showing an "A" or equivalent can be taken to the Coliseum Ticket Office any time before the game.
Komets on the air-- Komet games are scheduled to air this season on WOWO AM 1190 and FM 107.5. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide as presented by Omni Source Radio Recycle at www.komets.com.
Single game tickets and Season Tickets on sale-- Single game tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at TicketMaster.com. Season tickets continue to be on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. For more information visit Komets.com or call 260-483-0011.