Komets add four to preseason roster

Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets announced Monday that they have added four players to the preseason roster.  Forward Garrett Ladd, defensemen Jarret Kup and Oskari Halme, and goaltender Gordy Defiel have inked player tryout agreements.

The Komets acquired Ladd's rights from Tulsa on Aug. 29.  Ladd, 28, will be entering his fourth pro season after skating eight games in the EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League) in the UK last season.  Ladd also appeared in 48 ECHL games with Tulsa posting a career year of 21 goals, 25 assists to rank third on the Oilers with 46 points.  The Fenton, Michigan native made his pro debut in the ECHL with Stockton appearing in four games at the end of the 2014-15 season and following a five year college career at Bemidji State University and the University of Wisconsin. Ladd has also logged ECHL stints with Adirondack, Elmira and Missouri.  The forward has amassed ECHL career totals of 42 goals, 46 assists and 88 points in 146 games.

Kup, 25, finished a four-year college career with Curry College last year leading Curry defensemen for the second straight season with 19 points.  The Rosseau, Ontario native also skated eight SPHL games with Macon scoring four assists.  Prior to college, Kup completed two years of junior play with Kingston in the OJHL (Ontario Junior Hockey League) in 2013-14 leading Voyageurs' defensemen with career highs of 25 assists and 27 points in 53 games.

Halme (Oscar-ee Halm-ee), 20, completed a five-year juniors career in his native Finland in 2016-17 before leading USPHL (United States Premier Hockey League) defensemen with 60 points (26g, 34a) in 35 games last season with the Minnesota Blue Ox. Halme then capped the year in the National Collegiate Development Conference with the Islanders Hockey Club winning the NCDC championship.

Defiel (DAY-feel), 25, made his pro debut last season appearing on one ECHL game with Orlando while also posting 22 SPHL games with Pensacola.  The Stillwater, Minnesota native completed a three-year college career in 2016-17 with Lake Superior State in the WCHA.  Defiel registered a career best 2.47 goals-against average in 29 games during 2015-16 and was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team and Third All-Star Team.  Prior to college, Defiel back-stopped Coquitlam to a BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League) championship in 2013-14.  In 2012-13, the netminder also recorded the SIJHL's (Superior International Junior Hockey League) best goals-against average of 1.39 and best save percentage of .945 before claiming his second straight SIJHL championship.

The Komets preseason roster grows to 28 and includes 16 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders.-See Komets preseason roster-

Komets face Indy in preseason-- The Komets will skate two exhibition games against the Indy Fuel.  On Friday, Oct. 5, the Komets will face the intrastate rival at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis at 6pm.  Saturday, Oct. 6 the Komets host Indy at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne at 7:30pm. 

Two game dates at Cincinnati changed-- The Komets also announced Wednesday that two road games at Cincinnati have been moved.  The game originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26 has been changed to Wednesday, Nov. 28.  And the game originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23 has been moved to Friday, Jan. 4.  Both games will start at 7:35pm at the U.S. Bank Arena in downtown Cincinnati.-See Komets schedule-

Single game tickets now on sale-- The Komets' 2018-19 season home opener is slated for Saturday, Oct. 20 against the Kalamazoo Wings. Single game tickets and season tickets are on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne.  For more information visit the Komet office, Komets.com or call 260-483-0011.