The Komets announced Wednesday that veteran goaltender Nick Boucher has agreed to terms for the upcoming 2011-12 season. Boucher will be starting his fifth consecutive season with the Komets when the puck drops in October. Boucher backstopped the Komets to three straight International Hockey League Turner Cup Championships in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. The netminder snagged the IHL Goaltender of the Year Award for 2008-09 and was voted by his teammates as the Komets' Most Valuable Player that year.
"Nick has already been working out at Spiece Fieldhouse in anticipation of the upcoming season," Komet general manager David Franke said. "Nick was not totally happy with his performance last year and wants to get back to championship form. This signing should be good news to all Komet fans. Nick is a fierce competitor and a winner, perfect traits to bring back to the Komets this year."
Boucher, 30, will be entering his ninth season as a pro since being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and making his pro debut in 2003-04 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL.
The Komets also announced Wednesday that rookie forward Todd McIlrath has been inked to the 2011-12 preseason roster. McIlrath (MACK-el-rath), 25, skated the last two seasons in the AAHL and was a member of the Davidson Cup Champion Battle Creek Revolution last season, posting four goals and nine points in five playoff games.
The Livonia, Michigan native also skated for Komet assistant coach Gary Graham when Graham coached the Indiana Ice of the USHL in 2004-05 and 2005-06. McIlrath attended Komet games when he had the opportunity while skating for the Indy Ice and has had a long-time dream of playing in Fort Wayne.
Comments
Schrock is correct!
Whats my prize for having enough logic to know the obvious?
http://auction.nhl.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=157545465&prmenbr=12717464&aunbr=157892175
Here is a jersey to get :)
Hit, I think you got a great start on your lines...well half of the top line at least! (The other 71%.....we will see....)
Klotz will go to the Flyers camp then to AHL camp. Maybe then to CHL or ECHL.
I'm just wondering about bloomy=no coach, players or team name.
I like who the Komets protected although am still wondering if Lardner was still considering retiring and DeAngelis wanting to play abroad. Not to disappointed about Thomas or Curadeau not being protected, but would take Curadeau at a lower salary if he wants to stay. I am surprised however that O'Conner and Lapointe weren't protected since the Komets could protect 8 players. That would still leave 7 roster spots open for newer players.
Happy 4th of July.
Klotz is a free agent, so Komets go sign him :)
Where do I find the protected list ??
I found the Komets protected list on the other blog website.
HS: "the NHL doesn
Anyone stop to think that the reason that some of the "unprotected" players aren't on the list is because they have already signed with the Komets?
Leo Thomas is still in FW. If he wasn't coming back would he be spending his summer here?
Wendy, it is ironic that Thomas is under 6ft. It shows that guys under 6 feet can do the job, although it's rare in the NHL. Also Thomas is pretty old. The new generation of goalies will be larger, ala Luongo. Leo has a girl in town...they didn't protect guys because they don't want them back. There's so many players out there, why hold the guys hostage that they have no plans for by qualifying them?
Wendy....
Next time you quote me....you might want to read the post:
"Heard Nick say on the radio last night that the NHL doesn
JM....
I hear you....and I too knew what you are saying.
I would be shocked to see him back on our team next year.
Anyone know if Komet Kuarters is selling the Mirasty t-shirts on sale or still have them ?
I have 3 game worn Mirasty jerseys,2 signed cards,1 signed fight photo & 0 t-shirts .
The shirts should be free if they are as worthless as he was when he "played" here on the bench.
Mightbite,
Komet Kuarters website has a listing for a Mirasty t-shirt.
http://www.kometkuarters.com/KometGear.htm
Mirasty may of had the best pass of the year when he passed to Chaulk for a goal, was not scared to fight anyone in this league,when other Komets would of "chicken out". IF al would of known how to of used him, he would of ,that is why he sat here..Ever see Jon not drop the gloves, when another player did????
Thanks Bob; I've tried to buy stuff off that site only for them not to have it.
Mightbite, I hear what you are saying, BUT...only being able to dress 18 on a game night and with Mirasty not being able to skate, it's tough to burn a spot on a game like him every night when he can't skate well enough to play a regular shift.
should have read "tough to burn a spot on a game night with a player like him"
One pass does a legend make?
Hit, that wasn't meant to be a critique. I just wanted to point out what I was responding to and give you credit for the quote. I have no doubt that it's absolutely true. Anyone who follows the NHL knows about the trend. Every year there are more very big, very capable guys minding the nets. I was just pointing out the irony of it -- that in considering size first and foremost, they could be overlooking guys like Thomas, the best goalie in the league last year. I just think it's kind of funny when that sort of thing happens. Like the way the Beatles were turned down for a recording contract by several companies when they were starting out. Or the way that exec for M&M wouldn't let Steven Spielberg use the candy in "E.T.", thinking that an ugly alien munching on their product would be bad for business. It's a failure of imagination.
Andy, it's just that I seem to remember reading certain players were retiring, moving, planning to play in Europe etc. Not officially of course. That's all blog talk and not neccesarily worth the keystrokes it took to type it, but one tends to assume there is something to it when it gets posted by someone. Plans do change, of course. But there were plenty of times that the Komets themselves seemed less than enthusiastic about re-signing just about anyone. After last season, I can't blame them. As it is, it looks like there will be a whole lot more returning players than I was expecting.