From a Komets' press release:
The Komets announced Tuesday the addition of five more players to the preseason roster. Returning to the Komet fold are forwards Chris Auger and John Dunbar. Also inking agreements are rookies Joe Hartman (D), Kyle Follmer (D) and Scott Fleming (C).
Auger (aw-SJAY), 25, will be returning to the lineup after missing most of last season due to injury. The Belleville, Ontario native skated four games with the Komets last year tallying a goal and two points before an injury abruptly ended his abbreviated second season with the Komets. Auger made his pro debut with the Mississippi RiverKings of the CHL 2010-11 before serving his second pro year with the Komets in 2011-12 when he led the K's with 28 goals and scored Komet highs of 10 goals and +12 in 18 playoff games en route to the 2012 CHL Presidents' Cup Championship. Auger was also named the Komets' 2011-12 Rookie of the Year. 2013-14 will be his third pro season since serving a four-year college stint at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in Hockey East from 2006 to 2010.
Dunbar, 22, will be back in Fort Wayne after splitting last season with the Komets and Pensacola (SPHL). The forward scored five goals and 10 points in 17 games with Fort Wayne. Dunbar amassed 11 goals and 23 points in 27 regular season games with the Ice Flyers before leading Pensacola to the SPHL Presidents' Cup Championship with team highs of five assists and seven points in seven post-season games. Prior to turning pro, the Calgary, Alberta native skated four seasons with Calgary in the AJHL from 2007-2011, collecting All-Rookie honors in 2008-09 and earning All-Star status in 2009-10. Dunbar also appeared two seasons with Quinnipiac University (ECAC) before making his pro debut last season.
Hartman, 24, will make his pro start with the Komets when the puck drops on the 2013-14 season. The defenseman was selected a USHL All-Star in 2008-09 while a member of the 2009 Clark Cup Champion Indianapolis Ice. Last year Hartman finished four seasons of CCHA play at Miami University-Ohio where he led Redhawk defensemen his rookie season with seven assists. Hartman was also named to the NCAA All-Rookie Team and named Redhawk Rookie of the Year while helping Miami to the 2009-10 NCAA regular season championship. The St. Cloud, Minnesota native also claimed the 2011 Mason Cup Championship before helping Miami to his second NCAA regular season title last year to complete his four-year college run.
Follmer, 25, will also make his pro debut with the Komets this year. The St. Paul, Minnesota native completed four seasons of CCHA play with Northern Michigan last year scoring college totals of 15 goals, 52 assists, 67 points and 194 penalty minutes in 152 games. In 2011-12, Follmer led the Wildcats with 22 assists and topped Northern Michigan defensemen with 26 points in 36 games.
Comments
Auger, upgrade, and Dunbar might be a surprise since he will now be a regular.
I feel very good about the Auger signing. I had a feeling he might've been waiting on another offer. My belief is, if healthy, he will have a very big year. He adds his name to the list of offensive forwards and contributes to my optimism on the season.
In my opinion Dunbar scored the prettiest goal of the season last year. I have no doubt in his ability, attitude, or desire. He is quick and determined. I am looking forward to watching him play and I hope that the K's have some beef lined up to help protect the "smallish" forwards on the roster thus far.
Hartman seems to have a fine list of accomplishments listed after his name. I hope his personal success continues with the Fort Wayne Komets.
Follmer also seems to be a player with some pretty good statistics. Again, I hope he continues to prosper while wearing the Komet crest.
Maybe we will get some more info on Scott Fleming.
No mention of the size of Hartman, Follmer, or Fleming.
Let's get Rizk signed and then as an added surprise, get Vaskivuo under contract.
All in all, a pretty good day for Komet fans.
Alan, more info on Fleming
Fleming, 25, turned pro appearing in six games with the ECHL's Gwinnett Gladiators in 2011-12. The rookie center skated a four-year college tour with Dartmouth College from 2007-11. Fleming was named to the NCAA All-Academic Team in 2008 and during 2008-09 the Plainfield, Ontario native led Big Green with 13 goals in addition to ranking third on the team with 25 points and named to the NCAA All-Academic Team for the second consecutive year. In 2009-10 Fleming led Dartmouth with 22 goals and 39 points. Fleming captained Dartmouth his final college season (2010-11) while leading Green with 31 points.
Where was Fleming skating last year? i.e. the 2012-2013 season. Europe? Hurt? Sounds like he had some production for Gwinnet in the 6 games he played but was there an offer the following year( last year)from Gwinnet?
I understand that some stats gained in Europe do not follow over to HockeyDB. Anyone out there know?
I do like the others that were recently signed. Looks great.
Hartman 6'3 204 Follmer 5'11 202
RG2
Fleming was in the Phoenix Coyotes' prospects camp to start the 2011-12 preseason. Then was sent to Gwinnett where he had a great start to his first professional season (6 games 3g 1a). On October 28th, 2011 he had a concussion and remained on the Gwinnett roster throughout the season. On the Europe stat sites for the 2012-13 season, they state DNP = Did Not Play.
Happy for most of the signings....Fleming is questionable, but w shall see.
GOALIE?
Still wondering where are the players with real experience from the AHL? I remember playing Florida at the end of last season and got our butts handed to us, they had 8 players with AHL experience on their roster, We will be hard pressed unless we get some A players not AAA. What happened with the talks to Guenzel, Shaus and Brittian. Looks like we passed on them since our defenseman spots are just about filled
Yawn. Roster spots get filled but very few players to get excited about. I see another disaster of a season on the horizon with a long off season unless the Ks are lucky enough to receive some very good players from their currently nonexistent NHL/AHL affiliation.
Indy K's fan, I appreciate your opinion. I can even see where your opinion and doubts grow from. However, I couldn't disagree more.
I have been very impressesd with what David Franke and Gary Graham are building. Some goal scorers, some size, lots of speed blended with youth with still only two of the four vet spots filled.
Other "protected" players still not signed include Rizk and Maggio. No one knows for sure and I am anxious to learn who the rest of the squad will be.
The puzzle isn't complete. Some important pieces are yet to be introduced. Yet, I can't help believe that whatever plan they have been working on is coming together as they continue.
Maybe I'm wrong, but so far nothing has made me pause. There are plenty of things that can derail this. Things such as injuries, guys not reporting for camp, offers from Europe, etc.
I can understand some of indy k's apprehension... The Komets have very little "proven" ECHL scoring on the roster at this point. That is just a fact. I see potential in many of these young guys signed thus far; but there is always growing pains for players in their first season in the ECHL, we saw that last season...
All we have right now is a coaches philosophy and players that look like they fit into it... Can it all be put together perfectly to work? We shall see; but I can understand why some are not doing cartwheels with what has been signed so far. I myself am trying to stay optomistic...