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
Glad they were able to sign Boucher...it's a good way to start the roster and build out. He's been solid for us and I don't see that changing. I wish that they would bring Reiter back too, but unfortunately it sounds like that's not going to happen.
I said Boucher was signed,so why announce it now :(
Hit Somebody's Updated Lines:
Chaulk, Drouin,
****,*****,*****
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***,***
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Boucher,****
Go Komets!!!
Boucher was on Kent's show tonight, minus Kent, plus Racey Kasey and Jason Fabini........
He said that the Komets were getting back to putting together a team that takes care of the front of the net....he thinks last year's team didn't do it well.....we all know this.....but he said that the Komets in the past had guys like " Brent Henley 6 foot 6 and Kevin Bertram 6-4 240 and they cleared out and dominated the front of the net defensively...." He commented that the Komets are going back to that style with guys they are bringing in.....
Hope he is right.
Watch them bring both those guys back.....
LOL
Justin Sawyer would fit that bill ;)
Sawyer is available too...
Glad to know the front office is still alive and kicking.
It was rumored that the goaltending would be manned by Boucher and a youngster. Also it was rumored that the announcement this week would be Boucher. Now both have been verified. ( Good work by mightbite-need to give him credit for providing the information long before yesterday ).
The front office and coach have affirmed that goals and goal scorers would be a priority this season. Let's announce some of those guys to help fill out Hit Somebody's lines.
Oh, by the way. It was an interesting quote regarding Henley and Bertram being guys who "cleared out and dominated the front of the net defensively."
Pardon me if I'm wrong, but I think the last good fight Boucher participated in was with Bertram for trying to do exactly that.
I think he was peeved at Bert's lack of effort in doing exactly that, on that given night.
Wonder what Henley's plans are for next season? He's only played a handful of games over the last couple of years. If he's healthy, healed and can get in playing shape... I'd love to see him in training camp.
Alan, turn the page already...a dead horse comes to mind
I would like "King-Kong" Henley back.He missed most if not all last year with a bad knee.
100% for certain Reiter not coming back. He is moving out of state and starting a family and is even thinking of giving up hockey. Have a good source.
Wonder what his brother is doing this coming season?
Heard Nick say on the radio last night that the NHL doesn't target goalies under 6 foot any longer....
Let's take Reiter's brother.
Good idea Hit. He seams to be pretty good and he is someone to Komets can groom to take over in the near future.
He's staying at UMD for his 5th season. He was a redshirt his first year there
Interesting stuff coming down the pipeline soon....
Snuff has turned into an "insider"? ;-)
Come on & spill the beans.
Tell it all.
thats old news snuff ;)
Insider? No. Just an evil advertiser who asks questions.
Tell all? Never. More fun watching you guys guess ;)
Besides, if I came on here and shared what I know why would the people who share stuff with me trust me to tell me more stuff again?
I leave the real news breaking to the gentleman who gets paid to do it.
Dead horse beater, here. ( At least according to someone above ).
Mightbite, can I ask you a question? The "BIG" signing you mentioned, is it a guy big in stature, big in scoring, or both?
Also, when will it be announced?
Thanks in advance.
Alan is not a dead horse beater, he writes books! having said that, i know Snuff knows something mightbite doesn't.
The signing is not big in stature or a big scorer. Pretty tough though...
Maybe I should of said "good" signing for the Komets.
Any news on Bloomington???
Andy mentions tough signing. Mightbite mentions Bloomington. Did the Komets sign Klotz or am I adding 2 and 2 together and getting 3?
Schrock.
Did we re-sign Mitch Woods for the 4th time?
Brad MacMillan?
I saw the Gems made a very nice deal to get Nino Musitelli from Allen.
Also Makway to the Icemen. Big tough D-Man.