The Komets announced Wednesday that skater Colin Chaulk has inked an agreement to remain with the IHL club for his third defense of a Fort Wayne championship when the 2009-10 campaign gets underway in October.
Chaulk, 32, will be entering his 12th career year and seventh season with the Komets. He will also serve as player-assistant coach to Al Sims for his third straight season.
Chaulk was a three-time winner of the league's Best Defensive Forward award during the Komets' UHL years of 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2005-06. Chaulk has a chance to break into the Komets' top 10 list of all-time point leaders in the upcoming season. The veteran center is 16 points shy of tying former Komet great Lionel Repka who ranks 10th with 492 Komet career points.
Chaulk started last season scoring an IHL high 10 assists, 13 points and +10 with points in each of the five games played in October to earn the IHL's Player of the Month award before injury shortened his season to 38 games. Chaulk completed the season scoring a total of 45 assists and 53 points before skating with the Komets to a second consecutive Turner Cup title.
The Toronto, Ontario native appeared in all 11 Fort Wayne playoff games registering seven assists and eight points to pull even with former Komet Reggie Primeau for a seventh-best 53 points on the Komets' all-time playoff point list.
The Komets also announced Wednesday that center Leo Thomas and goaltender Tim Haun have agreed to terms for 2009-10.
Thomas, 27, will be returning for his second season with the Komets after skating 60 games last year scoring 27 goals and 52 points. Thomas was acquired from Bloomington after nine games with the PrairieThunder last season.
The veteran skater posted three goals and eight points en route to the 2009 Turner Cup title and was honored with the Komets' Mr. Hustle award for 2008-09. Thomas hails from Toronto, Ontario and 2009-10 will be his seventh pro season.
Haun, 29, will be returning to Fort Wayne after a brief stint with the Komets last season. The netminder participated in the Komets' training camp and appeared in two preseason games (1-0-0, 2.99 gaa, .870 spct) before starting the season with Huntsville in the SPHL. Haun was called up by the Komets in December and appeared in eight games, registering a 4-2-2 record and 3.04 goals-against average. During his short stay with the Komets Haun was named the IHL Goaltender of the Week twice and earned the IHL Goaltender of the Month award for December. Haun completed 2008-09 with Huntsville and ranked second in the SPHL among goaltenders with a 2.62 goals-against average in 25 games.
Komets align affiliation with Evansville AAHL.....The Komets have entered into a working relationship with the Evansville IceMen of the All American Hockey League (AAHL) for 2009-10. Evansville head coach Jack Collins will be in Fort Wayne during training camp to assist Komet head coach Al Sims.
"Once we knew Evansville was coming to the IHL in the near future, we thought it would be good to work with them and introduce them to the IHL brand," Komet general manager David Franke said. "If the Komets get short-handed during the season we will look to Evansville for short-term relief. Evansville general manager Chip Rossetti was very instrumental in getting the relationship going between the Komets and IceMen."
The IceMen will also receive some training camp spots in the Komet camp for the 2009-10 season.
Comments
Wow!! I don't know where to start. The signings of Chaulk and Thomas are great and for more than just the obvious reasons. They are both good faceoff men and if they are put together on the same power play the Komets will always have someone to put in the faceoff circle in case one gets thrown out. The fact that one shoots righthanded and the other lefthanded means that both faceoff circles are covered also. Signing Haun give the Komets a very capable goaltender. I read with interest Blake's story on Ken Ullyot. I had blogged a few days ago that if you have the opportunity to please read pages 72 and 73 in "Legends of the Komets." Ullyot describes some of the problems the IHL had between seasons and they sure were similar to this off season. I can't help this, so forgive me for beating a dead horse. You all know how I feel about the Port Huron-Toledo exhibition game and how I think the IHL should have nothing to do with the ECHL. It was very interesting how the old EHL (no relationship to the present ECHL) and the IHL cooperated one season by playing an interlocking schedule and then the EHL stole two franchises away.
3 great signings... Haun has earned his spot
We need some fighters to be signed.
Very good news, indeed. And I'm glad Haun will get another shot at the AA level. He certainly proved his worth in my book. I was hoping he would land somewhere this season.
I like all of the news today. All 3 players will be huge for the Komets this coming season. Thomas is a star. Haun can be the #1 someday. Chaulk is a legend.
I like the Evansville situation alot. It is only a positive thing in my opinion. It serves several things....player call-ups, development of players in lower leagues, gets the IHL name and product out there more, attracts more fans, attracts more players, and gets Evansville ready for IHL hockey...plus I guess we could send them players on ocasion as well. I like it alot.
Any chance other IHL teams align with teams in the AAHL?
I too think that the IHL playing with the ECHL in any shape or form is kinda tacky. Pickard and the ECHL were involved in shinanigans trying to sink the IHL and trying to mail teams in this league to the ECHL. I don't wish people bad luck, but I wouldn't be sad to see Pickard and the ECHL fall flat on their collective faces.
David Franke is a genius. Best GM in all of minor league hockey.
Oh, happy day!
The Haun signing is great and surprising at the same time. Dayton is going to be needing a starting goalie since Leplante will probably retire. Haun has earned at least a chance at being a #1 somewhere.
Then again, Boucher may only play one more year and if Haun plays solid 20-25 games this year, he might find himself as a #1 for a great organization instead of having to face 40 shots a night playing in front of crickets in Flint.
Wow great news! I am happy that leo is back. I really liked Haun last year when he was here, I am looking forward to seeing how he does.