The Komets announced Monday that defenseman Bobby Phillips has agreed to terms and will return to the Turner Cup Champion Fort Wayne Komets for 2010-11.
Phillips, 24, skated 66 games last year netting two goals and adding 14 assists for 16 points in his pro debut after a four-year stint with Mercyhurst College in the NCAA. He was also named IHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Jan. 10.
Phillips appeared in all 12 playoff games en route to the IHL Turner Cup Championship contributing an assist and two penalty minutes.
The Komets also announced Monday that defenseman Kevin Bertram and left winger Konstantin Shafranov will not be returning.
Bertram, 33, is a veteran of eight seasons, seven with the Komets. He retired after six games of the 2004-05 season and became a member of Fort Wayne Fire Department. Bertram decided to lace the skates up again in 2007 and after a three-year layoff, skated with the Komets for three additional seasons and three straight league championships to add to his Fort Wayne championship of 2003. He was the Komets' Defenseman of the Year for 2001-02 and Unsung Hero for 2007-08. Bertram was also named the Komets' Unsung Hero for 2008-09 with P.C. Drouin. Bertram's Fort Wayne career consisted of 387 regular season games with 23 goals, 75 assists for 98 points and 944 penalty minutes.
Shafranov, 41, became a huge Fort Wayne fan favorite during three separate stints with the Komets starting in 1995-96. The forward returned in 1997-98 for a full season in Fort Wayne before returning to Russia for 1998-99. Shafranov returned to appear in two Fort Wayne playoff games in 1999 and complete parts of three seasons with the Komets in the old International Hockey League. Shafranov followed with 20 games with Fort Wayne during the Komets' inaugural 1999-00 UHL season. After eight seasons of play in the Russian elite league, Shafranov returned to Fort Wayne and skated the final three seasons of his career winning three straight IHL championships. Shafranov becomes one of only two players to have encompassed all three leagues the Komets have been members of over their 58-year history. Defenseman Guy Dupuis shares that distinction with Shafranov. Shafranov also shares the accolade of the longest goal-scoring streak by a Fort Wayne player with Merv Dubchak and John Purves. Shafranov scored at least one goal per game totaling 13 goals over a span of eight straight games during his first season with Fort Wayne in 1995-96.
The Komets will begin training camp the week of Oct. 4 and expect to open their 59th consecutive season the weekend of Oct. 16. The Komets will continue to be a member of the International Hockey League and participate in the Central Hockey League under the CHL moniker. As announced by the IHL and CHL June 1, both leagues have joined forces for the upcoming campaign. The circuit will consist of 13 CHL teams and five IHL teams for an 18-team coalition.
Comments
Did they IHL break down and are now playing with 6 vets? This might mean that they're playing with a lower salary cap also?
There just has to be more information about this "association" period. When can we expect it Blake? I know when your vacation is over and/or the IHL/CHL release it! Sorry! Dumb question.
the vet limit last season in the CHL was at 4
Bringing Bobby back is the best news to come from the Komets this off-season... Coupled with Bertram hanging it up, a solid day of roster moves.
Let's get Shrocky Balboa to ink a contract.
Leo Thomas, O'Conner, DeAngelis...
Other then getting Chaulk back for another season getting Schrock signed is by far one of the biggest requirements!
Anyone think Woods will be back ???????
I agree that it would be nice to get Schrock back! JM, which one were you happier about? LOL!
mightbite, let's hope not!
Nice thing about getting players like Phillips, Schrock, Deangelis, O'Connor, etc... is that they will all count as "developmental players (rookies) in the CHL.... If I remember right its 160 games or fewer.... Will go check, my memory isnt always the best...lol
128 Games or fewer I do believe
I would not hold my breath on Schrock if I were you....that boy may get looks from a camp or two....I would not be the first to predict that. I'd love to hear that, personally, even though I'd love to be greedy and keep him here for us. I hate to see him go, that's for sure, but I'd love to see him realize his dream.
Chaulk would definitely be one vet I would take back in a heartbeat. He still has it. Even though my son scored a wicked goal on him tonight....LOL....gotta love that....
what i want to know is if Schebig will be back, haven't seen that announced yet.
Thanks Shawn, I thought 160 looked like too many after I posted that and then somebody sent me a msg saying they thought it was closer to 120... Bottom line is that is basically 2 seasons that you can count the same guys as basically a rookie... I like that alot better than what the IHL had for rookies...
I do believe they are at an impass right now in dshebigs contract negotiations...
Rumor has it he's holding out for orange headphones, the scorers area painted orange, and the ok to use orange ink pens to record stats....
Couldnt resist...... :)
I selfishly say i want shrocky back!! On the other hand, if he goes higher, he will be back in orange and black someday when his time is up since he is a fw native :)
JR-The IHL/CHL or whatever it is called requires black ink only on their forms. I want the same deal I have had for 37 years. Show up do your job and leave. I did get a huge raise. 10X more than I got last year..
Lets see 10X0= $0000000000.00
I can't get orange anything unless I purchase it.It would be nice if I could. Do you have any pull with Randy Brown?
I did get a promise to sit by Burgee at the end of the season party. He brings those little pills and buys the Foo Foo's.
You keep picking on my schebig your gonna lose your seat! I bought you all the chips and pretzels you could handle that night.
FYI - I heard on the news this morning that the K's will play a 66-game schedule - 2/3 against IHL opponents and the other 1/3 against CHL opponents.
Do you remember what station?
Woods will not be back mightbite....sorry. This ihl/chl thing gives the Komets the chance rebuild the roster with new younger players that will become the stars of the future. We were getting a little old on the roster. Hope this thing works out. Personaly I think the echl is a better fit but willing to try this thing a year to see how it plays out. Gotta do something since we were losing so many teams in the I.
i could see dupuis leaving, anyone else?
I think that if we are going down to 4 vets that Thomas and Chaulk are the only 2 I'd re-sign.
Huk is getting injury prone more and more... And he's talked about retirement the last couple of years.
Bert and Shaf are out.
That leaves PC and Guy... feelings will differ from mine. I respect what both guys have done for the team and to entertain me personally.. but there comes a time that things have to change. I'd like to see the Komets use thier two spots for Vets that are big physical defensemen.. (Mario Joly) If the Komets can re-sign Chaulk and Thomas along with Schrock, OC, and some other young guns with speed I think the forwards will be fine.
Komets need "KING-KONG HENLEY"
Check this recruiting video out for a CHL team..
http://main.laredobucks.net/lockerroom/recruiting/laredo-bucks-recruiting-video.html
Was that video made in 1988? The chick was wearing a denim jumper with a big belt. I feel so much better about "dating" the CHL now.
I was going to crack on hockey towns "down south" but then I remembered there's a whole lot of hockey north of us and they may think the same of us. :-)
1st class team owned condos? A custom bus (did you see that beast?) with bunks with individual video monitors? Where do I sign up?
Guess that monster expands the definition of a bus league but considering the distances they have to travel I guess it's a good thing.
I wonder how many other teams have recruiting videos? It would be fun to see them.
Another thought. I wonder if the use of the young good looking ladies throughout the video reflects the age of the players they are use to dealing with? In other words, do they send the video to players with wives?
Steve....that video for married players w/jealous wives comes with a far more unattractive spokesmodel who could not land Jabba the Hutt in her bed even if he was tripped as he was walking past and the ship tipped in that direction.
:) Speculation in the offseason.....ya gotta love it!
Wow. Nice... um... pool.
Well, if the Komets ever want to make a recruitment video, the red-headed hockey chicks can dig out their bikinis.
And my sister once told me that you know a destination is boring if by page 2 of the travel booklet they are saying, "... and we have FISHING!" :D
"We have the best fans in the CHL." Not anymore!
My favorite is that you can golf at one of their TWO 18 hole golf courses.... geez, so many choices... not sure what to do!!! I grew up in a town of 3000 that had two golf courses... but there may have been three homicides there, ever, so that changes it all!!