KOMETS ADD VETERAN
SPEED
10-year pro Daniel Goneau agrees to terms
Kelly Miller re-signs
Fort Wayne, IN --- The Komets announced Tuesday that veteran skaters Daniel
Goneau and Kelly Miller have agreed to terms for 2006-07.
Goneau (guh-NOW), 30, is a 10-year pro with NHL
experience. The left winger was chosen by New York in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft
and appeared in 53 games with the Rangers over 3 seasons from 1996 to 2000
registering 13 goals and 15 points while adding 14 penalty minutes. Goneau also
offers AHL experience of 244 games (73g, 152pts) in stints with Binghamton,
Hartford, Hershey and Lowell. He was a member of the 2000 AHL Calder Cup
Champion Hartford Wolf Pack. Recently Goneau led Fife (BNL, France) with 37
assists and 59 points during the 2003-04 season and was selected a BNL All-Star.
During the 2004-05 season Goneau led Epinal (French league) with 15 assists and
25 points in 25 games.
"We're very fortunate to have
Danny. He's a veteran with a tremendous amount of experience which includes
playing for the New York Rangers," Komet head coach Pat Bingham said. "He brings
skill and speed and with the new rule changes and the game opening up he's going
to be an impact player for us." Last season the Montreal, Quebec native appeared
in 52 games with Laval of the LNAH scoring 23 goals and 62 points. Goneau skated
with recently signed Komet Bruce Richardson in Louisiana in the ECHL during
2002-03 posting a career high 43 assists, 64 points and 102 penalty minutes in
48 games.
Miller, 27, will be starting his 3rd season with
the Komets. Last season the veteran center posted 12 goals, 30 points and 92
penalty minutes in 56 games. Miller registered 2 3-point games, scored 4 game
winning goals and was one of the top Komets in the shootout with 6 goals out of
10 attempts. "Kelly adds the diversity of speed, good hands and an aggressive
style which fits perfectly with coach Bingham's game plan," commented general
manager David Franke.
The Toledo native joined Fort
Wayne in December after starting 2005-06 as an assistant coach with the Alpena
IceDiggers (juniors) of the North American Hockey League. Miller, a 2004 UHL
All-Star while a member of the Rockford IceHogs, was awarded the Komet's "Mr.
Hustle Award" for 2005-06 and will be entering his 7th pro year.
"We're building our team around
speed and skill," added Bingham. "We're fortunate to have both Danny and Kelly
on our team."
The addition of Goneau and Miller
brings the Komet offense up to 5 skaters including Bruce Richardson, Jonathan
Goodwin and David Hukalo. The Komet defense includes Guy Dupuis, Mike
Dombkiewicz and Kevin Hansen. Veteran goaltender Kevin St. Pierre rounds out the
Komet roster at 9 players to date.
