The Komets announced Tuesday that three more players have agreed to terms for 2010-11. Veteran P.C. Drouin has signed on for a run at his fourth straight Fort Wayne championship. Forwards Joe Bluhm and Brant Marple, the top two University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire scorers for 2009-10, have also claimed spots in the Fort Wayne lineup.
Drouin, 36, will be entering his 15th pro year and sixth season with the Komets. The left winger will be looking for his fourth Komet championship after collecting his third straight Turner Cup last season. Drouin ranked second in the Komets' 2009-10 lineup with 56 assists and 82 points and finished the season earning IHL Player of the Month honors for April.
Drouin led Fort Wayne to it's third consecutive IHL Title scoring 13 assists and 18 points appearing in all 12 post-season games. The St. Lambert, Quebec native as named a 2008-09 IHL First Team Al-Star while leading the Komets with 66 assists for his second straight year and adding 32 goals for a career best 98 points. Drouin began his career with Providence of the AHL in 1996 after signing as a free agent that year with the NHL's Boston Bruins.
Bluhm, 25, led the 2009-10 Blugolds in his senior year of NCAA Division III play with a college career best 22 points scoring nine goals and adding 13 assists in 27 games. Bluhm was named the 2009-10 Team MVP and earned All-NCHA honorable mention for the year.
The Red Wing, Minnesota native also was named an All-WIAC First Team First Team selection.
Prior to his college play, Bluhm skated three seasons of junior hockey with Fairbanks (NAHL) from 2003-2006.
Marple, 25, led Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2009-10 with a college career high 14 assists while scoring six goals and 20 points. The Apple Valley, Minnesota native received All-NCHA Honorable Mention recognition for 2009-10 and earned First Team All-WIAC Honorable Mention recognition for the year.
Marple also skated two years with Northern Michigan University from 2004-2007 and two years of juniors (NAHL) with Santa Fe from 2004-2006) before appearing the past two seasons with the Blugolds.
The Fort Wayne roster grows to 11 players with today's signings including seven forwards and four defensemen.
