The Komets announced Wednesday that Danny Lapointe and Tom Mele will be returning to the Komet lineup when the 60th anniversary camp begins Oct. 10. Rookie Jordy Trottier has also been given a spot in the training camp.
Lapointe, 26, will be returning after an abbreviated Fort Wayne stint last year of 36 games (6g, 16pts). "Danny was a good find for us last season," Komet general manager David Franke said. "He came in and solidified our third line. Let's see what he can do in a full season with the Komets." Lapointe also skated all eight playoff games scoring a goal and two points. 2011-12 will be the center's fifth pro season. Lapointe made his pro debut in the CHL in 2007-08 with Oklahoma City and Rio Grande Valley. He split time with Dayton and Bakersfield in the ECHL during 2008-09 and then split the 2009-10 season with Dayton and Flint in the IHL.
Mele, 25, made his pro debut during the 2011 CHL playoffs making two appearances with the Komets. The forward completed four seasons with American International of the NCAA last year and joined Fort Wayne under amateur status for post-season play. "We liked what we saw last year in practice and the two playoff games he played", Franke said.
The Komets also invited rookie forward Jordy Trottier to the Fort Wayne training camp. Trottier, 22, skated the past two seasons with Bentley University in the Atlantic Hockey Association scoring three goals and nine points in 46 games over the two campaigns. Trottier played junior hockey in the NAHL three seasons 2006-2009. He was the third leading scorer with Mahoning Valley with 18 goals and 46 points in 56 games during 2008-09 and named a 2009 Top Prospects All-Star. Trottier is the son of former IHL player Monty Trottier who played under former Komet player and coach Ron Ullyot with the Indianapolis Checkers during 1985-86 before retiring. Jordy Trottier is also a nephew of NHL Hall-of-Famer Bryan Trottier. "Jordy has moved back to Indianapolis for family reasons and wanted a chance to play in Fort Wayne," said Franke. "He will get every opportunity to make the club."
With the addition of Lapoint, Mele and Trottier, the Komets' preseason roster reaches 12 players.
