The Komets announced (Thursday) that three players have been added to the preseason roster. Left wing Stephon Thorne will be returning for another season with the Komets after collecting the CHL Presidents’ Cup last year. The Komets also announced that J.P. Chabot has agreed to terms for the 2012-13 season. Also, goaltender Kenny Reiter, who signed a two-way deal with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, is expected to be assigned to Fort Wayne if he doesn't make the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in training camp.
Thorne, 22, made his rookie debut with the Komets last year scoring 11 goals and 32 points in 64 games and was named the Komets' Most Improved Player of the Year. The left wing appeared in all 18 playoff games netting a goal and six points before hoisting his first pro championship cup. The Mississauga, Ontario native skated three seasons with Brampton (OHL) before joining the Komets last season.
Chabot, 24, will be entering his fourth pro year after a career best season with Arizona in the CHL. Chabot (shuh-BAHT) led the Sundogs in 2011-12 with 22 goals and dished 22 assists for 44 points while accumulating 162 penalty minutes. The center made his pro debut in the ECHL skating stints with Charlotte (2009-10) and Bakersfield (2010-11).
Reiter, 25, completed five seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs last year. The rookie netminder backstopped the Bulldogs to the 2011 NCAA Championship during his senior year while pursuing an undergraduate degree in finance with a 3.5 GPA, graduating in 2011. Last season, while working on his MBA in his fifth year for UMD, Reiter registered a college career best 23-9-6 record while posting a 2.43 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 38 games. The netminder also appeared in one AHL game with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native is a brother of former Komet goaltender Kevin Reiter, who was a member of the Komets during 2007-08 and 2010-11.
