Fort Wayne, IN — The Komets turned back the visiting Muskegon Lumberjacks Friday night 4-1 to collect their first ever back-to-back championships in the 57-year history of the Fort Wayne franchise.

The Komets defeated the Lumberjacks in the series 4-1 for their sixth IHL championship and seventh overall.

The Komets opened the scoring in the game early in the first period at 1:53 when Rick Varone hit the net for his second goal of the postseason.  Muskegon fought back with a power play marker, the only power play goal surrendered by the Komets in the series, when Dan Boeser bested Komet goaltender Nick Boucher with five seconds remaining in the first frame.

Fort Wayne regained the lead when Mark Versteeg-Lytwin lit the lamp at 13:57 of the second period for the only goal scored in the middle stanza.

The Komets extended their lead with a goal by Leo Thomas at 4:45 of the third period and Justin Hodgman sealed the victory with the final goal of the game,  just as he did last season for the cup, at 5:26.  The Komets held Muskegon at bay for the remainder of the final period for the 4-1 win to complete a sweep of all six home games in the 2009 playoffs. 

Boucher earned his eighth win of the postseason stopping 22 of 23 Muskegon shots while Kevin Armstrong took the loss in the Muskegon net making 34 saves on 38 shots in his first postseason as a pro.

The win gives Al Sims his third consecutive championship as the Komets' head coach and earns him the distinction of being the seventh coach in IHL history to hoist the Turner Cup in back-to-back seasons.  Guy Dupuis, Kevin Bertram and Colin Chaulk each earned their third Fort Wayne championship.

Hukalo MVP......following the game IHL Commissioner Paul Pickard presented winger David Hukalo with the IHL's MVP Trophy.  Hukalo led the Komets in the playoffs with eight goals and 14 points appearing in all 11 games.

Turner Cup Championship Celebration and Jersey Auction Tuesday night.....the Komets announced after the game Friday night that the IHL Turner Cup Championship Celebration and Jersey Auction will be held Tuesday night, May 12, at 6:30pm at the Coliseum in the Expo Hall.  Tickets are $5.00 however season ticket holders and all children 11 and under will be admitted free.

2009 IHL Turner Cup Finals Best-of-Seven Series at a glance
Fort Wayne wins vs Muskegon 4-1
Game 1:  Thursday, April 30, Muskegon1 at Fort Wayne 2, OT
Game 2:  Saturday, May 2, Muskegon 1 at Fort Wayne 7
Game 3:  Tuesday, May 5, Fort Wayne at Muskegon, 7pm
Game 4:  Wednesday, May 6, Fort Wayne at Muskegon, 7pm
Game 5:  Friday, May 8, Muskegon 1 at Fort Wayne 4