Fort Wayne, IN — The Komets announced Wednesday that skater Colin Chaulk has inked an agreement to remain with the IHL club for his third defense of a Fort Wayne championship when the 2009-10 campaign gets underway in October.

Chaulk, 32, will be entering his 12th career year and seventh season with the Komets.  He will also serve as player-assistant coach to Al Sims for his third straight season. 

Chaulk was a three-time winner of the league's Best Defensive Forward award during the Komets' UHL years of 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2005-06.  Chaulk has a chance to break into the Komets' top 10 list of all-time point leaders in the upcoming season.  The veteran center is 16 points shy of tying former Komet great Lionel Repka who ranks 10th with 492 Komet career points. 

Chaulk started last season scoring an IHL high 10 assists, 13 points and +10 with points in each of the five games played in October to earn the IHL's Player of the Month award before injury shortened his season to 38 games.  Chaulk completed the season scoring a total of 45 assists and 53 points before skating with the Komets to a second consecutive Turner Cup title. 

The Toronto, Ontario native appeared in all 11 Fort Wayne playoff games registering seven assists and eight points to pull even with former Komet Reggie Primeau for a seventh-best 53 points on the Komets' all-time playoff point list.

The Komets also announced Wednesday that center Leo Thomas and goaltender Tim Haun have agreed to terms for 2009-10.

Thomas, 27, will be returning for his second season with the Komets after skating 60 games last year scoring 27 goals and 52 points.  Thomas was acquired from Bloomington after nine games with the PrairieThunder last season. 

The veteran skater posted three goals and eight points en route to the 2009 Turner Cup title and was honored with the Komets' Mr. Hustle award for 2008-09.  Thomas hails from Toronto, Ontario and 2009-10 will be his seventh pro season.

Haun, 29, will be returning to Fort Wayne after a brief stint with the Komets last season.  The netminder participated in the Komets' training camp and appeared in two preseason games (1-0-0, 2.99 gaa, .870 spct) before starting the season with Huntsville in the SPHL.  Haun was called up by the Komets in December and appeared in eight games, registering a 4-2-2 record and 3.04 goals-against average. During his short stay with the Komets Haun was named the IHL Goaltender of the Week twice and earned the IHL Goaltender of the Month award for December.  Haun completed 2008-09 with Huntsville and ranked second in the SPHL among goaltenders with a 2.62 goals-against average in 25 games.

The addition of Chaulk, Thomas and Haun brings the Komets preseason roster up to 10 players including five forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender (bios).

The Komets updated preseason roster can be viewed at the Komet website at www.komets.com.

Komets align affiliation with Evansville AAHL.....The Komets have entered into a working relationship with the Evansville IceMen of the All American Hockey League (AAHL) for 2009-10.  Evansville head coach Jack Collins will be in Fort Wayne during training camp to assist Komet head coach Al Sims. 

"Once we knew Evansville was coming to the IHL in the near future, we thought it would be good to work with them and introduce them to the IHL brand," Komet general manager David Franke said.  "If the Komets get short-handed during the season we will look to Evansville for short-term relief.  Evansville general manager Chip Rossetti was very instrumental in getting the relationship going between the Komets and IceMen."

The IceMen will also receive some training camp spots in the Komet camp for the 2009-10 season.

The Komets will open their defense of the IHL Turner Cup championship when the 58th season of Komet Hockey in Fort Wayne gets underway in October.  Season tickets, at a savings over walk-up prices, are on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne.  Season ticket packages include all 38 regular season home games and two pre-season games.  For information fans can visit www.Komets.com or call the Komet office at 260-483-0011.