Fort Wayne, IN — The Komets announced Wednesday that center Rick Varone has agreed to terms and will return to the Komets for 2009-10. 

Varone, 26, was named to last year's IHL All-Rookie Team after completing the season with 23 goals and 32 assists to rank second in the league among rookies with 55 points in 75 games.  Varone started his pro debut last season with IHL Rookie of the Week honors for the first week of action and collected the IHL's Rookie of the Month Award for October.  The Woodridge, Ontario native was also named a co-winner of the Komets' Rookie of the Year Award with teammate Sean O'Connor.  Varone appeared in all 11 playoff games posting two goals and eight points while helping the Komets to their second straight IHL Turner Cup Championship.

The Komets also announced Wednesday that rookies T.J. Schneider and Kelly Reynolds have agreed to terms and will be in the Komet camp when it begins Oct. 5th.

Schneider, 25, has completed four seasons with the Utica Pioneers in NCAA Division III.  The center scored five goals and 15 points in 25 games last year.

Reynolds, 25, also finished four seasons of NCAA Division III play last year.  The defenseman posted two assists and 30 penalty minutes last season in 29 games with St. Scholastica.

The Komets preseason roster grows to 26 players with 16 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders.

The Komets will begin their Turner Cup defense on the road at Hara Arena in Dayton Friday, Oct. 16 at 7:30pm against the new Gems.  Fort Wayne's 58th home opener is slated for Friday, Oct. 23rd when the Komets face the visiting Bloomington PrairieThunder at 8pm. 

The Komets will host two preseason games at the Memorial Coliseum.  Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Gems will visit for a 7:30pm exhibition.  Friday, Oct. 9, the Komets will host the Muskegon Lumberjacks at 8pm in the first of a home-and-home preseason series.  The Komets will travel to Muskegon to face the 'Jacks Saturday night, Oct. 10, at Walker Arena at 7pm.

The Komets' complete 2009-10 schedule can be viewed at www.Komets.com, or by clicking here.

Season tickets, at a savings over walk-up prices, are still 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.