Fort Wayne Komets Press Release




FORT WAYNE KOMETS PRESS RELEASE Fort Wayne Komet Hockey Club 1010 Memorial Way, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 \| 260.483.0011 Contact: Chuck Bailey, Director of Communications 260.482.6550 \| chuck@komets.com

Komets add three to roster 2009-10 leading scorer Leo Thomas re-signs *Fort Wayne, IN \| Wednesday, July 7, 2010 ---* The Komets announced Wednesday that veteran forward Leo Thomas has agreed to terms and will return for his third straight season with Fort Wayne. Thomas, 28, will be entering his eighth pro season. Thomas (6-1, 190) made his pro debut in 2003-04 with Flint of the UHL and played for three seasons. Thomas appeared in 58 games with Laredo of the CHL in 2006-07 before skating in the 2007 CHL Finals with the Bucks. Thomas was a member of the IHL's Bloomington PrairieThunder parts of two seasons from 2007 to 2008 before joining the Komets in December of 2008. The Toronto, Ontario native finished 2009-10 leading the Komets with 33 goals and adding 27 assists for 60 points in 72 games. Thomas has appeared in all of Fort Wayne's playoff games the past two seasons totaling eight goals and 19 points in 23 post-season games while capturing two straight IHL Turner Cup Championships. Thomas was honored with the Komets' "Mr. Hustle" award for 2008-09 and the Unsung Hero Award for 2009-10. The Komets also announced the addition of defenseman Craig Cescon and forward Matt Ward to the 2010-11 roster. Cescon, 23, will be starting his fourth pro year after a two-year ECHL stint in Idaho 2007-2009. Last year the defenseman registered a goal and eight points in 76 games with the IHL's Flint Generals. Cescon (6-2, 195) is a native of Mississauga, Ontario and appeared in all 12 of Flint's playoff games including the five-game Finals run for the Turner Cup against the Komets. Ward, 25, completed four years at Neumann College of the NCAA last season and also made his pro debut skating eight games with Reading in the ECHL scoring two goals and six points. The Kemptville, Ontario native led the Knights in scoring the last two seasons while guiding Neumann College to an NCAA Division III National Championship in 2009. Ward (5-9, 175) also was named the Knights' most valuable player for 2008-09 while playing alongside 2010 Komet champion and Fort Wayne native Kaleigh Schrock. The Fort Wayne roster grows to eight players with today's signings. In addition to Thomas, Cescon and Ward, the lineup includes defensemen Bobby Phillips, Danko Mironovic and Keith Rodger and forwards Derek Patrosso and Brandon Naurato. Komet camp opens Oct. 4.....The Komets will begin training camp the week of Oct. 4 and expect to open their 59th consecutive season the weekend of Oct. 16. The Komets will continue to be a member of the International Hockey League and participate in the Central Hockey League under the CHL moniker. As announced by the IHL and CHL June 1, both leagues have joined forces for the upcoming campaign. The circuit will consist of 13 CHL teams and five IHL teams for an 18-team coalition. Season tickets for the 59th season of Fort Wayne Komet Hockey are now on sale at the Komet's office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. Fans can enjoy a savings of up to 20% off walk-up prices with season ticket packages. For more information call the Komet office at 260-483-0011. Komets honorary grand marshals of 2010 Fort Wayne Festival Parade......This year's Fort Wayne Newspapers Three Rivers Festival parade will celebrate both of Fort Wayne's championship teams. The Komets and Tin Caps will serve as honorary co-grand marshals after the Komets won their third straight IHL Turner Cup title in 2010 and the Tin Caps captured the 2009 Midwest League crown. The parade will be held this Saturday, July 10, in downtown Fort Wayne at 10am.
Leo Thomas, Center, Born Dec 9 1981, Toronto, ONT, Height 6-1, Weight 190, Shoots R --- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ---- Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2000-01 Capital Centre Pride NAHL 20 3 5 8 74 2001-02 Capital Centre Pride NAHL 50 17 27 44 95 2002-03 Detroit Lightning CEHL 50 42 42 84 101 2003-04 Flint Generals UHL 71 18 19 37 73 3 0 0 0 4 2004-05 Flint Generals UHL 45 12 14 26 52 -- -- -- -- -- 2004-05 Laval Chiefs LNAH 14 1 4 5 2 2005-06 Flint Generals UHL 76 34 37 71 115 -- -- -- -- -- 2006-07 Laredo Bucks CHL 58 21 24 45 112 21 8 10 18 28 2007-08 Bloomington PrairieThunde IHL 71 21 41 62 127 -- -- -- -- -- 2007-08 Peoria Rivermen AHL 1 0 0 0 2 -- -- -- -- -- 2008-09 Bloomington PrairieThunde IHL 9 4 2 6 41 -- -- -- -- -- 2008-09 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 60 27 25 52 76 11 3 5 8 10 2009-10 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 72 33 27 60 57 12 5 6 11 10 Craig Cescon, Defense, Born Aug 18 1986, Mississauga, ONT , Height 6-2, Weight 195, Shoots L --- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ---- Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002-03 Burlington Cougars OPJHL 39 2 7 9 90 2003-04 Plymouth Whalers OHL 55 1 4 5 146 8 0 0 0 7 2004-05 Plymouth Whalers OHL 28 0 1 1 38 -- -- -- -- -- 2004-05 Mississauga IceDogs OHL 28 1 5 6 91 5 0 1 1 4 2005-06 Mississauga IceDogs OHL 29 1 3 4 128 -- -- -- -- -- 2005-06 Peterborough Petes OHL 39 0 1 1 111 19 0 1 1 48 2006-07 Peterborough Petes OHL 68 0 9 9 198 -- -- -- -- -- 2006-07 New Mexico Scorpions CHL -- -- -- -- -- 11 0 1 1 4 2007-08 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 50 3 3 6 149 1 0 0 0 2 2008-09 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 13 0 0 0 46 -- -- -- -- -- 2009-10 Flint Generals IHL 76 1 7 8 195 12 0 1 1 37 Matt Ward, Forward, Born Mar 28 1985, Kemptville, ONT , Height 5-9, Weight 175, Shoots L --- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ---- Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2006-07 Neumann College NCAA 24 14 27 41 24 2007-08 Neumann College NCAA 26 4 14 18 24 2008-09 Neumann College NCAA 27 21 21 42 43 2009-10 Reading Royals ECHL 8 2 4 6 4 -- -- -- -- -- 2009-10 Neumann College NCAA 23 10 17 27 20