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

Fort Wayne, IN | Tuesday, July 13, 2010 ---  The Komets announced Tuesday that three more players have agreed to terms for 2010-11.  Veteran P.C. Drouin has signed on for a run at his fourth straight Fort Wayne championship.  Forwards Joe Bluhm and Brant Marple, the top two University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire scorers for 2009-10, have also claimed spots in the Fort Wayne lineup.

Drouin, 36, will be entering his 15th pro year and sixth season with the Komets.  The left winger will be looking for his fourth Komet championship after collecting his third straight Turner Cup last season.  Drouin ranked second in the Komets' 2009-10 lineup with 56 assists and 82 points and finished the season earning IHL Player of the Month honors for April. 

Drouin led Fort Wayne to it's third consecutive IHL Title scoring 13 assists and 18 points appearing in all 12 post-season games.  The St. Lambert, Quebec native as named a 2008-09 IHL First Team Al-Star while leading the Komets with 66 assists for his second straight year and adding 32 goals for a career best 98 points.  Drouin began his career with Providence of the AHL in 1996 after signing as a free agent that year with the NHL's Boston Bruins.


Bluhm, 25, led the 2009-10 Blugolds in his senior year of NCAA Division III play with a college career best 22 points scoring nine goals and adding 13 assists in 27 games.  Bluhm was named the 2009-10 Team MVP and earned All-NCHA honorable mention for the year. 

The Red Wing, Minnesota native also was named an All-WIAC First Team First Team selection. 
Prior to his college play, Bluhm skated three seasons of junior hockey with Fairbanks (NAHL) from 2003-2006.


Marple, 25, led Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2009-10 with a college career high 14 assists while scoring six goals and 20 points.  The Apple Valley, Minnesota native received All-NCHA Honorable Mention recognition for 2009-10 and earned First Team All-WIAC Honorable Mention recognition for the year. 

Marple also skated two years with Northern Michigan University from 2004-2007 and two years of juniors (NAHL) with Santa Fe from 2004-2006) before appearing the past two seasons with the Blugolds. 

The Fort Wayne roster grows to 11 players with today's signings including seven forwards and four defensemen.

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.

Hoist the Cup with P.C. Friday.....Fans can hoist the Turner Cup with P.C. Drouin this Friday, July 16, at the Three Rivers Insurance Group office at 10729 Coldwater Road in Fort Wayne, north of Dupont Road.  Drouin and the Cup will be on hand for photos and autographs from 9AM to 5PM.  Autographed pucks and two game-used P.C. Drouin sticks will be given away. 
 

P.C. Drouin, Left Wing, Born Apr 22 1974, St. Lambert, PQ, Height 6.02, Weight 200, Shoots L
                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992-93  Cornell University          NCAA   23    3    6    9   30
1993-94  Cornell University          NCAA   21    6   14   20   30
1994-95  Cornell University          NCAA   26    4   15   19   48
1995-96  Cornell University          NCAA   31   18   14   32   60
1996-97  Providence Bruins           AHL    42   12   11   23   10  --  --  --  --  --
1996-97  Boston Bruins               NHL     3    0    0    0    0  --  --  --  --  --
1997-98  Charlotte Checkers          ECHL   62   21   46   67   57   7   2   4   6   4
1997-98  Providence Bruins           AHL     7    0    2    2    4  --  --  --  --  --
1998-99  Bracknell Bees              BISL   42   12   21   33   12
1999-00  Bracknell Bees              BISL   40   15   29   44   46   6   2   3   5  10
2000-01  Nottingham Panthers         BISL   48   20   34   54   64   6   3   2   5  18
2001-02  Nottingham Panthers         BISL   48   18   34   52   78   6   2   4   6   4
2002-03  Augsburg Panthers           DEL    52   12   25   37   96  --  --  --  --  --
2003-04  Jokerit Helsinki            FNL    57   11   15   26   82   8   2   2   4   8
2004-05  Fort Wayne Komets           UHL    78   24   50   74   87  18   8  11  19  26
2005-06  Fort Wayne Komets           UHL    72   24   50   74   92   5   0   6   6   2
2006-07  Morzine-Avoriaz             Franc  26   20   17   37   78
2007-08  Nottingham Panthers         EIHL   16    4   11   15   26  --  --  --  --  --
2007-08  Fort Wayne Komets           IHL    62   23   51   74   53  13   3   4   7   8
2008-09  Fort Wayne Komets           IHL    75   32   66   98   92  --  --  --  --  --
2009-10  Fort Wayne Komets           IHL    76   26   56   82   58  12   5  13  18  16

Joe Bluhm, Forward, Born Aug 22 1985, Red Wing, MN, Height 5.10, Weight 189
                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003-04  Fairbanks Ice Dogs          NAHL    4    2    0    2    4
2004-05  Fairbanks Ice Dogs          NAHL   39    4    4    8   46
2005-06  Fairbanks Ice Dogs          NAHL   43    7   16   23   88
2006-07  Wis-Superior                NCAA   17    2    1    3
2007-08  Wis-Superior                NCAA   25    2    2    4
2008-09  Wis-Eau Claire              NCAA   27   14    6   20   34
2009-10  Wis-Eau Claire              NCAA   27    9   13   22   46
 
Brant Marple, Forward, Born Aug 13 1985, Apple Valley, MN, Height 5.10, Weight 175, Shoots R
                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004-05  Santa Fe Roadrunners        NAHL   44   10    3   13   20
2005-06  Santa Fe Roadrunners        NAHL   58   17   27   44   43
2006-07  Northern Michigan Univers   NCAA    7    0    0    0    0
2007-08  Northern Michigan Univers   NCAA    9    0    1    1    2
2008-09  Wis-Eau Claire              NCAA   26    4   14   18   35
2009-10  Wis-Eau Claire              NCAA   27    6   14   20   18