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 | Wednesday, July 14, 2010 --- Nick Boucher and Sean O'Connor become the sixth and seventh players to return for a chance at another Fort Wayne championship, the Komets announced Wednesday.

Boucher, 29, will return for his fourth straight season after earning an unprecedented three straight championships in the Fort Wayne nets.  Boucher ranked second to teammate Tim Haun among IHL netminders in 2009-10 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .921 save percentage while posting a 23-10-1-2 record in 39 games. 

Boucher led IHL goalies in the 2010 playoffs for the third straight year with a 6-3 record and 2.62 goals-against average.  Boucher was honored with three IHL Goaltender of the Week awards for the 2009-10 campaign and was named the IHL's Goaltender of the Month for January.  2010-11 will be Boucher's eighth as a pro. 

The goaltender is spending the summer as a member of the Sydney Bears of the Australia Ice Hockey league and leads AIHL goalies currently with a 2.02 goals-against average and .936 save percentage (5-2-2) after nine appearances.  The Leduc, Alberta native began his career in 2003 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

O'Connor, 23, has skated each of his two pro seasons with the Komets, collecting the Turner Cup Title each year and plans on staying in Fort Wayne for this third.  The Brownstown, Michigan native started 2009-10 appearing in three games with Kalamazoo in the ECHL before returning to Fort Wayne. 

O'Connor scored 23 goals and 51 points in 72 games to earn a spot on the 2009-10 IHL All-Rookie Team.  O'Connor netted five goals and nine points in 12 post-season appearances en route to the IHL championship.  During his pro debut, O'Connor earned Fort Wayne honors as the team's Rookie of the Year for 2008-09 registering 23 goals and 47 points in 59 games.

The Fort Wayne roster reaches 13 players including eight forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender.  In addition to Boucher and O'Connor, forwards Leo Thomas and P.C. Drouin and defensemen Danko Mironovic, Keith Rodger and Bobby Phillips are returning from last year.  New to the Komet roster this year will be forwards Matt Ward, Joe Bluhm, Brandon Naurato, Derek Patrosso and Brant Marple and defenseman Craig Cescon.

Komets' 59th home opener Oct. 16.....The reigning IHL Turner Cup Champion Komets will begin training camp Oct. 4 and skate the home opener of their 59th consecutive season Saturday, 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 in the Northern Conference.  The circuit will consist of 13 CHL teams and five IHL teams for an 18-team coalition.

Season tickets are now on sale at the Komets' 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, or visit the Komets online at www.komets.com.
 

Nick Boucher, Goalie, Born Dec 29 1980, Leduc, ALTA, Height 5.11, Weight 175
Season   Team                        Lge    GP   Min   GA  EN SO   GAA   W   L   T   Svs    Pct
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997-98  Cowichan Valley Capitals    BCHL   20   918   65   0  0  4.25   6   7   0   465  0.877
1999-00  Dartmouth College           NCAA   24  1378   66   0  1  2.87   8  12   3   642  0.907
2000-01  Dartmouth College           NCAA   33  1966   84   0  1  2.56  16  12   4   867  0.912
2001-02  Dartmouth College           NCAA   21  1187   57   0  1  2.88   9   7   4   528  0.903
2002-03  Dartmouth College           NCAA   27  1602   80   0  0  3.00  17   9   0   766  0.905
2003-04  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pen   AHL     6   205    7   0  0  2.05   1   0   1    84  0.923
2003-04  Wheeling Nailers            ECHL   29  1696   70   3  4  2.48  20   6   1   694  0.908
2004-05  Pee Dee Pride               ECHL   50  2648  121   4  3  2.74  17  22   5  1218  0.910
2005-06  Elmira Jackals              UHL    34  1856  122   0  1  3.94  10  18   4   968  0.888
2005-06  Muskegon Fury               UHL    10   541   24   0  2  2.66   6   4   0   233  0.907
2007-08  Fort Wayne Komets           IHL    31  1861   72   0  0  2.32  24   2   4   760  0.913
2008-09  Fort Wayne Komets           IHL    54  3204  130   0  3  2.43  32  14   7  1475  0.919
2009-10  Fort Wayne Komets           IHL    39  2188   91   0  3  2.49  23  10   3  1060  0.921

Sean O'Connor, Right Wing, Born Jan 31 1987, Brownstown, MI, Height 5.11, Weight 180, Shoots R
                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003-04  Erie Otters                 OHL    68   13   21   34   35   9   1   4   5   6
2004-05  Erie Otters                 OHL    67    9   22   31   65   6   1   1   2   8
2005-06  Erie Otters                 OHL    68   19   37   56   81  --  --  --  --  --
2006-07  Erie Otters                 OHL    20    8   17   25   27  --  --  --  --  --
2006-07  Plymouth Whalers            OHL    28    9   17   26   19  20   7   7  14   2
2007-08  Plymouth Whalers            OHL     8    0    2    2    6  --  --  --  --  --
2007-08  London Knights              OHL    48   17   26   43   46   5   0   2   2   0
2008-09  Augusta Lynx                ECHL    1    0    0    0    0  --  --  --  --  --
2008-09  Fort Wayne Komets           IHL    59   23   24   47   28  11   2   9  11  10
2009-10  Kalamazoo Wings             ECHL    3    1    1    2    2  --  --  --  --  --
2009-10  Fort Wayne Komets           IHL    72   23   28   51   59  12   5   4   9   6