Komets Clinch Back-to-Back IHL Turner Cups

[VodkaFish]

FORT WAYNE WINS SERIES 4-1

ROCHESTER, MI - The Fort Wayne Komets defeated the Muskegon Lumberjacks 4-1 Friday night to capture their sixth Turner Cup Championship as a member of the International Hockey League. The Komets won the series 4-1 to earn their first back-to-back championships in their 57-year franchise history.

Fort Wayne struck early in the first in front of a sellout crowd of 10,480 fans when Justin Hodgman carried the puck around the back of the net, pulling Lumberjacks goaltender Kevin Armstrong to his right, passing to a wide-open Rick Varone who buried it in the open goal. Muskegon defenseman Dan Boeser evened the score with just five seconds left in the opening stanza, scoring a four-on-three power play goal for the Lumberjacks.

Komets forward Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn notched in his third playoff goal at the 13:57 mark, tipping in a shot from the bottom of the left circle, giving the Komets a 2-1 lead, which ended up being the game-winning goal. Fort Wayne continued the scoring into the third when Leo Thomas netted his third of the playoffs 4:45 into the period. Hodgman also chipped in the scoring column, adding his seventh tally of the playoffs to give the Komets a 4-1 lead, which is where the game would remain. Komets goaltender Nick Boucher made a total of 22 saves to earn his eighth win of the playoffs.

Hukalo was named the International Hockey League’s Turner Cup Playoff Most Valuable Player. He scored four goals and dished out three assists in the championship series, netting a hat trick in game two. He posted a total of 16 points (eight goals, six assists) and a plus-6 rating in the 11 playoff games played by the Komets.

Tonight’s victory makes Komets head coach Al Sims the seventh coach in IHL history to win back-to-back Turner Cups.

SERIES “C” RESULTS
FORT WAYNE VS. MUSKEGON
Game One Thursday, April 30 Muskegon 1 @ Fort Wayne 2 (OT)
Game Two Saturday, May 2 Muskegon 1 @ Fort Wayne 7
Game Three Tuesday, May 5 Fort Wayne 5 @ Muskegon 2
Game Four Wednesday, May 6 Fort Wayne 3 @ Muskegon 4 (OT)
Game Five Friday, May 8 Muskegon 1 @ Fort Wayne 4

[Grittzkey]

Boooo!!!!

Fort Wayne sucks.

[Sgriff]

Originally Posted by Grittzkey

Boooo!!!!

Fort Wayne sucks.

Come Grittzkey at least show your favorite K's fan some love.

[MrFrost]

BIG props to the Komets and the fans. You guys riddled our asses with boots. I think more happy than the rest of Ft Wayne that you won it home honestly. Thanks for a great season. Im gonna miss the guys until next season if im still in the Muskegon office. I might not do it next season due to the difficult classes Ill be taking. But once again, congrats and thanks to Ft Wayne players, staff, and especially the fans.

Nic

[MrFrost]

Oh and Mac for IHL fighter of the year

[lovelost]

Expect the same team next year, we might just get three in a row.

I expect everyone to be back except for Varone, OConner, Hodgman, Curedeau, and Mironovic. Legs and Mac will be back from sure and All the Vets will stay. Sims acted like Aldolf is longterm so thats good.

[Sgriff]

Originally Posted by lovelost

Expect the same team next year, we might just get three in a row.

I expect everyone to be back except for Varone, OConner, Hodgman, Curedeau, and Mironovic. Legs and Mac will be back from sure and All the Vets will stay. Sims acted like Aldolf is longterm so thats good.

Yes I do expect most of the Vets to return from this year. I say Boucher will look for greener pastures since he has won two and I think Leg's has seen his better days in Fort Wayne and I think Mac will look to the ECHL again. I know there is a rumor with Woods and I think he would be a great addition back in a K's jersey but we will see. I know the Toledo coach was at playoff games through out the play-off's scouting for next year's Toledo team.

I think it is very important the IHL expands next year. I hope Quad City and Dayton come into the IHL. The only problem if they do I am sure their will be an expansion draft to help those two clubs out.

[MrFrost]

Ya know I dont think any of the players will try to go to the ECHL unless the money is far better than now. ECHL is falling apart. Mac I think will stay in Ft like Later will stay in Muskegon. They are THEE fan favorite and are treated like celebrities. If the IHL expends, that would be awesome cuz then we could go to 2 divisions too. Plus i think next season will be better in the fighting dept. There were some guys signed to PTO's this past season that I never thought would be. DBA, Doyle, Yovanic, etc. I think itll be better next year.

[Grittzkey]

It started out fine.. Ended horribly.

Gratz to Komets adn Fans on the B2B Cups.. Lets hope for a better overall year next year for everyone.. Maybe a team like Flint, but with every team having that type of toughness.

[Grittzkey]

Originally Posted by MrFrost

Oh and Mac for IHL fighter of the year

What about the Justin 'the punching bag' styffe?>

[MrFrost]

Originally Posted by Grittzkey

What about the Justin 'the punching bag' styffe?>

Styffe isnt the fighter of the year. Styffe and Jurynec are a tough choice for "Most Willing". Both of them guys are gamers. I currently would say Jurynec over Styffe. Styffe didnt fight Snowy and i am willing to drop a C note saying Jurynec wouldve even if he knew he would lose badly. Jurynec also is more personable. Styffe isnt much of a talker.

When we gonna do the end of the year awards FFan?

[Grittzkey]

It was supposed to be like a joke.. hense the 'punching bag' part.

[MrFrost]

Oh sorry... I think?