Author Archives: Pro Hockey News Staff Report (with Fort Wayne press release)

Bob Chase awarded Lester Patrick Trophy

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FORT WAYNE, Ind – Komet broadcaster Bob Chase had the perfect night Monday night.   He was honored with one of Hockey’s most prestigious awards while surrounded by family and friends at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame during a sold-out ceremony held at the Plaza of the Americas in Dallas, Texas. Chase was presented with the 2012 Lester Patrick Trophy in a presentation that included the inductions of hockey greats Lou Lamoriello, Mike Modano and Eddie Olczyk who were formally enshrined into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. The NHL has presented the Lester Patrick Trophy annually since 1966 in honor of Lester Patrick.   Patrick spent 50 years in hockey as a player, coach and general manager and was pioneer in the sport’s development. In addition to Chase, Dick Patrick, president of the Washington Capitals since 1982 and grandson of Lester Patrick, also received the honor. Chase moved to Fort Wayne in 1953 and began his career at WOWO AM 1190 Radio which included broadcasting Komet hockey games starting with the 1953-54 season.   The legendary broadcaster has called all nine Fort Wayne’s league championships and 12 regular season titles during his six decades of broadcasting Komet hockey.   “I owe so much to so many, and all to hockey,” Chase said at the awards ceremony last night.   Chase continues at radio-rinkside and the 2012-13 season is his 60th anniversary season of broadcasting play-by-play of Komet games. Komet president Michael Franke attended last night’s presentation in Dallas.   “The hockey world found out last night how much of a treasure Bob has been to the game of hockey, something Komet fans have know for 60 years,” Franke said. Chase will be back at the microphone this Friday night to continue his broadcasting of Komet hockey games when the Komets skate at Kalamazoo at 7:30pm.  
 
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Komets advance with win over Mavericks

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FORT WAYNE, Ind –  The Komets are going to the CHL Finals!  Thursday night 7,049 Fort Wayne faithful witnessed the Komets eliminate the Missouri Mavericks 4 games to 3 in game 7 of the Turner Conference Finals 6-4 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum to give the Komets the CHL Turner Trophy and the right to advance to the Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Finals against the Wichita Thunder. The Komets battled back from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits to eventually earn the win and the right to face Wichita in a best-of-7 series for the CHL’s President’s Cup. Defenseman Frankie DeAngelis opened Fort Wayne’s scoring 4:27 into the first period (PP) before Maverick Ryan Jardine marked the equalizer at 10:25 (PP).  Missouri’s Andrew Courtney scored at 19:07 (PP) to send the Mavericks into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead. Fort Wayne right wing Tom Mele evened the score at 2-2 at 5:57 of the second frame before Jardine’s marker to put Missouri back in the lead at 3-2.  The Komets pulled even at 3-3 when defenseman Jamie Lovell found the twine at 8:29 (PP) to finish the scoring for the second period. The Komets secured the lead for good at 4-3 only 35 seconds into the third period when Bobby Chaumont scored Fort Wayne’s third power play tally of the night.  Winger Chris Auger scored his first goal of the evening at 5:11 for a 5-3 Fort Wayne cushion before Missouri’s John-Scott Dickson’s goal to pull Missouri within one.  With Maverick goalie Charlie Effinger pulled for the extra attacker, Auger hit the empty net with 27 seconds remaining to seal the victory and advance the Komets to the CHL Finals. Komet goaltender Nick Boucher snagged his eighth playoff win in his 13th straight start making 35 saves on 39 shots while Maverick goalie Effinger suffered his fourth post-season loss stopping 33 of 38 Komet shots. The President’s Cup Championship series will be Fort Wayne’s 18th Finals appearance in the 60-year history of the franchise and first as a member of the CHL.  Fort Wayne’s history includes eight league championships. 
The Finals will begin in Wichita with games 1 and 2 at INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday April 29.  The series will switch to Fort Wayne for games 3 and 4 Thursday, May 3 and Saturday, May 5.  The remainder of the Finals schedule will be announced shortly. 
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