Komets reach NHL and AHL affiliations.

Fort Wayne, IN --  The Komets announced Wednesday that they have entered into an affiliation agreement with the National Hockey League's (NHL) Anaheim Ducks and the American Hockey League's (AHL) Norfolk Admirals for 2012-13.  

2012-13 marks the 19th anniversary season of the Ducks in Anaheim since they became a member of the NHL in 1993.  Anaheim's head coach is former Komet player and head coach Bruce Boudreau.  Boudreau skated with the Komets two seasons, 1990-91 and 1991-92 and served as head coach 1993-94 and 1994-95, earning the IHL's Commissioner's Trophy (Coach of the Year)  for 1993-94.  Boudreau joined the Ducks last season after a five-year stint as head coach of the NHL's Washington Capitols.

Current Fort Wayne head coach Al Sims also has history with Anaheim.  After guiding the Komets to the 1993 IHL Turner Cup Championship in his first stint as head coach with the Komets, Sims served as assistant coach with Anaheim for three seasons, 1993-1996, before accepting the position as Head Coach with the NHL's San Jose Sharks for 1996-97.  "I think it's great for our hockey team to have the affiliation and for them to have enough confidence in us to develop their prospects and turn them into good pros," said Sims.  "I am looking forward to the relationship and it should be lots of fun working with some of my old acquaintances within the Ducks organization."

As part of Fort Wayne's affiliation agreement, the Komets will have the opportunity to place up to four players in Norfolk's training camp which starts September 27.  "This will be our most direct pipeline to the American Hockey League since the old IHL in the 1990's," commented Komet general manager David Franke.  "Principle people we will be working with regarding player movement are David McNab, Anaheim's Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, and Norfolk's assistant general manager Bob Ferguson."