Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

Fort Wayne Komets Hockey Team

1952 53 Program by James Weiler on Archive.org.

www.komets.com playing at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum since 1952.

50 years of Komets hockey : a players' history by Taylor, Ryan; Graham, Don F., 1938-; Allen County Public Library Foundation, Publication Date 2002, on Archive.org.
October 20, 2022 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:

HISTORY JOURNAL Oct. 25, 1952: The Fort Wayne Komets made their hockey debut in front of about 5,000 people at the new Memorial Coliseum. The Komets begin their 2022-23 season Friday in Indianapolis and have their home opener Saturday. Check out previews tomorrow in The Journal Gazette.

Oct. 25, 1952: Fort Wayne Komets make hockey debut by Corey McMaken published Oct 20, 2022.
Trailing the Komets blog by Blake Sebring at The News-Sentinel newspaper..
What do the Komets mean to Fort Wayne? their 60th Anniversary history October 21, 2011 by Blake Sebring of The News-Sentinel and "Komets krazy: Franke brothers, team celebrate 60th" October 29, 2011 article on FWDailyNews.com.
‘Spaceman’ no monkey Myths of Komets’ iconic logo dispelled Justin A. Cohn November 3, 2011 The Journal Gazette newspaper now archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
Fort Wayne Komets on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
May 21, 2013 was the 20th anniversary of the miracle championship. Here is the first in a two-part series looking back at the 1993 championship won by the Fort Wayne Komets Komets prepared all season to go for 1993 title - Tonight is 20th anniversary of miracle championship and May 22, 2013 part two - Komets shocked the hockey world with 1993 Turner Cup title - Sweep and upset of Gulls will never be forgotten both by Blake Sebring of The News-Sentinel newspaper now archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
Frankes celebrating 25 years of Komets ownership Here's how everything else has changed in minor league hockey since 1990 by Blake Sebring published October 21, 2014 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
March 27 In 1964, the Komets hold ``Eddie Long Night.'' When the Fort Wayne Komets first came to town in 1952, they...
Posted by Fort Wayne Sports History on Sunday, March 26, 2023

Sunday, March 26, 2023 post by Fort Wayne Sports History on Facebook:

March 27

In 1964, the Komets hold ``Eddie Long Night.''

When the Fort Wayne Komets first came to town in 1952, they held a free exhibition two nights before their first game to introduce the sport to the fans.

Then-News-Sentinel Sports Editor Ben Tenny wrote, ``It didn't take me long to see that the young short skater who was wearing No. 16 on his white jersey had that desire to win and get ahead that makes some athletes outstanding. If the play of this youngster is typical of the play fans will see in the International Hockey League, hockey will make it in Fort Wayne.''

Hockey made it, and so did Eddie Long. Long played 14 seasons for the Komets, and his No. 16 became the first Komets' jersey to be retired on March 27, 1965. The Komets shocked Long by sneaking his mother into town for the event.

During his playing days, Long scored 459 goals, 465 assists and 924 points while earning 845 penalty minutes in 858 games. He retired as the IHL's all-time leading scorer.

He ranks second in games played, goals, assists and points and is ninth in penalty minutes on the Komets' all-time lists.

``But Eddie Long is more than a statistic – he’s a spirit, the spirit of competition,'' former News-Sentinel Sports Editor Bud Gallmeier wrote at Long's retirement in 1965. ``He only knew one way to play the game – as hard as he could. Eddie would burn more energy during one shift on the ice than many players do in an entire game.''

During his career, ``Tiny Mite'' as he was first known, became ``Mr. Komet.''

Long was part of two Turner Cup championship teams, played in four IHL All-Star games, was the league's MVP in 1963 and was named all-league three times.
April 8, 2023 post by Fort Wayne Sports History on Facebook:

April 9

In 1963, the Komets rally from a 6-1 deficit to beat Muskegon in their greatest playoff comeback.

Muskegon joined the IHL in 1963 and became an immediate thorn in the Komets' side, taking a 2-0 lead in the semifinals before the Komets rallied to take the series 4-2. Game 6 turned out to be the largest playoff comeback in Komets history, as they gave up six consecutive goals to fall behind 6-1 early in the second period. But a goal by Gary Sharp and a pair of short-handed tallies by Len Thornson before the period ended gave the Komets hope.

``We knew we were that good that we could come back," defenseman Lionel Repka said. ``Sometimes when you don't have the team, you get your head down, but that year we were able to scramble back."

Bobby Rivard and Norm Waslawski scored in the third period to force overtime. After a shaky start, goaltender Chuck Adamson finished with 38 saves, but Eddie Long may have made the largest stop. In overtime, Muskegon's Larry Lund tried a shot from 10 feet, which Adamson blocked, but the puck trickled through his legs toward the goal line. It was halfway across the goal line when Long popped into the crease to slap the puck away.

Adamson made great saves on Joe Kiss and Joe Kastelic to keep his team alive until Waslawski won three straight power-play face-offs back to Roger Maisonneuve. Maisonneuve buried the third at 5:28 to win the game 7-6 and send the Komets to the finals.

``I think the big comeback and how we related to it was the turning point for us," Waslawski said. ``The guys really got motivated. After we won that game, it was like we figured nobody could beat us. There was always someone taking up the slack."

During the finals, the Komets beat Minneapolis in five games to win their first title.
April 23, 2023 post by Fort Wayne Sports History on Facebook:

April 23

In 1963, the Komets win their first Turner Cup.

Next year finally arrived for the Fort Wayne Komets in 1963. After bitter disappointments in 1959, 1960 and subpar seasons in 1961 and 1962, the Komets finally won their first Turner Cup championship in 1963.

Except it wasn't that easy. No one would have predicted this would have been the team to break through. The Komets earned 75 points to win the regular-season title by a point over Minneapolis, finishing 3-7 over their last 10 games, including losing four of the last five.

They also had to deal with history.

``The longer you go and you don't win, the harder it is because you have to start all over again from Game 1 the next year," Komets forward Eddie Long said.

The nucleus included Len Thornson, Reggie Primeau, John Goodwin, Lionel Repka and Long. Coach Ken Ullyot added Bobby Rivard, Roger Maisonneuve, Norm Waslawski and goaltender Chuck Adamson. Gary Sharp was added for the playoffs.

``We used to get together as a group away from the rink every once in a while and everybody got along together well," Thornson said.

They needed that camaraderie to come back and beat Muskegon in six games in the first round before taking on Minneapolis in the finals.

The Komets lost the second game at home 6-1 to Minneapolis, but won the next three games, including two at St. Paul. The Komets won the series 4-1 as 5,026 people joined them at Memorial Coliseum to celebrate. Finally, next year had arrived.

Also, in 2008, Indiana Tech cornerstone Dan Kline announces his retirement.

Kline served 30 years at Indiana Tech as men's basketball coach, athletic director, women's basketball coach and as vice president for student life. His men's teams were 274-243 in 18 seasons and made 14 trips to postseason tournaments.

Also, in 1999, the Komets play their final game in the original International Hockey League.
October 18, 2023 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:

HISTORY JOURNAL ▸ April 23, 1963: Andy Mulligan, commissioner of the International Hockey League, presents the Turner Memorial Trophy to Komets captain Eddie Long after the Komets won their first championship.

Read more, including the game recap from 1963: April 23, 1963: Komets win Fort Wayne's first Turner Cup

The Komets open the 2023-24 regular season Friday on the road and Saturday at home against the Indy Fuel. See a preview package from The Journal Gazette's Justin A. Cohn in print and online Friday.
December 11, 2023 post by Fort Wayne Komets on Facebook:

We are saddened to announce that Komet president and co-owner Michael Franke has passed after a lengthy battle with cancer at the age of 63.

Full Story

Home > News > komets.co/MichaelFranke
December 11, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

VIDEO: Here's a look back at the enormous impact Komets team president & co-owner Michael Franke had on the Summit City sports scene as sports director Glenn Marini reflects on Franke's legacy.
December 30, 2023 post by Fort Wayne Komets on Facebook:

For the first time in the Komet's 72-year history, a woman will be calling tonight's game!

Fiona Quinn will be taking over the reins from Shane (who will be joining as the color commentator) for tonight's game in Indy.

For the first time in the Komet's 72-year history, a woman will be calling tonight's game!

Quinn, 19, is a freshman at Indiana Tech and does play-by-play for local high-school hockey teams and can be heard on the home broadcast as the color analyst for the Komets. This is her 4th season with the team, spending the first 3 seasons keeping stats for the broadcast.

Over the offseason, she spent time around the Komet office helping to write and fact-check the current edition of the record book with Shane.

Tonight she will be adding a record of her own 🎙️ Congrats, Fiona!
December 30, 2023 video post by Fort Wayne Komets on Facebook:

We’ve got a GOALIE FIGHT and Brett Brochu is serving up right hooks!