Komets Drop Two Straight to Lumberjacks

The Fort Wayne Komets lost a second straight game to the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Friday night, this time on home ice, snapping the Komets 4 game winning streak at the Memorial Coliseum. Things looked positive early on when Leo Thomas netted a power play goal just 45 seconds into the contest after Muskegon’s Travis Banga was called for a hooking penalty. Matt Woodard and Frankie DeAngelis picked up assists on the play. At the 15 minute mark, Fort Wayne’s Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock took on the Lumberjacks’ Mark Cody in a spirited bout that ended with Cody pulling Schrock to the ice on top of him. But there was more fight to come from this Muskegon team, and at 19:09 Lumberjacks forward John DiPace got his team on the board to even the score. Todd Robinson and Robin Bouchard were awarded the assists. The second period began in similar fashion to the first. Muskegon’s Ryan Palmer was whistled for boarding 33 seconds into the middle frame, and the Komets took advantage. Sean O’Connor put the puck past Lumberjacks’ goalie Sebastien Centomo at 1:11 to restore Fort Wayne’s lead. P.C. Drouin was credited with an assist. But at 7:31, Muskegon responded with a goal by forward Todd Robinson to tie the game a second time. Robin Bouchard and John DiPace assisted on the tally. With tempers occasionally flaring throughout the third period, it was Muskegon that capped the scoring at the 14:50 mark when Brian Bicek put a shot past Komets goalie Tim Haun for the go ahead goal. Bobby Bolt was awarded the only assist. As the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the game, Fort Wayne fans seated behind the Muskegon bench were outraged when Robin Bouchard and a few visiting fans began openly taunting and insulting the audience. A few Komets fans began throwing objects onto the ice in retaliation. Anger over Muskegon’s last appearance on Fort Wayne ice on Halloween night was also in evidence. Though Fort Wayne’s Brad MacMillan and Muskegon’s Robin Big Snake are still serving suspensions, Muskegon’s Jason Lawmaster was booed heartily every time he touched the puck. Centomo made 24 saves on 26 shots for the victory. Haun stopped 22 of 25 shots.

Notes: Fort Wayne’s Colin Chaulk missed the game to attend a funeral in Toronto. It was Kevin Bertram’s first appearance since the season opener, during which he suffered a hamstring injury. David Hukalo also made his first home ice appearance after playing his first game of the season the previous weekend in Muskegon. Fort Wayne forward Justin Chwedoruk made his debut with the team, but was scoreless. Muskegon was 0-7 on the power play. Fort Wayne was 2-8. The game had an announced attendance of 8,176.