Komets Re-Sign Forward Leo Thomas


KOMETS RE-SIGN TWO-TIME CHAMPION THOMAS
Veteran equipment manager Joe Franke returns to the Komet locker room

Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets announced Thursday that veteran center Leo Thomas has agreed to terms and will be returning for his fourth consecutive season with the K's.

Thomas, 29, skated to IHL championships with the Komets in 2009 and 2010 and led Fort Wayne during the 2009-10 regular season with 33 goals.  Last season Thomas posted 18 goals, 27 points and 70 penalty minutes in 50 games.  During his Fort Wayne career of 182 games Thomas has amassed a total of 78 goals, 61 assists and 139 points.  The Toronto, Ontario native has been the recipient of the Komets' Mr. Hustle Award in 2008-09 and was named Unsung Hero for 2009-10.  Thomas will be entering his ninth career year since making his pro debut with Flint in the UHL in 2003-04 following a Continental Elite Hockey League championship with Detroit in 2002-03 when he led the Lightning with 42 goals and 84 points in 50 games.

The Komets' preseason roster grows to 22 players with the addition of Thomas and includes 13 forwards, eight defensemen and one goaltender. 
 
Joe Franke returns to manage Komet locker room

The Komets also announced Thursday that Joe Franke will be returning to the Komet locker room as equipment manager for the upcoming season.  The 30-year hockey veteran began his career as Komet equipment manager in 1978 and served in Fort Wayne until joining Indianapolis of the Central Hockey League in 1983.  He then served five years with Muskegon in the International Hockey League before his move to the NHL with Pittsburgh in 1989 where he earned a Stanley Cup ring as a member of the 1990-91 champion Penguins.  Franke returned to Fort Wayne in 1991 and worked the Komets' locker room for an additional 15 consecutive seasons thru the 2005-06 season collecting two league championships.  "Joe Franke is one of the top equipment managers in professional hockey," Komet general manager David Franke, who is no relation, said.  "He has worked in the NHL, IHL, AHL, UHL and CHL.  Joe is dependable, hard working and an expert at profiling and sharpening player skates, managing equipment, etc."  Franke most recently was a member of the New York Islanders NHL organization from 2008-2010. 



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