Komets general manager David Franke still believes he will have a coach in place by June 1, though he declined to get into specifics about potential candidates – with one exception.In 2007-08, Nick Boucher and Kevin Reiter were a formidable goaltending duo that led the Komets to a championship during their first season in the re-formed IHL.
For Fort Wayne’s first season in the Central Hockey League, the Boucher-Reiter combination could be back together.
The Komets have already signed Boucher, who led the Komets to three consecutive IHL playoff championships, and they’re close to re-signing Reiter.
“It’s a possibility,” Komets general manager David Franke said Thursday.
“We are talking to him, and that’s where we’re at right now. It’s a strong possibility.”
Reiter, 28, spent the last two seasons playing in England, though injuries limited his playing time.
In his one season with the Komets, though, he was 32-10-4 with a 2.34 goals-against average, and he was selected as IHL Goaltender of the Year.
Reiter was 3-3 with a 2.84 GAA in the 2008 playoffs, but it was Boucher who guided the Komets back from their 3-1 Turner Cup Finals deficit against Port Huron.
Reiter, whose role was filled the last two seasons by Sebastien Laplante and then Tim Haun, last season’s Goaltender of the Year in the IHL, couldn’t be reached for comment.
Reiter spent time with Basingstoke, Sheffield and Newcastle in England, though a hernia cost him much of last season.
“I got in touch with him, just to see where he’s at with everything. I wasn’t sure whether he was going to be to Europe this season,” Franke said.
“I’ll probably know early-to-mid next week at the latest what’s going to happen.”
Boucher, the IHL’s Goaltender of the Year in 2008-09, went 23-10-3 with a 2.49 GAA last season. In the playoffs, he was 6-3 with 2.62 GAA.
Boucher, 29, has spent this summer playing for the Sydney Bears in the Australian Ice Hockey League, and the Bears will be competing in the playoff semifinals this weekend.
