General manager David Franke said the Komets “are trying to set a tone” with their first two player signings for next season, forward Matt Firman and defenseman Mathieu Gagnon.FORT WAYNE – Bob Chase will handle the play-by-play duties for the Komets’ radio broadcast for a 60th consecutive season, and the games will be broadcast on WOWO (1190 AM and 92.3 FM).
A two-year broadcast rights extension was announced Tuesday.
“We are looking forward to working with one of the finest teams in all of minor-league sports for their 61st anniversary season,” WOWO market manager Jim Allgeier said in a news release.
The Komets will play in the ECHL this season. Training camp opens Saturday at Memorial Coliseum.
The station is expected to broadcast all 76 regular-season games, and the games will be available online at www.komets.com.
“The Komets are happy to be back with WOWO radio, AM and FM, as we start play in the ECHL,” Komets president Michael Franke said in the release.
“For decades, WOWO radio and the Komets have been very important parts of the community.”
Chase has called each of the Komets’ seasons except their first. He will be honored with the Lester Patrick Award for contributions to hockey in the U.S. on Oct. 15 in Dallas, and much of the reason for that was WOWO’s reach beyond Fort Wayne that allowed him to bring hockey to various markets.
The Komets will play preseason games Oct. 6 and 7 at Memorial Coliseum against Evansville, but those games will not be on radio.
The regular season opens Oct. 12 at the Coliseum against the Kalamazoo Wings.
Note: Defenseman Brent Henley will attend training camp with the American Hockey League’s Connecticut Whale, the team confirmed.
