COLIN CHAULK
Colin Chaulk didn't want to leave the Komets two years ago but felt he had no choice because of a contract dispute. The Komets definitely wanted him back, and Chaulk was one of the first players the team signed last summer after the re-constitution of the International Hockey League. He was voted the team's most valuable player by his teammates after finishing second on the team in scoring with 74 points in 70 games. Among his personal highlights this season were playing his 300th Komets game, and scoring his 100th goal, 300th assist and 400th point as a Komet.

LUCIANO AQUINO
Luciano Aquino came to the Komets after the New York Islanders had written him off in the last year of his contract. He had the reputation as a bad apple but spent this season proving he was a great teammate who deserved another shot. Aquino was the International Hockey League's and the Komets' Rookie of the Year, leading the Komets in scoring and finishing second in the league with 41 goals and 91 points. Four times he was the IHL's Rookie of the Month. He also put together a league-high 16-game point-scoring streak.

MITCH WOODS
A late training camp addition, Woods became an immediate fan favorite with his gumption and earned the team's “Mr. Hustle” award. The rookie scored 15 goals and 36 points in 73 regular-season games and also led the IHL with 297 penalty minutes. Besides standing up for teammates, Woods showed his true worth in the first round of the playoffs against Muskegon. Woods took seven minors during the series, but each time he took a Muskegon player to the penalty box with him, and he also earned seven power-play chances for the Komets.

TERRY MARCHANT
Though he got off to a slow start scoring, the veteran center was productive in every other part of the game, and his stick got hot in January. He was the team's second-leading scorer with 16 points in 14 games and led the team with a plus-17 rating. Overall he finished with 17 goals and 41 points in 66 games with a plus-22 rating. Whenever there was an important faceoff in the Fort Wayne zone, Komets coach Al Sims always seemed to send Marchant onto the ice to take it. He was also the team's sergeant-at-arms in charge of the kangaroo court.

MATT REYNOLDS
When Reynolds played his first professional season, his coach was Al Sims, who loved the way the left wing hustled and worked all night long. When Sims was hired as Komets coach, he immediately called Reynolds and invited him to Fort Wayne. Reynolds responded with his career-best season, scoring 19 goals and 52 points in 76 games with a plus-22 rating. He was also outstanding defensively with a plus-22 rating. Reynolds was one of the Komets' best players in the playoff series against Muskegon.

P.C. DROUIN
After Drouin came back from England in November, the Komets went 48-9-6, improving their power play by 10 percent. Everything they'd been struggling with seemed to click, especially with his booming shot from the point on the power play. The veteran left wing led the team in assists with 51 and became the third-leading scorer with 74 points in only 62 games. He was the IHL's Forward of the Month for March with 11 goals and 22 points in 14 games with a plus-8 rating. He led the team, with 10 of his 23 goals coming on the power play.

MATHIEU CURADEAU
When the Komets got off to a slow start in October and November, this unheralded rookie carried their offense early, surprising everyone. He was supposed to be known for his defense, but the center scored consistently all season, finishing second on the team with 34 goals and fourth overall with 51 points. He also tied with linemate David Hukalo for the lead among the forwards with a plus-31 rating. Curadeau was named the IHL's Rookie of the Month for February and was named to the all-rookie squad at the end of the season. His effort was the most consistent every night.

DAVID HUKALO
Ask the Komets players who their best, most intelligent teammate is and most will say it's Hukalo, the right wing who scored a career high in goals and points for the third consecutive season and was named the IHL's top defensive forward. Opponents worried about him mostly at the one end of the ice, and that's usually when he'd sneak away and hurt them with a goal at the other. He teamed with Curadeau to form the league's top defensive forward tandem, especially on the penalty kill. Of his 20 goals, seven were game winners, tying for the team lead.

KONSTANTIN SHAFRANOV
The veteran may have been the player facing the most questions heading into this season. Everyone wondered if the 39-year-old left wing had the legs left to compete in and complete a 70-plus game season. It took him a while to get going, scoring four goals in his first 27 games. Then he got hot with nine goals in 14 games in January, scoring eight goals in six games during one stretch. Shafranov scored his 100th assist, 100th goal and 200th assist as a Komet. He finished the season with 23 goals and 58 points in 71 games and then became likely the oldest Komet ever to score a playoff goal.

JUSTIN HODGMAN
A late-season addition to the roster as one of the Komets' two amateur players, Hodgman came on to score four goals and eight points in 11 games. Then he really showed up big in the playoffs, earning the Most Valuable Player award. He led the team in scoring, including scoring two goals - one the game winner - during the Komets' Turner Cup-clinching Game 7 win in overtime. He used his size and speed to aggravate the opposing defensemen, and at 19, he's also likely the youngest Komet ever to score a playoff goal. He'll likely earn NHL attention this summer.

BRANDON WARNER
Warner may be a good-luck charm. After winning a Junior A national championship in 2003, the Fort Wayne native was a member of Michigan State's NCAA championship team last year and now is a Turner Cup champion. A product of Carroll High School, Warner impressed Sims in training camp with his ability to play both forward and defense, and Sims used the rookie all over the place during the playoffs. Warner played 59 games, scoring six goals and 19 points, earning more ice time by the week, particularly as a defenseman with his potent point shot. He'll be a building block for the Komets' future.

EVGENY SAIDACHEV
One of the youngest of the Komets' seven rookies, Saidachev was also one of the most aggressive. He could fill in on any line, using his speed on the forecheck to belt opponents into the glass. He sat out some of the early playoff games, but earned a regular shift halfway through the Muskegon series. Because of his versatility, he was the perfect replacement. The Komets also made sure he didn't play more than 60 games this season so he can retain his rookie status for next season. If he returns, he'll be one of the IHL's most potent rookies.

GUY DUPUIS
The Komets captain was a steadying influence all season and celebrated his 38th birthday with a Game 6 win on the road in the finals against Port Huron. He then scored one goal and assisted on the Cup-clinching goal in Game 7. Dupuis was named the IHL's Defenseman of the Year after earning the monthly award three times, and was named a first-team IHL All-Star. He also finished second to Kory Karlander in the league's MVP voting. Dupuis played in his 700th game as a Komet on Feb. 10, and next year could have a shot at Eddie Long's career record if he returns.

KEVIN BERTRAM
A full-time member of the Fort Wayne Fire Department, Bertram returned to the Komets after a three-year absence. He provided plenty of toughness early in the season when some teams tried to challenge the Komets' mettle. Later in the season he became one of the team's most consistent and accomplished defensemen, and finished playing in the finals despite having torn rib cartilage. Because of their respect for him and his dedication, Bertram's teammates voted him their Unsung Hero for the season. He was also a member of the Komets' 2003 Colonial Cup championship team.

KEVIN HANSEN
His teammates love to tease Hansen about the size of his head, especially because he's always getting hit there with pucks or stray sticks. He led the team in stitches, taking 30 a few days before the finals started when he took a puck to the ear during a practice. His teammates thought that was a good- luck charm heading into the postseason, and Hansen never missed a shift during the playoffs. An alternate captain, he was one of the team's leaders off the ice and one of their inspirations on it. Let's hope those stitches will be out by the time he gets married this summer.

BRENT HENLEY
After tearing up his knee in the Komets' last playoff game of 2007, the biggest Komet probably could have sat out the entire season for rehabilitation, but instead he came back at midseason to play 26 games on the blue line as Hansen's partner. He provided size and toughness so that no one messed with any of his teammates. He was also vital to the Komets' penalty-killing unit, clearing the front of the net. He earned a late-season call-up to the American Hockey League, but came back in time for the playoffs. He was the only Komet regular who didn't score a goal, but he prevented plenty.

SERGEI DURDIN
A key pick-up in last summer's dispersal draft from Quad City, sometimes Sergei Durdin could inspire lots of passion in Komets fans, both good and bad depending on where his passes went, but he gave his team a big advantage over most IHL teams. He was a second-line quarterback on the power play when most teams were just happy to have one. Durdin finished with 26 points this season, but he was also an outstanding mentor to the younger players. He was a big-brother figure many of them went to for advice on and off the ice. He was also one of the team's best skaters.

JAKE PENCE
The defenseman was one of the surprises to make the team out of training camp, and he became the Komets' Most Improved Player during the season. An outstanding one-on-one defender, he always seemed to be breaking up opposing rushes at the Fort Wayne blue line. He also improved offensively, scoring 11 points, or two more than he did during his four-year college career at Massachusetts-Lowell. Pence was also a co-winner of the Gallmeier Cup for his work with community service. He played in 12 of the Komets' 13 playoff games before a rib injury pushed him out of the lineup.

KEN DUFRESNE
The Komets signed Dufresne, just 21, as an insurance policy prior to the playoffs as one of their two amateur players as allowed by IHL rules. He practiced with the team at the start of the playoffs but finally got some time in the lineup late in the postseason because of injuries to other defensemen. He played two shifts in Game 6 against Port Huron, earning a plus on a key goal, and then was also in the lineup for the cup-clinching Game 7. Dufresne led Terrebonne of the QJAAAHL in scoring by a defenseman with 32 points in 43 games.

OLIVIER LEGAULT
Legault was the last cut on the playoff roster, but that doesn't mean he wasn't part of the team anymore. The rookie was a vital part of team morale with his orange mohawk, and he continued to practice with the squad every day. He scored his first professional goal on Oct. 20 against Port Huron. Legault was third on the team in penalty minutes with 178 and was also third in the IHL with 24 major penalties. Off the ice, Legault was a co-winner of the Gallmeier Cup for his dedication to community service. The Komets kept him to 55 games so he can retain his rookie status for next season.

KEVIN REITER
Reiter was named IHL's Goaltender of the Year and a first-team all-star selection after going 32-10-4 with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. He led the league in wins and in shutouts with eight, which tied a Fort Wayne record. He was also third in minutes played, fourth in saves and third in save percentage. One of his highlights was shutting out three consecutive opponents to set a new Fort Wayne record. Four times he was named IHL's Goaltender of the Week, and one time he was Goaltender of the Month.

NICK BOUCHER
Boucher joined the Komets in early November after the season started, but he gave the team the best goaltending tandem in the league with Reiter. He came on to finish the season 24-2-4, leading the IHL with a 2.32 goals-against-average. He was named IHL's Goaltender of the Month for November, December and February, but his best moments came during the playoffs. After the Komets fell behind to Port Huron 3-1, he started the final three games of the series and led Fort Wayne to the Turner Cup championship.