Boucher, O'Connor Returning

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Click on the VIDEO tabs above for highlights from Nick Boucher during the 2009-10 season (first from left) and the 2008-09 season (second). Highlights from Sean O'Connor are broken up into the 2009-10 season (third from left) and 2008-09 (fourth).

Nick Boucher and Sean O'Connor become the sixth and seventh players to return for a chance at another Fort Wayne championship, the Komets announced Wednesday.

Boucher, 29, will return for his fourth straight season after earning an unprecedented three straight championships in the Fort Wayne nets. Boucher ranked second to teammate Tim Haun among IHL netminders in 2009-10 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .921 save percentage while posting a 23-10-1-2 record in 39 games.

Boucher led IHL goalies in the 2010 playoffs for the third straight year with a 6-3 record and 2.62 goals-against average. Boucher was honored with three IHL Goaltender of the Week awards for the 2009-10 campaign and was named the IHL's Goaltender of the Month for January. 2010-11 will be Boucher's eighth as a pro.

The goaltender is spending the summer as a member of the Sydney Bears of the Australia Ice Hockey league and leads AIHL goalies currently with a 2.02 goals-against average and .936 save percentage (5-2-2) after nine appearances. The Leduc, Alberta native began his career in 2003 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

O'Connor, 23, has skated each of his two pro seasons with the Komets, collecting the Turner Cup Title each year and plans on staying in Fort Wayne for this third. The Brownstown, Michigan native started 2009-10 appearing in three games with Kalamazoo in the ECHL before returning to Fort Wayne.

O'Connor scored 23 goals and 51 points in 72 games to earn a spot on the 2009-10 IHL All-Rookie Team. O'Connor netted five goals and nine points in 12 post-season appearances en route to the IHL championship. During his pro debut, O'Connor earned Fort Wayne honors as the team's Rookie of the Year for 2008-09 registering 23 goals and 47 points in 59 games.

The Fort Wayne roster reaches 13 players including eight forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender. In addition to Boucher and O'Connor, forwards Leo Thomas and P.C. Drouin and defensemen Danko Mironovic, Keith Rodger and Bobby Phillips are returning from last year. New to the Komet roster this year will be forwards Matt Ward, Joe Bluhm, Brandon Naurato, Derek Patrosso and Brant Marple and defenseman Craig Cescon.

Komets' 59th home opener Oct. 16.....The reigning IHL Turner Cup Champion Komets will begin training camp Oct. 4 and skate the home opener of their 59th consecutive season Saturday, Oct. 16. The Komets will continue to be a member of the International Hockey League and participate in the Central Hockey League under the CHL moniker in the Northern Conference. The circuit will consist of 13 CHL teams and five IHL teams for an 18-team coalition.