The ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets have a rich history of playing professional hockey. The K’s have been around for 68 years in which they have spanned five different league: IHL (AAA), UHL, IHL (AA), CHL, and currently, the ECHL. There are only seven teams older than the Fort Wayne Komets, the NHL’s Original Six and the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
I have been chosen to write an article on the top three players who laced up the skates for the Fort Wayne Komets and scored their way into the history books.
Len Thornson
The very first player on this list is no other than the greatest player to ever sport a Fort Wayne Komet sweater. That player is Len Thornson. Number 11 has his jersey hung in the rafters as he holds every scoring record for the orange and black.
During his time with the team, Thornson compiled 412 goals while also adding 807 assists. This made for an outstanding mark of 1219 points. Clearly, if the NHL had more teams, the forward would have been a star.
Thornson was the IHL all-time leading scorer until their last season when they ceased operations. Truly one of the greats of mid-level professional hockey. While in the IHL, Len helped the Komets to Turner Cup Championships in 1963 and 1965. The Hockey News magazine also recognized Thornson as the IHL’s greatest player.
Eddie Long
The second player on this list is Eddie Long. Number 16, alike Len Thornson’s 11, is hanging from the rafters of the Memorial Coliseum. Nicknamed as Mr. Komet, long was well known as the first breakout star of the Fort Wayne Komets. Long helped the organization during their first 13 years of existence.
In doing so, he amassed wicked totals of 377 goals and 379 assists. He did so for 756 points. Eddie helped the Komets hockey club to win their first two (Joseph) Turner Cup Championships in 1963 as well as 1965.
As such, he forever etched his name in the Komets history books. Eddie Made Fort Wayne his home after retiring and still hangs around the Coliseum to catch the new wave of players every season.
Colin Chaulk
The third and final player on my top three list is the Double A level Komet leader in assists and points, Colin Chaulk. Like the previous two players, Thornson’s 11 and Long’s 16, Chaulk’s number 91 hangs in the rafters (right side up). Colin played for the Komets between 2002-2006.
He then joined the team again from 2007-2013. He skated with the franchise in four different leagues. During his time with the hockey club, Chaulk amassed 184 goals and 499 assists for 683 points.
It was these numbers that secured his spot as the greatest AA Level Komet. Colin captained his Komets to five championships in three different leagues, winning the 2003 UHL Colonial Cup. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, Chaulk helped claim the IHL (AA) Turner Cup. Finally, in 2012, he helped win the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Championship.
Each of my top three stars have all won league championships, have been appointed team captain, have their jerseys hung from the rafters and the Komets have immortalized these great franchise players as bobbleheads.
This was very hard to write, taking all measures to determine the top three. I mean with other names like Guy Dupuis, Colin Chin, Steve Fletcher, Scott Gruhl, Terry McDougall, Ron Leef, Doug Rigler, Merv Dubchak, Chuck Adamson, Robbie Irons and Nick Boucher, the list just goes on and on.