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Fort Wayne Komets (IHL, 1974-75)

1974-75 Regular Season:
Komets vs. Flint Generals

     The Fort Wayne Komets were looking to rebound from a disappointing 1973-74 season, which saw the defending Turner Cup Champions drop to last place in the Southern Division with a 31-45-0 record, next-to-worst in the entire league. ex-Komet player Ted Wright, who replaced Marc Boileau when he was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins, was back behind the Komets bench. 

     1974-75 was another letdown season, as the Komets were even worse than last year. Fort Wayne was dead last in the Southern Division, with a 26-44-6 record, 11 points back of the Des Moines Capitols and 37 behind first place Dayton. Wright was let go after winning just twice in the first 10 games of the season, and was replaced by Ralph Keller for the rest of the year. 

     Fort Wayne had the third-worst offense in the IHL in 1974-75 (counting Lansing, which folded midway through the season), scoring only 247 goals. Center Brian Walker had his best season in the pros, scoring 38 goals and 79 points to lead the Komets. Right winger Doug Gibson, in his only professional season, was the other 30-goal scorer, lighting the lamp 36 times. 19-year old Robbie Laird, who would go on to an 11-year career (mostly in Fort Wayne), had 15 goals and 43 points in 62 games, to go along with 115 penalty minutes.

     The Komets allowed the second-most goals in the league that season, giving up 313. They used four different goaltenders that season, though long-time Komet Robbie Irons played the most games at 46, with a 3.27 GAA and two shutouts. Pat Flaherty, Gord Hubley and Bruce Aberhart were the other netminders. 

     This is a 39-page program, all in black-and-white. It's from a December 7, 1974 game against the Flint Generals. Flint would finish in 2nd place in the Northern Division, with a 44-26-5 record. No idea who won. The Azar's Comet Big Boy of the Week was center Dale Power. Power only played 9 games in his final season in pro hockey, scoring 2 goals and 5 points. Nevertheless, a poster of him is included on page 36. Pepsi Bingo is on page 20, along with the rosters of both teams on page 21. Long-time Komet broadcaster Bob Chase included "From the Press Box" and "This Week in the IHL" on pages 22 and 23. 

     Local advertisements include Marhoefer "Happy Weiners" (Hot Dogs), Scott's Discount Foods, Brookside Lincoln Mercury, Ted and Tom's Restaurant and Heritage House Smorgasbord.

Aftermath: 1974-75 would be the last season the Komets would miss the playoffs until 1996-97. The original Komets franchise relocated to Albany, New York, for the 1990-91 season, but folded on Valentine's Day 1991. The Franke family purchased the mothballed Flint Spirits franchise and moved it to Fort Wayne in time for the 1990-91 season, where it remains to this day. The Komets, who played in the IHL, UHL/IHL and CHL, currently play in the ECHL.

Reference:

International Hockey League Regular Season Statistics: 1974-75, from hockeydb.com


     

     

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