The Komets announced Wednesday that veteran center Jamie Schaafsma has agreed to terms and will be returning to the Fort Wayne lineup for 2016-17.
Schaafsma, 33, will be entering his 13th pro year since he made his debut in 2004-05 in Europe with Geleen of the Holland elite league. The skater logged six seasons and three championships in European play while managing to skate one season with Flint in the IHL during 2009-10 posting career highs of 30 goals, 35 assists for a team-high 65 points before registering six goals and 14 points while helping the Generals to the Turner Cup Finals.
In 2012-13 Schaafsma joined the Allen Americans and won two CHL Presidents’ Cups before moving with the Americans to the ECHL where he added another league title to his resume with the 2015 Kelly Cup championship.
The Chatham, Ontario native earned the Komets’ Unsung Hero Award for the year scoring 25 goals, 39 points and 46 penalty minutes in 70 games as captain of the Komets. He added three goals and nine points in 16 playoff games helping the Komets to the third round of the playoffs.
Also, forward David Friedmann and defenseman Cole Martin have inked agreements for the upcoming campaign with the Komets.
Friedmann, 22, completed a four-year collegiate career with Robert Morris University last year before making his pro debut with the Komets appearing in eight games scoring four goals. Friedmann also skated two playoff games. The Toronto, Ontario native led the Colonials last season with 30 assists and scored college career highs of 12 goals and 42 points in 39 games.
Martin, 22, was acquired from the Norfolk Admirals to complete a trade made during 2015-16 that dealt forward Dean Ouellet to the Admirals. Martin made his pro debut last season appearing in stints with Idaho, Atlanta and Norfolk scoring ECHL totals of three goals, 13 points and 34 penalty minutes in 57 games. Prior to turning pro, the defenseman spent four years of juniors with Kelowna, winning the WHL championship in 2015.
Opening night for the 65th season of Komet Hockey in Fort Wayne is Saturday, Oct. 15 against the Quad City Mallards.
