Â
Niagara IceDogs graduate Stephen Harper accounted for both goals on Friday, guiding the Fort Wayne Komets to their first-ever ECHL championship in a 2-1 Game 4 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays before a crowd of 10,477 at Memorial Coliseum.
Harper earned the June M. Kelly Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award, sharing the playoff lead with 13 points (6-7–13) over 12 contests as Fort Wayne eliminated Wichita and Allen before besting South Carolina with a 3-1 series triumph.
Fort Wayne placed third in the Western Conference regular season standings with a .618 winning percentage, going 29-17-3-2 over 51 games.
The Komets prevailed in their first trip to the Kelly Cup Finals in their nine ECHL seasons as captain A.J. Jenks (Plymouth Whalers) was presented with the Kelly Cup. The franchise has captured 10 championships in its 69-year existence between the ECHL, Central Hockey League, United Hockey League and International Hockey League.
OHL Graduates on the Fort Wayne Komets:
Stephen Harper (Erie, Belleville, Hamilton, Niagara, 2011-16)
A.J. Jenks (Plymouth Whalers, 2006-10)
Alan Lyszczarczyk (Sudbury, Owen Sound, Mississauga, 2015-19)
Marcus McIvor (Brampton/North Bay Battalion, 2010-15)
Blake Siebenaler (Niagara IceDogs, 2013-16)
Shawn Szydlowski (Erie Otters, 2007-11)
For more information, visit echl.com.
