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Fort Wayne has a history of putting talent on the ice and the Komets continued in that regard on Tuesday by signing the best player in the Central Hockey League.
Brandon Marino is the reigning CHL Most Valuable Player and he elected to join the Komets for the 2012-13 season.
In addition to Marino, Fort Wayne also announced the signing of veteran defenseman Tyler Butler.
While with Quad City last season, the 26-year-old Marino was named the CHL All-Star Game Most Valuable player and he led the league with a career-best 41 goals in 65 games.
The right winger also notched a career and team-best 49 assists with the Mallards and his 90 points were also a team-best.
The Riverside, Calif. native also led Quad City’s special teams with 13 power play goals and 22 power play assists. Marino will be entering his fourth career year since his pro debut with Quad City in 2009 and becomes the first player to join the Komets after scoring 40 or more goals in a season since 2004-05 when Chris Grenville (RW) signed with the Komets after netting 45 goals the previous season with Laredo in the CHL.
The 32-year-old Butler skated the past two seasons with Arizona of the CHL and served as Sundogs’ captain last year. He led Arizona defensemen with 10 goals, 29 assists, 39 points and 111 penalty minutes appearing in all 66 games.
The Kanata, Ontario native has skated seven of nine pro seasons in the CHL. Butler played two AHL games with Peoria during 2005-06 while a member of the UHL’s Missouri River Otters.
The addition of Marino and Butler brings the Komet preseason roster to eight players including five forwards and three defensemen. Previously added were Colin Chaulk (C), Brett Smith (C), Eric Giosa (C), Kaleigh Schrock (RW), Kyle Atkins (D) and Daniel Maggio (D).
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