Komets ink new goaltender

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In light of a severe injury to starting goaltender Nick Boucher, Fort Wayne went out and found a capable replacement to carry the Komets into this upcoming season.

The club announced Thursday that former Missouri goaltender Charlie Effinger has been added to the 2012-13 preseason roster.

While with Missouri last season, Effinger stopped the Komets in his only regular-season meeting and forced the Komets to seven games in the Central Hockey League semifinals.

The 26-year-old appeared in 51 games with Missouri last season and posted 32 wins, which tied Boucher for most goaltender wins. Effinger registered a career-best 32-15-4 record to become the winningest goaltender in Missouri's history.

The Belleville, Ill., native finished the regular season with a top-10 2.70 goals-against average and ranked second with a .923 save percentage. The fifth-year pro finished the playoffs with a 7-4 record, 2.50 goals-against average and led CHL goaltenders with a .932 save percentage. He appeared in all 11 postseason games with the Mavericks.

Effinger backstopped the Mavericks to a 3-games-to-2 semifinals lead over Fort Wayne before the Komets rallied to win the series 4-3 and advance to the CHL finals.

Prior to making his pro debut in 2008 in ECHL stints with Gwinnett and Trenton, Effinger completed four years with Miami University of Ohio in the CCHA, where he was named 2005-06 CCHA Goaltender of the Year.

With nine weeks remaining until training camp and the addition of Effinger, the Komet preseason roster grows to nine players. The roster includes five forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender. Previously added were Colin Chaulk (C), Brett Smith (C), Eric Giosa (C), Kaleigh Schrock (RW), Brandon Marino (RW), Tyler Butler (D), Kyle Atkins (D) and Daniel Maggio (D).

nssports@news-sentinel.com