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Edmonton Oilers decide to continue affiliation with Fort Wayne Komets

The Oilers have agreed to extend the affiliation after two seasons which have seen the Komets take positive steps towards becoming a stronger ECHL organisation.

By Paul Taylor

The Indy Fuel's Keoni Texeira (74) shoots around Fort Wayne Komets goalie, Stefanos Lekkas (50) on Friday, April 9, 2021, during a game at the State Farm Coliseum in Indianapolis. Right, Fort Wayne Komets Matt Murphy (22) and Nick Boka (10).
The Indy Fuel's Keoni Texeira (74) shoots around Fort Wayne Komets goalie, Stefanos Lekkas (50) on Friday, April 9, 2021, during a game at the State Farm Coliseum in Indianapolis. Right, Fort Wayne Komets Matt Murphy (22) and Nick Boka (10). / Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar via Imagn
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Edmonton Oilers fans are understandably firmly focused on the playoffs at the moment, hoping that their team can bounce back from the 5-3 loss in game three and win on Wednesday night to level the Western Conference Final. However, for the Oilers themselves, it's always important to have one eye on the future and development of the organisation and its players.

Along these lines, the Oilers announced on Tuesday via a press release, that they have agreed to extend their affiliation agreement with the Fort Wayne Komets. The partnership began prior to the 2022-23 season; there is no confirmation at the time of writing how long the extension is for, but you would suspect it will be for at least another two seasons.

The Komets are in the ECHL, which is the level below the AHL. They have a combined 69-61-14 regular season record during their two seasons as the Oilers' affiliate, qualifying for the playoffs during the 2022-23 campaign.

A growing fan base in Fort Wayne

As you'd expect, the Komets are working towards becoming one of the stronger franchises in the ECHL. It will have no doubt helped that they set a franchise record in Fort Wayne by averaging 8,157 fans per game during this past season.

As per HockeyDB.com, this average attendance doubled as the second-highest in the ECHL as a whole during the 2023-24 season. Sustaining and then growing the attendance figures will be a sure way to help build the Komets brand.

Oilers assistant general manager Keith Gretzky, who is also the Bakersfield Condors' general manager, was more than happy to extend the affiliation. As per the press release, he said: "(The players) have received first-class treatment during their time there and we truly believe that the Komets and their fans make them the premier organisation in the ECHL. Fort Wayne has also done a great job of developing our contracted players on and off the ice. We believe that the best development model includes playoff success and that is why we will continue to work with Fort Wayne, to help put the best product on the ice with the goal of winning a Kelly Cup."

Unsurprisingly, the Komets themselves are excited to continue with the partnership. Also as per the press release, Komets general manager David Franke said: "We have a great relationship with Keith Gretzky and Bill Scott, as well as Bakersfield's head coach and Komet Hall of Fame member Colin Chaulk. We look forward to their continued help, as we build our roster for next season."

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We appreciate that when it comes to a team's in-house media department, you will often find a positive spin is placed on any news where possible. However, the simple truth is this is a positive story, by virtue of the reality that if the Oilers were not happy with the Komets, they wouldn't have extended the affiliation agreement.

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