Komets sign goaltender Hartzell

Fort Wayne, Ind. -The Fort Wayne Komets announced that goaltender Eric Hartzell has agreed to terms and will join Fort Wayne for 2016-17.

Hartzell, 27, completed last season appearing in 22 games in Germany with Heilbronn in DEL2. The native of White Bear Lake, Minn. started the year skating five ECHL games with Idaho and adding one AHL game with Stockton.

During the 2014-15 season, Hartzell logged 32 games with Wheeling including two winning decisions against the Komets. He scored a 5-4 shootout victory Jan. 2 in Fort Wayne and a 2-1 win March 27 at Wheeling.

Hartzell made his pro debut in 2013-14, splitting the season between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL and Wheeling. In 25 games with Wilkes-Barre Scranton, Hartzell was 10-8-1 with a 2.48 goals-against average. He posted an 8-5-1 record and 3.13 goals-against average in 14 games with Wheeling.

Hartzell enjoyed his best collegiate season in 2012-13, registering a 30-7-5 record and 1.57 goals-against average in 42 games with Quinnipiac University and led the Bobcats to the NCAA National Championship game. The netminder established a Quinnipiac record with an overall four-year goals-against average of 1.96 with a winning record in each year. During his senior season, Hartzell was named to the First All-American Team, First All-Star Team, earned the ECAC Goaltender of the Year award, the USA Hockey College Player of the Year award and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist. Hartzell was also rewarded in July 2013, with a two-year, two-way NHL contract with Pittsburgh.