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Schaafsma, Leonard, Crunk return to Komets

Schaafsma, Leonard, Crunk return to Komets

Wednesday, July 5th

Fort Wayne, Ind. - The Fort Wayne Komets announced that Jamie Schaafsma, Curtis Leonard and Taylor Crunk have each re-signed for the 2017-18 season.

Schaafsma, 34, will be returning for his third season at center for the Komets. Last year the Chatham, Ontario native served as captain and player/assistant coach while contributing 62 points (17g-45a) in 53 games and earning Fort Wayne's True Komet Award.

The upcoming campaign will be Schaafsma's 14th pro season since he made his pro debut in the Holland elite league with Geleen in 2004-05. He has spent seven seasons during his career with various teams in Europe capturing two Dutch Beker Cup championships with Netherlands and adding the Italy Championship with Bolzano before leading Netherlands to a World Championship in 2009.

Schaafsma has appeared the last five seasons in the United States winning three straight league championships with Allen including the 2013 and 2014 Central Hockey League Presidents' Cup and the 2015 ECHL Kelly Cup.

Leonard, 24, will be starting his third season with the Komets. The Napanee, Ontario native made his pro debut skating one AHL game with Rochester and five ECHL games with Reading in 2014-15. The defenseman split the 2015-16 season with Reading, Evansville and Fort Wayne before scoring career highs of four goals, 13 assists and 17 points in 65 games with the Komets last season.

Prior to turning pro, Leonard posted a four-year collegiate career with R.P.I. where he was selected to the ECAC All-Academic Team in 2011-12 and 2012-13. In 2013-14 he led R.P.I. defensemen with 12 points (1g-11a) and in 2014-15 Leonard finished his college career leading R.P.I. defensemen with 10 points (2g-8a) while serving as team captain.

Crunk, 22, will be returning to Fort Wayne for his second straight full season. The left winger made his pro debut with the Komets appearing in eight games at the end of the 2015-16 season after completing a five-year juniors stint. The San Jacinto, Calif. native began his juniors career with Victoria in the Western Hockey League where he played for four seasons. Crunk completed his junior play sharing the 2015-16 season with Spruce Grove in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and Vancouver of the WHL.

Last year, Crunk logged his first full pro season with the Komets scoring four points (1g-3a) in 42 games while ranking second with 120 penalty minutes.