Coach Al Sims and captain Colin Chaulk retired, and now so has the goaltender who backstopped them to four championships between 2008 and 2012.In the most lopsided game of their season so far, the Komets lost 8-2 to the Eastern Conference-leading Reading Royals at Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday.
It took them out of playoff contention in their first ECHL season, breaking their string of consecutive seasons with a playoff berth at 10.
"I think it was a lack of effort and a lack of focus," alternate captain Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock said. "When you are losing 6-0 in the first period and then come out and get beat in the second period, that's a lack of effort."
The Komets hadn't given up six goals in a period since 2000 in the UHL.
"I've never been embarrassed in a Komet uniform like I was tonight," Schrock said. "I can say that for every guy in the room. It was embarrassing tonight. It's a shame. I'm surprised there were still people watching at the end of the game, when we saluted the fans."
Fort Wayne's goals were scored by Matt Firman and Nick Wheeler.
Barry Almeida and Joel Champagne both scored twice for the Royals.
