Komets Give Former Vernon Viper Marino Qualifying Offer:

On July 1st 2013 the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) tendered qualifying offers as submitted by each of its member teams. The ECHL Fort Wayne Komets have six players that been tendered qualifying offers, one is former Vernon Vipers forward Brandon Marino.

Marino finished his first season in the ECHL after signing with the Komets last year on July, 17th 2012. In 71 games last season Marino collected (20-54-74). The Komets named Marino the teams MVP at the end of the season. Marino was invited to the AHL Norfolk Admirals training camp on September, 26th 2012 but was released on October, 4th 2012. Marino was then called up to the Admirals but only played in one game before being released.

Marino spent the last three seasons with the Central Hockey League (CHL) Quad City Mallards before signing with the Komets. Marino was named the 2011-12 Central Hockey League Most Valuable Player, as well as took home MVP at last year's CHL all-star game. Marino had a breakout season during which he led the league with 41 goals and finished second with 90 points. The 5’ 9”, 185-pound Riverside, California native also led the league in power play goals (13), ranked fourth in assists (49) and finished tied for fourth in shorthanded goals (3) and game winning goals (7) while also posting a plus/minus rating of +9. Marino played just two games with the 2002-2003 Vernon Vipers.

Brandon Marino's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=93732

This is posted on the Komets website:

Komets extend qualifying offers to six players

07/01/2013

Fort Wayne, IN ---  The Komets announced Monday that they have extended qualifying offers to six players.  Those six players are Daniel Maggio (D), Jeremy Gates (D), Jean-Michel Rizk (RW), John Dunbar (F), Brandon Marino (RW) and Kaleigh Schrock (RW). 

Players who have already signed a contract by June 30 did not need to receive a qualifying offer.

Each ECHL team was entitled to reserve the rights to a maximum of eight qualified players.  Of the qualifying players, no more than four could be veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the upcoming 2013-14 season).  Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded.

The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until Aug. 1 at which time the qualifying offer becomes null and void and the team may sign the qualified player to any salary or may elect to take no further action. Teams that extend a valid qualifying offer to a non-veteran player shall retain the rights to that qualified player for one playing season.

A team that extends a valid qualifying offer to a veteran player will retain the rights to that veteran until Aug. 1. After Aug. 1, if the veteran player is not signed to a contract by the team, the veteran shall be deemed a restricted free agent and shall be entitled to seek and secure offers of employment from other ECHL teams. Restricted free agents may not be traded. When a restricted free agent receives a contract offer from a team other than the team with the player’s rights and the restricted free agent wishes to accept the contract offer, the restricted free agent and the offering member must, within 24 hours, notify the ECHL, the team with the player’s rights and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association. The member with the player’s rights shall have seven days after the date it is notified to exercise its right to match the contract offer.

If a restricted free agent is not signed to either an offer sheet or a contract by an ECHL team by Aug. 31, the player shall be deemed an unrestricted free agent.

The Komets will open their 62nd season of Komet Hockey in Fort Wayne Saturday, Oct. 19 against the visiting Toledo Walleye at 7:30pm.  Komet season tickets are on sale at the Komet office, 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  For ticket information visit www.Komets.com or call the Komet office at 260-483-0011.