Fort Wayne, IN — The International Hockey League held it's draft for expansion teams Dayton and Quad City Thursday.  The Dayton Gems and Quad City Mallards will begin play in the IHL when the 2009-10 season begins in October.

Winger Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn was taken in the first round by Dayton.  Goaltender Sebastien Laplante was chosen by Quad City in the fourth round and center Mathieu Curadeau was selected by Dayton in the fifth round.   

Teams were allowed to protect 13 skaters and one goaltender and could lose a maximum of three players.

In addition to the expansion draft, the IHL also conducted a dispersal draft for the rights of players on the 2008-09 final roster of the IHL Kalamazoo Wings, who have elected not to participate in the 2009-10 IHL campaign. 

The Komets selected right wing Justin Cross in the first round and then picked left wing Blair Stayzer in the second round.

Cross, 27, skated his third pro season last year with the Kalamazoo Wings scoring 14 goals and 42 points in 55 games while accumulating 24 penalty minutes.

Stayzer, 28, appeared in 47 games with Kalamazoo last season netting five goals and 12 points.  The 6-foot, 3-inch, 225-pound skater registered 132 penalty minutes during his ninth career year.  Stayzer began his pro career in 2000 after being selected by the Calgary Flames in round seven of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

For more information on Thursday's IHL drafts, visit www.ihl-hockey.com.

Justin Cross, Right Wing, Born Mar 25 1982, Camarillo, CA 
Height 5.10 -- Weight 185 -- Shoots R
                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999-00  Soo Indians                 NAHL    6    2    3    5    9
2000-01  Soo Indians                 NAHL   48   18   28   46   40
2001-02  Soo Indians                 NAHL   56   26   36   62   40
2002-03  Niagara University          NCAA   34    6    9   15   14
2003-04  Niagara University          NCAA   34   12   17   29   14
2004-05  Niagara University          NCAA   35   10    9   19   24
2005-06  Niagara University          NCAA   35    8   21   29   28
2006-07  Kalamazoo Wings             UHL    73   26   29   55   28   4   1   0   1   0
2007-08  Kalamazoo Wings             IHL    64   18   38   56   13  --  --  --  --  --
2008-09  Kalamazoo Wings             IHL    55   14   28   42   24   6   2   2   4   4

Blair Stayzer, Left Wing, Born Oct 4 1980, Dunnville, ONT 
Height 6.03 -- Weight 225 -- Shoots L
                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996-97  Windsor Spitfires           OHL    58    3    5    8   54   3   0   0   0   2
1997-98  Windsor Spitfires           OHL    57    4    8   12  132  --  --  --  --  --
1998-99  Windsor Spitfires           OHL    62   12   19   31  140   5   2   0   2  14
1999-00  Windsor Spitfires           OHL    44   14    5   19  100  11   1   3   4  14
2000-01  Johnstown Chiefs            ECHL   37    1    3    4  104  --  --  --  --  --
2001-02  Johnstown Chiefs            ECHL   41    1    8    9  100   5   1   0   1   9
2001-02  Saint John Flames           AHL     4    0    0    0    4  --  --  --  --  --
2002-03  Mississippi Sea Wolves      ECHL   12    1    2    3   19  --  --  --  --  --
2002-03  Roanoke Express             ECHL   15    2    3    5   42  --  --  --  --  --
2002-03  Dayton Bombers              ECHL   23    2    2    4   61  --  --  --  --  --
2003-04  Roanoke Express             ECHL   55    9   14   23  172   2   0   0   0  15
2004-05  Corpus Christi Rayz         CHL    37    6    2    8  107  --  --  --  --  --
2005-06  Corpus Christi Rayz         CHL    16    2    6    8   24  --  --  --  --  --
2006-07  Corpus Christi Rayz         CHL    60    4    9   13  134  12   0   0   0   6
2007-08  New Mexico Scorpions        CHL    50    7   16   23  172   6   0   1   1  17
2008-09  Kalamazoo Wings             IHL    47    5    7   12  132   6   0   0   0  20

The Komets will open their defense of the IHL Turner Cup championship when the 58th season of Komet Hockey in Fort Wayne gets underway in October.  Season tickets, at a savings over walk-up prices, are on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne.  Season ticket packages include all 38 regular season home games and two pre-season games.  For information fans can visit www.Komets.com or call the Komet office at 260-483-0011.