ECHL: Fort Wayne Komets Bring Back Jack Gorniak and Josh Groll

The Fort Wayne Komets started the week off by announcing the re-signing of forwards Jack Gorniak and Josh Groll. Fort Wayne now has three players signed for the 2025-26 season.

Jack Gorniak Returns for Third Season with Komets

Hector Urcia/InsideTheRink

Gorniak, 25, will enter his third season with the Komets and is coming off a career year, during which he recorded 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points in 70 games. He added two goals and one assist for three points in 13 games during the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Gorniak had nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 65 games during his rookie year.

Prior to going pro, The West Salem, Wisconsin native spent five seasons at the University of Wisconsin, where he had 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points in 164 NCAA games. Gorniak was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft.

Josh Groll Heads Back To Fort Wayne

The 23-year-old forward will head back to the Komets after putting up impressive numbers at the end of the regular season. Groll would join Fort Wayne at the end of the regular season and would put up three goals in his first four games, and finish the year with four points in six games. He would make the Komets Kelly Cup Playoff roster and would put up a goal and three assists for four points in 13 Kelly Cup Playoff games.

Prior to joining the Komets, Groll spent five seasons at the NCAA level. He played in two games at the University of Michigan in his first year of eligibility before transferring to Minnesota State University (Mankato). In four seasons with the Mavericks, he would put up 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 142 games. The Mavericks would win three CCHA Championships while Groll was with the team.

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ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.
  1. ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing
  2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos
  3. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening
  4. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again
  5. ITR 43: It's Winning Time

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Armand Klisivitch

Inside The Rink ECHL Manager | Senior Editor Credentialed Reporter for the Adirondack Thunder & Worcester Railers.

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