When the Komets hired Jesse Kallechy as their head coach in 2023 following back-to-back first round playoff exits, the team had just one player return the following season.

Kallechy, general manager David Franke and the Komets began rebuilding their roster from scratch with two things in mind.

“No. 1 is ‘What can they do for the team?” Franke said. “And No. 2 is that they wanted to come back. That’s half the battle.”

When the Komets unofficially started their season Sunday with preseason meetings, 13 players were back from the 2024-25 team.

What a difference two years – and a plan – can make.

“They look at the work we did this summer to build this team and get guys back, but truth be told it’s been a three-year plan of sorts,” Kallechy said. “First year, establish a nucleus of players

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