Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets announced Wednesday that they have traded defenseman Craig Cescon to the Wichita Thunder in exchange for right wing Jesse Bennefield.
Bennefield, 30, will be entering his seventh pro year. The Calgary, Alberta native has totaled 94 goals, 111 assists and 205 points in 180 CHL games after completing his third season in the CHL last year. Bennefield posted a career high 35 goals and 40 assists to rank 12th in the CHL for 2010-11 with 75 points in 66 games with Wichita .
The right winger began his career in 2005-06 scoring 30 goals and 60 points in 63 games as a rookie with San Diego to earn a spot on the 2006 ECHL All-Star team. The following year Bennefield jumped to the United Hockey League and helped Rockford to a 2007 Colonial Cup championship, assisting the IceHogs in eliminating the Komets in the second round of the playoffs. Bennefield also split time with Milwaukee and Iowa appearing in six AHL games during 2006-07.
Bennefield made his CHL debut with Rio Grande in 2008-09 and skated two seasons with the Killer Bees before joining Wichta last year.
Cescon, 25, appeared in 60 games with Fort Wayne last season registering five assists and six points while accumulating a team-high 174 penalty minutes in his fourth pro year.
Korduner gets tryout -- The Komets also announced Wednesday that forward Fredric Korduner has been invited to the Komet camp. Korduner, 23, was a prospect at the Komets' tryout camp at the World Hockey Centre in Toronto this past summer attended by Komet head coach Al sims. The Taby , Sweden native led Gislaved of the Sweden Elite League, Division 1, last season with 27 assists and 36 points in 37 games.
Mangos retires -- The Komets learned Wednesday that defenseman Simon Mangos, originally signed for the upcoming 2011-12 season, has decided to retire from hockey due to personal reasons and will not be joining the Komets for the upcoming season.
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