Komets open with 5-3 win at Kalamazoo

The Komets opened the 2015-16 campaign with a 5-3 win at Kalamazoo Friday night. Alex Belzile put the Komets on the board first at 17:11 of the first period. Kalamazoo answered with two straight markers in the second period from Eric Kattelus and Charlie Vasaturo before Mike Embach hit the twine for the Komets at 14:12 to send the game into the second intermission knotted at 2-2.Kalamazoo’s David Gilbert put the Wings on top 3-2 when he beat Komet goaltender Pat Nagle at 1:12 of the third period. Then Fort Wayne rallied for three unanswered tallies by Trevor Cheek, Shawn Szydlowski and Garrett Thompson to capture the season opening win 5-3. The Komet special teams are off to a good start scoring two power play goals on three man advantages while killing six of seven Kalamazoo power plays.

Nagle finished with the win making 34 saves on 37 shots while netminder Joel Martin suffered the loss for Kalamazoo after allowing four goals on 20 shots.-see Scoresheet-Both teams travel back to Fort Wayne for the Komets’ 64th home opener Saturday night at 7:30 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Pre-game ceremonies begin at 7:30pm sharp Saturday for the home opener. Fans are encouraged to arrive early.The Komets have had six previous home openers against a Kalamazoo team (1-3-1-1) and are 39-18-1-5 after 63 home openers.

The Komets successfully opened the season with 22 players on the roster including 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders after a two-week preseason training camp. -See Komet Roster-

-See Komets Schedule-

Tickets for all 36 Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online atTicketMaster.com. Season tickets for 2015-16 continue on sale at the Kometoffice at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. Call the Komet office at 260-483-0011 or visit komets.com for more information.Komets on the air-- Komet games will be aired on Fort Wayne radio as Bob Chase launches his 63rd consecutive season announcing Komet hockey play-by-play radio rinkside. Due to conflicting schedules, Saturday night's Komet home opener will be broadcast on ESPN Radio AM 1380. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide as presented by Omni Source Radio Recycle at www.komets.com.Soundoff With The Komets continues this year on 21Alive in Fort Wayne. The 30-minute live telecast is hosted by Tommy Schoegler from SportOne/Parkview IceHouse each Monday night at 7:30 throughout the season. This Monday Tommy's guest will be Komet play-by-play announcer Bob Chase and, for this Monday night, will actually air from the Field House.See the Komets Wednesday at Tucanos Brazilian Grill in Jefferson Pointe. Komet legendary mascot Icy will be on hand with Komet stars Mike Embach, Pat Nagle, Cody Sol and Drew Daniels for photos, autographs, great food, friends and fun! See the Komets at Tucanos from 6:30pm-8pm Wednesday, Oct. 21!