Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets will open their 65th anniversary season Friday night at 8:05 E.T. at the iWireless Center (5,100) in Moline, Illinois, against the Quad City Mallards. Both teams will return to Fort Wayne Saturday for the Komets' home opener at 7:30pm on Sweetwater Ice at the Memorial Coliseum and complete a home-and-home series to launch the 2016-17 ECHL campaign. Fans are encouraged to arrive early Saturday night. 65th anniversary festivities will begin at 7:30pm sharp.
It's the first time the Komets have started a season at Quad City. However, the Mallards will be making their fourth visit to the Coliseum for a Fort Wayne home opener. The Komets are a perfect 3-0-0 in home openers against Quad City. The Komets upended the Mallards 8-3 in UHL action when Quad City was last in town for a home opener on Oct. 21, 2006.The Komets have won their last two straight season openers and home openers. Fort Wayne is 34-25-5 over the last 64 season openers and 40-18-6 after 64 home openers. The Komets were 2-4-1 in seven meetings last season against the Mallards and are 60-38-12 all-time against Quad City.
Player moves-- The Komets announced today that forwards Daniel Erlich and Matt Robertson have been placed on waivers. Also, defenseman Cole Martin has been traded to the Elmira Jackals in consideration of cash and defenseman Carl Tremblay has been picked up off waivers by Elmira.
The Fort Wayne roster sits at 21 players including 11 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. One forward, Trevor Cheek, remains on call-up to the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners.
Komets on the air-- Komet games are scheduled to air this season on WOWO AM 1190 and FM 107.5. Bob Chase will be sharing the schedule with Shane Albahrani, who will handle this weekend's games. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide as presented by Omni Source Radio Recycle at www.komets.com.
Komets schedule this weekend at glanceFriday, Oct. 14...............Komets at Quad City Mallards, 8:05pm ETSaturday, Oct. 15..........Practice 10:30am-11:30am at Coliseum; Quad City Mallards at Komets, 7:30pmMonday, Oct. 17............Practice 9:30am-11:30am at Coliseum
Single game tickets and Season Tickets on sale-- Single game tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at TicketMaster.com. Season tickets continue to be on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. For more information visit Komets.com or call 260-483-0011.