Komets become Blacksnakes this weekend

Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets will host Military Appreciation Weekend this Friday and Saturday nights at the Memorial Coliseum.  The Indy Fuel visit Friday for an 8pm faceoff and the Kalamazoo Wings are in town for a 7:30pm start Saturday.

The Komets will become the Blacksnakes for the games this weekend in honor of the 122nd Fighter Wing during Military Appreciation Weekend sponsored by Big City Cars.  The Komets will don special Blacksnakes jerseys during both home games that will be sold in a silent auction during Friday and Saturday's games.  Proceeds will be donated to Honor Flight Northeast.

The Komets are 1-5-0 after dropping a home-and-home series last weekend to Toledo.  Friday the Komets suffered a 7-3 setback at home to the Walleye and Saturday night the Komets were clipped 3-2 at Toledo.

The Week Ahead

Friday, Indy Fuel (3-2-0) at Fort Wayne, 8pm--  The Komets will host the Fuel for the first of five occasions this year after collecting a season-opening 3-1 win at Indy in their first meeting Oct. 12.  The Komets and intrastate rival Indy will meet a total of 11 times this season.  The Fuel are coming off a 7-2 drubbing at Kansas City last Saturday and will host Idaho Tuesday night and Utah Thursday before traveling to Fort Wayne Friday.

Saturday, Kalamazoo Wings (3-2-0) at Fort Wayne, 7:30pm-- The Komets are 0-2-0 against the Wings this season with 11 meetings remaining.  Saturday's game will be the second of eight this year at Memorial Coliseum.  Kalamazoo fell 3-2 in a shootout at Wings Event Center Tuesday morning in their last time out. The Wings will welcome Cincinnati to West Michigan Friday before visiting the Komets Saturday.

Looking ahead-- The Komets will be on the road for five games over a two-week period after this weekend's home double-header.  The Komets will skate three games at Rapid City Nov. 7, 9 and 10.  The Fort Wayne road warriors will visit Cincinnati Friday, Nov. 16 and travel to Toledo Saturday, Nov. 17 before returning home Thursday, Nov. 22 to face Brampton at 7:30 for the traditional Bob Chase Memorial Thanksgiving night game.Komet leaders-- Justin Hodgman leads with eight assists and nine points.....Marco Roy leads with three goals....Ryan Lowney leads with +2.....Taylor Crunk leads with 29 penalty minutes....Jason Binkley leads with 17 shots.PK-- the Komets allowed three power play goals on 10 penalty kills this past weekend.  It was the first three power play goals scored against the Komets this season.  Fort Wayne ranks fifth on the penalty kill at 90.3% (28/31).Streaking Komets-- Justin Hodgman has a six-game point and assist scoring streak (1g, 8a).....Marco Roy has a three-game point streak (2g, 1a)....J.C. Campagna score a goal in each of the games played for the week, both power play goals.

Komets awarded penalty shot--  Justin Hodgman took a rare penalty shot last Saturday at Toledo against goaltender Pat Nagle at 16:41 of the third period.  Nagle made the save.  It was the first penalty shot of the year for Fort Wayne.  Last year the Komets had one penalty shot, at home on Nov. 3, 2017, against Adirondack. Jamie Schaafsma made the attempt and netminder Nick Riopel made the save.  The last time the Komets scored on a penalty shot was Dec. 4, 2016 vs Utah.  Shawn Szydlowski beat Ryan Faragher in a Fort Wayne home win 4-2.

Kids Seat Free Night Friday--  Once again this season the Komets will feature Kids Seat Free Nights.  A Kids Seat Free Night is scheduled for this Friday when the Fuel visit courtesy Aunt Millie's, Lutheran Health Network and the Komets. Any child under the age of 12 can see the game for free with a full-priced adult ticket purchase.

Friday night Marathon Nights-- Again this year Komet fans can save on their Friday night tickets with Marathon.  Fans can earn a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer with the purchase of three fill-ups at participating Marathon locations.  Save with your Marathon Fill-Up Card at the first Marathon Night of the season this Friday when Toledo visits for an 8pm faceoff.

Family Four Pack, 4 for $59 Night Saturday--  Fans can take advantage of a 4-for-$59 offer at Saturday's home game courtesy of Midwest America Federal Credit Union.  Get four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks, four chips for only $59 when purchasing the Family Four Pack at the Memorial Coliseum Ticket Office.

Komet Hockey Tickets-- Single game tickets for all 36 Komet regular season home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office.  Season Tickets also remain on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way.  For more information visit Komets.com or call 260-483-0011.

Komet Hockey on WOWO-- Fans can follow Komet hockey action again this year with Shane Albahrani calling the play-by-play on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and FM 107.5, and streaming on the web at Komets.com, courtesy OmniSource.