Komets open season at Indy Friday

Fort Wayne, IN -- The Komets open the 2018-19 ECHL campaign Friday night at 7:35 at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis against the intrastate rival Fuel.  It will be the first of 11 meetings this season and the first of six trips to Indy.   Last year the Komets were 6-3-0 in nine meetings against Indy.

The Komets have won their last four straight season openers including last year's 4-2 victory over the visiting Toledo Walleye. Prior to last year, the Komets won three straight season openers on the road.  It's the 11th season opener against an Indianapolis team with the Komets holding the edge at 6-2-2.  The last time the Komets and Indy met in a season opener was on Oct. 17, 2014 for the Fuel's first game as a new entry in the ECHL at the new State Fairgrounds Coliseum.

The Komets will open their seventh season as a member of the ECHL and will skate in the Central Division of the Western Conference with Indy, Cincinnati, Kalamazoo, Toledo and Wheeling.  A total of 27 teams make up the ECHL as the league celebrates its 31st year of operation.

The weekend of divisional matchups concludes with a Fort Wayne visit to Cincinnati Saturday for a 7:35pm faceoff.  It will be the season and home opener for the Cyclones.  The Komets will face Cincy on 11 occasions this year, six at Cincinnati.  Last season the Komets were 4-3-2 against the Cyclones during the regular season.  In the playoffs, the Komets elimination Cincinnati 4-1 in the first round of the Central division semifinals.

Season-opening roster announced-- The Fort Wayne season-opening roster of 22 players includes 12 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders.  Forwards include Taylor Crunk, Thomas Ebbing, Garrett Ladd, Brandon Morley, Marco Roy, Jamie Schaafsma, Garret Ross, Anthony Petruzzelli, Aidan Muir, Justin Hodgman, Kevin Miller and Joseph Widmar.  Defensemen include Jeff King, Jason Binkley, Alex Kuqali, Kevin Gibson, Chase Stewart, Cody Sol and Ryan Lowney.  Goaltenders include Zach Fucale, Lukas Hafner and Kyle Hayton.  Hayton and Widmar will start the season on 14-day injured reserve.

Home Opener Oct. 20-- The Komets will host their 67th home opener Saturday, Oct. 20 at 7:30pm against the arch rival Kalamazoo Wings.  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 on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and FM 107.5, and recycled on the web by OmniSource at Komets.com, with Shane Albahrani calling the play-by-play.