Komets Drop Exhibition Opener To IceMen

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FORT WAYNE, IN. (WANE) - The ECHL era began with a loss for the Komets - lucky for them, its only preseason. On a night where most of the returning players from last season's CHL championship roster didn't hit the ice, the K's fell to Evansville 6-3.

The IceMen jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after the first period courtesy of a pair of goals from forward Dylan Gilbert. Both goals came on Gerry Festa (5 goals against, 21 saves), one on a ricochet from behind the net that caught the Komets goalie out of position.

The second period proved the most active, with the teams combining for five total goals. Newcomers Cory Park and Kyle Atkins provided the firepower for the Komets, Park on a short wrister that beat Evansville goalie Peter Skoggard, while Atkins blasted home a  goal from the blue line. Unfortunately, the two Komets goals were separated by three more from Evansville, with Aaron McGill, Tommy Lange and Domenic Reccia all finding the net. Reccia's goal was off another deflection off the back wall that was never cleared.

Linus Werneman provided the Komets final goal of the night on a power play at the 5:08 mark of the third period, before Tommy Lange netted his second goal of the night to set the final score at 6-3.

The Komets and IceMen will face off on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Coliseum with a 5 o'clock start time.