FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Komets will open their 68th season of professional hockey in Fort Wayne Saturday night when the arch rival Kalamazoo Wings visit for a 7:35 faceoff. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the pregame festivities.
Orange
light-up batons will be given away to first 5,000 fans through the
doors and many of the Komet legends will be introduced prior to opening
faceoff.
The 36-game home schedule is filled with many affordable ticket
programs and discount plans including Kids Seat Free Nights, special
Family 4-Pack Nights, two Report Card Nights, Marathon Fill-Up Card
Nights each Friday, Deuces Wild Wednesdays and Sunday night
post-game free skates. Returning is the popular Season Ticket
Recycling Nights for season ticket holders and more. For game dates
featuring all of the promotions and specials pick up a free handy pocket
schedule at the game and at many locations around the
Fort Wayne area or visit Komets.com.
The Komets have won the last five straight season openers and improved
to 37-25-5 with a 3-1 win at Indy last year. The Komets have a
home-opening record of 42-19-6 after dropping a 5-3 affair to Kalamazoo
at last year. The Komets are 2-4-2 when opening at
home against the Wings and 1-3-0 when hosting Kalamazoo for the season
opening tilt. The Komets battled the Wings to a 6-6-1 record in 13
meetings last year and are 223-163-52 after 438 regular season meetings
overall since their first meeting on Nov. 15,
1974 when the Komets clipped Kalamazoo at Wings Stadium 2-1.
The Komets will open their eighth season as a member of the ECHL and will skate again in the Central Division of the Western Conference with Kalamazoo, Indy, Cincinnati, Toledo and Wheeling. A total of 26 teams make up the ECHL as the league celebrates its 32nd season.
Season-opening roster announced—
The Komets season-opening roster of 27 players includes 14 forwards, 10
defensemen and three goaltenders. Forwards include Brady Shaw, Anthony
Petruzzelli, Brett McKenzie, Connor Sanvido, Gage Torrel, Shawn
Szydlowski, Matthew Boudens, Mason Bergh, A.J. Jenks,
Taylor Ross, Shawn St-Amant, Brad Ross, Alan Lyszczarczyk and Ian
Mackey. Defensemen include Chase Stewart, Jason Binkley, Eric Israel,
Marc-Olivier Duquette, Max Gottlieb, Kyle Hass, Matt Brassard, Olivier
Galipeau, Will Petschenig and Brycen Martin. Goaltenders
are Cole Kehler, Dylan Ferguson and Stephen Dhillon.
Martin was released from his PTO with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and has
been added to the Fort Wayne season-opening roster. McKenzie and
Galipeau will start the season on loan to the Chicago Wolves of the
AHL. Brassard and Brad Ross start the season on injured
reserve.
