GAME PREVIEW: FUEL VS. KOMETS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 - 6:30 P.M.
INDIANA FARMERS COLISEUM - INDIANAPOLIS
TICKETS: IndyFuelHockey.com, Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office
BROADCAST INFO: 1070TheFan.com
The Indy Fuel kick off their 2017 ECHL preseason schedule Friday night, hosting the Fort Wayne Komets at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The exhibition action is slated for an early 6:30 p.m. puck drop, and all tickets are just $10 - available via IndyFuelHockey.com or the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office.
With their first practice taking place last Friday, the Fuel open their two-game preseason slate on the heels of a demanding week of training camp. Head Coach Bernie John brings a total of 29 rostered players into Friday's game, all looking to secure themselves a spot on Indy's final roster as the club begins the 2017-18 season next Friday in Wichita. Indy wraps up its preseason schedule Saturday night with a rematch against the Komets in Allen County.
Heading into his second season at the helm, John has assembled a group vastly different from the club that finished sixth in the Central Division a year ago. Only three players from Indy's 2016-17 Opening Night roster return to camp this year (Zach Miskovic, Matt Rupert, Alex Wideman), and out of the 29 players on the roster, only nine saw time with the Fuel last season.
The Fuel have added a wealth of experience up front with the offseason acquistion of veteran forwards Geoff Walker and Cam Reid. These two, along with returner Michael Neal, give Indy three forwards with over five years of professional experience each. Indy returns a pair of 20-goal scorers with Alex Wideman - who starts the season on assignment from AHL affiliate Rockford - joining Matt Rupert among the Fuel forward corps. Additionally, Rupert comes back to Indy with his twin brother Ryan in tow, with the two set to play together for the first time since they helped the OHL's London Knights to three straight Memorial Cup appearances from 2012-2014.
On the back end, Miskovic and Troy Vance are joined by newcomers Nolan Descoteaux, Garrett Clarke, IceHogs-assignee Brandon Anselmini and rookie Anthony Cortese. Collin Delia and Matt Tomkins, a pair of rookie goaltenders on Rockford contracts look, to carry the load between the pipes in Indy.
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