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Dayton Gems Overpower Komets

October 14, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Dayton Gems News Release


Dayton, OH - The Dayton Gems opened up the preseason with an impressive victory over division rival Fort Wayne Komets Friday night on Cassano's Italian Ice at Hara Arena. A physical game from the start, the Gems would take an early lead and not look back, outlasting the Komets 6-1 after three periods.

With all of the intensity and anticipation of beginning a new hockey season, and as fans still trickled through the turnstiles, the Gems preseason opener began with a bang with recently acquired toughguy Nick Duff dropping the mitts just five seconds into the first period. This would shift early momentum towards head coach Brian Gratz's side, culminating in Ryan Hohl's first goal as a Gem off a setup by linemates Charlie Townsend and returning Dayton forward Ernie Stewart just 3:15 in. Dayton would continue to dominate play throughout the opening frame with an overpowering physical command of the Komets, complete with Hohl deciding to engage in fisticuffs of his own. Striking on the board again to force a two goal lead at 7:13, Tim Hartung added his name to the scoresheet off a centering pass from linemate and eventual first star of the game Brandon Naurato. Right off the resulting face off, more mitts hit the ice as the Gems Nick Fanto gave the business to Fort Wayne's Stephon Thorne three seconds later at 7:16. Not to be outdone, Naurato sniped a shot past Komets netminder Kevin Beech to take a commanding three goal lead just over a minute later, while Dayton forward Jon Ornelas capped off the first period scoring, from assists by Matt Larke and veteran Rob Schweyer at 10:15. Dayton would skate a solid four goal lead into the dressing room after twenty minutes, leading Fort Wayne in shots on goal 12-9.

In what might as well have been a continuation of the first period, Gratz's Gems got right back to work, kicking off the middle stanza with a Nick Fanto lamplighter off a crisp Tim Hartung pass to take a five goal lead with only 1:03 ticking off the big board over center ice. As the period wore along, both teams began to dig in their heels, making for an exciting end-to-end flow but no additional scoring on either side. At the horn, the Gems remained firmly strapped into the 5-0 lead, despite Fort Wayne's aggressive comeback in shots on goal, taking a 13-5 period lead back to the Komets dressing room after forty minutes of play. Shots after two periods favored the visitors 22-17.

Down by a fivespot and making a charge, Al Sims' Komets battled off the opening faceoff the begin the third period of regulation, leading to the club's first goal of the game :30 in to cut the Gems lead back to four. But, the Gems would not disappoint the large and vocal preseason crowd, courtesy of fan favorite Kyle Bochek finding the back of the net off a setup pass by goaltender Zane Kalemba a little over two minutes later to regain the five goal Gems lead. Despite battling end-to-end play throughout the remainder of the final period, including the second round of fisticuffs by Ryan Hohl, neither team would muster any further scoring. After a full sixty minutes of preseason hockey, the Dayton Gems took away an impressive 6-1 victory on home ice against division rival Fort Wayne Komets. Final shots on goal favored the Komets 32-25.

Both teams return to action against each other on Sunday afternoon at 5pm inside the War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. Fans can tune into the Internet radio broadcast starting at 4:50pm on wave96.net and DaytonGems.com with JT Szabo handling the call.

The Dayton Gems opening night is set for Saturday, November 5 at 7pm, when they host the Quad City Mallards onto Cassano's Italian Ice at Hara Arena. Tickets and packages are available now by calling the Gems at 275-7777 or visiting www.DaytonGems.com.

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