Komets Sweep 65th Season-Opening Weekend
October 17, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release
Fort Wayne, IN-- The Komets opened their 65th season winning both games of a home-and-home series against the Quad City Mallards. It was the third straight year the Komets have successfully opened the season with back-to-back wins in home-and-home situations. Indy was the victim in 2014-15, Kalamazoo last year and Quad City this season.
Friday night the Komets spoiled the Mallards home opener with a 6-2 win. Jamie Schaafsma scored a pair of goals while Shawn Szydlowski, Jason Binkley, Gabriel Beaupre and Garrett Thompson each had markers. Mike Cazzola had a successful pro debut dishing three assists. Szydlowski and Binkley each had two assists for three-point nights. Goaltender Pat Nagle earned the win and has been Fort Wayne's goaltender of record for the past three successful season opening weekends.
Saturday the Komets returned home to repel the Mallards 3-1 to the delight of 8,751 Fort Wayne faithful at the home opener. Brady Vail potted a pair of goals and Cazzola added his first pro goal for the game winner. Nagle earned the win making 26 saves on 27 shots. Fort Wayne improves to 62-38-12 all-time against Quad City.
Komet leaders-- Binkley and Cazzola share the lead with three assists and four points each.....Schaafsma and Vail each lead with two goals....Szydlowski and Binkley lead with +4.....Taylor Crunk leads with 10 penalty minutes.
Early league leaders-- After the first weekend of 2016-17, Binkley and Cazzola are among four players that rank second in the ECHL with four points....Cazzola leads rookies with four points and ranks third among rookies with +3....Binkley leads defensemen with four points....Taylor Crunk ranks third with 10 penalty minutes....among goalies that appeared in two games Nagle ranks second with a 1.50 goals-against average....the Komets amassed the most penalty minutes with 48, rank second on the power play with 40.0% (2/5) and rank third with nine goals.
Special K's-- The Komets finished opening weekend with the second-ranked power play in the league at 21.1% after scoriong a power play tally in each game (2/5). The Komets were 5/7 on the penalty kill for an 85.1% kill rating.
Streakers-- Its only been two games, but six Komets had points in each of the games played over the season opening weekend. Vail (2g, 1a), Thompson (1g, 1a), Kyle Thomas (2a), Cazzola (1g, 3a), Schaafsma (2g, 1a) and Binkley (1g, 3a) each had marks to start the season with a short two-game point streak.
Komets pad opener records-- Fort Wayne is now 35-25-5 after 65 season openers and 41-18-6 for home openers. The Komets opened 2014-15 with five straight wins and opened last season with four straight wins.
The week ahead-- . Fort Wayne Komets at Kalamazoo Wings Friday, 7pm . Kalamazoo Wings at Fort Wayne Komets Saturday, 7:30pm
The Komets have another home-and-home weekend series which begins at Kalamazoo Friday at 7pm. The Komets host the Wings Saturday at 7:30pm. Already it will be a battle for first place in the Central Division between the two long-time rivals. The Wings also won both games played to open the season. Kalamazoo dropped the Admirals at Norfolk Friday 3-1 and again Saturday 3-0. The Komets were 7-1-0 in eight meetings last season against the Wings, and a perfect 4-0-0 at Wings Event Center (5,113). Both teams are idle until they meet Friday at Kalamazoo.
Get your popular Komets Magnetic Schedule this Saturday-- 5,000 Komet magnetic schedules will be handed out to fans arriving at the game this Saturday at the Coliseum when the Komets host Kalamazoo at 7:30pm. Get to the game early for your Komets magnetic schedule.
See the Komets Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery in Jefferson Pointe. Komet legendary mascot Icy D. Eagle will be on hand with several Komet players for photos, autographs, great food, friends and fun! Also meet Komet captain and player-assistant coach Jamie Schaafsma along with forward Mike Embach and goaltender Pat Nagle.
Get tickets early-- Tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the coliseum Ticket Office and online at TicketMaster.com. Discounted Group tickets are also on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way. Call 260-483-0011 or visit Komets.com for more information.
Friday night Marathon Nights-- Again this year Komet fans can save on their Friday night tickets with Marathon. Fans can earn a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer with the purchase of three fill-ups at participating Marathon locations. Save with our Marathon Fill-Up Card at the first Marathon Night of the season Friday, Oct. 28 when the Allen Americans visit for an 8pm faceoff on Sweetwater Ice at the Memorial Coliseum.
Kids Seat Free-- Once again this season the Komets will feature Kids Seat Free Nights. The first Kids Seat Free Night of the season is slated for Friday, Oct. 28 courtesy Aunt Millie's, Parkview Health and the Komets. Any child under the age of 12 can see the game for free with a full-priced adult ticket purchase.
Komets on the air-- Komet games are scheduled to air this season on WOWO AM 1190 and FM 107.5. All Komet radio broadcasts can also be heard worldwide as presented by Omni Source Radio Recycle at www.komets.com.
Single game tickets and Season Tickets on sale-- Single game tickets for all Komet home games are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office and online at TicketMaster.com. Season tickets continue to be on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne. For more information visit Komets.com or call 260-483-0011.
KOMETS WEEKLY PLANNER
Games this week
Friday, Oct. 21............... Komets at Kalamazoo Wings, 7pm ET (WOWO AM 1190, FM 107.5; Webcast Komets.com) Saturday, Oct. 22......... Kalamazoo Wings at Komets, 7:30pm ET (WOWO AM 1190, FM 107.5; Webcast Komets.com) Practice Schedule Tuesday, Oct. 18........... 9:30am-11:30am Practice at the Coliseum Wednesday, Oct. 19...... 9:30am-11:30am Practice at the Coliseum
Thursday, Oct. 20.......... 9:30am-11:30am Practice at the Coliseum Friday, Oct. 21............... 9:30am-11am Practice at the Coliseum
Saturday, Oct. 22.......... 10:30am-11:30am Practice at the Coliseum Monday, Oct. 24............ 9:30am-11:30am Practice at the Coliseum Tuesday, Oct. 25........... 9:30am-11:30am Practice at the Coliseum
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