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Dayton Gems Gameday - Komets Skate into Dayton for Rematch

January 7, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Dayton Gems News Release


Gems Game #32, Home Game #15 - Team Record 12-13-6, 30pts, 6th in Turner Conference

Matchup: Dayton Gems vs Fort Wayne Komets, 7pm inside Hara Arena

Dayton, OH - The Dayton Gems continue their 3-in-3 weekend series against the Fort Wayne Komets after earning a thrilling 3-2 regulation win in Fort Wayne on Friday night.

The Gems (12-13-6) relied on stellar goaltending from Larry Sterling (45 saves) and the eventual game-winner from Charlie Townsend to win just their second game this season against the top rated Komets. Jon Ornelas and Kyle Bochek also lit the lamp in Dayton's winning effort, snapping a five game winless streak.

Gameday In Dayton

The Fort Wayne Komets (20-9-1) have become the fourth different team (joining Allen, Evansville and Wichita) to lay claim to the #1 spot on the CHL Coaches Poll. Fort Wayne earned eight first place votes followed by Wichita with five and Allen with three. The top five teams on the most recent poll are the Komets, Thunder, Americans, Mallards and Rush.

The Komets are 4-2 so far this season versus the Gems.The Komets skate into Saturday night's matchup boasting the CHL's best powerplay, scoring on 26.3% of their chances this season, and will utilize their fifth-best penalty kill to full advantage again tonight. Fort Wayne scored their two goals against the Gems on Friday on their only two powerplay chances, proving just how efficient their man advantage is.

Both teams will conclude the weekend series with a Sunday afternoon matinee set for 5pm back in Fort Wayne.

Gems Game Notes

Scorin' Surma - Dayton's Damian Surma continues to the lead the Gems in goals scored with 17, and is second in the CHL for goals, just three behind league leader Brandon Marino of the Quad City Mallards.

Powerplay Master - Brandon Naurato remains tied for the top spot as the CHL's leader in powerplay goals with 8 in his 29 games played.

Komet Klobberer -Gems netminder Larry Sterling made a season high 45 saves between the pipes to propel his club to the victory over the Komets on Friday night.

Tickets For Tonight!

Tickets are still available for tonight's game at Hara by calling the Gems ticket office at 275-7777 or by visiting DaytonGems.com. The first 500 fans 18+ will receive a limited edition Gems pint glass, starting at 6pm.

Salute to Beer League Hockey

The Gems are honoring adult recreational hockey everywhere with the first annual "Salute to Beer League Hockey Night" tonight at 7pm. After a fan vote this summer, RUT Hockey of San Antonio, Texas was chosen as the first honoree, and the Gems will be wearing their distinctive "camo" jerseys when they battle the Komets. Additionally, RUT Hockey will face off with Dayton's own MegaCity Hockey for an afternoon exhibition game at 3pm (free to the public) and again with a shootout during the first intermission of the Gems-Komets game.

Camo Jersey Auction For Charity

The Gems will be auctioning off the game-worn "Camo" jerseys next week online to raise proceeds for RUT Hockey's chosen charity, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Additional information will be available on DaytonGems.com starting Monday.

Tune Into Tonight's Game!

Catch all the action live onwave96.net and CHL TV starting at 6:50pm (eastern) with Gems broadcasters Tom Michaels and Kevin O'Boyle handling the call. Fans can also tune into the Internet radio broadcast anywhere in the world with Internet connection and on the go through their smartphone.

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