
Indy Fuel Pit Stop Weekly: Week 10
December 19, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Indy Fuel News Release
THE FUEL REVAMPING AND RETOOLING TO RETURN TO THE LEAGUE'S WINNING SIDE OF THE LEDGER
THREE GAME HOME STAND CONTINUES THIS WEEK WITH TWO BOUTS WITH THE BEAST FROM BRAMPTON
INDY PREPARES POSITIVELY TO PUT TO AN END TO ITS LONG LOSING SPELL BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: 3(0-3-0) 4-13
THURS. DEC. 15 FUEL 1 AT CINCINNATI 3
FRI. DEC. 16 FUEL 1 AT CINCINNATI 4
SAT. DEC. 17 QUAD CITY 6 AT FUEL 2
THIS WEEK'S GAMES: (2)
TUES. DEC. 20 BRAMPTON AT FUEL 7:05 PM
THURS. DEC. 22 BRAMPTON AT FUEL 7:05 PM
NEXT HOME GAMES: TUESDAY, DEC. 20TH AND THURSDAY, DEC. 22ND VS. BRAMPTON BEAST 7:05 PM
*** ALL INDY FUEL GAMES HOME AND AWAY ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON INDIANAPOLIS' CBS SPORTS 1430 ***
THE FUEL IN REVIEW: Entering the final week of the 2016-17 ECHL schedule before the brief Christmas recess, the Indy Fuel are positioned in seventh place in the Western Conference Central Division with an overall season record of 25(8-15-2) for a total of 18-points. Presently mired in a 9-game losing streak and 10-game winless spell; 10 (0-9-1), Indy is continuing its efforts to revamp and otherwise retool its team expressly to climb into a more competitive and contending status through the latter two-thirds of the current campaign. The men of the Fuel's last toast of triumph was back on November 23rd when they decisioned the visiting Kalamazoo Wings at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, 5-3. On home ice, the Fuel record has slipped below the .500 barrier at 12(5-6-1); having dropped 4-consecutively while being out-goaled, 19-5. As far as foreign ice warfare is concerned, the Indiana State Capital's hockey sextet has fallen in 5-consecutively, being outscored by the opposition, 24-8. Indy's last success abroad was extracted from the Aces in Alaska in the form of a 2-0 shutout victory back on November 12th. They are 6(0-5-1) in the last half-dozen dates when traveling away from home.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: On this week before the Christmas holiday, the Fuel will be at home for a pair of Indiana Farmers Coliseum appearances as they continue on their present three-games' home stand. The Eastern Conference North Division rivals, the Brampton Beast come to town for the holidays not once, but twice for a pair of collisions this Tuesday and Thursday nights with opening face-off for both bouts being 7:05 pm. Brampton leads the 5-games' season series, 1(1-0-0) by virtue of a 6-3 comeback counterattack conquest of the Fuel, December 7th in the Ontario hamlet. In the initial clash of the campaign, the Beast surmounted a 3-1 late first period shortfall, rallying for 5-unanwered strikes to claim the victory. The Beast recently completed a 8(6-2-0) 8-games" home stand while capturing a 3-game series the past weekend against divisional foe Adirondack at 2 to 1. This week marks the first two of four Brampton appearances here in Indianapolis.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: More premium, primo promos coming this holiday week from the Fuel finest. Tuesday night has been designated "Fat Tuesday Night!" Fans can enjoy all-you-can-eat hot dogs, burgers, popcorn and nachos. On Thursday night, it will be "Throwback Thursday," as the Fuel turn back the clock and stroll through the eras of the last several decades.
SUPERHERO MEET & GREET: Calling all heroes! Spider-Man, Captain America and Black Widow are coming to Indiana Farmers Coliseum to help the Fuel defeat the evil Cincinnati Cyclones, and they want to meet the next generation of superheroes before the game! Join our special guests for an exclusive pre-game meet and greet in the Bier Brewery Lounge, where little ones can interact and get photos and autographs with our full-sized heroes. The Superhero Meet & Greet package is only $39 and includes a special gift and a ticket to that night's game - click here to purchase yours today!
WEEK'S REWIND: It was yet another physically and mentally demanding work week for the home town team as the boys were out of town, again, for a pair of contests in Cincinnati before returning to the homestead for their third game in as many nights against divisional foe Quad City. Thursday night in the "Queen City," the Fuel, perhaps earned and deserved a better fate and destiny than the 3-1 final result. In his Fuel debut, Alex Guptill accounted for the Fuel-men lone goal which diminished the deficit to 2-1 before the victors stashed an ENG to cement their success. Friday night eerily had all the trappings of the same encore script with the Indy squad being the better team throughout yet falling, 4-1. Outshooting the Cyclones in all three periods, the Fuel continued to be offensively-challenged. Again, as for a second straight night Alex Guptill was the club's lone sharpshooter, dwindling the deficit one more time to 2-1. Indy outshot the Cincinnatians, 32-25. Returning home after a lengthy two-week's absence and unfounded, winless 5-game road trek, the Fuel, playing their third game in as many nights, trembled to a well-rested Quad City, 6-2. Team leading scoring wizard Alex Wideman staked his club to a 1-0 first period advantage, triggering a major, massive avalanche of teddy bears, stuffed animals and other assorted and various furry creatures on the Fuel's annual "Teddy Bear Toss Night" for the Toys for Tots Christmas program. However, a mere moments later, the celebration was quelled when the Mallards erupted volcanically to the tune of 3-goals in 3:55 to seize a lead they never abdicated. Brady Ramsay did deliver a Fuel SHG midway through the third period to halt a Quad City 6-goals' unanswered comeback counterattack crescendo.
ALEX ALERT-ALIVE: The past week, the Fuel consummated their second significant player-deal this season with the two-time reigning ECHL Kelly Cup Champions Allen Americans. Indy obtained left wing Alex Guptill in exchange for defenseman Randy Cure and the rights to Alex Lavoie. Guptill, the former U. of Michigan standout and teammate of Fuel center Kevin Lynch with the Wolverines, announced his arrival to the Indy hockey group by firing both goals in his new team's two-game series at Cincinnati. Selected in the third round, 77th overall, by the Dallas Stars in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Guptill is the Fuel's nomination for Sher-Wood/ECHL Player of the Week.
IM-PRESS-IVE: Another Fuel newcomer during these times of Indy roster changes is defenseman Robin Press. The Swedish import was assigned to the Fuel organization earlier in the week as orchestrated by the Chicago/Rockford connection. A seventh-round draft choice of the Blackhawks, Press had been plying his craft in his native land before getting the call. The newest Fuel rearguard has stepped in immediately, logging an abundance of ice time while playing in any and all situations. Displaying his talents honed and refined through his vast experience in the Sweden elite leagues, Press propelled a game-high 6-SOG in each of his initial outings for Indy in the two games at Cincinnati.
JOSH JUGGERNAUT: Head Coach Bernie John is burning the midnight oil in his efforts to enhance and otherwise advance his Fuel club. Not afraid to trade, the Indy bench pacer procured the talented services of left wing Josh Shalla from the 2015-16 ECHL Kelly Cup Finalists Wheeling Nailers in exchange for right wing Tyler Currier and future considerations. A 4th round draft pick, selected 94th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Shalla has attained the reputation of being an ECHL premiere goal-scoring cannoneer and power play specialist; two key departments where Indy has lacked any semblance of proficiency nor consistency. Making his debut in the second period Saturday night against Quad City, Shalla has been an ECHL All-Star during his three seasons in Cincinnati following a star-studded, goal-scoring major junior 'A' career in the OHL with Saginaw where he fired 119-goals in three seasons with the Spirit. In 23-games with Wheeling this season, he was the Nailers second leading point-meister while notching a team-best 10-goals; 23(10-8-18).
THE MARKSMEN FOR THE FUEL-MEN: 1- Alex Wideman 25(12-11-23); 2- Josh Shalla 24(10-8-18); 3- Kevin Lynch 24(6-9-15); 4- Jonathan Carlson 25(1-10-11); 5- Alex Guptill 21 (6-4-10); 6- Nick Mattson 25(1-9-10); 7- Matt Rupert 25(5-3-8); 8- Patrick D'Amico 19(2-6-8); 9- Matt Stanisz 24(4-4-8); 10- Tyler Barnes 4(1-6-7).
UNEVEN STRENGTH: While the Fuel power play remains a work in progress, their penalty-killing ensemble cast continues to be absolutely extraordinary. The shorthand band has limited the opposition to only 11-PPG all season long in 83-advantages afforded the adversary. The efficiency rating for the season is a sterling 86.8% mark. Indy has choreographed 2-SHG with the latest coming from Brady Ramsay Saturday night against Quad City. In the meantime, the power play is still striving for better more frequent production. Presently 7-63 for the season and a rating of 11.1%, the extra man band is 0 for the last 19 and 1 for the last 33. On the road, it is 1-36 for the season.
FUEL FACTS: Through the first 25-games of the season, the Fuel have been employed 36 players. Currently, there are 12-players remaining from the Fuel's opening night roster. The three major trades which Coach Bernie John has completed have been with the two Kelly Cup Finalists of last season, the Allen Americans, of which he has done two deals (Alex Guptill, Tristan King) and the Wheeling Nailers (Josh Shalla). The Fuel have been limited to 1-GF or less in 11 of their first 25-games this season. During the 9-game losing spell, the Fuel have been held to 1-GF or less in 6 of those decisions. During their 4-game home losing skein, the Fuel have scored only 5-GF, being outscored, 19-5. Only 4-Fuel players have played all 25-games; Alex Wideman, Jonathan Carlsson, Nick Mattson and Matt Rupert. The Fuel have not scored more than 3-GF through their first 13-road games. Indy is 10(9-1-0) when achieving the lead after the first and second periods; first: 5(4-1-0); second: 5(5-0-0). When outshooting the opponents, the Fuel are 7(1-5-1). Indy is 11(7-3-1) when scoring the game's FG; they are 3(0-3-0) in the last 3.
FUELING THE TUBE: All season long, all Indy Fuel Friday night and Saturday night home games are televised live in simulcast form. WTHR-TV 13 / COZI-TV will have all the action with the Fuel's exclusive radio flagship home of CBS SPORTS 1430. Terry Ficorelli will have the play-by-play call with Bob Kravitz and Talor Whitaker alongside.
THE DAILY FUEL FILL-UP: All Fuel hockey fans can stay up to date every day even when there is not a game. It's "The Fuel Fix From Fic," Monday through Friday afternoon during the Kent Sterling Show from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm on the exclusive radio flagship home of the Indy Fuel, CBS SPORTS 1430.
TICKET INFORMATION: Indy Fuel tickets for all home games are available at the Farmers Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations or on line at IndyFuelHockey.com. Or call us at (317) 925-FUEL.
SOUTH OF CHICAGO : Fill your tank at South of Chicago and Fuel your Fridays in the process! Enjoy the lunch buffet at any of the three South of Chicago Pizza & Beef locations and pick up a coupon for $3 off any ticket to a Friday Fuel home game. Must redeem coupon at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, limit one coupon per ticket. For more information, visit nobspizza.com.
ECHL Stories from December 19, 2016
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- Steelheads Weekly Report: December 19 - Idaho Steelheads
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- Jason Kasdorf Returns to Elmira - Elmira Jackals
- Monarchs Weekly Preview - Manchester Monarchs
- Gladiators Weekly for the Week of December - Atlanta Gladiators
- Stingrays Unveil Alternate Uniforms - South Carolina Stingrays
- Oil Drops: Tulsa Oilers Weekly Report - December 19 - Tulsa Oilers
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
