Komets Drop a Close One to Walleye
Published on January 11, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fort Wayne Komets News Release
The return match between the Komets and Walleye took place at the Coliseum on Sunday, with first place in the Central Division at stake.
Despite dictating most of the play in the first period, the Komets fell down 2-0 as Brandon Hawkins scored on a power play at 11:43, followed by a Denis Smirnov even-strength goal at 15:49. Towards the end of the period, Nico Blachman was given a five-minute major penalty for boarding, leading to his dismissal from the game at 17:02.
In the second period, the Komets killed the remainder of the five-minute penalty. With the game still 2-0, Austin Magera found the back of the net, beating Toledo goaltender Matt Jurusik at 3:18 with an assist from Matt Berry and Lynden McCallum to cut the lead to one.
The Toledo defense tightened in the third period, holding the Komets off the board as Hawkins ended the match with an empty net goal at 19:57 to make the final score 3-1. Nathan Day took the loss, making 22 saves.
ECHL Stories from January 11, 2026
- Americans Win Wild Game in Wichita - Allen Americans
- Grizzlies Fall 3-2 in Series Finale - Utah Grizzlies
- Tahoe Finds Late Goal to Earn Series Sweep over Utah - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Rush Drop One-Goal Game Despite 55 Saves from DiMatteo - Rapid City Rush
- Fuel End the Weekend with a 2-1 Regulation Win - Indy Fuel
- Komets Drop a Close One to Walleye - Fort Wayne Komets
- Hawkins's Two Goals Blasts Walleye over Komets in Bounce-Back Win - Toledo Walleye
- Fast Start by the Nailers, Lions Fall in Wheeling - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Nailers Sweep Lions for Fifth Straight Win - Wheeling Nailers
- Worcester Comeback Falls Short in 5-3 Loss to Everblades - Worcester Railers HC
- K-Wings Snipe Heartlanders Sunday - Kalamazoo Wings
- Mariners Take Five of Six Points in Reading - Maine Mariners
- Wings Beat Landers in Back-And-Forth Third, 4-3 - Iowa Heartlanders
- ECHL Transactions - January 11 - ECHL
- Connor Murphy Recalled by Calgary; Battochio Added as Emergency Backup - Rapid City Rush
- Mavericks Defeat Tulsa, Extend Win Streak to Nine - Kansas City Mavericks
- Papp Plays Hero in Overtime as Admirals Extend Win Streak to Four - Norfolk Admirals
- Royals Sign Former Royal, Hummelstown, PA Native Dillan Fox to SPC - Reading Royals
- Knight Monsters Sign Goaltender Jacob Mucitelli - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Rush Game Notes: January 11, 2026 vs. Indy Fuel - Rapid City Rush
- K-Wings Sign Forward Raymond Brice - Kalamazoo Wings
- Game Day Preview: Early Afternoon Game in Wichita - Allen Americans
- Idaho Takes Game Three in Boise - Greensboro Gargoyles
- Blades Face Railers in Sunday Matinee Rubbermatch - Florida Everblades
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.
