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Komets Outlast Visiting Gems in Final Preseason Tune Up

October 16, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Dayton Gems News Release


Fort Wayne, Indiana - Despite drawing first blood on the ice and on the score sheet, the Dayton Gems would fall on the road to division rival Fort Wayne Komets 3-1 in the final preseason tune up before the beginning of the 2011-2012 Central Hockey League regular season on October 22.

Picking up right where Friday night's game left off, both clubs showed intensity and physicality early to begin the second preseason contest of the weekend. Tempers once again boiled over a little more than three minutes into the first period, when Dayton's Ernie Stewart tangled up with Fort Wayne's David Starenky in front of Komets starting netminder Nick Boucher's crease. Feeding off the momentum, Dayton's top line led the charge offensively out of their zone when Brett Lutes and Tim Hartung fed teammate Brandon Naurato for the game's first goal at the 6:43 mark to take the early one goal lead. Fort Wayne would give their hometown crowd a showing of their own strength, blasting a tying goal past Gems netminder Kristopher Westblom less than a minute later at 7:24 to even the game at 1-1. At the horn, both teams would skate into the first intermission tied, with the Komets edging the Gems in shots on goal 12 to 9.

The second period would feature both clubs battle in end to end fashion, and as time wore along, each coach would have the opportunity to test out their respective special teams play through a number of penalty calls to each club. As was done in the previous preseason game on Friday night, Gems head coach Brian Gratz switched goalies near the midway mark of the period, giving Jon Olthuis his first appearance between the pipes this season. Sensing the shift in momentum, Komets star forward Bobby Chaumont gave Fort Wayne the lead at the 14:46 mark before the Komets followed through and extended the lead to two with a powerplay goal by longtime veteran P.C Drouin as the remaining seconds ticked away on the clock. With the goal, Drouin led his Komets into the dressing room ahead 4-2 after forty minutes. Fort Wayne once again led the Gems in shot on goal in the second 17 to 7.

Fans in Fort Wayne were treated to a more subdued offensive effort by the Komets as they focused on maintaining their two goal lead., while the Gems tried to capitalize on their efforts in the attacking zone. Despite a prime powerplay opportunity with just over five minutes left in regulation, neither team would be able to light the lamp before the final horn. After a full sixty minutes of hockey, the Komets evened the preseason record of both clubs to 1-1 with their hard fought 3 to 1 victory on home ice. Shots on goal in the third favored the home team 8-6 for a game total of 37-22 Fort Wayne.

Dayton return home to the Gem city for a week of practice in preparation of next week's regular season opener on the road Saturday, October 22 at the Bloomington Blaze.

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

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