(BY TERRY FICORELLI)
THE FUEL TO TACKLE TWO TOP TEAMS IN ECHL IN THREE-GAMES’ HOME STAND THIS WEEKEND
PREMIERE ARCH-ENEMY FORT WAYNE HERE FRI. & SAT. NIGHTS; LEAGUE KING ALLEN HERE SUNDAY
INDY CLUB COMMITTED TO CAPPING CURRENT CAMPAIGN’S FINAL 15-GAMES ON HIGH NOTE
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: 2(0-1-1) 3-9
FRI. MAR. 3 WHEELING 3 AT FUEL 2 (OT)
SAT. MAR. 4 FUEL 1 AT QUAD CITY 6
THIS WEEK’S GAMES: (3)
FRI. MAR. 10 FORT WAYNE AT FUEL 7:35 PM
SAT. MAR. 11 FORT WAYNE AT FUEL 7:35 PM
SUN. MAR. 12 ALLEN AT FUEL 3:05 PM
NEXT HOME GAMES: FRI. 3/10 & SAT. 3/11 VS. FORT WAYNE 7:35 PM; SUN. 3/12 VS. ALLEN 3:05 PM
*** ALL INDY FUEL GAMES HOME AND AWAY ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON INDIANAPOLIS’ CBS SPORTS 1430 ***
THE FUEL REVIEW; Under the direction of Head Coach Bernie John, the Indy Fuel have broached their 12-games’ slate for the month of March with a 2(0-1-1) mark. With a month of March schedule comprised of 6-games at home and 6-games on the road, the Fuel have approached the last five weeks of the 2016-17 ECHL campaign with renewed enthusiasm, renewed energy and rekindled commitment.
The hockey club’s collective goals and objectives to be attained are to close the campaign and the final 15-games of the regular season agenda on the highest possible note, the best imaginable positive position that still may be available as the men of Fuel hockey start taking dead aim for the 2017-18 season. Through 57-games at this juncture of the Fuel-men current season, they reside in 7th place in the Western Conference Central Division standings with a record of 57(15-37-5) totaling 35-points. They remain a scant 3-points in arrears of 6th place Wichita 55(17-34-4) 38-points with the Thunder recently halting a 4-game losing streak with merely their second win over their last 19-starts.
As for the Fuel, they are presently winless in their last 5-games; 5(0-4-1), being outscored 25-7 in that span. Their last victory was back on February 18th in Tulsa and a 6-2 triumph over the Oilers. Overall, Indy is 15(1-12-2) over the last 15-outings. At home, they are 6(0-5-1) in the last half-dozen appearances with the last home ice triumph coming back on January 27th in the form of a 2-0 shutout success against Rapid City. Indy’s record thus far in the second half of the schedule: 21(4-15-2); first half mark: 36(11-22-3).
ECHL’S BEST IN INDY: It just may be the best Indy Fuel 3-games home stand weekend yet and it’s on the docket for this upcoming weekend at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Two of the ECHL’s foremost formidable league perennial powers invade the hockey city to flash their best weaponry against our hometown team. It all begins when in-State rival Fort Wayne comes calling for a two-games’ series on both Friday and Saturday nights. The men of Fuel will be on the hunt for their initial successes of the season against the Komets. Indy is winless in its initial 6-tests against the Fort Wayners; 6(0-5-1) and 2(0-2-0) here on home ice.
On Sunday, the 4-time Champions Allen Americans will make their second appearance in Indianapolis. The Fuel battled brilliantly and combatively in the Texas-based squadron’s lone previous encounter here back on October 29th in a thrilling, entertaining 7-6 OT affair. Indy is 5(0-4-1) in 5-duels with the league’s top title timber team.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: To truly and totally spice-up this upcoming Fuel home stand weekend against two of the league’s foremost, formidable finest, the organization will deliver some of their premiere, primo promotions of the season. This Friday night has been officially designated, “HOCKEY NIGHT IN INDY” All of the Fuel’s loyal, avid and rabid fans are invited to join the celebration as the men of Fuel hockey take the ice for their 100th home game in team ECHL history at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. There will be a veritable plethora of prizes and surprises throughout the night with special commemorative jerseys given away randomly to 100-fans. Saturday night, the Fuel will present their third annual “RACING NIGHT.” This night promises to be a festive one celebrating the proud history of auto racing in the Circle City. This is an opportunity for fans to get a behind-the-scenes for a good look at the sport of auto racing. Fans will be able to meet the drivers and their cars during a pre-game event in Grand Hall. Then on Sunday, it’s another “FAMILY FUN DAY” and another post-game skating party with your favorite Fuel players.
2017-18 SEASON TICKETS: Fuel Full Season Ticket Plans for the 2017-18 Indy Fuel ECHL hockey season are now on sale, and your chance to pick up a couple of incredible perks has been extended! Purchase or renew your plan by March 20 and you will receive your seat for the 2018 ECHL All-Star Classic absolutely FREE! Click here for more information and join the team today.
THE WEEKEND WRAP-UP: The Fuel broached their new month of March schedule with a somewhat abbreviated agenda consisting of 2-games in 2-nights, garnering one point in the standings as a final result. It was a stout, stellar Friday night effort on home ice Friday night against 2016 Kelly Cup Finalist Wheeling in an ultimate 3-2 OT outcome. Indy played with passion and spirit in fashioning a 2-1 second period advantage on the impetus of goals scored by Josh Shalla (25) GTG and Alex Wideman (18) TBG. The two goals overcame an early Fuel 1-0 shortfall.
The Nailers did knot matters late in the middle period before gathering the extra point on an OT strike stoked at 2:52 of the extra session. Eric Levine was supreme in goal for the Fuel, repelling 40 of 43-SOG. Saturday night, the Fuel foreign ice journeys took them to Moline, IL where they laid claim to an 1-0 lead on Nick Bligh’s FG at 1:32 of the opening frame. However, Quad City responded resoundingly to capture the intra-divisional clash, 6-1.
THE ADAM ATTACK: Defenseman Adam Phillips has been an unsung hero for the Fuel since his arrival to the hockey club from the Norfolk Admirals. The 6-6 tower of power has emerged as an offensive operative from his right defense position. The past Friday night on home ice against Wheeling, the Farmington Hills, MI product essayed a key assist on both of team’s goals in the 3-2 OT outcome. In the process, he was hailed as the game’s #2 Star. Having also earned a key helper on the Fuel’s sole goal last Sunday at Toledo, Phillips enjoyed a streak in which he assisted on 3-consecutive Fuel goals. Since joining Indy in 17-games, he is 17(1-7-8). Phillips is the Fuel’s nomination for Sher-Wood/ECHL Player of the Week.
LEVINE’S LOOKING UP: Four-year goaltender Eric Levine has been seeing the lion’s share of the action recently for the Fuel. On Friday night, the former standout at Robert Morris U., was at the top of his game in a bedazzling performance in the OT outcome against Wheeling. Seemingly sprouting rubber limbs on demand and taking full advantage of his 6-3 wide wing span, Levine rebuked 40 of the Nailers 43-SOG to, perhaps, earn a better fate and destiny than what the final outcome reflected. Levine is the Fuel’s nomination for CCM/ECHL Goaltender of the Week.
FUEL FROSH: The latest newcomers to enlist with the brigade of the Fuel are left wing Jack Ceglarski and left wing/defenseman Kenton Helgesen. Both players made their Fuel debuts the past weekend with sound and solid reviews. Helgesen, obtained by parent club Chicago in a NHL trade deadline deal with Anaheim, authored 1-assist in each of his 2-outings while Ceglarski attained a +1 rating for his weekend workload. Helgesen is a product of the WHL major junior ‘A’ Calagry Hitmen where he served as captain in his final season while Ceglarski was signed right off his college campus of SUNY-Genesseo where he plied his hockey craft for the past 4-years.
MAJOR MARQUEE MEN: 1- Josh Shalla 56(25-20-45); 2- Alex Wideman 56(18-27-45); 3- Kevin Lynch 35(11-13-24); 4- Paul Zanette 41(10-13-23); 5- Matt Rupert 57(14-7-21); 6- Kenny Ryan 29(7-11-18); 7- Tyler Barnes 15(5-10-15); 8- Kenton Helgesen 40(3-12-15); 9- Nick Bligh 26(8-6-14); 10- Adam Phillips 36(2-11-13); 11- Brandon Martell 49(0-13-13); 12- Bryn Chyzyk 30(5-7-12); 13- Nick Mattson 48(1-11-12); 14- Zack Miskovic 42(1-10-11); 15- Chris Williams 44(4-4-8).
PENALTY KILL KINETIC: As far as the latest Indy intel is concerned, the scouting report card is giving top grades to the Fuel’s art of penalty-killing prowess. In recent activity, the Fuel have defused 10-consecutive manpower advantages afforded the adversary; 10 for the last 10; 100% efficiency rating. Furthermore, Indy has immobilized 16 of the last 17 power plays presented the opponents for a rating of a superb 94.1%. Regarding the Fuel power play, though flashing a bevy of positive signals in the latest action, the extra man band continues to strive for more consistency and congruity. The power is play is 0 for the last 15 and long overdue to come through with a major breakthrough.
THE MILESTONES MOMENT: Veteran team captain and defenseman Zach Miskovic (398) is 2-games away from pro career 400. Center Paul Zanette (240) is 10-games shy of pro career 250. Right wing Brady Ramsay (146) is 4-games away from the career 150. Center Kenny Ryan (193) is 7-PIM from career 200-PIM.
FUEL FACTS: Left wing Matt Rupert is the Fuel’s last man standing. He has become the lone Fuel player to be at the starting gate for all 57-games this season. Center Nick Bligh has fired 8-goals so far this season with 5- of those scored with the Fuel and all 5 of those delivered through foreign ice warfare. In Friday night’s 3-2 OT affair on home ice against Wheeling, defenseman Brandon Martell carded a masterful +2 rating. The Fuel are 3(0-3-0) in OT this season; 2(0-2-0) at home; 1(0-1-0) on the road. Dating back to last season, Indy is 9(2-7-0) in its last 9-OT outcomes. The Fuel are 23(5-15-3) against their own Central Division and 9(1-7-1) against Eastern Conference North Division opponents. When scoring 3-GF or more, the Fuel are 23(11-9-3). When the Fuel battled Wheeling to a 3-2 OT result Friday night, the two players who were traded for each other each engineered goals; Josh Shalla for the Fuel against his erstwhile team and Tyler Currier for the Nailers against his former club. Newcomer Jack Ceglarski’s grandfather, Len Ceglarski was a highly-successful collegiate head coach for 34-years, developing nationally prominent hockey programs at both Clarkson U., and Boston College. His grandfather was also an outstanding member of the 1952 U.S. Olympic Team which captured the Silver Medal in Oslo, Norway.
THIS IS FUEL TV: All season long in 2016-17, all Indy Fuel Friday night and Saturday night home games are televised live in simulcast form. WTHR-TV 13 (NBC) / COZI-TV will present all of 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 Indiana Farmers Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations or online at indyfuelhockey.com. Call us by phone as well 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.
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