Fort Wayne, IN — The Komets will begin their defense of their second consecutive IHL Turner Cup Championship on the road while rekindling an old rivalry.  Friday, Oct. 16, Fort Wayne's 2009-10 campaign gets underway at Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio.  It will be the first trip by a Komet team to Dayton since March 15, 1980, when the Komets and Gems skated to a 4-4 tie at Hara Arena.  The Komets-Gems rivalry dates back to 1964-65, when the Gems made their IHL debut in the new Hara Arena and the Komets went on to win their second Turner Cup Championship.  During the old 14-year rivalry the Komets posted a 67-81-12 record against the Gems overall in regular season play.  

The IHL will consist of seven teams this year with Bloomington, Flint, Port Huron and Muskegon returning with Fort Wayne.  New franchises Dayton, Ohio and Quad City (Moline, Illinios) will round out the circuit.  The 27-week season ends with the Komets hosting Flint Sunday, April 18.

The defending back-to-back IHL Huber Trophy and Turner Cup Champion Komets will celebrate their 58th home opener Friday, Oct. 23 against the Bloomington PrairieThunder.  The Komets have won their last five consecutive home openers and over 10,000 fans have been in attendance for each of seven straight Fort Wayne home openers.

In addition to the Thunder visiting for Fort Wayne's home opener Oct. 23, long-time rival Muskegon makes it's first Fort Wayne appearance on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31.  Komet fans will get their first look at the new Quad City Mallards Friday, Nov. 13, and the new Dayton Gems visit for the first time since March 29, 1980, on Saturday, Nov. 14.  The Flint Generals invade for the first time Wednesday, Nov. 18 and the Port Huron Icehawks make their season debut in Fort Wayne Saturday, Nov. 28.  

Komet home games will follow the same start time schedule as last year.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday games will face off at 7:30pm.  Friday games will begin at 8pm while Sunday games will begin at 5pm. 

The Komets will again skate a 76-game schedule with 38 home games and 38 road games.  Fort Wayne will face Dayton the most with 16 meetings, including a season-high nine trips to Dayton.  The Komets will tangle with Quad City 14 times and skate against Bloomington and Flint each 12 times.  The Komets face Port Huron and Muskegon 11 times apiece. 

The Komets will host 13 Fridays, nine Saturdays and five Sundays.  During the week the Komets are slated at home for one Tuesday game, eight Wednesday night matches and two Thursday games.

The Flint Generals will again visit Fort Wayne for the traditional Komet Thanksgiving game.  Bloomington will be in town for the annual Komet New Year's Eve game, which will be held on a Thursday this year. 

The Komets will play three games in three nights 11 times this year and four games in five nights on four occasions.  The Komets will skate five games in six nights over the Christmas holiday including two home dates Dec. 29 and 31.  Again this year the Komets will be busiest at home during March with seven games scheduled at the coliseum including four home stands in seven nights during the week from Sunday, March 7 to Saturday, March 13.

Two exhibition home games slated.....the Komets will host two preseason games at the Memorial Coliseum.  Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Dayton Gems will visit for a 7:30pm exhibition.  Friday, Oct. 9, the Komets will host the Muskegon Lumberjacks at 8pm in the first of a home-and-home preseason series.  The Komets will travel to Muskegon to face the 'Jacks Saturday night, Oct. 10, at Walker Arena at 7pm.

Click here for the Komets complete 2009-10 IHL schedule.

Season tickets, at a savings over walk-up prices, are on sale at the Komet office at 1010 Memorial Way in Fort Wayne.  Season ticket packages include all 38 regular season home games and two pre-season games.  For information fans can visit www.Komets.com or call the Komet office at 260-483-0011.