In comeback fashion, Iowa edged the Fuel in the first-ever game at Fishers Event Center.
It’s been nearly eight months since the Indy Fuel played a regular-season game on home ice. While other ECHL teams had their home openers way back in October or early November, the Fuel started the 2024-25 season with a 15-game road trip while waiting for their new venue to be completed.
The long wait finally came to an end Friday night, as the Fishers Event Center welcomed its first sellout. It was supposed to be a storybook ending to a long-anticipated night in Indy history.
It almost was. Indy held a 3-1 lead in the third period, and the capacity crowd could smell that first home victory.
The Heartlanders, however, had no sympathy for the significance of the moment. They roared back with three unanswered goals in the final frame for a 4-3 victory, spoiling the occasion for the Fuel faithful.
The fans got an early treat when Brett Bulmer dropped the gloves for the first fight in the Fuel's new home just 1:39 into the first period.
It was Bulmer's first game with Indy this season, and he picked up a five-minute major for his efforts.
Ryan Gagnier thought he had scored the first goal in the new arena in the opening period. After a review that lasted nearly 10 minutes, officials ruled goalie interference against Matus Spodniak, and the goal was waved off.
To add insult to injury, it was the Heartlanders who would score first. Dakota Raabe beat the buzzer with a shot from the left circle with 2.3 seconds left in the period for a 1-0 Iowa lead. Ironically, that goal was also reviewed, but it took mere seconds before it was upheld.
Gagnier got another chance 22 seconds into the second period. This time, he succeeded, tying the game 1-1 and giving Indy its first goal at Fishers Event Center.
The Fuel would add two more goals for a 3-1 lead before Iowa started its comeback in the third period.
Will Calverley got it going at 4:41 with his sixth of the season off a rebound from the left post. Yuki Miura earned the primary assist, becoming the all-time leading points scorer in team history with 92.
Jack O’Brien would tie the score 50 seconds later, redirecting an Andrew McLean shot.
T.J. Walsh became the hero for Iowa, completing the comeback with a tight-angle, right-post shot past Fuel goaltender Ben Gaudreau for a wild 4-3 victory. It was Walsh’s fourth goal in his last five games.
William Rousseau stopped 25 shots to earn the win, while Gaudreau made 16 saves but took the tough loss.
The Heartlanders have a knack for being involved in close games, posting a 5-1-3 mark in those situations. They improve their overall record to 11-5-3, while Indy drops to 8-7-1.