2024-25 ECHL Season Thread

[crimsonace]

The Fuel Tank at Fishers facility was built as part of the Hallett partnership strategy to grow ice hockey interest in the Greater Indianapolis area, and that it has done very successfully. The two "Tank" rinks are almost constantly in use by the public, 7 mornings/afternoons/nights per week. Sometimes you've gotta think bigger picture when you're a owner of a sports franchise, a lesson to be learned by the likes of whatever group is trying to bring ECHL hockey to NM.

The Fuel Tank predates Hallett ownership - it was built as the Fishers Forum as a two-sheet rink, but the Halletts bought it around the same time they started the Fuel franchise. They've since built the team apartments adjacent to the building and upgraded some facilities for the Fuel to use as their main practice rink. It's about 2.5 miles from the Fishers Event Center.

When the team played at the Fairgrounds, they spent *most* of their practice time at the Coliseum's two sheets, since the equipment was already there.

 

[GindyDraws]

https://indyfuelhockey.com/news/2025/02/indy-fuel-game-postponed

Zamboni broke down. Second postponement between Fuel and Bison.

 

[JMCx4]

https://indyfuelhockey.com/news/2025/02/indy-fuel-game-postponed

Zamboni broke down. Second postponement between Fuel and Bison.

First "unsafe ice conditions" @ Grossinger Motors Arena, now Zamboni problems @ Fishers. Is somebody from Danville supplying ice maintenance for both venues?

ETA: There was plenty of ice available in Fishers for the Wed Feb 12 game game vs. Florida. Unfortunately, a lot of it was on the roadways around FEC.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Hutch is to blame…

 

[JMCx4]

As regular season play turns the calendar page to March, the ECHL standings remain anybody's game though there are some potential teams of destiny within the Division rankings ...

• Trois-Rivières has a 9-point lead on #2 Wheeling in the North Division, with a 7-3-0-0 record in the Lions' last 10 games.
• 3-peat League Champion Florida leads the pack in the South Division, but South Carolina are hanging in just 4 points back while riding an 8-1-1-0 streak.
• Toledo holds a 6-point lead in the Central Division over ... wait for it ... the HEARTLANDERS! The Walleye are on cruise control with a .500 Past 10 streak, while Iowa have a 30-16-4-4 overall record with a 7-2-0-1 P10 wave to ride. Honorable Mention goes to the new kids in Bloomington, who are taking advantage of the Haves & Havenots mix of divisional opponents as they cling to 4th place.
• In the Mountain (and the prairies) Division, Kansas City continues their season-long run for the top spot with a current 7-point lead ahead of Tulsa. Also of freshmen note, the 2nd new League entry in Tahoe is showing the rest of the League how celebrity owners can work wonders for a team's confidence.

 

[Legionnaire11]

Justin Taylor is now 2nd all time in ECHL games played.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Good career

 

[GindyDraws]

At the Fuel game today. Currently 2-2 against Iowa, which will affect the Heartlanders positioning.

 

[JMCx4]

At the Fuel game today. ...

Did you commute to & from using your personal jetpack? Or did you parachute onto the property, then hike out after the game.

 

[GindyDraws]

Did you commute to & from using your personal jetpack? Or did you parachute onto the property, then hike out after the game.

Nah, I went to the IKEA first to kill some time, which many of the fans were also doing, then walked over there with my brother, who had a camera class at the game. We actually got in an hour before the rest.

The Uber was a hassle, though, as even though they got a dedicated stop for ride shares, maps still haven't updated with the venue.

 

[JMCx4]

... The Uber was a hassle, though, as even though they got a dedicated stop for ride shares, maps still haven't updated with the venue.

Odd situation @ Fishers Event Center: Nobody can find the arena, and yet they STILL have a parking debacle.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

You going back to fishers next year?

 

[JMCx4]

You going back to fishers next year?

You paying?

 

[JMCx4]

... The Uber was a hassle, though, as even though they got a dedicated stop for ride shares, maps still haven't updated with the venue.

On further review of my spotty hockey memory (too many arenas, stories run together), my wife & I encountered the same transportation issue when we visited the Henderson Silver Knights' arena not long after its opening. When I asked one of the volunteer policemen at the arena exit for the location of a rideshare point, he warned me that customers were frequently missing pickups on the facility property. He suggested we walk across the street to The Cheesecake Factory or any other recognizable business in that retail complex, then enter that address in the app request for retrieval. Worked out well for us ... and my wife had time to get a slice of cheesecake to-go.

 

[Andre Poodle Lussier]

Bad ice in Norfolk last night postponed the Roylas-Admirals game:

 

[GindyDraws]

Fuel are 4th in the Central, but I just know we're getting swept by Toledo, as usual.

 

[Solution]

@VaCapsFan: It has been a fun season. Let's see how the playoffs go. Wheeling vs. Norfolk.

 

[Legionnaire11]

Komets set a new attendance record for the second straight season!

Fort Wayne Komets | Komets break attendance record

Fort Wayne, IN – The Komets finished the regular season averaging 8,185 fans per game, breaking the record of 8,157 set last season. After a shootout loss to Bloomington on Sunday, the Komets host Iowa in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The best-of-seven series will start at the Allen...

komets.com

 

[GindyDraws]

Fuel are 4th in the Central, but I just know we're getting swept by Toledo, as usual.

Call me Nostradomas because I saw this one coming.

God, it would literally kill this team to not humiliate themselves in the postseason.

 

[Atlantian]

Call me Nostradomas because I saw this one coming.

God, it would literally kill this team to not humiliate themselves in the postseason.

The Indy Fuel have lost 8 straight playoff games now, which is not even the longest active streak in the ECHL (Atlanta with 10)

 

[JMCx4]

Call me Nostradomas because I saw this one coming.

God, it would literally kill this team to not humiliate themselves in the postseason.

The Indy Fuel have lost 8 straight playoff games now, which is not even the longest active streak in the ECHL (Atlanta with 10)

You two need some time to hug ...

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Let’s go Norfolk!

 

[AllAlphas]

Two fantastic home playoff wins for the Tahoe Knight Monsters and they are thru to the second round with a sweep of the Wichita Thunder!

The community has really embraced the team and fans are turning out with another sellout tonight. It's a raucous group with a fun vibe.
Everyone in our section has already renewed their season tickets for next season and we've got other friends trying to get into any open seats near us.

We're even seeing some opposing team fans showing up from the Midwest and mountain states.
Tahoe is a pretty cool place to visit in its own right with four large casinos just a two minute walk from the arena. Both the beach and the Heavenly gondola are only a five minute walk away so it's a great place to catch a two or three game series over a long weekend after hitting the beach or the slopes earlier in the day.

Looking forward to the next round against either Tulsa or Kansas. The Knight Monsters have fantastic goaltending, solid D, and some outstanding forwards who can light up any team in the league. It's been an incredible inaugural season so far!

P.S. It was snowing big, beautiful flakes as we left the arena tonight and we're expecting 1-3" at lake level tonight.
I feel really bad that the Wichita Thunder players not only got swept out of the playoffs tonight but will also have to leave one of the most beautiful places on earth tomorrow to return to... Wichita.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Good game @Solution.

 

[JMCx4]

... P.S. It was snowing big, beautiful flakes as we left the arena tonight and we're expecting 1-3" at lake level tonight.
I feel really bad that the Wichita Thunder players not only got swept out of the playoffs tonight but will also have to leave one of the most beautiful places on earth tomorrow to return to... Wichita.

It snows in Wichita, too, 12.7 inches on average per annum and in winter when snow is SUPPOSED TO fall. Further, it's bad karma for hockey fans to disparage the "beauty" of another hockey town, especially when your team is owned by a washed up former NFL quarterback & a pair of aging Fixer Upper TV show hosts.