(NOTE: The Indy Fuel ECHL hockey team calls the new Fishers Event Center as its home for the 2014-2015 season. The team will be on the road until the home opener December 6, once the Center construction is complete. I will feature game summaries, based on information provided by the Fuel, here on this blog as the team starts its season. The first Fuel game of the season was Friday night. Here is the summary below.)
The Indy Fuel’s 2024-25 season got off to a rough start as they fell to the Savannah Ghost Pirates 4-1 in their season opener on the road. Savannah controlled the game from the start, holding the Fuel scoreless until the final minute of play.
1st Period: The Ghost Pirates set the tone early when Riese Gaber found the back of the net just 3:35 into the game. Savannah added to their lead in the final minute of the first period, scoring twice in just 25 seconds to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Indy struggled to generate offense against Savannah goaltender Evan Cormier, despite a few early chances. Penalties to Ty Farmer and Bryan Lemos for slashing also disrupted the Fuel’s momentum.
2nd Period: The second period saw no goals, but both teams continued to create opportunities. The Fuel outshot the Ghost Pirates 14-7 in the frame, but Cormier was a brick wall in net, turning away everything Indy threw at him. A heated moment at 10:14 brought the crowd to life when Darby Llewellyn of the Fuel and Savannah’s Liam Arnsby dropped the gloves near center ice, earning both players five-minute majors. Despite the physical play, neither team could capitalize on their chances.
3rd Period: Savannah’s Dennis Cesana extended the lead to 4-0 in the third, earning his second point of the night alongside Gaber. Indy goaltender Gaudreau, who finished with 25 saves on 29 shots, kept the game from getting further out of hand, but the Fuel offense couldn’t break through until the final moments. Rookie defenseman Adam McCormick spoiled Cormier’s shutout bid with just 33 seconds remaining, scoring his first professional goal.
Cormier finished the game with 28 saves, holding off Indy’s offensive surge in the later stages. The Fuel will now head to Atlanta for a two-game series as they look to regroup after a tough opener.
Final Score: Savannah 4, Indy 1