Hockey is back in Fishers, and the Indy Fuel didn't waste any time giving the home crowd something to cheer about.
The Fuel opened their 2026-27 season Friday, October 16 at the Fishers Event Center with a 2-1 overtime win over the Wheeling Nailers, according to the team's game page. Chase Dafoe put Indy on the board late in the first period, Wheeling tied it in the second, and Harrison Israels ended it 5:17 into overtime. Goalie Adam Gajan stopped 18 of 19 shots, and the Fuel outshot Wheeling 31-19.
Fans got rally towels, a pregame fan fest and postgame autographs with select Fuel players. If you missed it, the good news is there are 35 more home games to go.
Next up at the Fishers Event Center
The Fuel play 72 games this season, 36 of them at home, as the ECHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs. Here are the next few home dates, per the team's schedule announcement and schedule page:
| Date | Time | Opponent | Theme night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Oct. 23 | 7:15 p.m. | Toledo Walleye | Stick It to Cancer |
| Sunday, Oct. 25 | 4 p.m. | Cincinnati Cyclones | ZOOperstars! Family Fun Day |
| Sunday, Nov. 1 | 4 p.m. | Fort Wayne Komets | Halloween Hangover |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | 10:30 a.m. | Cincinnati Cyclones | Education Day (morning game) |
The team opens with 15 straight games against Central Division rivals before a three-game trip to Atlanta in mid-November. Bloomington, Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo and Toledo are all familiar faces, and the Bloomington Bison alone show up 13 times, seven of them in Fishers. For the full lineup, check the Fuel's schedule.
A quick rule of thumb for start times: weeknights are 7:15 p.m., Saturdays are 7 p.m. and Sundays are 4 p.m. The one exception is the 10:30 a.m. morning game on November 3.
Getting tickets and planning your night
Single-game tickets are sold through indyfuelhockey.com and Ticketmaster. If you're bringing a big group, the team offers group packages, with block tickets starting at $21 for groups of 20 or more.
Theme nights and giveaways change from game to game, so check the promo listing for the night you're going.
Need accessible seating or have mobility questions? The Fuel's accessibility game day guide covers it. And if you've never been to the arena, our look at the first events at the Fishers Event Center is a good primer.
Make a night of it
Make dinner part of the plan. Browse our list of the top American restaurants in Fishers, or head to the Nickel Plate District for drinks after the game. Coming in from out of town? Hotel Nickel Plate puts you right in the middle of it.
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Sources: Indy Fuel opening night game page · Indy Fuel 2026-27 schedule announcement · LarryInFishers
