Thunder Opens 2016 with Win in Indy

Indianapolis, IN (Jan. 2nd) - Logan Nelson scored the game-winner in the second period to help Wichita (8-20-1-3) take a 2-1 victory over Indy (14-18-2-0) on Saturday night at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The Thunder snaps a six-game losing skid and wins its first game of 2016. Wichita sweeps the season-series, taking both meetings against the Fuel this season.

Kenton Miller added a pair of assists and David Shantz earned his sixth win of the year.

Both teams scored one in the first. Anders Franzon put the Fuel on top at 4:16, walking

down from his point position and beat Shantz with a wrist shot to the blocker side. Martin Nemcik tied the game at 12:22 just after a Thunder power play expired, shoveling home a rebound past Mac Carruth in the crease area for his first of the season.

Nelson potted the only goal of the second period, coming off a face-off win from Miller and he buried a wrist shot past Carruth for the 2-1 advantage. Wichita had a 10-4 shot advantage at one point, before the Fuel finished with a late power play.

The Thunder enjoyed three-straight power plays in the final period, but couldn't get one past Carruth. Indy had an offensive-zone face-off late and pulled Carruth to get the extra attacker on the ice. The Fuel then had a six-on-four situation as Dan Milan was sent off for a cross check. With 12 seconds left, Wichita cleared it twice from its own zone and held on for the 2-1 victory.

Wichita claims its first regulation win since Thanksgiving Eve. Nelson recorded his first goal in a Thunder uniform since being acquired in a trade. Miller had his third multi-point game of the year. Nemcik recorded his first goal in a Thunder uniform and his first ECHL marker. Shantz took the win, stopping 22 of 23 shots. Carruth suffered his first loss in his last five starts, stopping 24 of 26 shots he faced.

Wichita was 0-for-8 on the power play. Indy went 0-for-5 on the man advantage.

The Thunder finishes their three-game road trip tomorrow afternoon against Evansville at 5:15 p.m.

Individual tickets for all games are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the INTRUST Arena Box office, by calling 855-755-SEAT or go online at www.selectaseat.com.

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About the ECHL

The ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 20 states and one Canadian province for its 27th season in 2014-15. There have been 541 players who have started their career in the ECHL have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 29 who made their NHL debuts in the 2013-14 season. The ECHL had affiliations with 26 of the 30 NHL teams in 2013-14, marking the 17th consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com, as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

-Thunder-