James Krause

Fort Wayne

Freelance News Contributor at Frontstretch

Sports Reporter at The Journal Gazette

Articles

Komets raise over $30,000 in season-end jersey auction

1 day ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

After their season ended Saturday in the second round of the Kelly Cup playoffs, the Komets and their fans gathered Tuesday for the final chapter of the 2024-25 season. The Komets played host to their annual postseason jersey auction at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Hall, raising money for charity while allowing players to give back to the fans. "Not a lot of organizations are lucky enough to have a fan base like this," Komets coach Jesse Kallechy said.
Komets left pondering the ones that got away after series loss to Walleye

3 days ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

The Komets’ postseason run had been over for less than an hour, but coach Jesse Kallechy already knew what he’d be thinking about all summer: Game 5 of the Central Division finals series against the Toledo Walleye at Memorial Coliseum on Thursday. It was a game that saw Fort Wayne outshoot the Walleye 35-12 but lose to a goal by Colin Swoyer with 23.1 seconds left that put the Komets’ Kelly Cup playoff run in major jeopardy.
Komets have season ended by Toledo's star studded line in Game 6

4 days ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

TOLEDO — Somehow, Toledo Walleye forward and ECHL MVP Brandon Hawkins was a background character for most of the Central Division finals series against the Komets. That is until Saturday in Game 6 when his presence mattered the most. Hawkins assisted on four goals, including a lob pass that led to Tyler Spezia’s second goal in a 5-3 win on Saturday at the Huntington Center to clinch the series 4-2.
Postgame blog: Komets fall to Toledo, ending series and season

4 days ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

TOLEDO — The Komets' season is over after falling to the Toledo Walleye 5-3 on Saturday at the Huntington Center, losing the Central Division finals series 4-2. The first period saw the Walleye penalized four times for eight minutes while the Komets were penalized twice for four minutes. Despite the majority of the period being spent with one team on a man advantage, neither team could get on the board. James Stefan gave the Komets a 1-0 lead 35 seconds into the second period with a goal.
Pregame blog: Komets (2-3) at Toledo Walleye (3-2), Game 6

4 days ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

TOLEDO — The Komets are fighting to stay alive with Game 6 of the Central Division finals starting at 7:15 p.m. against the Toledo Walleye at the Huntington Center. The Walleye won back-to-back games at Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday and Thursday, giving them a 3-2 series lead and putting them a win away from a berth in the Western Conference finals against the Kansas City Mavericks. Both teams are going with the same scratches from Game 5.
Komets confident despite 3-2 deficit going into Game 6

5 days ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

If they want to keep their season alive, the Komets will need to beat their Central Division finals foe, the Toledo Walleye, on the road in a Game 7 on Monday. But they can’t worry about that. Not yet. “For us, we don't have to worry about Monday,” Kallechy said. “It's worried about the next one.
Komets 'complete game' comes undone by late Toledo goal in Game 5

6 days ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

Komets coach Jesse Kallechy said it was one of his team’s best performances of the season — until it wasn’t. After dominating the majority of Game 5 of the Central Division finals Thursday at Memorial Coliseum, a goal by Walleye defenseman Colin Swoyer with 23.1 seconds left gave Toledo a 2-1 victory and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. “One of our most complete games of the year in all facets,” Kallechy said.
Postgame blog: Late goal by Toledo's Swoyer downs Komets in Game 5

6 days ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

A goal by Colin Swoyer with 23.1 seconds left gave the Toledo Walleye a 2-1 win over the Komets in Game 5 of the Central Divison finals Thursday before 5,618 fans at Memorial Coliseum. Game 6 is set for 7:15 p.m. Saturday at the Huntington Center in Toledo with the Walleye leading the series 3-2. The Komets controlled the first period, outshooting the Walleye 13-3 but failed to get the game’s first goal. The tie carried through the second period, with offensive opportunities few and far between.
Toledo's Hawkins holds stint with Komets in high regard

6 days ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

The Toledo Walleye defeated the Komets 3-2 in double overtime Wednesday following a frantic third-period comeback by the Komets in Game 4 of the Central Division finals at Memorial Coliseum. Walleye forward Tyler Spezia scored 26 seconds into the second overtime to tie the series at 2. Game 5 is set for 7:30 p.m. today at Memorial Coliseum. After starting the night 0 for 5 on the power play, the Komets scored on their sixth power play to cut Toledo’s lead to 2-1 with 2:32 left.
Pregame blog: Toledo Walleye (2-2) at Komets (2-2), Game 5

6 days ago | journalgazette.net | James Krause

It’s playoff hockey night in Fort Wayne as the Komets and the Toledo Walleye meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Coliseum for Game 5 of the Central Division finals series. The Walleye took Game 4 by a 3-2 final, but the Komets didn’t go down without a fight. They scored twice in the final 2:32 of regulation to force overtime, and it wasn’t until 26 seconds into the second OT that Walleye forward Tyler Spezia managed to put the game away.