FORT WAYNE, Indiana — The Fort Wayne Komets will open their 75th-anniversary season Saturday, October 17, with a celebration connecting the franchise’s present to its earliest days.
The Komets host the Toledo Walleye at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, with puck drop scheduled for 7:35 p.m. Eastern.
Both teams will wear special throwback uniforms inspired by the jerseys worn during Fort Wayne’s inaugural game against the Toledo Mercurys on October 25, 1952.
A Rivalry That Began in 1952
Toledo has been part of Fort Wayne hockey history since the beginning.
The Komets’ first game took place against the Toledo Mercurys, establishing a regional connection that has continued through decades of professional hockey.
Saturday’s matchup brings that history into the present, with the modern Toledo Walleye participating in the anniversary celebration.
The throwback uniforms are designed to honor the original 1952 meeting.
Both clubs are also scheduled to wear the commemorative jerseys during their December 5 matchup in Toledo.
Celebrating 75 Seasons
Since beginning play in 1952, the Komets have become one of the longstanding organizations in North American minor professional hockey.
The franchise has won 10 championships and developed a strong following in northeastern Indiana.
For the 2026–27 season, Fort Wayne has introduced uniform designs inspired by three championship teams: the 1962–63, 1972–73 and 1992–93 Komets.
The anniversary season offers an opportunity to recognize the franchise’s history while introducing newer supporters to the teams and traditions that helped establish professional hockey in Fort Wayne.
Opening-Night Promotions
The October 17 celebration will include several fan promotions.
According to the team’s official event information, the first 6,000 fans entering Memorial Coliseum will receive orange light-up neon wands.
A commemorative magnet schedule giveaway is also planned.
The evening includes Chuck-A-Puck during the second intermission, with prizes available through the team’s promotional partners.
Doors are scheduled to open at 6:15 p.m., ahead of the 7:35 p.m. puck drop.
A New Season Begins
Although the anniversary festivities will highlight the past, the Komets also begin another competitive season in the ECHL.
Opening against Toledo gives Fort Wayne an opportunity to celebrate its history while renewing one of the region’s longstanding hockey rivalries.
For supporters who have followed the franchise across generations, the occasion represents more than the beginning of another schedule.
It marks 75 seasons of Komets hockey and the start of the organization’s next chapter.
