The Indy Fuel continue to build their roster for the upcoming ECHL season, announcing Friday they have re-signed defenseman Will Ennis to a standard player contract for the 2026-27 campaign.
Ennis, 26, appeared in 63 games for the Fuel during the 2025-26 season, recording four points while providing a steady defensive presence. He also accumulated 22 penalty minutes during his first season with the club.
Before turning professional, Ennis played four seasons at the University of Windsor, where he totaled eight goals and 34 assists in 97 games while earning a degree in mechanical engineering. He also recorded 50 penalty minutes during his collegiate career.
The Russell, Ontario, native spent four seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals before attending Windsor. Serving as an alternate captain during his final junior season, Ennis developed a reputation as a reliable shutdown defenseman, finishing his OHL career with eight goals, 33 assists and 89 penalty minutes in 239 games.
His play earned him Oshawa’s Top Defenseman Award for the 2018-19 season. Off the ice, Ennis also was recognized for his academic achievements, becoming a finalist for the OHL’s 2019-20 Roger Neilson Memorial Award, presented annually to the league’s top post-secondary academic player.
Ennis was also a four-time Oshawa Generals Scholastic Player of the Year and a two-time team fitness award winner.
The re-signing is the latest offseason move for the Fuel as the organization prepares for the 2026-27 season under new head coach Jesse Messier, who was hired earlier this week. The Fuel are expected to continue announcing player signings in the coming weeks as training camp approaches.
Fishers road construction picks up this week, with a major detour on 136th Street, lane restrictions along several corridors and paving crews moving into four neighborhoods.
The 136th Street Widening Project has entered Phase 2, closing 136th Street to through traffic between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road. Drivers should follow the signed detour using Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road. The project will convert the rural two-lane road into a boulevard with raised medians, multi-use paths on both sides, new pavement, curb and gutter, and upgraded storm sewers.
At 116th Street and Allisonville Road, outside lanes remain closed with traffic shifted to inside through lanes and turn lanes — a pattern expected to last through early October. The west leg of Fishers Crossing Boulevard at Allisonville Road closed Aug. 5 and should reopen after roughly three weeks. Sidewalks within the project area are closed, though the city says all businesses remain open and accessible. Crews are replacing driveway approaches, painting streetlights, installing temporary signals and rebuilding the west side of Allisonville Road.
Resurfacing work starts Aug. 24 with milling in Weaver Woods and Weaver Woods North, followed by Fawnsbrook on Aug. 25 and Westmoreland Drive in Somerset on Aug. 27. Base repairs follow, with paving beginning Aug. 30 in Weaver Woods and finishing on Westmoreland Drive around Sept. 3. Residents should expect equipment, temporary parking restrictions and short delays. Signs will be posted before parking restrictions take effect.
Elsewhere, USA Parkway north of 106th Street has lane restrictions through October; the Southeastern Parkway and Olio Road roundabout has periodic restrictions with Olio reduced to one lane; utility relocation continues at 131st Street and Brooks School Road ahead of a new roundabout; and Duke Energy work restricts Cumberland Road lanes between 106th and 116th streets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. AT&T and Brightspeed crews are also beginning fiber installation in several neighborhoods.
One bright spot: 96th Street and Cyntheanne Road is now fully open in all directions.
Drivers should plan around the Geist Waterfront Triathlon on Sunday, Aug. 30, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Geist Waterfront Park. Police will stop traffic at intersections for cyclists, and runners will use trails and neighborhood streets near the reservoir.
In Carmel, a hard closure is in effect on Hazel Dell Parkway south of 106th Street after sinkholes opened near Blue Woods Creek. Officials urge residents to avoid the area entirely.
Here is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:
Friday night football returned to Indiana, and it was not kind to our local high schools.
Fishers made the short trip to Carmel and never got going, falling 47-0 to the Greyhounds in a season opener that was over long before the fourth quarter. Roughly 130 miles north, Hamilton Southeastern opened at Fort Wayne Carroll and gave up more than 50 points in a 54-23 loss.
Carmel 47, Fishers 0
The two programs went in ranked among the top 10 in the state — Carmel No. 5 and Fishers No. 8 in the MaxPreps state rankings — and the matchup had been circled all summer as one of the marquee openers in Indiana. It did not play like one.
Carmel’s defense pitched a shutout against a Fishers offense that scored 24 points in last year’s meeting between the schools, a 49-24 Greyhound win. The Tigers were held off the scoreboard entirely on Friday, and Carmel’s 47 points marked the second straight year the Greyhounds have cleared 45 against their county rival.
For Fishers, the loss puts an early dent in a season that opened with high expectations after last fall’s run to the Class 6A regional round. The Tigers get a chance to reset quickly: they host Lawrence North next Friday at 7 p.m.
Fort Wayne Carroll 54, Hamilton Southeastern 23
Hamilton Southeastern’s night in Fort Wayne unraveled in a hurry. The Royals surrendered 54 points to a Carroll team that returned a deep offensive group, and the final margin of 31 was a sharp reversal from last season, when HSE beat these same Chargers 14-7 in Fishers.
Carroll, ranked No. 14 in the state and No. 10 in Class 6A by MaxPreps, improves to 1-0 and heads to Center Grove next Friday in what will be one of the toughest tests on its non-conference schedule.
The Royals scored 23 points, enough to suggest the offense found some rhythm, but the defense never slowed a Carroll attack that scored in every phase of the night.
Hamilton Southeastern opens its home schedule next Friday against North Central at 7 p.m.
What it means
Week 1 rarely decides a season in Indiana — the state tournament takes everyone, and there is a lot of football between now and sectional week. But Friday was a reminder of how quickly the ground shifts in one of the state’s deepest football corridors.
The historic flooding that struck Fishers and surrounding communities in August tested every part of the city’s emergency response system. In this special edition of the Larry In Fishers podcast, Mayor Scott Fadness joins Fire Chief Ky Ragsdale and Police Chief Ed Gebhart for an in-depth conversation about how city leaders prepared for and responded to the crisis.
The three discuss when they realized the flooding would become a record-setting event, how emergency decisions were made in real time, the difficult process of evacuating residents from flooded neighborhoods, and the teamwork that brought together police, fire, public works and other city departments. They also talk about the recovery effort, lessons learned and the long road ahead for residents whose homes suffered extensive damage.
The second half of the podcast takes listeners to the front lines of the emergency response. Fishers Police Major Mike Janes and Fishers Fire Battalion Chief Chad Abel describe what it was like conducting dangerous water rescues, the hazards hidden beneath floodwaters, and how specialized training helped first responders safely evacuate residents and their pets from rising water. They also share personal reflections on an operation unlike anything many of them had experienced in their careers.
Also deserving recognition are the volunteers of the Fishers Fire Corps, who provided food, drinks and logistical support for first responders working long hours throughout the emergency, allowing police officers, firefighters and rescue crews to remain focused on protecting lives.
It’s a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most significant emergency responses in Fishers history, told by the people who led it and those who carried out the rescues.
The LarryInFishers Podcast series is sponsored by Citizens State Bank
Hamilton County will begin curbside collection of flood debris Monday, and officials are asking residents in flood-damaged neighborhoods to spend the weekend dragging ruined material out to the curb and sorting it as they go.
“Weekend warriors, this is your chance to help us move this recovery forward,” said Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman. “Get the debris out of your homes and yards, get it to the curb, and most importantly, keep it separated. The better job we do on the front end, the faster these crews can move through our neighborhoods and get this material out of here.”
Residents should stack debris in separate piles by category:
Electronics — televisions, computers and other electronic equipment
Vegetative debris — trees, limbs, bushes, leaves and other vegetation
Construction debris — drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture and other building materials
Sandbags — kept apart from everything else
Large appliances — refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves and similar units
Crews cannot come onto private property to retrieve debris, so everything must be placed along the public right-of-way. Piles should not block the roadway, utility boxes, poles, fire hydrants, meters or other structures.
CrowderGulf, an Alabama-based disaster recovery and debris management company, has been contracted to handle the collection. Trucks and crews are traveling to Hamilton County and are expected to arrive throughout the weekend.
The county has also hired Tidal Basin Group to monitor and document the removal, tracking debris from the curb through delivery to the appropriate disposal facility. That paperwork matters: it is the basis for Hamilton County’s reimbursement claim under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance Program.
“We are being very deliberate about how we do this,” said Chad Knecht, executive director of Hamilton County Emergency Operations. “We want the cleanup done quickly, but we also have a responsibility to taxpayers to document these costs properly and recover every federal dollar for which Hamilton County may be eligible.”
Debris that residents haul off and dispose of on their own will not be reimbursed through the county program.
CrowderGulf will work in specific zones beginning on or after Monday, Aug. 24. Residents who believe they were missed by Thursday, Aug. 27, or who need help getting flood debris to the curb, can call 317-645-3261.
Meanwhile, private relief efforts are adding to the recovery. Delta Faucet Company, the Indianapolis-based kitchen and bath products manufacturer, is donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross Indiana Region, which serves more than 6.9 million people across 104 counties with shelter, hot meals, emergency supplies and emotional support after disasters. “Our efforts won’t end with this donation,” said Stacy Mowrer, the company’s senior vice president of human resources, noting that Delta Faucet is starting its annual September Month of Service early so employees can volunteer on flood recovery. Terry Stigdon, CEO of the American Red Cross Indiana Region, said the gift “empowers Red Cross volunteers to deliver critical help to people who need it.”
The county said additional information on collection schedules and recovery efforts will be released as the operation progresses.
The Indy Fuel have turned to a coach with experience developing players and building winning teams to lead the franchise into the 2026-27 ECHL season.
The Fuel announced Friday that Jesse Messier has been named the fifth head coach in franchise history. He succeeds Duncan Dalmao, who departed after the 2025-26 season.
Messier brings more than two decades of hockey experience as both a player and coach, with stops in the ECHL, Ontario Hockey League, university hockey and junior hockey. His background includes player development, special teams, recruiting and roster management.
“We are excited to welcome Jesse as the next Head Coach of the Indy Fuel,” owner Jim Hallett said. “Jesse has spent his career developing players and building winning hockey teams. He knows this league, understands what it takes to win and shares our expectations for what the Indy Fuel should be.”
Most recently, Messier served as an assistant coach with the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison, where he worked with the team’s defense, penalty kill, player development, special teams and pre-scouting while also assisting with player recruitment and roster administration.
Before joining Bloomington, he spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. During that stretch, Saginaw captured the 2019 OHL West Division championship, and 11 Spirit players advanced to professional hockey.
Messier also spent four seasons as an assistant coach at York University, helping guide the program to the 2017 Queen’s Cup championship. York posted a 63-37-12 regular-season record during his tenure and became a consistent playoff contender.
His coaching résumé also includes a successful season as head coach of the Kam River Fighting Walleye in 2023-24. Under Messier, the team compiled a 39-9-1 record, won the regular-season championship and reached the league finals while leading the league in offense and power-play efficiency.
“I am incredibly grateful to Jim and Sean Hallett for the opportunity to lead the Indy Fuel,” Messier said. “This is an organization with high expectations and a passionate fan base. I’m excited to get to Indianapolis, get to work with our players and staff, and build a team that competes every night with the goal of bringing a championship to our fans.”
As a player, Messier won a Kelly Cup championship with the Allen Americans in 2015 after playing in the ECHL with Allen and the Toledo Walleye. Prior to turning professional, he starred at York University, where he was a three-time team MVP, served as team captain and finished among the program’s top 10 all-time scorers.
According to the Fuel, 19 players coached by Messier have gone on to play professionally.
“Jesse has experienced winning from several different perspectives—as a player, assistant coach and head coach,” Hallett said. “We believe his combination of leadership, player development and attention to detail makes him an excellent fit for where we want to take this organization. Our objective is clear: we want to compete for a Kelly Cup championship.”
The Fuel play their home games at the Fishers Event Center, making the coaching hire one of the organization’s most significant moves as it prepares for the upcoming ECHL season. Messier will begin work immediately in assembling the roster and coaching staff for the 2026-27 campaign.
Fishers drivers heading into Indianapolis this weekend should plan extra time.
The Indiana Department of Transportation says a series of I-69 weekend ramp closures begins Saturday night in northeast Indianapolis as crews shift traffic and open a new ramp to 82nd Street.
The work is part of Clear Path 465, the long-running reconstruction of the I-465/I-69 interchange that Fishers motorists pass through on nearly every trip to Indianapolis. Opening the new ramp is one of the final steps needed to finish construction at the interchange, INDOT said.
What closes, and when
From 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, until 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, the ramp from northbound I-465 to northbound I-69 will be reduced to one lane.
From 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, until 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, three ramps will be closed:
Eastbound I-465 to northbound I-69
Northbound Binford Boulevard to northbound I-69
82nd Street to northbound I-69
Drivers on eastbound I-465 will be sent on a signed detour to southbound I-465, turning around at Pendleton Pike (U.S. 36).
INDOT expects delays and is urging drivers to plan ahead and use alternate routes when possible.
What happens next week
The new ramp is scheduled to open around 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24. It will give drivers traveling east on I-465 and north on Binford Boulevard direct access to 82nd Street — a change that mainly affects motorists coming from the south and east rather than those approaching from Fishers.
There is a trade-off. Once the new ramp opens, the 82nd Street exit will temporarily close for drivers who enter northbound I-69 from northbound I-465. That is the movement many Fishers-bound and Fishers-based drivers use to reach the Castleton-area retail corridor from the west side of the interchange, and it will stay closed for several months.
INDOT expects that exit to reopen in late 2026, after additional I-69 lanes and ramps are finished and more traffic shifts occur.
As with all construction work, the agency cautioned that dates and planned work could change because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Esports has grown far beyond kids playing video games in the basement. Today, high school students compete on organized teams, travel to tournaments, earn college scholarships, and develop skills in communication, teamwork and strategic thinking.
On this week’s edition of Fridays with Larry, I talk with Keaton Squires, mathematics teacher and esports coach at Hamilton Southeastern High School. Keaton explains how competitive esports works at the high school level, the games students play, why participation continues to grow, and how esports is opening new opportunities for students who may not have found their place in traditional athletics.
We also discuss the club’s fundraising efforts to expand its gaming lab, the increasing number of college scholarship opportunities, and how artificial intelligence is beginning to influence classroom instruction.
Following the interview, I offer commentary on the surge in new business startups across America and what that trend could mean for communities like Fishers. The podcast concludes with an unusual news story involving two BASE jumpers who parachuted from Seattle’s iconic Space Needle.
Fridays With Larry is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.
If you would like to learn more about or support the Hamilton Southeastern High School esports program, you may contact:
Hamilton Southeastern Schools had a decision to make just a few years ago: sell the aging Fishers Elementary School property and build elsewhere, or preserve one of the community’s most historic school sites through a major renovation and expansion.
District leaders chose to stay, and Thursday evening they celebrated that decision by cutting the ribbon on a transformed Fishers Elementary School at 11442 Lantern Road.
The three-year, $45 million project nearly doubles the size of one of the district’s oldest schools while preserving a piece of Fishers history. The project expanded the building to more than 107,000 square feet, increased the number of classrooms from 28 to 36, and retained about 23 percent of the original structure, primarily the gymnasium area, which was extensively renovated.
“This project honors the history of Fishers Elementary while giving our students and staff a school designed for how they learn and work today,” Principal Dr. Emily Supergan told those attending the ceremony. “Our school community showed tremendous flexibility throughout construction, and it is rewarding to see everyone enjoying these new spaces.”
Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley said the site has served students for well over a century. Public education has existed on the property since the late 1800s, with the original Fishers High School opening there in 1908. The current elementary school first opened in 1958, followed by additions in the 1960s and major renovations in 1990.
“The decision was made to remain on this site and significantly renovate and expand the footprint of the school,” Kegley said. “For all intents and purposes, this is a brand-new learning space of which the entire community and HSE Schools can be proud.”
Rather than relocate students, construction was completed in phases, allowing classes to continue throughout the project. Kegley praised district facilities staff, teachers and administrators for maintaining normal school operations while construction crews worked around them.
The redesigned school incorporates concepts first used at Deer Creek Elementary while adding features tailored specifically for Fishers Elementary. Improvements include flexible learning spaces, a more secure main entrance, expanded parking, separated bus and parent drop-off areas, and enhanced traffic flow designed to improve student safety.
Emily Newton, project manager with CSO Architects, said the project presented unique challenges because of the limited size of the site.
“It was the tightest site we’ve ever had to work on,” Newton said. “This renovation was designed to support everyday movement for students, provide flexibility for teachers, create a welcoming space for families and reflect the community’s investment in its children.”
Max Wurster, chief operating officer of Wurster Construction, said the project overcame early scheduling delays while still delivering the new classroom wing on time in January and completing portions of the gymnasium ahead of schedule.
“This project wasn’t without its challenges,” Wurster said. “But through strong collaboration between the district, the design team and our subcontractors, we were able to deliver a facility that will serve this community for generations.”
For Supergan, who is beginning her first year as Fishers Elementary principal, the evening also carried personal significance. A graduate of Hamilton Southeastern Schools, she told the audience that her sister attended kindergarten at Fishers Elementary.
“Our theme this year is ‘A New Chapter, One Tiger Family,'” she said. “A new chapter doesn’t mean forgetting what came before. It means taking everything that has shaped us and using it to write what comes next.”
Students returned to the renovated school on Aug. 5 for the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Supt. Matt Kegley opened the ceremonyFES Principal Emily Supergan was all smiles
County crews assessing flood damage (Photo provided)
The Hamilton County Council has approved $2.85 million in emergency funding to support flood recovery efforts across the county, providing immediate assistance for residents and businesses while helping coordinate what officials expect will be a lengthy cleanup process.
The funding package, approved Thursday, includes $100,000 for Hamilton County Emergency Management to address immediate needs in the coming weeks. Those funds can be used for emergency housing, equipment, supplies and other services needed as flood victims begin recovery.
The remaining $2.75 million has been designated for debris removal and management. County officials say the money will allow Hamilton County Emergency Management to work with state and federal agencies to safely collect, sort and dispose of the large amount of debris left behind by the flooding.
“The County Council is ready to provide any necessary funding for flood relief,” County Council President Brad Beaver said in a news release.
County Commissioners President Christine Altman said a coordinated debris removal effort is essential to protecting public safety while maximizing the county’s chances of receiving federal reimbursement.
“This gives us a coordinated way to handle the enormous amount of debris left behind by the flooding while also making sure hazardous materials are properly identified, separated, and disposed of,” Altman said. “That’s important from both a safety and environmental standpoint, but it could also make these expenses eligible for federal reimbursement.”
Hamilton County has asked state and federal officials for additional disaster assistance, including funding through Category A of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program. That program helps reimburse eligible costs associated with debris removal following a declared disaster.
County officials hope federal assistance will offset a significant portion of the local funds now being committed to cleanup efforts.
Officials also cautioned residents who are considering hiring private contractors to remove flood debris. Those costs may not qualify for reimbursement unless the work complies with environmental regulations and is properly documented and certified.
Hamilton County officials said additional details about debris collection, disposal procedures and available assistance programs will be released as cleanup operations continue.
