A difficult start for the new head coach as penalties, a controversial goal and a three-goal second period prove costly
It was not the kind of debut new Indy Fuel head coach Jesse Messier had envisioned.
After finally joining the team for Friday morning’s practice, Messier stepped behind the bench for his first game as Fuel head coach Friday night at the Fishers Event Center. By the end of the evening, the Toledo Walleye had handed the Fuel a 5-2 defeat in a physical contest featuring plenty of penalties, several fights and a controversial second-period goal.
The game marked Messier’s long-awaited arrival after immigration processing delays prevented him from joining the team for its first two regular-season contests. Assistant coach Christian Horn had handled the coaching duties during Messier’s absence.
The Fuel entered Friday’s contest with a 1-1 record, hoping to build on their opening-night overtime victory over Wheeling. Instead, Toledo earned its first victory of the young ECHL season.
Things started well enough for Indy.
Harrison Israels opened the scoring midway through the first period, with assists credited to Tommy Budnick and Kyle Aucoin. The early lead gave the home crowd something to cheer about, but the momentum would not last.
The opening period became increasingly physical as players dropped their gloves and officials struggled to keep the action under control. A late penalty left Indy shorthanded with just 11 seconds remaining in the period.
Toledo needed only three seconds to take advantage.
Tag Bertuzzi scored the tying goal, assisted by Marcus Crawford and Mitch Lewandowski, sending the teams into the first intermission tied 1-1.
The second period proved disastrous for the Fuel.
Toledo scored three times during the middle 20 minutes, taking command of a game that had been evenly matched through the opening period.
One of those goals came under particularly controversial circumstances.
Approximately eight minutes into the period, Toledo’s Brandon Hawkins fired a shot that appeared to strike the upper portion of the goal frame rather than enter the net. Ordinarily, officials could consult video replay to help determine whether the puck had crossed the goal line.
However, the replay equipment available to the officials was not functioning, leaving them to discuss what they had seen on the ice. After a lengthy conference, the officials allowed the goal to stand.
The decision added to the frustration of an already difficult evening for the Fuel.
The physical play continued, with players from both teams spending considerable time in the penalty box. By the end of the game, Indy had accumulated 22 penalty minutes, compared with 20 for Toledo.
Trailing 4-1 entering the third period, the Fuel faced a steep uphill climb.
Indy managed to cut into the deficit when Jacob Perreault scored during a two-man advantage, with Matt Petgrave and Kyler Kupka providing the assists.
The goal brought the Fuel within two, but time was running out.
With just over two minutes remaining, Messier elected to pull goaltender Adam Gajan for an extra attacker, hoping to generate the offense needed to mount a late comeback.
The gamble did not pay off.
Toledo’s Quinn Preston quickly found the empty net, sealing the Walleye’s 5-2 victory and sending the Fuel to their second consecutive defeat.
The loss leaves Indy with a 1-2 record early in the 2026-27 season.
For Messier, the game represented a challenging introduction to his new responsibilities. Named the fifth head coach in Fuel franchise history in August, Messier had been forced to watch from a distance while immigration paperwork delayed his arrival.
Ironically, his first opponent was a Toledo organization for which he once played professionally.
There will be little time for Messier and his players to dwell on Friday’s disappointment.
The Fuel travel to Fort Wayne Saturday night for a 7:35 p.m. contest against the Komets before returning to the Fishers Event Center Sunday afternoon to face the Cincinnati Cyclones at 4 p.m.
It is the team’s first stretch of three games in three days this season, with all three contests against Central Division opponents.
After two consecutive losses, Messier will be looking for a much better response from his players as the demanding weekend continues.