Jesse Messier will make his debut behind the Indy Fuel bench tonight, Friday, Oct. 23, when the team hosts the Toledo Walleye at Fishers Event Center, the Fuel announced.  Messier was at the team’s practice Friday morning, according the the Fuel.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

The announcement follows an immigration processing delay that kept the Fuel’s new head coach from assuming his duties at the start of the season. Assistant coach Christian Horn handled the coaching responsibilities during the interim.

The Fuel announced Horn’s temporary appointment Oct. 8, saying Messier was awaiting authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

At the time, Fuel President Sean Hallett said former head coach Duncan Dalmao’s unexpected departure late in the offseason meant the organization submitted its immigration application later than usual. Hallett said that timing did not cause the processing delay but left the team less flexibility to accommodate it. The Fuel also sought assistance from U.S. Sen. Todd Young’s office.

Messier takes over a team that split its first two regular-season games. Indy defeated Wheeling 2-1 in overtime in the Oct. 16 opener before falling 4-3 to Cincinnati the following night, according to the ECHL’s results.

Tonight’s opponent provides a connection to Messier’s playing career: He played professionally for Toledo before also spending time with the Allen Americans, where he was a member of the 2015 Kelly Cup championship team.

The Fuel named Messier the fifth head coach in franchise history Aug. 21. He most recently served as an assistant coach with the Bloomington Bison, with responsibilities that included defense, penalty killing and player development.

His coaching background also includes assistant positions with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit and York University. As head coach of the junior-level Kam River Fighting Walleye in 2023-24, he led the team to a 39-9-1 record, a regular-season championship and a league finals appearance.

Messier’s debut begins a busy stretch for Indy. The Fuel play three division opponents in three days, traveling to Fort Wayne on Saturday before returning to Fishers to host Cincinnati at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Toledo enters tonight seeking its first victory after losing its opener 6-3 to Fort Wayne. This is the first meeting between the Fuel and Walleye this season.