The Indy Fuel closed out their three-in-three weekend on the road Sunday in Toledo, where a strong start wasn’t enough to hold off a late Walleye surge in a 3–2 defeat.

Indy struck first despite sustained early pressure from Toledo. The Walleye controlled the opening minutes, but at 4:51 Sahil Panwar converted the Fuel’s first shot of the night, firing a top-right snipe off a feed from Cody Laskosky. Panwar later drew the game’s first penalty at 18:01 for high-sticking. Tempers flared in the final minutes of the period, but no further penalties were issued.

Goaltender Mitchell Weeks kept the Fuel in front through the first intermission, turning away all 12 Toledo shots. The Walleye outshot Indy 12–3 in the opening frame.

Panwar began the second period in the penalty box, finishing the remainder of his minor. Indy went to the power play just seconds into the period when Toledo’s Brandon Hawkins was called for tripping, but the Fuel were unable to extend their lead. The Walleye evened the score at 6:53 when Jordan Ernst buried Toledo’s first goal, assisted by defenseman Jed Pietila.

The game tightened again entering the third period, but penalties played a pivotal role in the final outcome. Just 17 seconds into the period, Hawkins took his second minor of the night, this time for delay of game. A series of calls midway through the frame created a 4-on-3 advantage for Toledo after penalties to Jesse Tucker and Pietila, followed by a tripping call on Indy’s Harrison Israels at 12:16.

The Walleye capitalized. Hawkins scored on the power play at 13:29 to tie the game. Forty-four seconds later, Will Hillman struck, giving Toledo its first lead.

The Fuel pulled Weeks with a minute remaining and used a timeout with 38.9 seconds left to plan a final push, but Indy couldn’t beat Toledo goaltender Jan Bednář with the extra skater.

The loss dropped Indy to 1–2 on the weekend. The Fuel return home later this week as they continue their December slate.

The Indy Fuel fell 7-1 to the Cincinnati Cyclones Saturday night at the Fishers Event Center, as Cincinnati controlled the game from the middle of the first period on.

After a quiet start in which both teams generated few chances, the Cyclones broke through at 9:38 of the first period on a goal by Zack Trott. Less than three minutes later, Aaron Bohlinger extended the lead to 2-0.

Tensions rose late in the opening frame when Fuel captain Chris Cameron and Cincinnati’s Nick Rhéaume exchanged roughing penalties at 18:41, with Cameron assessed a double minor. The Cyclones took advantage, adding a power-play goal by Ryan Kirwan to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

Indy opened the second period with a power play but was unable to close the gap. Trott struck again at 4:27 for his second goal of the night, pushing Cincinnati ahead 4-0.

The period grew more physical at 6:15 when Indy’s Harrison Israels and Cincinnati’s Andrew Noel dropped the gloves, each earning five-minute fighting majors. Cameron later took a tripping penalty, but the Fuel penalty killers held strong.

Cincinnati added to its lead at 11:32 when Lincoln Griffin intercepted a pass and scored on a breakaway moments after leaving the penalty box, making it 5-0. Despite several overlapping penalties late in the period, neither team converted, and the Cyclones carried a 5-0 lead and a 16-11 shot advantage into the second intermission.

Just 1:34 into the third, Cameron and Cincinnati’s Cole Fraser fought, resulting in matching five-minute majors. The Cyclones added a sixth goal only seconds later, with Luke Grainger scoring at 1:48.

The penalties continued to pile up, including a roughing minor against Indy’s Kevin Lombardi, a delayed penalty against Cincinnati, and a tripping call to Ben King, but neither side converted on special teams.

Indy broke the shutout at 11:13 when Michael Marchesan scored his first goal of the season, assisted by Jordan Martin and Dustin Manz, cutting the deficit to 6-1.

Cincinnati answered at 14:54 with a goal from Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, closing out the 7-1 final. Despite the loss, the Fuel finished with a slight edge in shots, 25-24.

The weekly Fishers area road construction report is mostly updates on ongoing projects, as we are now well into the winter season.

Here is the full listing for the work week starting Monday, December 8, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road Construction Report – Work Week Beginning Monday, December 8 →

The Indy Fuel shook off a sluggish start Friday night and powered to a 7–2 win over the Cincinnati Cyclones at the Fishers Event Center, taking the opener of a two-game weekend series.

Cincinnati struck just 68 seconds into the game when Sam Stevens scored unassisted, but Indy settled in quickly. After killing off two early penalties, the Fuel tied the game at 14:11 on Brett Moravec’s goal, assisted by Harrison Israels and Kevin Lombardi. Less than three minutes later, Israels put Indy ahead 2–1 with his first goal of the night.

The Cyclones answered at 17:39 on a Ryan Kirwan tally, sending the game to the first intermission tied 2–2 despite the Fuel holding a 12–7 edge in shots.

Indy took control in the second period. Lombardi broke the tie at 10:46, giving the Fuel a 3–2 lead with assists from Moravec and Jacob Leguerrier. After a video review two minutes later, Israels was awarded his second goal of the game, extending Indy’s lead to 4–2.

The remainder of the period was dominated by roughing penalties and scrums between the two teams. Multiple minors—and a set of double minors—were handed out, culminating in a 4-on-3 Fuel power play. Although Indy didn’t score during the advantage, they carried a two-goal lead into the final period and a 22–15 shots advantage.

The Fuel wasted no time extending their lead in the third. Just 26 seconds in, Owen Robinson capitalized on a carryover power play to make it 5–2. After killing off a Robinson penalty minutes later, Indy added a sixth goal at 8:55 from Lee Lapid, assisted by Jesse Tucker and Tyson Feist.

Emotions continued to run high, with another fight breaking out at 9:00. But the Fuel stayed in control. After killing off a holding penalty, Indy secured the win with a power-play goal from Lombardi at 16:45—his second of the night and fourth point of the game. Israels and Matt Petgrave collected assists.

Indy outshot Cincinnati 29–21 and improved to 1–0 on the weekend series. The teams meet again Saturday night at Fishers Event Center.

Newly filed court documents provide additional details about the fatal shooting earlier this week at Britton Tavern in Fishers. Prosecutors have charged MacLean Murt, 31, whose address is listed in Indianapolis, with murder in the death of 30-year-old Justin Burton of Noblesville.

According to reporting by WTHR, the incident occurred around 2:45 a.m. Monday. The station reviewed court documents stating that when officers arrived, Murt told them, “I’m sorry about this.”

Investigators wrote that the confrontation began after Murt accused Burton of taking a vape device from a friend. Burton then reportedly shoved Murt, after which a shot was fired.

Murt appeared in Hamilton Superior Court on Friday afternoon for an initial hearing. The court entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. WTHR reports that Murt is now represented by a public defender.

Read the entire WTHR story at this link.

On this cold Friday morning, 888 Fishers homes found they had no power as of 5:39am.  Duke Energy estimates power should be restored by 9:45 Friday morning. The map above shows the area impacted is between 146th and 126th Streets, around Brooks School and Marilyn Roads.  It appears parts of Limestone Springs and Saxony are impacted.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board’s Facilities Committee received updates Thursday morning on several ongoing construction projects and the district’s custodial staffing levels. Director of Facilities and Maintenance Matt Rapp said the district continues to make steady progress across multiple locations.

Rapp reported that work at Fishers Elementary School is “coming along,” and he expects students to return to the building on schedule after winter break on January 5. Teachers should be able to access their classrooms beginning January 1. The next major phase of the project will involve demolishing the front portion of the building. Parking capacity has been expanded along the sides of the school, and while buses and pedestrians are now separated, Rapp cautioned that some safety challenges will remain during demolition.

At Fall Creek Intermediate, the project’s next phase is scheduled to begin in March, when construction will shift from one wing of the school to the other.

Work at Durbin is now complete, including updates to the conference area and the Academy space.

Rapp also noted that the long-problematic drive at Hamilton Southeastern High School has been finished and is already proving to be a significant improvement for traffic flow.

Meanwhile, construction at Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate & Junior High (HIJH) remains on schedule and within budget.

Rapp provided the committee with an update on custodial services as well. He said complaints have decreased in recent weeks, and the contractor currently has only four custodial job openings — a relatively small number for a district of HSE’s size. To help supplement staffing, the district uses about 10 cleaning robots capable of maintaining carpets and hard floors in large, unobstructed areas when employees are absent.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) has notified teachers that contract negotiations with the school district will move into mediation next week.

In a message to members Thursday afternoon, the union said its bargaining team will return to the table Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the first mediation session with district administrators. A second full-day session is set for Tuesday, Dec. 16, if additional time is needed.

HSEA said it enters mediation “hopeful and fully prepared to reach a fair, just, and ratifiable agreement,” and reaffirmed its commitment to representing approximately 1,300 bargaining-unit teachers.

The union reiterated that its opening proposal remains unchanged: that the district cover an additional $1.6 million in health-insurance cost increases to hold teachers harmless for the year. HSEA indicated it would be willing to consider compromise if that point cannot be fully met but maintained that any alternative must be an improvement over the agreement members rejected earlier this fall.

The message emphasized that the union is seeking a deal that reflects “the collective good of our teachers” and said it remains committed to good-faith negotiation.

HSEA also outlined steps for members as talks progress. Teachers were encouraged to continue wearing black on Wednesdays, attend the Dec. 10 school board meeting if mediation does not produce a settlement on Dec. 9, and be prepared for potential building-level ratification votes during the week of Dec. 15.

Negotiations between HSEA and the Hamilton Southeastern Schools administration have been under state oversight since the district and union entered mediation following the failed ratification vote on the previous tentative agreement and subsequent talks have not produced a new agreement by the deadline to avoid mediation.