Fort Wayne, IN- The Fort Wayne Komets (8-5-0-1) took the first half of a home-of-home series over the Kalamazoo Wings (8-8-0-0) with a 4-3 victory Thanksgiving Night at the Allen County Memorial Coliseum and the process leaped over the K-Wings into third place in the North Division.  

A quick outlet pass became a milestone marker for Aaron Clarke. After Joe Cannata tipped the puck to Mitch Versteeg, the defenseman launched a pass up ice to Clarke (5^th), who snuck past the Komets and went in unabated to record his 100^th career goal 9:10 into the first period.

Beating the K-Wings down the ice just over two minutes later, Brandon Marino’s initial wrap around shot was jammed past Cannata by Jean-Michel Rizk (5^th) to even the game at 1-1.

Early in the second period, the K-Wings jumped back ahead with a power-play tally from Mitch Versteeg (2^nd).  Moments later, Versteeg’s defensive partner Adam Polasek (2^nd) sent a wrister over the shoulder of Kenny Reiter to push the K-Wings lead to two goals.

Showing resilience the Komets stormed back one minute after Polasek’s marker with a lamp-lighter from Brandon Marino, his team-leading seventh goal of the season.

Earning a power-play equalizer midway in the period, Gabe Guentzel (1^st) struck with a blue line slap shot to tie the contest at 3-3.

Grabbing their first lead of the night 1:20 into the third period was Thomas Beauregard (6^th), who finished off a two-on-one to record his team-leading third game-winner of the season. Beauregard has earned four of his six goals against Kalamazoo.

Click here for Game Stats.

The K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium on Friday, November 23^rd with a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Komets on WNWN Rivalry Night and FANomenal Friday, featuring $2 beer, $1 Pepsi and $1 hot dogs.

Single-game for the 2012-2013 season are on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday’s.  To charge tickets by phone, please call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

Tickets for all K-Wings home games are $13 and $17.50 for adults and only $7 for kids ages 14 and under. The price for all K-Wings premium night games (all colored ice games and New Year’s Eve game) are just $1 more.

Fans can save money by purchasing K-Wings single-game tickets in advance because tickets purchased on the day of a game increase by $2 (adults only).  

For more information about tonight’s contest, please contact Mike Modugno, director of public relations and broadcaster at (269) 226-0384.

-www.kwings.com-