“It was a good step in the right direction,” said coach Brian Gratz, acknowledging the Komets will look much different in the regular season.
“I told them we might as well get the good habits going now.”
Fans got their money’s worth in the first 10 minutes alone with four Dayton goals and three fights.
Ryan Hohl made an early impression with Dayton’s first goal 3:15 in. The 26-year-old Northville, Mich., native broke down the right wing and wristed a shot past Kevin Beech. Minutes later, Hohl, listed at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, took on Komets veteran P.C. Drouin.
“It wasn’t a big camp so the guys are already together,” said Hohl, who fought again in the third. “We were ready to go tonight.
“We wanted to win this first one at Hara.”
“He was a lightning rod tonight for (opponents) to hate him,” Gratz said of the gritty, skillful role player.
Tim Hartung, Brandon Naurato (power play) and Jonathan Ornelas (shorthanded) followed Hohl to make it 4-0 by the 10:15 mark.
Nick Fanto and Kyle Bochek also scored for Dayton. Rookie goaltender Bryan Hogan stopped all 18 shots he faced before being replaced by Zane Kalemba (13 saves, one assist).
The Gems travel to Fort Wayne for a rematch Sunday at 5 p.m. They open the regular season next Saturday in Bloomington.
• Dayton’s Nick Duff wasted little time getting his name on the gamesheet. Immediately after the opening faceoff, the defenseman tangled with Bryant Molle and landed a good shot before taking a couple himself. ... Adam Krug scored for the Komets 30 seconds into the third.
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