After a week in Iowa, where they won all three of their games against the Heartlanders, the Komets returned home for a day before heading back on a plane to Florida.

Entering the back end of its 11 straight road games to start the season, the team has started to get into a rhythm both on the ice and on the road. Weeklong stops have helped lessen the wear and tear.

“The schedule is not that bad,” Kallechy said. “It’s more challenging when you’re going from city to city. We kind of liked that we’ve been able to be somewhere for a week and get settled in…(Iowa) is great. They’re setup is awesome with the hotels in the arena. Lots of food and everything is close.”

While it may be an ideal spot for many this time of year, Florida is far from a chance to unwind for the Komets as they prepare for a three-game slate against the Everblades starting at 7:30 p.m. today at the Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida.

“We’re definitely not treating it like a vacation,” Kallechy said. “It’s a work trip.”

The Komets (5-1-0), tied for the lead in the Western Conference, will be pitted against a team Kallechy referred to as the “measuring stick” of the ECHL. The Everblades (4-3-0) became the first team to three-peat as Kelly Cup champs from 2022 to ’24. They’re streak was ended by the next Kelly Cup champs, the Trois-Rivières Lions, in last season’s Eastern Conference finals.

“They know how to win, and everybody who plays them, we all compare ourselves to them to see where we match up,” Kallechy said. “Although it’s early in the year, we’re going to use it as a measuring stick to continue to push our group forward.”

It’s a homecoming for Kallechy, who, before being hired by the Komets in 2023, spent three seasons with the Everblades as an assistant coach under Brad Ralph. Kallechy was on staff for two Kelly Cup titles.

“I’ve got a lot of friendships there,” Kallechy said. “A coach that I think very highly of gave me a chance in the league. Still some players there that I’ve won championships with.”

”It’s cool to be back, but the nostalgia has worn a little. We played them last year, and I’m a Komet through and through. Still, it’s really cool. The memories I have in Florida are something nobody can ever take away.”

Another twist to the series was added on Sunday when the Komets signed forward Nico Blachman on Sunday. In 45 games with the Heartlanders last season, Blachman accrued a league-high 221 penalty minutes while also registering five goals and five assists.

Playing on his ninth different ECHL team, he made his pro debut with the Everblades while Kallechy was on their staff in 2021. After signing to return to Florida in the offseason, Blachman was released on Oct. 21. He’s yet to play a game this season.

“He gives us a different element we lost a little bit with injuries and some guys not in the lineup,” Kallechy said. “It just gives us a different look and a different skill set that we’re excited to add.”

Blachman was placed on the 3-Day IL on Tuesday. Forward Austin Magera and defenseman Ian Pierce was activated.

Fort Wayne will also face Florida at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday.

Stepping up and staying hot

The Komets sweep of the Heartlanders featured standout stat lines from three forwards – James Stefan, Josh Groll and Jayden Grubbe – and rookie goaltender Samuel Jonsson.

Jonsson was named the ECHL Goaltender of the Week for putting up a pair of shutouts, first in a 4-0 win on Wednesday where he stopped 29 shots and following with a 2-0 victory on Saturday that saw him save 15 more.

The 21-year-old from Gavle, Sweden, who was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2022, made his American debut on Oct. 18 against the Kalamazoo Wings. He allowed five goals on 30 shots in a Komets win, but has brought his save percentage up to .932 and his goals allowed to 1.67 with his efforts last week.

”I think the transition is a lot harder than what people realize,” Kallechy said. “He’s coming into a new country he’s never been in before. Everything is different from the living to the food to the culture to the size of the arena. It’s a different game. It was always going to take a little bit of time and I think he’s starting to look like the guy the Oilers are really excited about.”

Stefan scored a goal in all three games, becoming the team’s leading goal scorer with four. Groll has a team-high six points after a pair of multi-point games in Iowa, including two goals and an assist in Wednesday’s victory. Grubbe assisted on both of Groll’s goals on Wednesday, putting him at four this season.

”It was nice seeing James contribute to five-on-five. He’s a goal scorer so it’s good to see him ger rewarded,” Kallechy said. “Josh is a worker bee. All of his offense is being created from effort and hounding pucks. I though those guys, along with Jayden on the line the line, were fantastic.”