Fuel ink three players

FISHERS, Ind. - The Indy Fuel announced the team has signed returning forwards Jesse Tucker and Dustin Manz while adding forward Dean Loukus.

Tucker returns to Indy after appearing in all 72 regular-season games during the 2025-26 season, 38 points (12g-26a). He was one of two Fuel players to play in every regular-season game last season. Tucker originally joined the Fuel in March 2025 following the conclusion of his collegiate career. The Longlac, Ontario native played 135 career games between Michigan State University, Clarkson University and Northern Michigan University, totaling 56 points (15g-41a). Before college, Tucker spent three seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, recording 129 points in 158 games and serving as team captain during the 2020-21 season.

Manz, 26, returns to Indy for his third full ECHL season and second with the Fuel. Last year, he played in 71 games and tallied 44 points. He ended last season with the Bloomington Bison, where he played in 19 games, scoring three points. He also spent 20 games with the Rapid City Rush and 11 games with the Wheeling Nailers. Before his professional career, Manz spent two seasons with the American International College. During the 2022-2023 season, he had 24 points (10g-14a). He also spent two seasons with Lake Superior State University, where he was an alternate captain in 2020-21. Manz has also spent two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Prince George Spruce Kings. In 2018-19, he played in 58 games and scored 70 points (33g-37a), leading the team in points. With 10 points in 17 playoff games that year, Manz helped the Spruce Kings win a BCHL championship.

Loukus, 23, joins Indy after spending the first two seasons of his professional career with South Carolina. He appeared in 67 games during the 2025-26 season, recording 24 points (9g-15a) while adding two points in 11 Kelly Cup Playoff games. Before joining the professional ranks, the Calumet, Michigan native played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Saginaw Spirit and Mississauga Steelheads, recording 155 points in 194 career games.