INDIANAPOLIS – The Indy Fuel hockey team has invited IUPUI women's basketball head coach Austin Parkinson to make a celebrity appearance and shoot the first puck this Tuesday (Feb. 23) at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m.. 

"It's exciting to be a part of the Fuel game tonight representing IUPUI athletics and specifically our women's basketball program," Parkinson said. "Indianapolis has such an amazing sports scene and the Indy Fuel fit right into that equation."

Parkinson's appearance will come just two days after the six-year head coach set a new record for the most home victories in IUPUI women's basketball history (62), overtaking former coach Kris Simpson who coached for 11 seasons. Parkinson's Jags got the win at home on Sunday (Feb. 21) defeating Fort Wayne 63-62.

Parkinson has the Jags one win away from their third 20-win season in his six-year tenure. Their final two games of the season will be this Thursday (Feb. 25) and Saturday (Feb. 27) at home against the top two teams in The Summit League in South Dakota State and South Dakota. IUPUI will then travel to Sioux Falls, S.D. for The Summit League conference tournament.

"Being able to share what our young ladies are about with the community is really important to me," Parkinson added. "This group has not only performed well this entire season on the court with some exciting wins, but the work they have done academically is equally impressive with a team GPA of 3.54 from first semester.

"Although I watch a lot of hockey on TV, this will be my first time seeing a game live so my wife and I are really looking forward to it."