TROTWOOD — The lines outside Hara Arena were massive. There was more Dayton Gems swag than usual worn by the 5,002 in attendance, many of whom came out to support the Pack the House Night fundraiser for Lakeview, Ohio infant Caleb Zweibel. One diehard held a “Thank You Gems” sign.

Overall, the mood was festive, but fans in the know understood that Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Fort Wayne Komets was maybe an ending. The Gems ownership group recently announced that without more investment from the community, the team won’t be back next season.

So the feisty home finale, won by a Chris Auger goal with 1:20 left in overtime, might be the last pro action at Hara for the foreseeable future.

“I’m proud of the people around me,” said head coach Brian Gratz. “I feel like the luckiest person to work for Kathy Rupp, Dr. Nitz and Rob Garfield.

“I hope a miracle happens for us. They (the owners) deserve it.”

It was an emotional night for the players, who wanted nothing more than to win for the big crowd.

“We wanted to put on a good show for the packed house,” said Brett Lutes, a two-year veteran. “Thank you to the fans.”

Matt Larke also is a returning player. He considered himself a better player and person after his two years in Dayton.

“From the ownership down to the players, this is an excellent group,” said Larke. “They’ll do anything for you. It’s a good feeling and it’s been a great experience.”

Fans were preoccupied with the Gems’ uncertain future. Angela Christy fell in love with “the action” of hockey as a Dayton Bombers fan at the Nutter Center. Christy, usually the most vocal fan in Hara, has been a season ticket-holder since the Gems came back in 2009.

“Hockey, for me, is therapy,” she said. “There’s not a lot to do in this area in the winter. It gets people out. I’ve made some unbelievable friends.”

Like most game nights, Cody Beck, 29, was attending with his 5-year-old son Jacob. The Englewood resident and season ticket-holder is a fixture in Section 22.

“We love it,” Beck said, decked out in a Gems jersey and blue wig. “We have a rowdy section. It’s a lot of fun, cheap entertainment.”

Beck loves the feel in Hara and said it would be “sad and disappointing” with no hockey to fill the void in winter.

Christy was clear about what she would miss the most if the Gems didn’t return.

“The hockey, absolutely,” she said. “It’s such a great sport.”

• Rupp was honored before the game. Rupp was escorted down a red carpet and presented with flowers from Gratz for her work in the Dayton community and contributions to pro hockey in the city. ... The Gems close the season in Fort Wayne today. ... Caleb Zweibel dropped the ceremonial puck before the game. ... Kyle Bochek opened the scoring for Dayton in the first period before Komets defenseman Frankie DeAngelis tied it 1-1 with a power-play goal in the second. ... Fort Wayne’s Brent Henley was ejected for spitting on a Gem. ... Dan Dunn made 32 saves in net for Dayton.