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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Bootland Makes History In Wings' Victory

February 27, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


ORLANDO, FL- Nick Bootland became the first head coach in Kalamazoo Wings history to win 300 career games with the franchise, as the Wings defeated the Orlando Solar Bears, 4-2, on Saturday at Amway Center.

While operating on their first power play of the game, Eric Kattelus sprung a pass to Lane Scheidl, who raced into the Orlando zone along the left wing. Scheidl fired a quick wrist shot from the top of the circle that snuck through the pads of Ryan Massa.

Minutes later and working on yet another power play, Tyler Shattock controlled the puck from the left-side corner and looked to slip a backdoor feed to Kattelus. However, as the pass angled towards the goal, it went off the skate of an Orlando defender and in, giving the Wings a 2-0 lead.

Special teams continued to influence in the second period as the Solar Bears got off the ground and registered their first of the night with a man-advantage towards the end of the frame. A series of beautiful tic-tac-toe passes freed up Eric Faille to tap in a cross-rink feed from Patrick Watling.

Early in the third period and leading by a goal, Curtis Valk boosted Kalamazoo's lead to 3-1. Valk carried into the Orlando zone, slipped the puck through the legs of a defender and poked the puck towards the goal. As Massa attempted to stick the puck away from the crease, he knocked it off a teammate and the puck rolled over the line.

Six minutes later, Orlando pressured and clawed back to within a goal. An initial try from Faille was stopped by Joel Martin, but the play was never frozen as the puck slipped behind Martin, where Rylan Schwartz was able to finish.

Kalamazoo put the game away after Kattelus crashed the goal following a a Massa save on a David Gilbert try. Kattelus pounded the loose puck over the scrambling Solar Bears' defense and gave the Wings an insurmountable 4-2 lead.

Next: Kalamazoo @ Orlando- Monday, February 29, 7 p.m., Amway Center

Notes: The Wings have won five of their last six games. It was the sixth time that the Wings had two power play goals in a game. Faille had a goal disallowed 30 seconds into the second period after steering the puck in with a kicking motion.

Stats: http://echl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=13397

The Kalamazoo Wings will host a "We Are Kalamazoo" game on Saturday, March 5, as they aim to raise proceeds for the Help Now! Fund, a collaborative effort between the Battle Creek Community Foundation, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, and the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region. The Wings will donate $2 from every ticket sold to the game in addition to a silent auction with memorabilia, goods, and services from local organizations and sports teams. All proceeds from the auction will also be donated to the fund.

Listen to all 72 regular season and post season games on AM 1660 The Fan in Kalamazoo, or online at www.1660thefan.com/listen-live. Live coverage begins fifteen minutes before puck drop with the Flame Tamer Pregame Show.

Single-game tickets are now on sale! Tickets can be purchased at kwings.com or at the Wings Event Center box office. Box office hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A $2 discount is applied on all tickets purchased before the date of the game. Any student that shows a valid ID can get tickets for just $10.

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