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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Caria nets hat trick in K-Wings victory over Komets

March 11, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


KALAMAZOO - Accomplishing something that no Kalamazoo Wings player has done in 202 games, Matt Caria netted a hat trick as part of a four-point night to lead the K-Wings past the Fort Wayne Komets 8-4 Wednesday night at Wings Stadium.

Beginning the game with an early push, the Komets struck first, just 2:27 into the game when Kaleigh Schrock buried his third of the season.

Answering back just 1:12 later, Ludwig Blomstrand recorded his team-leading 23rd of the season on a redirection to even the game at 1-1. Setting the teeter-totter in motion, Cody Sol (7th) gave Fort Wayne the lead just 18-seconds later.

Not staying down for long, the K-Wings fired right back with Caria's (19th) first of the night.

Just before the end of the period, Christian Ouellet knocked home his 13th of the season, with a power-play strike to give the Komets a 3-2 advantage.

The second period began similar to the first with a flurry of back-to-back goals from both teams. Caria opened the scoring for the stanza with his second of the game and 20th of the season, tying the contest for the third time.

The Komets fought back when Drew Daniels (4th) gave the Komets their fourth lead of the game.

Scoring shorthanded, Kalamazoo would tie the game once again off the stick of Michael Neal for his 15th of the season.

Giving the K-Wings their first lead of the contest, Caria (21st) fired home his third of the game to complete the hat-trick. It was the first hat-trick scored by a K-Wings player since Darren Archibald did it on March 28th, 2012.

Finishing the period strong, the K-Wings would tack on a late insurance marker from the captain Jean Bourbeau for his eighth tally of the season.

Not wanting to give Fort Wayne any glimmer of hope, Kalamazoo extended their lead to 7-4 with a Gergo Nagy (12th) deflection of a blue line shot from Steven Kaunisto. Finishing the game with five points (1 goal, 4 assists), Nagy tied the team's ECHL record for points in a single game.

Extending their lead to four, the K-Wings gave themselves breathing room with a power-play marker from Dane Fox (23rd). The goal ties him with Blomstrand for the team lead.

Kalamazoo will begin a three-game road swing this Friday, March 13th with a 7:35 p.m. encounter at WesBanco Arena against the Wheeling Nailers.

The K-Wings will return home to Wings Stadium on Tuesday, March 17th with a 7 p.m. face-off versus the Indy Fuel during the 34th Annual "World Famous" St. Patrick's Day Green Ice Game, presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Tickets for all K-Wings home games are currently on sale at Wings Stadium Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, including www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000.

Fans that plan on attending multiple games can avoid service fees plus enjoy a discount from the single-game price by purchasing a 12, 24 or 36-game flexi-plan. These plans along with group (15 or more people) ticket packages may be ordered through the K-Wings front office by calling (269) 743-6011.

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