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IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

Cleaver and Martin Earn Weekly Awards

February 9, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Wings, proud member of the International Hockey League, announce that forward Rick Cleaver and goaltender Joel Martin have received weekly accolades from the IHL for the period ending February 9th.

For the third time this season, Cleaver has been awarded the Aquafina Rookie of the Week. Receiving the third weekly honor ties Cleaver with Muskegon's Maxime Lincourt for the most earned by a rookie this season.

The native of Port McNeill, British Columbia recorded three goals and added an assist in four games this week for the K-Wings.

Cleaver, who leads all rookies in goals scored (16), is tied with Fort Wayne's Rick Varone with 34 points for second among all league rookies in scoring.

With a plus/minus rating of +17, Cleaver shares the team lead with Mark Nebus and is second overall in the league behind Port Huron's Derek Merlini (+18).

Stellar in both victories this week for the K-Wings, goaltender Joel Martin earns his first Southern Sports Supply Goaltender of the Week award.

In two appearances, Martin had a goals against average of 1.92 and turned a side 80 of the 83 shots for a save percentage of 0.964.

Martin stopped 43 shots in the K-Wings' 4-2 victory last Friday versus the first-place, Port Huron Icehawks and then followed up that performance with 37 saves in Kalamazoo's 2-1 shootout win over Bloomington. The shootout victory was his league-best fourth of the season.

With the lowest GAA (2.66) and the top save percentage (0.923) in the league, Martin earned victories in eight of his last 11 starts.

Ironically, Cleaver and Martin were already scheduled to appear on the team's weekly radio show, K-Wings Live, which airs every Monday night from 7-8 p.m. at Old Burdick's Bar and Grill, located inside of the Holiday Inn West on South 11th Street, can be heard on 95.9 FM WLKM and www.kwings.com

The K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium this Wednesday, February 11th for a 7:11 p.m. face-off versus the PrairieThunder.

The game on Wednesday, February 11th, which was originally scheduled for Sunday, February 22nd, had to be moved due to the Professional Bull Riding Tour coming to Wings Stadium on Saturday, February 21st and Sunday, February 22nd.

Tickets already purchased for the Sunday, February 22nd game will be honored on Wednesday, February 11th.

Single-game tickets for any of the K-Wings 38 regular season home games are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call Wings Stadium Ticket Office during regular business hours at (269) 345-5101.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 9, 2009


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