Countdown to Face-Off
Published on April 12, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release
The Kalamazoo Wings will finish off the home portion of their schedule tonight against the Adirondack Frostbite. On the season, the K-Wings are 2-0-0 against the Frostbite, which includes a 4-0 victory at Wings Stadium back on December 17th.
Kalamazoo brings in a league best, five-game winning streak into the game. A victory over the Frostbite would mean a lot to the organization, as it would push Kalamazoo back into first place tie with Muskegon for both the league and Central Division. The K-Wings enter the game with 50 wins and 26 home victories, both are just one-win shy of setting Kalamazoo's UHL franchise record for both overall and home wins.
Adirondack will look to snap three-game winless streak. Despite losing three straight games, the Frostbite are 8-3-0 in their last 11 games. The Frostbite have sown up second place in the Eastern Division and the fifth seed in Colonial Cup playoffs, which means tonight's game could be a preview of a possible first round match-up.
Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings Adirondack Frostbite
Goals: Nick Bootland (38 Goals) Kevin Watters (35 Goals)
Assists: Daniel Carriere (66 Assists) Hugo Belanger (64 Assists)
Points: Jason Deitsch (83 Points) Hugo Belanger (94 Points)
+/-: Greg Labenski (+54) Bob Rapoza (+34)
Penalty Minutes: Tyler Willis (300 Minutes) Blue Bennefield (273 Minutes)
Power Play Goals: Jason Deitsch (17 Goals) Sylvain Cloutier (18 Goals)
Short Handed Goals: Mike Manley (6 Goals) Kevin Watters (3 Goals)
Game Winning Goals: Tyler Willis, Damian Surma Kevin Watters, Mark Hurtubise (5 GW)
Kory Karlander (6 GW)
Shots: Nick Bootland (344 Shots) Kevin Watters (227 Shots)
Shooting Percentage: Jason Deitsch (24.3%) Mike Berry (19.4%)
Shootout Goals: Damian Surma (7 Goals) Mike Berry (8 Goals)
Shootout Percentage: Lee Ruff (75.0%) Mike Berry (61.5%)
Goals Against Average: Joel Martin (2.19) Derek Gustafson (2.64)
Save Percentage: Joel Martin (0.921) Derek Gustafson (0.909)
All-Time/ Season Series
All-Time Series: All-Time Series is Tied: 10-10-1
Season Series: K-Wings Lead Season Series: 2-0-0
Last Meeting: K-Wings Won 4-0 on December 17th @ Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Next Meeting: Last Meeting of the Regular Season
Record Breaking Performance
The K-Wings victory Sunday (4/9) against Motor City was a historic one for the franchise. The win established a franchise UHL record for most points in a single-season (107), as well as tied the franchise's UHL record for most victories in a season with 50, which was established last year. The K-Wings will look to break that record, along with their UHL franchise record for most home wins in a single season, when they play Adirondack tonight. The K-Wings have won 26 home games this season, which ties their UHL best set during the 2003-04 season.
Finding a Way to Score
Forward Jason Deitsch is currently on a K-Wings' high 11-game point streak. Deitsch, who leads all UHL rookies in scoring with 83 points (36 goals, 47 assists), has recorded at least one-point in 31 of his last 32 games.
The 300 Club
Forward Nick Bootland is nearing a personal milestone. Bootland enters the week just two points shy of 300 for his career.
Home-Ice In the First Round
With their victory over Motor City on Sunday, the K-Wings have guaranteed themselves home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Kalamazoo starts the week tied for first-place in both the UHL and the Central Division. The K-Wings first two games of the postseason will be next Friday (4/21) and Saturday (4/22) at Wings Stadium.
Tickets! Get Your Tickets!!
Tickets for all K-Wing home games are now on sale. Catch all the action as your K-Wings play the very best the UHL has to offer. Tickets are on sale now by calling the Wings Stadium Ticket Office at (269) 345-5101.
Get on Line
This season, the best way to keep track of the K-Wings is to log onto www.kwings.com. The site has player profiles, information about Wings Stadium events, and much, much more.
Bootland and Labenski on the Radio
Join special guests Nick Bootland and Greg Labenski as they join Head Coach Mark Reeds and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno on "K-Wings Live". The show is on Your Local Sports Leader AM 1660 WQSN Monday's from 6-7 PM at The Cabana Bar and Grill inside the Holiday Inn Kalamazoo on South 11th Street.
K-Wings on Radio
Catch all the K-Wings games home and away on the K-Wings Radio Network (WLKM 95.9 FM and Your Local Sports Leader AM 1660 WQSN). Join the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno for all 76 regular season games plus the playoffs. Pre-game coverage begins with the Digital Highway Pre-Game Show 15 minutes prior to face-off. For the most complete coverage of the K-Wings from the Opening Face-Off to the Final Buzzer, keep your radio tuned this season to the K-Wings Radio Network.
Upcoming Games
Friday, April 14th @ Missouri 7:00 PM (CST)
Saturday, April 15th @ Fort Wayne 7:30 PM (End of the Regular Season)
Friday, April 21st Vs TBA 7:30 PM (Colonial Cup Playoffs: Round One, Game One)
Saturday, April 22nd Vs TBA 7:30 PM (Colonial Cup Playoffs: Round One, Game Two)
International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 12, 2006
- Komets defeat River Otters 4-3 in shootout - Missouri River Otters
- Frostbite drops third straight - Adirondack Frostbite
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- IceHogs announce first two playoff dates - Rockford IceHogs
- Flags Weekly - Port Huron Flags
- Trashers clinch first UHL division title - Danbury Trashers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
