Defending champs continue winning ways

Published on November 13, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2) News Release


LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO --- The Kalamazoo Wings have played the early part of the 2006-07 United Hockey League (UHL) season with a target on their backs as the defending league champions, but continue to post victories and currently have an 8-2-0 record.

The K-Wings are riding a three-game winning streak have claimed victory in five of their last six contests. They also remain as the only undefeated road team (4-0-0) in the UHL. Much of their success on the road has been the play of their special teams. Kalamazoo has not allowed a power play goal on the road, successfully turning away all 33 attempts by their opponents. The club leads the league in overall penalty killing percentage (94.0%).

Kalamazoo has used balance on offense as 19 of the 21 skaters to hit the ice for the team this season have registered a point. 2006 Colonial Cup Playoff MVP Nick Bootland (5g, 5a) along with Kory Karlander (5g, 6a) have returned from last season's championship team and lead the team in scoring.

Goaltending continues to be a strong point as Tom Askey currently ranks second among UHL goaltenders with a 2.15 goals against average (GAA). Rookie Ryan Nie has helped solidify the tandem registering a 2-0-0 record, a 1.58 GAA, and a .953 save percentage in his three appearances this season.

The K-Wings will face a tough challenge with two games this week vs. the league leading Muskegon Fury (12-1-0). The Fury earned a 4-3 victory in the first meeting between the two clubs this season.

CAREER MILESTONES - Veteran defenseman Ryan Gillis played in his 700th professional game a week ago on Sunday. He was traded to Bloomington later in the week and dished out an assist in his first game with the club.

Fort Wayne Komets center Bruce Richardson laced up his skates for the 500th time in his pro career in the Komets 5-2 win vs. Flint on Saturday. He tallied an assist in the victory.

SPECIAL PLAY ON SPECIAL TEAMS - The play of special teams has played a key role in earning victories for several UHL clubs this season. The Muskegon Fury have killed off 35 of the last 36 opponent power plays. The Kalamazoo Wings have not allowed a power play goal on the road. The Elmira Jackals have five shorthanded goals in their last four games and lead the league with ten shorthanded goals. The Fort Wayne Komets have scored on nine of their last 34 power play opportunities.

The four teams currently sit as the top four in the UHL standings.

HIGH-SCORING DEFENSEMEN - Fort Wayne defenseman Mario Larocque has scored a goal in four straight games and currently leads his club with 17 points (7g, 10a) through 10 games. That total surpasses his point production from a season ago in 46 games played. He ranks sixth in UHL scoring and is the only defenseman in the league to be leading his club in scoring.

Muskegon defenseman Philippe Plante is riding a six-game point streak and has scored in 11 of 13 games this season. He leads all UHL defensemen in scoring with 19 points (2g, 17a) and ranks fourth overall in the league.

A FITTING FAREWELL - Bloomington PrairieThunder defenseman Jeff Mushaluk announced his retirement following Saturday's game against the Elmira Jackals. Mushaluk tallied an assist and scored the game-winning goal in the 4-3 victory for the PrairieThunder.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Bloomington PrairieThunder - (1-1-0) - Forward Alex Goupil made a quick impact for the PrairieThunder after being signed on Thursday. He tallied three goals on just six shots in his first two games....Goupil's first goal on Saturday ended an 0 for 21 drought on the power play for Bloomington...After playing just three of their first 11 games on the road, the team plays six of their next seven on the road...Goaltender Steffan Braunlich earned his first professional win making 35 saves in the 4-3 victory vs. Elmira on Saturday.

Chicago Hounds - (1-1-0) - Forward John Spoltore dished out an assist on Friday in his debut with the team...The Hounds signed defenseman Nikos Tselios before the weekend. The NHL 1997 First Round draft pick grew up 35 miles away in Oak Park, Illinois...The Hounds will not play a home game again until November 29th...Chris Houle became the first goaltender besides Marty Magers to play in net for the Hounds when he started vs. the Kalamazoo Wings on Saturday...Chicago snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-2 win vs. Quad City on Friday.

Elmira Jackals - (2-1-0) - Captain Brent Cullaton has 11 points (4g, 7a) in his first five games with the team this season...After being held scoreless in his first three games with the club, forward Tommy Kotsopoulos has six points (2g, 4a) in his last two games...Left wing Scott Wray had his six-game point streak snapped on Sunday... Veteran winger Frank Littlejohn registered a "hat trick" (3g) including the game-winner in Friday's 5-3 win vs. Bloomington...Goaltender Kris Tebbs started all three games during the week and made a total of 126 saves.

Flint Generals - (0-3-0) - Forward David Frawley has scored all seven of his points this season on the road...The Generals are 0-4-1 at home this season. The only UHL club without a home victory...Eight of the next ten games for Flint is on home ice...The Generals power play ranks third in the UHL (17.3%)...Center Terry Marchant netted his first goal on Sunday since joining the team earlier in the week...Flint ranks first in the league in shots allowed per game (28.75). The only team holding their opponents under 30 shots per game.

Fort Wayne Komets - (1-1-0) - The Komets had their six-game winning streak snapped in Friday's 3-2 loss to Kalamazoo...Fort Wayne has won all five home games this season...Left wing Daniel Goneau scored five points (1g, 4a) in his last two games. He leads the UHL with six power play assists...Only four of the 23 goals scored against the Komets this season have come in the first period...Fort Wayne leads the UHL in power play goals (24) and power play percentage (27.3%). They were 3 of 14 on the power play during the weekend.

Kalamazoo Wings - (3-0-0) - Rookie right wing Justin Cross is on a six-game point streak...Winger Tyler Willis dished out his 200th career assist in Sunday's victory vs. Quad City...Left wing Nick Bootland had the game-winning goal in two of the three victories during the week...Goaltender Ryan Nie made 40 saves in Sunday's victory... Kalamazoo killed off all 21 opponent power plays during the week...After scoring one point in his first three games, forward Brett Pilkington has four points (3g, 1a) in his last two games, including the game-winning goal on Saturday.

Muskegon Fury - (3-0-0) - The Fury currently have an identical record after 13 games (12-1-0) as a season ago... Center Todd Robinson has scored a "hat trick" (3g) in two consecutive games vs. Port Huron...During the week, Muskegon outscored their opponents 9-1 in the third period...Center Elias Godoy is riding a seven-game point streak...The Fury have scored four or more goals in each game this season...After trailing 3-1 on Sunday, Muskegon scored the next four goals to beat Port Huron 5-3. They are 10-0-3 in their last 13 games vs. the Flags.

Port Huron Flags - (1-2-0) - The Flags snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-3 win vs. Rockford on Friday... After being held scoreless in the previous six games, left wing Brad Bonello tallied four points (1g, 3a) in Friday's win...The Flags netted two shorthanded goals on the same Muskegon power play on Sunday...Center Mark Cadotte has an assist in four straight games. He leads the Flags with 12 points (1g, 11a)...Center Ryan Markham has a goal in three straight games and ranks fourth in UHL rookie scoring.

Quad City Mallards - (1-2-0) - Defenseman Andrei Lupandin has four points (3g, 1a) in four home games this season...Winger Chad Woollard has a point on 12 of the 23 team goals this season. He registered his fifth multi-point game on Saturday as he netted the game-winning goal with 2:32 remaining in the contest...The Mallards scored three power play goals in Saturday's 4-3 victory vs. Port Huron...Defenseman Bryan Gent picked up an assist in his first game with the club. The assist came against his former team, the Chicago Hounds.

Rockford IceHogs - (0-2-0) - The line of Nicolas Corbeil, Kevin Ulanski, and Kaleb Betts combined for all five of the goals for Rockford during the weekend...Corbeil tallied five points (1g, 4a) in the last two games...After completing a four-game road stretch, the IceHogs play five of the next six games at home...This week will be the first week of the season in which Rockford will play more than two games... Rockford leads the UHL with an average of 38 shots per game...Defenseman Matt Gens ranks second in the league with four power play assists.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from November 13, 2006


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