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Jr. K-Wings Weekly

January 17, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Game Recap-

Saturday, January 14th Vs. Michigan Warriors. 8-0 Win.

Kalamazoo, MI- Ken MacLean made 30 saves on 30 shots for his first career shutout and had eight goals of support from his offense as the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings exploded against the Michigan Warriors on Saturday afternoon at the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West.

The first 15:30 minutes of the first period were scoreless, with the two teams feeling each out and testing each other goaltenders. Christian George (4th) broke the scoreless tie when he tipped in a pass from Taylor Burden through the five-hole of Michigan goalie, Trevor Gorsuch.

George would strike again before the end of the first, when he blasted home a one-timer with only twenty seconds remaining in the frame for his fifth of the season. Assisting on the goal was Brandon Flood, who extended his point streak to four games.

The second period was an offensive explosion for the Jr. K-Wings, as they scored four goals in the middle frame to extend their lead to six goals. Getting it started was Austin Hervey (5th) at the 8:40 mark, when his slap shot was initially saved by Gorsuch, but popped into the air and into the back of the net.

Fifty-nine seconds later, Kalamazoo would strike again. This time it was Drew Graves, scoring his fifteenth of the season on a two-on-one with Anthony Appleyard.

Four minutes later, it would be 5-0 in favor of the Jr. K-Wings. While on the power play, Brock Raffaele corralled a rebound on the backhand and found the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Raffaele, who joined the team earlier in the week, was playing in his first game in a Kalamazoo sweater.

Once again in the final minute of the period, Kalamazoo struck again, lighting the lamp for the sixth time of the game. Kyle Gattelaro finished a three-on-one by ripping a wrist-shot over the stick-side of Gorsuch, making the score 6-0. The goal was Gattelaro's 11th of the season.

The third period started the same way the second ended, with Kalamazoo lighting the lamp yet again. Raffaele scored his second of the night, and second of the season at the :57 mark when he handled a loose puck in the slot and slapped it home.

Just over a minute and a half later, the Jr. K-Wings would score their eighth and final goal of the game. Hervey scored his second of the night and sixth of the campaign when his rebound tickled the twine at the 2:36 mark of the period.

MacLean won his second consecutive contest (9-5-1-0), and the Jr. K-Wings continued their offensive domination of the Michigan Warriors. In their last two contests against each other, both in Kalamazoo, the Jr. K-Wings have outscored the Warriors by a score of 16-2.

Sunday, January 15th Vs. Traverse City North Stars. 4-3 SO Win.

Kalamazoo, MI- Drew Graves scored twice, including a shorthanded goal to lead the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Traverse City North Stars on Sunday at the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West.

Only fifty-five seconds had elapsed in Sunday's contest before the Jr. K-Wings lit the lamp for the first time of the game. Graves poked home his 16th goal of the season when he received a Robbie Payne pass and buried a sharp-angle shot past Traverse City starting goaltender, Kyle Laslo.

Traverse City responded just under nine minutes later with a power play tally of their own. Will Badner scored his team leading twelfth of the season when he stickhandled through the Kalamazoo defense en route to Ken MacLean's net. His forehand to backhand deke snuck through the five-hole of MacLean, drawing the game to one apiece.

Another quick start to the period proved beneficial for the Jr. K-Wings, as it only took them a minute and forty-eight seconds to score their second of the game. Jacob McDowell (8th) carried the line and put a wrist shot past Laslo to give Kalamazoo a 2-1 lead.

At the 3:25 mark of the period, Traverse City locked the game back up at two apiece. Jared Von Wormer handled a loose puck in the high slot and put it past MacLean for his ninth of the season.

With just over three minutes remaining in the frame, and tied at 2-2, Traverse City headed to a power play. However, it was Kalamazoo that profited from their man-advantage. Graves stole the puck in the neutral zone, walked into the North Stars zone and placed a wrist shot into the back of the net for his 17th of the campaign.

Trailing by one with under three minutes remaining in the game, Traverse City pulled even with Michael Toman's first of the season of a wrist shot from the left circle that beat MacLean over the glove side.

The goal forced overtime, in which neither team scored, requiring a five-man shootout. Tied at one apiece in the shootout and down to the final shooter in the final round, Robbie Payne, put the puck through the five-hole of Laslo and into the back of the net for the game winner.

MacLean won his third consecutive contest and improved his record to 10-5-1 by making 25 saves on the afternoon.

Looking Ahead

Kalamazoo enters their busiest week of the year with four games on tap over the next six days. Two will be against the Traverse City North Stars, a team that Kalamazoo has a 2-2 record against on the season, including their most recent 4-3 shootout victory on Sunday in Kalamazoo. The other two games will be against the Michigan Warriors, a team that Kalamazoo has had unparalleled success against on the season, posting a record of 7-1-0.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings

Goals: Robbie Payne (20 Goals)

Assists: Robbie Payne (18 Assists)

Points: Robbie Payne (36 Points)

+/-: Robbie Payne, Jacob McDowell (+12)

Penalty Minutes: Brandon Flood (65 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Robbie Payne (7 PPG)

Short Handed Goals: Robbie Payne, Nick Kovalchik, Drew Graves, Brandon Flood (1 SHG)

Game Winning Goals: Robbie Payne (4 GWG)

Shots: Brandon Flood (100 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Brock Raffaele (66.6%)

Goals Against Average: Alex Okicki (2.59 GAA)

Save Percentage: Alex Okicki (.923%)

Opening the Flood Gates

Kalamazoo forward Brandon Flood is currently riding a season-high five game point streak. Over the last five contests, Flood has posted seven points (3 goals, 4 assists). In his most recent outing, Flood extended his streak with an assist against Traverse City.

MacLEAN and MEAN

Kalamazoo goaltender Ken MacLean has won three straight contests for the Jr. K-Wings, including his first career shutout in a 30 save effort against the Michigan Warriors in their 8-0 win on Saturday.

Wasting the Warriors

Kalamazoo has had the number of the Michigan Warriors all season, compiling a 7-1-0 record against them on the season. Over the last two contests between the two teams, Kalamazoo has outscored Michigan 16-2. The two teams will face-off twice during the next week.

Tickets! Get Your Tickets!!

Tickets for all Jr. K-Wings home games are now on sale. Catch all the action as your Jr. K-Wings play the very best the NAHL has to offer. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Wings West office.

Get On-Line

This season, the best way to keep track of the Jr. K-Wings is to log onto www.jrkwings.com. The site has player profiles, information about Wings Stadium events, and much, much more.

Jr. K-Wings on The Air

Catch all the Jr. K-Wings games, home and away, on www.fasthockey.com. The home games will be with the "Voice of the Jr. K-Wings" Joey Roberts. The pre-game will start five minutes before puck drop.

Upcoming Games

Tuesday, January 17th @ Traverse City 6:35 PM

Friday, January 19th @ Michigan 7:30 PM

Saturday, January 20th Vs. Traverse City 2:00 PM

Sunday, January 21st Vs. Michigan 2:00 PM

Thursday, February 2nd @ Jamestown 7:05 PM

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