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Jr. K-Wings Weekly

January 23, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Game Recap-

Tuesday, January 17th @ Traverse City North Stars. 5-4 Loss.

Kalamazoo Traverse City, MI- The first forty minutes of play only saw two goals scored, but the third period brought a total of seven as Traverse City topped Kalamazoo 5-4. Brandon Flood scored twice to extend his point streak to seven games in the losing effort.

Thirty seconds into the game, a defensive breakdown led to a 2-on-1 for the North Stars and Eric Rivard (10th) capitalized off a feed from Mitchell Snider. Rivard took the pass and skated in freely on Kalamazoo goaltender Alex Okicki and backhanded one off the post and in for the 1-0 lead.

The early first period tally completed the scoring in the opening frame as Kalamazoo's Okicki stopped 12 of 13 shots faced and North Stars goalie Kyle Laslo was perfect on the nine shots fired by the Jr. K-Wings.

The second period started off with both teams getting their opportunities without capitalizing until Brandon Flood (14th) found the back of the net. Matt Wurst dumped the puck to Kyle Gattelaro who fed a backhand pass across the crease to a wide-open Flood who buried his shot into the back of the net.

The explosive third period started off with another quick goal by Traverse City when Jared Van Wormer (10th) scored 55 seconds after the puck dropped. Nathan Harris and Eric Rivard recorded assists on the quick tally.

Only one minute later Traverse City struck again with a goal by forward Kyle Schempp (8th). Schempp's goal came unassisted two minutes and eleven seconds into the final frame.

Kalamazoo would bounce back when Kyle Gattelaro poked home a rebound after Brandon Flood released the shot. Jacob McDowell recorded the secondary assist on the play cutting the lead to 3-2 North Stars.

It only took Traverse City 25 seconds to regain their two-goal lead when Michal Toman (2nd) stole the puck and made a nifty move to beat goaltender Okicki. The unassisted score stretched the lead to 4-2 North Stars.

Continuing on with the third period theme, Sean Murphy (11th) taking passes from Kyle Schempp and Lance Fredrickson, shot one past the diving Okicki to extend the North Stars lead to three with a 5-2 advantage.

Kalamazoo not done yet, got within two when Danny Hamburg scored an unassisted goal nine minutes and ten seconds into the third period, bringing the score to 5-3.

Thirty-six seconds later Brandon Flood (15th) notched his second of the game, shorthanded, when Traverse City goaltender Laslo mishandled the puck. The goal was again unassisted, the fourth unassisted goal of the game, bringing the deficit to only one goal at 5-4.

In the final seconds of the game, Kalamazoo lifted goaltender Okicki for the extra attacker but were unable to tie the game as the final horn sounded with Traverse City taking the victory 5-4.

Official game stats can be found at

http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1647122

Friday, January 20th @ Michigan Warriors. 6-2 Win.

Flint, MI- Brock Raffaele scored twice and had an assist, while Drew Graves added four assists of his own, as the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings dominated the Michigan Warriors in a 6-2 victory on Friday night at the Perani Hockey and Event Center in Flint.

Matching the general theme of the season with quick starts against the Warriors, the Jr. K-Wings took an early 1-0 lead at the 2:08 mark of the first period. Giving them the lead was Treor Boyd, notching his seventh of the season.

With just under five minutes remaining in the first period, and the Jr. K-Wings working on their first power play of the evening, Kyle Gattelaro lit the lamp for the 13th time on the season to make it 2-0 Jr. K-Wings.

While on a five-on-three late in the period, the Warriors found the scoreboard for the first time of the game. Chris Eckler (8th) buried a wrist shot from the left side circle past Kalamazoo starting goalie, Ken MacLean.

Kalamazoo didn't take long to regain their two-goal lead, as it only took one minute for them to respond to the Eckler tally. Brock Raffaele scored his third goal of the season at the 18:04 mark to make the score 3-1. Raffaele, who has only played four games with Kalamazoo, has already tallied seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) since his arrival.

Eight and a half minutes into the middle frame, and on yet another power play, Kalamazoo padded their lead to three goals with the first of the season by Chris Leone. Leone blasted a slap shot form the point that beat Michigan starter, Brach Tiller. After the goal, Tiller was pulled in favor of Trevor Gorsuch. Tiller made 17 saves on 22 shots.

The start of the third period provided even more good fortune for the Jr. K-Wings, as they completely opened up the contest by scoring their fifth of the night. Raffaele scored his second of the evening and fourth of the season. Assisting on the goal was Drew Graves, notching his third helper of the game.

To add even more fuel to the fire, Kalamazoo scored their sixth of the night on a rebound by Robbie Payne. The goal for Payne was his 21st, leading the Jr. K-Wings. The third period strike was the first goal by Payne since December 10th, a seven game streak, his longest of the season.

The Warriors would strike one more time before the end of the game, as AJ White scored his North Division leading 24th on a two-on-one strike.

MacLean (11-5-1) got the victory by posting 33 saves on 35 shots. The Jr. K-Wings improved their record to 8-1-0 on the season against the Warriors, and bettered their record at the Perani Hockey and Event Center in Flint to 4-1-0. In the last three contests against Michigan, Kalamazoo have outscored the Warriors 22-4.

Game stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1647134

Saturday, January 21st Vs. Michigan Warriors. 5-3 Win.

Kalamazoo, MI- Linemates Robbie Payne, Brock Raffaele and Drew Graves combined for seven points (3 goals, 4 assits) and the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings beat the Michigan Warriors by a score of 5-3 on Saturday at the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West.

The Jr. K-Wings jumped out to yet another quick lead against the Warriors, as it only took them 5:10 to light the lamp for the first time of the afternoon. A power play tally from Graves (18th) made the score 1-0 early in the first period.

Three minutes and fifty seconds later, it would be Kalamazoo finding the score sheet for the second time of the period. Danny Hamburg cleaned up a rebound off a drive from Nick Kovalchik for his fifth of the season.

Michigan wouldn't be silenced for the whole period, as Martin Gruse (10th) scored on a howitzer of a slap shot from the high slot that beat Kalamazoo goalie, Alex Okicki over his stick side. The goal brought the game to within one, which is how the two teams ended the first period of play.

Michigan tied the game up early in the second period off the ninth goal of the season from Chris Eckler.

The tied score only lasted for 1:58, as Taylor Burden notched his fifth of the season, opening the score back up in favor of the Jr. K-Wings.

Just over half way through the period, Payne scored his team-leading 22nd of the season. Payne has scored in two consecutive games, after going the previous seven without a goal.

Michigan responded with a power play tally from Gruse, his second of the game and eleventh of the campaign at the 13:28 mark.

A minute and five seconds later, Raffaele gave Kalamazoo their two-goal lead back. The goal was his fifth of the season. In his five games since joining the Jr. K-Wings, Raffaele has posted nine points (5 goals, 4 assists).

Okicki (10-7-1) secured the victory for Kalamazoo by making 28 saves on 31 shots. Kalamazoo improved their home record to 12-2-1, and saw their record against the Warriors improve to 9-1-0

Game stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1647136

Sunday, January 22nd Vs. Traverse City North Stars. 5-2 Win.

Kalamazoo, MI- Ken MacLean made 35 stops for the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings, en route to their 5-2 victory over the Traverse City North Stars on Sunday at the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West.

Twelve and a half minutes into a scoreless first period, Kalamazoo broke the stalemate with Kyle Gattelaro's 14th goal of the season. Brandon Flood stole the puck in the neutral zone, during a wholesale change for Traverse City. Flood carried the puck below the goal line and sent a centering feed to Gattelaro, who jammed it past North Stars starting goalie, and former Jr. K-Wing, Zach Nagelvoort.

Kalamazoo jumped on Traverse City quickly in the second, just as they had in the first period. 1:43 into the middle frame, the Jr. K-Wings scored their second of the game on the back of Drew Graves, who netted his 19th of the season, trailing only Robbie Payne (22) for most on the team.

Later in the period, Kalamazoo would put themselves in the drivers seat with a three goal lead. Trevor Boyd scored his eighth of the season when he poked home a rebound along the right-wing side.

Traverse City found the score sheet for the first time of the game six minutes into the third period, on Mitchell Snider's (9th) rebound tally.

31 seconds later, Jacob McDowell responded with a tally of his own, his 9th of the season to give Kalamazoo their three goal lead back.

Later in the period, Kalamazoo would add to their three-goal lead. Anthony Appleyard scored his sixth of the season on a shot from the point. His twenty points on the campaign lead all Kalamazoo defensemen.

Snider scored his second of the afternoon and 10th of the season on another rebound just 17 seconds after Appleyard's tally.

MacLean (12-5-1) won yet another contest, posting 35 saves on 37 shots.

Game stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1647147

Looking Ahead

After their most active week of the season (four games in six days), The Jr. K-Wings get the next week off, before they head out to Jamestown, New York, for a three game series against the Jamestown Ironmen. The Following Wednesday, Kalamazoo will head to Traverse City for another road contest, marking their fourth in a row.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings

Goals: Robbie Payne (22 Goals)

Assists: Drew Graves, Brock Raffaele (24 Assists)

Points: Robbie Payne (44 Points)

+/-: Anthony Appleyard (+16)

Penalty Minutes: Brandon Flood (100 Minutes)

-MORE- Power Play Goals: Robbie Payne (8 PPG)

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

Game Winning Goals: Robbie Payne (5 GWG)

Shots: Brandon Flood (100 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Brock Raffaele (38.5%)

Goals Against Average: Alex Okicki (2.75 GAA)

Save Percentage: Alex Okicki (.919%)

Nine is Fine

Kalamazoo forwards Drew Graves and Brock Raffaele posted nine points apiece during the four games played in the last week. Raffaele had three goals and six assists, while Graves scored two goals and added seven assists.

Three in a Row

The Jr. K-Wings end the week having won three straight contests on consecutive nights. Two of those contests were against the Michigan Warriors, in which Kalamazoo outscored the Warriors 11-5.

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

Thursday, February 2nd @ Jamestown 7:05 PM

Friday, February 3rd @ Jamestown 7:05 PM

Saturday, February 4th @ Jamestown 7:05 PM

Wednesday, February 8th @ Traverse City 6:35 PM

Saturday, February 11th Vs. Port Huron 2:00 PM



North American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2012


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