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Jr. K-Wings Weekly

April 3, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Game Recap- Friday, March 30th @ Port Huron Fighting Falcons

Port Huron, MI- In a game that featured two teams within a point of one another for the division lead, it was Kyle Gattelaro of the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings who stole the spotlight. His hat trick lead the Jr. K-Wings to a 7-4 victory over the Port Huron Fighting Falcons on Friday night in Port Huron.

Capitalizing early in the first period, Kalamazoo jumped out to a quick lead just 3:45 into the opening frame. The goal came off a high slot wrister from the stick of Nick Kovalchik (10th), which zipped past Port Huron goalie, Max Milosek.

Five minutes later, Port Huron pulled even on the seventeenth goal of the season by Logan Lemirande. The goal, which was scored at the 8:40 mark of the first, came on a high-slot one-timer over the glove of Kalamazoo goalie, Alex Okicki.

Late in the first, and tied at one apiece, Drew Graves scored his team-lead tying 26th of the season on a forehand to backhand deke that followed a tic-tac-toe passing play, set up by Kovalchik and Dan Cesarz. The 2-1 lead for Kalamazoo would hold until the end of the first, and into the second period.

Midway through the second period, a two-on-one break for Kalamazoo led to a three-goal lead for the Jr. K-Wings. Jacob McDowell took the initial shot, which was saved by Milosek, but Kyle Gattelaro was there on the doorstep to jam home his 21st of the season.

Port Huron clawed back with a goal of their own, just a minute and ten seconds after the Gattelaro tally. Brett DeAndrea snuck behind the Kalamazoo defense, and put one past Okicki to draw within a goal.

When it looked as if Kalamazoo would take a one goal lead into the locker room, Port Huron tied the game at 3-3 on the 26th goal of the season by Ian Miller. His team-leading tally came with just five seconds left on the clock in the second.

Port Huron jumped out early in the third period with the 15th of the season by Easton Powers. The goal gave the Fighting Falcons a one-goal lead, their first of the game, with 18:32 to play in the third.

The remaining 18:32 of the period belonged to Gattelaro and the Jr. K-Wings. Gattelaro pulled Kalamazoo even at 5-5 with his second goal of the night, and his 22nd of the season.

Two minutes and thirty-six seconds later, Gattelaro capped off the hat trick with his 23rd goal of the season. The goal lifted Gattelaro to his first career hat trick, and a one-goal lead for his team.

Three minutes later, the Jr. K-Wings took a two-goal lead with an insurance marker from Graves. The goal was his second of the night, and gave him sole possession of the team lead (27).

Finishing off a four-unanswered goal run by the Jr. K-Wings was McDowell. His marker late in the third gave Kalamazoo a commanding 7-4 lead that would not be challenged.

Okicki (15-9-2) picked up the victory in the contest, and Kalamazoo took over first place in the North Division for the first time

The two teams will face-off tomorrow afternoon at the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West in Kalamazoo, in the regular season finale that will decide the winner of the North Division crown.

Official game stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1647805

SaturdayMArch 31st Vs. Port Huron Fighting Falcons. 2-1 Loss.

Kalamazoo, MI- In a game that would decide the winner of the NAHL's North Division, it was the Port Huron Fighting Falcons who were crowned champs on the back of a 2-1 victory over the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings on Saturday at the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West.

The first period finished scoreless, with each team coming up empty on both of their two power plays each. Port Huron outshot Kalamazoo by a total of 15-9 in the opening period, but Ken MacLean, the Jr. K-Wings starting goalie, answered the bell and made all 15 stops. Port Huron goalie, Max Milosek, who was making his second consecutive start, posted nine saves in the first twenty.

After having a goal waved off with just 1:50 left in the second, Kalamazoo would end up shorthanded and surrender the first goal of the game to Port Huron. Alex Globke (15th) deflected a slap shot from the point that went behind MacLean and into the back of the goal for a 1-0 lead that the Fighting Falcons would take into the locker room after two.

13:44 into the third, Port Huron lit the lamp for yet another power play tally. This time it was Nick Sierra who lit the lamp for the 15th on the season to give the Fighting Falcons a 2-1 lead.

Kalamazoo would not go down without a fight, as Taylor Burden brought the game to within a goal with his11th of the season on a sharp angle shot from the left side.

With the extra attacker out for MacLean, Kalamazoo couldn't create any scoring to extend the game.

Official game stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1647817

Looking Ahead

This week marks the beginning of the post-season for the Jr. K-Wings, as they face the Traverse City North Stars in the first two games of a best-of-five series in the Robertson Cup Divisional Semi-finals. Games one and two will be on Friday (4/6) at 7:00 pm and Saturday (4/7) at 2:00 pm in Kalamazoo. The Jr. K-Wings hold home ice in the series, so if it comes down do a decisive game five, it will once again be at the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West.

Final Regular Season Team Leaders

Goals: Drew Graves (27 Goals)

Assists: Drew Graves (32 Assists)

Points: Drew Graves (59 Points)

+/-: Anthony Appleyard (+32)

Penalty Minutes: Brandon Flood (126 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Robbie Payne (9 PPG)

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

Game Winning Goals: Robbie Payne, Kyle Gattelaro (5 GWG)

Shots: Robbie Payne (170 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Dan Cesarz (20.5%)

Goals Against Average: Alex Okicki (2.60 GAA)

Save Percentage: Alex Okicki (.920%)

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

Friday, April 6th Vs. Traverse City 7:00 PM

Saturday, April 7th Vs. Traverse City 2:00 PM

Friday, April 13th @ Traverse City 7:00 PM

Saturday, April 14th @ Traverse City 7:00 PM (IF NECESSARY)

Monday, April 16th Vs. Traverse City 7:00 PM (IF NECESSARY)

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