Sports stats



Jr. K-Wings Weekly

September 18, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Game Recap- Wednesday, September 12th Vs. Coulee Region Chill. 5-2 Win.

Blaine, MN- The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings relied on two goals from Robbie Payne, as he led the team to a 5-2 victory over the Coulee Region Chill in their first game of action at the North American Hockey League's Showcase Tournament in Blaine, Minnesota on Wednesday night .

Even being heavily outshot in the first period by the Chill, the Jr. K-Wings got the scoring underway during the latter stages of period number one. It was Trevor Boyd scoring the first goal of the young season for Kalamazoo, as his shot from a sharp angle along the right wing side found the back of the goal at the 14:12 mark of the first period.

Three minutes later, James Hughes (1st) of Coulee Region tied the game at one apiece with a high-slot deflection off a shot by defenseman Derek Smith. The goal led both teams back to the locker rooms in a 1-1 tie after a period of play.

Half way through the second period, Kalamazoo got their second one goal lead of the game. Taylor Burden tipped in a slap shot by Mark Esshaki that gave the Jr. K-Wings a 2-1 advantage. The tally was Burden's first of the season.

Extending the Jr. K-Wing lead to 3-1 was Josh Dangel, who scored with under seven minutes remaining in the period. It was the veteran's first goal of the season, in his first game wearing a Kalamazoo sweater.

Just a minute and fifteen seconds into the third period, the Chill's Travis Underwood (1st) drew the game back to within one with his power play goal.

A few moments later, Kalamazoo's Payne (1st) reestablished the two goal Jr. K-Wing lead with his goal, that was scored just outside the goal crease of Blake Cates, the starting net minder for the Chill.

While working with a five-minute man advantage from a major elbowing penalty, Kalamazoo was able to take a 5-2 lead, again scoring for the Jr. K-Wings was Payne (2nd). That lead would last until the final horn.

Nick Stuart was stellar in his Jr. K-Wing goaltending debut, making 30 saves and moving his record to 1-0-0.

Official Game Stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1993350

Thursday, September 13th Vs. Fairbanks Ice Dogs. 3-2 Win.

Blaine, MN- In a defensive battle between two gritty clubs, it was the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings who prevailed over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in their exciting one goal contest on Thursday in Blaine.

With time in the first period winding down, all signs pointed to a scoreless first frame. Back and forth action led to a boatload of scoring opportunities for both squads. Neither were able to capitalize on any of those opportunities, until Kalamazoo's Nick Kovalchik broke the scoreless spell with his tally at the 19:18 mark.

The Jr. K-Wings tacked on to their one goal lead mid-way through the second period on a laser of a wrist shot by Nolan Culver. DeKorte's first of the season was assisted by Kovalchik, who registered his first multi-point effort of the season.

The Ice Dogs wouldn't be scoreless for long after, as Colton Wolter (1st) brought his team to within a goal. Wolter capitalized on a turnover deep inside the Kalamazoo end. His late second period marker beat Kalamazoo goaltender, Alex Okicki, who was making his season debut.

Robbie Payne put a cherry on top of the Kalamazoo victory with his empty netter at the 19:16 mark of the third period.

That celebration wouldn't last long, however, as Fairbanks kept the game in check by scoring a goal with an extra attacker with nine seconds left in the third. Garrett Clemment took a heavy shot from the point that beat Okicki for his first goal of the season.

The goal wouldn't be enough, as Kalamazoo snuck away with a 3-2 victory.

Official Game Stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1993359

Friday, September 14th Vs. Minot Minotauros. 6-3 Win.

Blaine, MN- Robbie Payne had his second multi-goal game in three contests as his three point morning lead the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings to victory over the Minot Minotauros on Friday in Blaine.

For the third consecutive game, Kalamazoo was able to take an early lead with the first goal of the game. Nick Kovalchik tallied his second goal of the season, and second in as many days, as he got the scoring started for the Jr. K-Wings, just 1:04 into period number one.

Seven minutes later, it would yet again be the Jr. K-Wings lighting the lamp. Kyle Gattelaro was on the receiving end of a Payne back door pass, and easily poked the puck home for his first of the season.

Minot wouldn't be silenced all period, as their power play unit was able to tickle the twine late in the first period. Lucas Oliver (2nd) was able to beat Kalamazoo goalie, Nick Stuart, on a quick shot from the low slot area.

On their first man advantage opportunity of the game, the Jr. K-Wings were able to capitalize on a heavy slap shot by Payne (4th). With the goal, Payne has registered a goal in three straight contests to start the season.

Early in the final period, AJ Marcinek added to the Kalamazoo lead with his first of the season. Marcinek and Danny Hamburg were away on a two-on-one break, as Hamburg slid a perfect pass to Marcinek who had no trouble in finding the back of a wide-open net.

Payne (5th) added to the big lead just two minutes later, when he drove the goal on his backhand and pulled a nifty deke at the top of the crease to beat Minot goalie, Ryan Ruck. The goal for Payne puts him in the early lead for goal scorers in the NAHL.

After a disallowed goal by Kalamazoo, Minot used the momentum to their advantage. Brendan Gust brought the game to within three with his third period tally, his first of the year.

Down by three with the clock ticking under a minute and a half, Minot was able to salvage another goal and pull the game to within two. Ryan Doner was credited with his second of the season and it set up the Minotauros a chance with an extra attacker.

However with the empty net, it was the Jr. K-Wings who capitalized. Josh Dangel found the open goal for his second tally of the season, and it was enough to put the game out of reach.

Official Game Stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1993365

Saturday, September 15th Vs. Aberdeen Wings. 6-3 Win.

Blaine, MN- The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings used two goals from Danny Hamburg as they rolled to their fourth consecutive victory, beating the Aberdeen Wings by a score of 6-3 on Saturday in Blaine.

For the first time all season, Kalamazoo saw themselves surrendering the first goal of a contest. Aberdeen's Joseph Sullivan scored his fourth of the season by beating Kalamazoo goalie, Alex Okicki, on a smooth deke move in front of the Jr. K-Wing goal.

With less than three minutes remaining in the period, Kalamazoo's Luc Boby snuck behind the Aberdeen defense and found himself going in all alone on the opposing goaltender, Paige Skoog. Boby found an open part of the goal, and put the puck in the back of the net. The tally, his first as a Jr. K-Wing, pulled the teams even at one.

Just seventeen seconds into the second, Boby gave the Jr. K-Wings their first lead of the night, when he tacked on his second goal of the game, and second of the season, on a quick wrist shot from the left faceoff circle.

Four minutes after securing their first lead of the game, Kalamazoo looked to add insurance. Gaining the zone on an odd man rush, Nick Kovalchik fed Josh Dangel who had an open net to score his second of the season, giving the Jr. K-Wings a 3-1 lead.

Increasing the Kalamazoo lead to three was Danny Hamburg. Hamburg saw an open puck in the low slot area in front of Skoog, and jammed it into the goal for his first of the season.

Responding just 59 seconds later was Tommy Miller of the Aberdeen Wings, who netted his first of the season at the 14:11 mark of the second period to make the score 4-2.

With under a minute to play in the second, and working on their fourth power play of the game, Kalamazoo re-gained their three-goal lead with the second tally of the night by Hamburg.

In the third period, and playing with a two-man advantage, Kalamazoo increased their lead to four on a slap shot by Matt Wurst. The defenseman created space along the right side and ripped a howitzer for his first of the season.

Trailing by four goals, Aberdeen took advantage of the extra space on the ice provided by a four-on-four opportunity. Patrick Steinhauser (1st) made himself comfortable in front of Okicki, and deflected a shot by Steven Johnson that found the net.

The late push by the Wings wasn't enough, as it was Okicki (2-0-0) who led his team to victory, and an undefeated NAHL Showcase Tournament.

Official Game Stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1993383

Looking Ahead

The Jr. K-Wings start their divisional schedule this weekend, with back-to-back contests against the new expansion club, the Soo Eagles. The Eagles, formerly of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, and former team of Jr. K-Wing Robbie Payne, have taken the place of the former Traverse City North Stars. The Eagles roster is not unfamiliar to the Jr. K-Wings, as it boasts former North Stars such as leading scorers Jared Van Wormer and Eric Rivard. Being featured in net for the Eagles is Zach Naagelvoort, who spent the early stages of last season with Kalamazoo, before being sent to Traverse City.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings

Goals: Robbie Payne (5 goals)

Assists: Kyle Gattelaro (6 Assists)

Points: Kyle Gattelaro (7 Points)

+/-: Luc Boby, Brett Beauvais (+6)

Penalty Minutes: Danny Hamburg (14 PIMs)

Power Play Goals: Robbie Payne (2 PPG)

Short Handed Goals: Entire Team (0 SHG)

Game Winning Goals: Robbie Payne, AJ Marcinek, Nick Kovalchik, Danny Hamburg (1 GWG)

Shots: Kyle Gattelaro (17 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Nick Kovalchik (100.0%)

Goals Against Average: Alex Okicki, Nick Stuart (2.50 GAA)

Save Percentage: Nick Stuart (.917%)

High Efficiency Scoring

Kalamazoo forward Nick Kovalchik currently leads the league with a shooting percentage of 100%. During the weekend at the Showcase, Kovalchik buried three goals on three shots.

Spectacular Debuts

Both Luc Boby and Josh Dangel had spectacular debut weekends in the Kalamazoo red, white and blue. Dangel tallied six points (two goals, four assists) while Boby added five (two goals, three assists).

Wurst Gets his First

On Saturday against the Aberdeen Wings, defenseman Matt Wurst scored his first career NAHL goal. Wurst had snapped a 56 game goalless drought.

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, September 21st @ Soo Eagles 7:30 PM

Saturday, September 22nd @ Soo Eagles 7:30 PM

Saturday, September 29th @ Port Huron 7:00 PM

Sunday, September 30th Vs. Port Huron 2:00 PM

Saturday, October 6th Vs. Michigan 2:00 PM

• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...

North American Hockey League Stories from September 18, 2012


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.

Other Recent Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central