ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Open Preseason with Shootout Win Against Toledo

October 13, 2023 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


TOLEDO, OH - The Kalamazoo Wings (PRESEASON: 1-0-0-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, rode goaltender Hunter Vorva's hot start and gelled together in Toledo (PRESEASON: 0-0-0-1) for a 3-2 road shootout victory to open the 2023-24 preseason.

The two teams' physicality was in midseason form in the first period and they skated to a scoreless tie until Toledo opened the game's scoring at the 5:28 mark of the second.

But strong netminder play by Vorva (26 saves), and a shorthanded tally with just two seconds remaining in the second, allowed Kalamazoo to avenge a 27-12 shot deficit as the K-Wings found their footing in the preseason opener.

On the goal, the Brighton, MI connection of forwards David Keefer (1) and Luke Morgan (1) completed a beautiful 2-on-1 to end the frame with Morgan delivering the game-tying goal.

Then at the 10:19 mark of the third, K-Wings forward Collin Adams (1) delivered the go-ahead power-play goal off the feed from defenseman Derek Daschke (1) to give Kalamazoo its first lead of the game, 2-1.

Unfortunately, Toledo was able to tie the game up at two - on the power play - at the 15:49 mark of the third - despite outstanding play from K-Wings goaltender Trevor Babin (1-0-0-0) who replaced Vorva at the start of the third period.

In OT, both teams registered six shots on goal and Babin made multiple highlight reel saves to send the game to a shootout.

The shootout went five rounds with K-Wings forwards Adams & Drake Pilon notching goals, and Babin (11 saves) slammed the door shut for the Kalamazoo victory.

The K-Wings finished the game 1-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill in the contest. Toledo took the final shot total, 36-24.

Kalamazoo and Toledo run it back in the preseason finale at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday at Wings Event Center.

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