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IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Week in Review

March 5, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


For the second straight week, the Kalamazoo Wings began the week at Wings Stadium with a Wednesday (2/28) Education Day Game, this time versus the Chicago Hounds. It was a tale of two games for the K-Wings. For the first period and a half, Chicago dictated play, scoring three goals which opted Head Coach Mark Reeds to pull starting goaltender Tom Askey for Ryan Nie. Kalamazoo recorded their goal of the contest 10:36 into the second period with a power-play tally from Kory Karlander (32), which ignited the crowd of 4,836, mainly kids from 10 southwest Michigan school districts to their feet. Three minutes later, a Chicago turnover proved costly for the Hounds. Stepping out of the penalty box, Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn found an astray Chicago pass and skated it down the ice for his 9th goal of the year. Down 3-2, the K-Wings pulled even with the Hounds, when Nick Bootland (33) deflected a Casey Handrahan shot just 53 seconds into the third period. The game remained tied, forcing a shootout. Before the extra session occurred, the K-Wings would make a move that would pay dividends. For the second time in the game, Reeds made a goaltending change, this time putting Askey back between the pipes. Askey was stellar in the shootout stopping four of five shooters he faced. With the score tied at 1-1 in the shootout, Versteeg-Lytwyn connected on his shootout shot to propel the K-Wings 2-1 in the extra session and completed the K-Wings 4-3 comeback victory over the Hounds.

Kalamazoo remained on home ice on Friday (3/2) to battle the Muskegon Fury for the first of four straight games against their rivals. Forward Paul Caponigri (9) made a good first impression to his new team, skating free in the slot and scoring off a Ryan Gillis pass from the right circle 17:30 into the opening period. Muskegon knotted the contest at 1-1 4:17 into the second stanza with a backhand tally from Billy Collins (11). A defensive battle morphed into an offensive outburst midway through the final 20 minutes as Muskegon's Mike Watt (33) fired a blast from the left circle to give the Fury a 2-1 lead. Countering 19 seconds later, Kalamazoo's Alexander Valentin maneuvered into the slot and beat Clayton Pool to tie the game at 2-2. The K-Wings took the lead for good 52 seconds later when Portage, Michigan native Tyler Kindle (1), playing in his first game as a K-Wing, sent a blast from the left point over the glove hand of Pool to lift Kalamazoo to a 3-2 victory over Muskegon. The K-Wings held the Fury to a season low 16 shots, while Kalamazoo's Ryan Nie earned the victory stopping 14 shots.

The K-Wings concluded a three-game homestand on Saturday (3/3) with their second of four straight contests against the Fury. After a scoreless opening first period, both Nie and Pool continued to make breath taking saves into the second period. Muskegon was the first to find a way to penetrate the net, as Kevin Cooper (1) scored on a one-timer from inside the left circle 6:39 into the second. Kalamazoo received the equalizer 10 minutes later in front of the crease from Jesse Rycroft (7). Less than five minutes into the third, the Fury recaptured the lead with Cooper's second of the night. With less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Karlander (33) pulled the K-Wings even at 2-2, scoring on the power-play. For the third time in their last four contests, Kalamazoo would head into a shootout. Outscoring the Fury 2-1 in the extra session, the K-Wings completed the comeback and defeated Muskegon 3-2 in front of a crowd of 4,438.

For the third straight night, the K-Wings laced up skates against the Fury on Sunday (3/4), this time at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon. An early penalty to Muskegon proved costly for the Fury, as Bootland (34) knocked in a rebound from the slot 3:06 into the opening period, giving the K-Wings a 1-0 lead. A penalty against Kalamazoo lead to Muskegon first goal of the game. After the K-Wings were whistled for too many men on the ice and Muskegon's Philippe Plante (16) deflected a Todd Robinson pass past Askey. For the third straight night, both teams entered the final 20 minutes of play deadlocked at 1-1 on the scoreboard. Unlike the previous two games, Muskegon prevailed, scoring three unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes, including the eventual game-winner from Justin Coutu (7).

Fast Forward

Kalamazoo hits the ice three times this week beginning on Wednesday (3/7) at 7:00 p.m., as the K-Wings host the Muskegon Fury. The K-Wings are 4-5-1 against the Fury this season. Wednesday will be the final regular season appearance for Muskegon at Wings Stadium. Muskegon leads Kalamazoo by 11 points for first place in the Eastern Conference. The contest will also commence a three-game homestand for the K-Wings.

On Friday (3/9), Kalamazoo will host the Bloomington PraireThunder at 7:30 p.m. on Pepsi Night presented by WIN 98.5 FM. The K-Wings are 3-0-0 against the inaugural Thunder. Bloomington starts the week battling for their playoff lives, as they are 11 points behind Elmira for the eighth and final playoff.

The K-Wings will conclude the week on Saturday (3/10) at 7:30 p.m. against the Rockford IceHogs on List Your Home with Doug Reeves of Re-Max Advantage Night. Kalamazoo is 1-2-1 against the IceHogs this year. Rockford currently leads the Western Conference by two points over Fort Wayne and holds a four-point lead over Kalamazoo for second place overall in the UHL.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Nick Bootland (34Goals)

Assists: Brent Cullaton (39 Assists)

Points: Nick Bootland (69 Points)

+/-: Kory Karlander (+13)

Penalty Minutes: Tyler Willis (1140 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Kory Karlander (17 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Kory Karlander (5 Goals)

Game Winning Goals: Nick Bootland (7 GW)

Shots: Nick Bootland (298 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Kory Karlander (14.7%)

Shootout Goals: Nick Bootland (6 Goals)

Shootout Percentage: Tyler Kindle (100%)

Goals Against Average: Ryan Nie (2.19)

Save Percentage: Ryan Nie (0.925)

Nearing a Dozen

Forward Nick Bootland is currently on an 11-game point streak. Bootland's 11-game point streak is ties Kory Karlander for the K-Wings' season high.

Home Cooking

Kalamazoo will commence a three-game homestand this Wednesday versus Muskegon. The

K-Wings will enter the game looking to extend their four-game home winning streak.

Finishing Strong

Kalamazoo has outscored their opponents 86-57 in third periods this season. Both the 86 goals and the +29 scoring ratio makes the third the K-Wings top offensive period.

Nearing 200

Two K-Wing players are nearing the 200-assist plateau for their career. Bootland is three assists shy of the milestone, while forward Brent Cullaton needs four helpers to reach 200.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

This season, Kalamazoo is 3-5-1 on Wednesday games. All-time, the K-Wings are 46-31-13 in contests held on the fourth day of the week.

Tickets, Get Your Tickets!!

Tickets for all K-Wings home games are now on sale. Catch all the action as your K-Wings play the very best the UHL has to offer. Tickets are on sale now by calling the Wings Stadium Ticket Office at (269) 345-5101.

Get On-Line

This season, the best way to keep track of the K-Wings is to log onto www.kwings.com. The site has player profiles, photos, information about Wings Stadium events, and much, much more. Fans of myspace can befriend the official site of Wings Stadium and the Kalamazoo Wings at www.myspace.com/wingsstadium.

Caponigri and Kindle on the Radio

Come see special guests Paul Caponigri and Tyler Kindle, as they join Head Coach Mark Reeds and the Voice of the K-Wings, Mike Modugno on "K-Wings Live". The show is on Sports Radio AM 1660 Mondays from 6-7 PM at The Cabana Bar and Grille inside the Holiday Inn Kalamazoo on South 11th Street.

K-Wings on Radio

Catch all the K-Wings games home and away on the K-Wings Radio Network (WLKM 95.9 FM and Sports Radio AM 1660). Join the Voice of the K-Wings, Mike Modugno for all 76 regular season games plus the playoffs. Pre-game coverage begins with the Digital Highway Pre-Game Show 15 minutes prior to face-off. For the most complete coverage of the K-Wings from the Opening Face-Off to the Final Buzzer, keep your radio tuned this season to the K-Wings Radio Network.

Upcoming Games

Wednesday, March 7th Vs Muskegon 7:00 PM (Merchant Night)

Friday, March 9th Vs Bloomington 7:30 PM (Pepsi Night Presented by WIN 98.5 FM)

Saturday, March 10th Vs Rockford 7:30 PM (List Your Home with Doug Reeves of Re-Max Advantage Night)

Thursday, March 15th @ Bloomington 7:00 PM (CST)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 5, 2007


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