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IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Week in Review

April 9, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


In a preview of the postseason, Kalamazoo started the week on Wednesday (4/4) at the Perani Hockey World & Event Center against the Flint Generals. After no scoring in the opening period, Flint jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal from Bogdan Rudenko (25) just 17 seconds into the period. Kalamazoo stormed back with two unanswered goals. Midway through the period, Tyler Kindle (2) pulled the K-Wings even with a 5 on 3 power-play goal. With just under three minutes remaining in the second, Justin Cross (26) captured a 2-1 lead for Kalamazoo with his 26th tally of the season. Early in the third period, Rudenko (26) lit the lamp with a power-play goal to tie the contest at 2-2. The K-Wings closed out the scoring with three answered goals. At the 3:30 mark of the period, Kindle (3) jammed in a deflection to regain a 3-2 lead for Kalamazoo. Seven minutes later, Nick Bootland (39) snuck a slap shot under the cross bar to give the K-Wings a two-goal cushion. With 7:42 remaining in the game, Kory Karlander (44) made K-Wings history, by setting the franchises UHL record for most goals scored in a single-season. Goaltender Tom Askey turned aside 22 shots to up his record to 27-15-2, as the K-Wings defeated the Generals 5-2.

Kalamazoo returned home to Wings Stadium on Friday (4/6) to host the Bloomington PrairieThunder. Held scoreless in the first, both teams found ways to light the lamp in the second. Kalamazoo jumped out to a 1-0 lead 3:47 in to the period with a left circle slap shot from Karlander (45). Bloomington knotted the game at 1-1 six minutes later with a power-play goal from Mike Zbriger (27). Scoring shorthanded, Bootland (40) reclaimed the lead for the K-Wings at the 12:17 mark. Zbriger (28) answered back with 1:28 seconds left in the second stanza, scoring his second goal of the night. Five minutes into the final period, Tyler Rennette (20) furnished the Thunder their first lead of the game with a slap shot from between the circles. Nearly four minutes later, Lucas Drake (15) erased the deficit with a rebound goal. Nither team scored in the final 11:10 of regulation forcing a shootout. In the extra session, Kalamazoo outscored Bloomington 4-3, including the game-winner from Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn, as the K-Wings defeated the Thunder 4-3.

With the Tarry Cup on the line, Kalamazoo hosted the Fort Wayne Komets on Saturday (4/7) at Wings Stadium. A Komets victory would send the Tarry Cup to Fort Wayne for the third time in their franchises history. First period tallies from David Hukalo (17) and Bruce Richardson (15) put the Komets ahead 2-0. Fort Wayne extended their lead when Martin Gascon (20) cashed in on a rebound with 4:14 left in the second. Goaltender Kevin St. Pierre was a wall stopping all 35 shots he faced to earn the 3-0 victory.

Fast Forward

Kalamazoo will begin their bid to become "Repeat Offenders" starting Wednesday (4/11) at Wings Stadium with a 7 p.m. face-off in the Game One of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Flint Generals. Kalamazoo won the season series over Flint with a record of 6-3-0 and sports wins against the Generals in two straight games. Fans coming to the Game One will receive a FREE rally towel courtesy of the United Kennel Club.

On Thursday (4/12), the two teams will remain at Wings Stadium for another 7 p.m. clash in Game Two. The series will head to Flint for Games Three and Four. Flint will host the Game Three on Friday (4/13). After taking a day off, Kalamazoo and Flint will square off in Game Four on Sunday (4/15).

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Kory Karlander (45 Goals)

Assists: Nick Bootland (45 Assists)

Points: Kory Karlander (88 Points)

+/-: Kory Karlander (+20)

Penalty Minutes: Tyler Willis (168 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Kory Karlander (20 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Kory Karlander, Nick Bootland (5 Goals)

Game Winning Goals: Nick Bootland (9 GW)

Shots: Nick Bootland (368 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Kory Karlander (16.1%)

Shootout Goals: Nick Bootland (9 Goals)

Shootout Percentage: Derek Ryan (100%)

Goals Against Average: Ryan Nie (2.02)

Save Percentage: Ryan Nie (0.929)

Setting a League Record

For the first-time in UHL history a team has finished the regular season will a penalty kill over 90 percent. Kalamazoo's 90.2% penalty kill surpassed the previous record of 89.0% held by the 2004-05 Muskegon Fury.

Feels Like the First Time

Forward Kory Karlander finished the season with an amazing 45 goals. Besides leading the K-Wings, Karlander becomes the first-ever K-Wing to lead the UHL in goals scored in an entire season.

Nie Sets Record

Goaltender Ryan Nie finished the regular season leading the league in goals against average at 2.02, save percentage at .929 and shutouts with seven. Nie's GAA of 2.02 also sets a UHL career record for lowest goals against average, minimum 30 games required.

Iron Men

While Kory Karlander was the only member of the Kalamazoo Wings to play in all 76 games this season he wasn't the K-Wing that played in the most league games. Traded during the season from Bloomington, defenseman Ryan Gillis actually led all UHL players in games with 79.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

Being shutout on Saturday versus Fort Wayne marked the first-time in a 100 home games that Kalamazoo has been held scoreless at Wings Stadium. The shutout was also just the second time in the K-Wings last 204 overall games that they were held without scoring a goal.

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.

Karlander and Lawmaster on the Radio

Come see special guests Kory Karlander and Jason Lawmaster, as they join Head Coach Mark Reeds and the Voice of the K-Wings, Mike Modugno on "K-Wings Live". The show is on ESPN 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 ESPN1660). 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, April 11th Vs Flint 7:00 PM (Round One, Game One)

Thursday, April 12th Vs Flint 7:00 PM (Round One, Game Two)

Friday, April 13th @ Flint 7:30 PM (Round One, Game Three)

Sunday, April 15th @ Flint 4:00 PM (Round One, Game Four)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 9, 2007


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