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IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

December 8, 2008 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Thursday, December 4th @ Flint (Kalamazoo 7-Flint 4)

Flint, MI - Wanting to set the tone in the opening period, the Kalamazoo Wings did that and much more, scoring on their first two shots of the game and a total of three goals in the first eight minutes of the opening period to defeat the Flint Generals 7-4.

The reigning IHL Pepsi Player of the Month, Mark Nebus took advantage of a Ryan Jorde turnover by splitting the defense and scoring his team-leading 12th goal of the season 1:04 into the contest.

Just 31 seconds later, after winning a right-circle face-off, Tommy Lange (7th) was able to skate in and beat Chad Alban with a wrist shot to extend the K-Wings lead to 2-0.

Kalamazoo pushed their lead to three goals nearly six minutes later, when Blair Manning created a goal by passing the puck to a wide open Anthony Battaglia, who finished off the two-on-one by one-timing a blast past Alban.

Registering their first goal of the night, Flint's Steve Rymsha (9th) scored from between the circles, but the K-Wings responded late in the period with a tally from Rob Jarvis (4th).

Bringing in Bill Zaniboni for a goaltender change for the Generals gave an initial spark that would fizzle out quickly.

After Flint's Josef Fojtik (10th) brought the Generals within two goals early in the second period, Kalamazoo's offense stayed relentless the remainder of the period.

Crashing the net, Lange (8th) poked in a rebound for his second of the night.

Ending a 0 for 19 drought on the power-play, a span of eight periods for Kalamazoo, Rick Cleaver (4th) scored on a 5-on-3 advantage to climb the K-Wings lead to 6-2.

Late in the period, Flint tried to mount a comeback with a power-play marker from Rymsha (10th). However, the K-Wings added a second power-play goal from Cleaver (5th) to reclaim a four-goal cushion.

Kyle Deck (9th) scored the lone goal in the third period for the Generals, but it wasn't nearly enough for Flint.

Saturday, December 6th @ Muskegon (Kalamazoo 1-Muskegon 4)

Muskegon, MI - A three-goal Muskegon Lumberjacks second period proved to be the difference as the Kalamazoo Wings were chopped down 4-1 Saturday night at L.C. Walker Arena. The K-Wings were betrayed by their power play unit, going 0-for-7 in the game.

The K-Wings were given a great chance to open the scoring in a penalty-filled first frame when Muskegon's Steven Later took a major penalty for head butting Kalamazoo's Tyler Willis while the two were squaring off in a fight at 13:24. Despite this good break, the K-Wings could not push a puck behind Lumberjacks goalie Isaac Reichmuth during the ensuing extended power play. The first period expired with Kalamazoo outshooting Muskegon 10-9 but without any goals for the effort.

Kalamazoo again came up empty on a golden power play opportunity early in the second stanza; this time it was a nearly two-minute two-man advantage that Muskegon was able to kill off to keep the contest scoreless.

Finally, at 12:10, Lumberjacks sniper Luke Stauffacher (15th) took a pass from Todd Robinson low in the slot and cracked the first goal of the game past Jason Tapp on a rebound off his initial shot. A little over four minutes later, Muskegon's Matt Gens (3rd) slammed home a one-timer from the left edge of the crease off a smooth setup from a wide open Robinson between the circles.

Then, with Willis in the box for hooking late in the second, the 'Jacks Darryl McArthur tossed a wrist shot from the left point that Henry Kuster (10th) deftly deflected into the goal. It was Kuster's team-leading fourth power play marker of the season. Muskegon finished 40 minutes of play with a 23-16 advantage in shots on goal.

Kalamazoo's Tommy Lange (9th) made things interesting at 3:58 of the third by banging in the rebound of a Rod Aldoff slap shot, but despite pressing the issue further in the first ten minutes of the frame, the K-Wings would get no closer.

Billy Collins (5th) effectively removed what drama remained by snapping home a drive on right wing at 11:11 for a 4-1 'Jacks lead.

Stauffacher, Robinson and Gens each picked up two points on the evening to pace the Lumberjacks, who went 1-for-3 with the man advantage.

Fast Forward

After concluding their five-game road swing, the K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium this Friday, December 12th with a 7:30 p.m. encounter versus the Flint Generals. Friday will be the first of four home games in December for the K-Wings and their first home game in the past 18 days. Kalamazoo is 3-0-0-0 versus Flint this season. The Generals enter the contest on a two-game winning streak.

Kalamazoo will return to the road on Saturday, December 13th for a 7 p.m. (CDT) face-off against the Bloomington PrairieThunder. Winless in three straight, the Thunder are in sixth place in the IHL. On the season, the K-Wings are 2-2-0-0 versus the Thunder and 1-2-0-0 at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Mark Nebus (12 Goals)

Assists: Glenn Detulleo (17 Assists)

Points: Glenn Detulleo (24 Points)

+/-: Mark Nebus (+15)

Penalty Minutes: Jordan Little (44 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Mark Nebus (3 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Anthony Battaglia, Lucas Drake (1 Goal)

Game Winning Goals: Glenn Detulleo, Lucas Drake, Mark Nebus (2 GW)

Shots: Tommy Lange (76 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Lucas Drake (20.4%)

Overtime Goals: Lucas Drake, Mark Nebus (1 Goal)

Shootout Goals: Entire Team (0 Goals)

Shootout Percentage: Entire Team (0.0%)

Goals Against Average: Joel Martin (2.34)

Save Percentage: Joel Martin (0.931)

Nearing 400

Forward Tyler Willis is closing in on a personal milestone. Willis needs three more points to eclipse 700 points for his career.

Hitting the Century Mark

Forward Mark Nebus is nearing a personal milestone. Nebus is two games shy of 100 in his career.

Home Sweet Home

After 18 days away from Wings Stadium, the Kalamazoo Wings will return home on December 12th to battle the Flint Generals. The K-Wings enter the contest looking to extend a season-high four-game home winning streak.

All Boxed in Defenseman Jordan Little spent his fair share of time last week in the penalty box. Little, who leads the K-Wings with 44 PIMS, earned 26 minutes in penalties over his past two games.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

Continuing to show a strong crop of rookie talent, Kalamazoo's Tommy Lange earned this week's IHL Aquafina Rookie of the Week. Lange, who has won the honor twice, is the third straight K-Wing to skate away with the award, and it marks the fourth time in eight weeks a K-Wings rookie has been recognized by the league.

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 IHL 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, information about Wings Stadium events, and much, much more.

Battaglia and Nebus on the Radio

Join special guests Anthony Battaglia and Mark Nebus as they join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno on "K-Wings Live". The show is on The Classic Hits Station WLKM (95.9 FM) and online through the B-2 Networks through www.kwings.com from 7-8 p.m. at Old Burdick's Bar and Grill 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 (95.9 FM WLKM & B-2 Networks on kwings.com). Join the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno for all 76 regular season games plus the playoffs. Pre-game coverage begins with the Kalsee Credit Union 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

Friday, December 12th Vs Flint 7:30 PM

Saturday, December 13th @ Bloomington 7:00 PM (CDT)

Tuesday, December 16th @ Port Huron 7:30 PM

Friday, December 19th Vs Flint 7:30 PM

Saturday, December 20th Vs Bloomington 7:30 PM (Teddy Bear Toss/ Visit from Santa Sponsored by Hydro Aluminum and WKFR)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics



International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 8, 2008


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