Sports stats



IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

March 2, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Game Rewind

Wednesday, February 25th Vs Port Huron (Port Huron 3-Kalamazoo 2)

Kalamazoo, MI - Whether it was a few extra cups of coffee or a big breakfast, the Port Huron Icehawks mastered the morning on their way to a 3-2 Education Day victory over the Kalamazoo Wings Wednesday.

Derek Patrosso (14th) buried the deciding goal on the power play at 11:00 of the third period to push the Icehawks to victory. Patrosso, who had two goals on the day and was named the No. 1 star, lifted the rebound of a Daniel Tetrault point shot into the upper half of the net.

The rare 10:30 a.m. start had no adverse effect on the first-place Icehawks, who withstood a two-goal, third-period burst from the K-Wings and remained undefeated in 25 games in which they hold a lead after 40 minutes.

Lucas Drake spearheaded the K-Wings' comeback from a 2-0 hole by setting up Rick Cleaver (20th at :51) on the man-advantage and netting a shorthanded goal (22nd at 8:04) off a Glenn Detulleo setup. Anthony Battaglia earned an assist on the Cleaver goal to keep his point-scoring streak, now at seven games, alive.

Despite tremendous vocal support from the youthful Education Day crowd of 5,004 and two first-period power plays, the K-Wings had to deal with a deficit after 20 minutes. Port Huron's Nick Lindberg (22nd) received a long lead pass from defenseman Jamie Carroll and hammered a left-wing slapshot past Kalamazoo goalie Joel Martin for a 1-0 Icehawks lead at 17:17.

With Port Huron carrying a 23-0-1-0 record when leading after two periods, the onus was on Kalamazoo to at least forge a tie before the middle frame expired. Unfortunately for the K-Wings, the IHL's first-place team continued to play steadily and increased the margin to 2-0 by the second intermission.

The Icehawks struck for their second even-strength goal at 3:50 of the second, as Patrosso (13th) directed one in from Martin's doorstep. Lindberg played a key role in the goal, taking a hard check behind the K-Wings net before spinning a pass to a posted-up Patrosso. Jamie Lovell earned the second assist, the second Port Huron blueliner to get on the board.

Later in the period, with Port Huron on the power play, Martin made the save of the game on former longtime NHLer Bryan Smolinski. The 16-year veteran, who played six games in the IHL in the 1996-97 season for the Detroit Vipers, was turned away from point-blank range by Martin's outstretched right pad.

Tyler Willis, five-time WLKM Most Popular Player and alternate captain, returned to the K-Wings lineup after 30 games on the injured reserve. He recorded seven penalty minutes in his first action since December 16th.

Friday, February 27th Vs Muskegon (Kalamazoo 4-Muskegon 3)

Kalamazoo, MI - The best player on the ice doesn't always make the game-deciding play, but justice was served Friday night at Wings Stadium as Justin Cross (5th) buried the go-ahead goal late in the third period, his second of the game, to boost the Kalamazoo Wings over the Muskegon Lumberjacks 4-3.

Muskegon had taken its first lead early in the final frame courtesy of Chad Costello (14th) only to watch Kalamazoo charge back on a Glenn Detulleo deflection at 9:21 to make it 3-3. Cross then stepped out from the left wall and beat goalie Clayton Pool through the legs for the game winner at 15:53.

The comeback victory cut down the Lumberjacks' six-game overall winning streak and an eight-game road unbeaten streak, a run that included two wins at the K-Wings' expense. Kalamazoo, a winner at home for the first time in four, now moves to within five points of second-place Muskegon and within seven of the IHL's top team, Port Huron.

With two assists, Lucas Drake ran his point streak to six straight contests, one ahead of Detulleo's current five-game run. Mark Nebus also enjoyed a solid night, picking up primary helpers on both Cross tallies.

Entering the game, the K-Wings were 20-2-0-0 when scoring first, so punching one in early figured to go a long way toward ending their season-high three-game winless streak (0-2-1-0) on Wings Stadium ice. They would do just that, as Nebus threaded a saucer pass from the right circle onto the tape of Cross (4th) for a 1-0 lead at 2:22.

The Lumberjacks, who had nine wins on the season when the opponent jumps on top first, were undeterred and struck for the equalizer 90 seconds later. Billy Collins (15th) one-timed a Costello feed past the blocker hand of Jason Tapp to draw even.

Playing one of their best opening periods in recent memory, the K-Wings continued to push the pace and were rewarded at 8:58, when Rick Cleaver (21st) pounced on a loose puck in the crease. The play was set up by John Glavota's point shot, which caromed off Drake and eluded Pool.

The Lumberjacks possess the most potent power play in the IHL, and they put it to use midway through the second period to knot the game once more. Robin Bouchard (28th) nailed his 11th man-advantage goal in 25 games when he tossed a 30-foot wrister over Tapp's right pad. League-leading scorer Todd Robinson earned the primary assist, giving him 71 helpers on the season.

Saturday, February 28th Vs Fort Wayne (Fort Wayne-3-Kalamazoo 2)

Kalamazoo, MI - After showing the Fort Wayne Komets their best game in the first period, the Kalamazoo Wings were overwhelmed by the visitors the rest of the way, dropping a 3-2 decision at Wings Stadium Saturday night.

Mathieu Curadeau capped the Komets' three-goal third-period rally with a power play tally, his 23rd of the season, at 15:31. The game-winner was part of a three-point evening for the second-year Komet, who also assisted on goals by P.C. Drouin (27th) and David Hukalo (16th) earlier in the frame.

Anthony Battaglia (16th) and Tyler Willis (7th) lit the lamp for the K-Wings, who moved into fourth place with the loss. Glenn Detulleo picked up an assist, extending his point-scoring streak to a team current-high of six games.

Kalamazoo had netted the only two goals of the game entering the third, but Drouin's power-play slapper from the left side broke the ice for Fort Wayne at 4:44. Hukalo popped in a rebound to tie the score at 7:58.

One night after the Komets went 1-for-12 with the extra man, they converted both opportunities in the final stanza to disappoint the lively crowd of 4,476. With the win, Fort Wayne moved two points ahead of Kalamazoo for third place in the six-team IHL.

Fresh off ending their three-game home winless streak Friday against rival Muskegon, the K-Wings were shot out of a cannon for the first period. The home side carried the play for more than 12 minutes with only a huge advantage in shots on goal to show for it, but that would soon change with the Komets' Jay Holladay in the box for hooking.

Battaglia, who had his seven-game point streak snapped the night before, started a new one by whipping a wrister just inside the left post for his fourth power-play marker on the season. Mark Nebus and Detulleo assisted on the four-on-three goal at 12:48.

Almost five minutes later, Willis, in his third game back since his extended stint on the injured reserve, drilled his first goal since December 13th past Komets' netminder Nick Boucher for a 2-0 K-Wings lead. Blair Manning earned the primary assist, the 800th point of his professional career.

Kalamazoo outshot Fort Wayne 16-3 in the opening period, matching a season-low in output for the visitors.

The Komets are the IHL's most dominant second-period squad, outscoring opponents 75-46. On this night, though, the Komets fired nothing but blanks in the middle frame, launching a season-best 23 attempts at the Jason Tapp, all of which were turned aside by the K-Wings' goaltender.

While Tapp did most of the work in the second, both teams contributed a good deal of sweat to fruitless power play time. Each side wasted three chances with the extra man, keeping the score at 2-0 heading for the final period.

Sunday, March 1st @ Muskegon (Muskegon 5-Kalamazoo 3)

Muskegon, MI - With both teams trying to move up in the standings, it was the Muskegon Lumberjacks that accomplished their goal, defeating the Kalamazoo Wings 5-3 and in the process moving into a first place tie in the International Hockey League standings with the Port Huron Icehawks.

Timely bounces helped the Lumberjacks in the opening period. A deflected pass from Shea Hamilton to Ryan Jorde two and a half minutes into the period led to a two-on-one for Muskegon. Jorde finished the odd-man rush by delivering a perfect pass to Todd Robinson, who flung the puck past goaltender Joel Martin for his 23rd goal and league-leading 95th overall point of the season.

Midway in the period, an innocent neutral zone dump-in by Martin Ondrej seemed to tie the game at 1-1. Muskegon's Clayton Pool tried to cover up the puck in front of his goal, but fell into his own net; however the referee's whistle sounded before the puck crossed the goal line, which negated the goal.

Later in the period, Billy Collins sent a pass off the glass along the right side wall that ricocheted straight to the K-Wings net. Muskegon's Luke Stauffacher (27th) swatted the puck up into the air and off the cross bar and back into the air. Receiving a favorable bounce, the puck hit the ice and landed over the goal line to extend Muskegon's lead to 2-0.

Regrouping in the second stanza, Kalamazoo exploded for two unanswered. Rick Cleaver registered the K-Wings' first tally of the night on the power-play 35 seconds into the period. The goal was Cleaver's IHL rookie-leading 22nd of the season.

Fighting back to even, Blair Manning sent a saucer pass right to the blade of Justin Cross (6th), who used a deke on his breakaway opportunity to freeze Pool and score on a backhander.

With the momentum with Kalamazoo, Muskegon quickly swung the pendulum back to their side. John DiPace regained the lead for the 'Jacks scoring his 29th goal of the season 12 seconds after Cross tied the contest. DiPace's tally tied him with Robin Bouchard for the Lumberjacks' team-lead in goals.

Pushing their lead to two goals, Stauffacher (28th) recorded his second tally of the night on a power-play blast to give Muskegon a 4-2 advantage.

Looking to come back from a two-goal deficit for the second time in the contest, Blair Stayzer (3rd) scored on a backhander in the third period to bring the K-Wings back to within a goal.

However, Stauffacher (29th) wrapped up the scoring in the contest earning a hat trick with an empty-net marker with 35 seconds remaining in the game to secure the victory.

Fast Forward

For the second straight week, the K-Wings will begin four games in five days with an Education Day encounter at Wings Stadium this Wednesday, March 4th at 10:30 a.m. versus the Port Huron Icehawks. This is the second of two Education Day games against Port Huron, with the Icehawks winning last Wednesday 3-2. The K-Wings have a 5-5-0-0 record against the Icehawks, who are tied with the Muskegon Lumberjacks for first place in the league. The teams will also conclude the week against one another this Sunday, March 8th with a 5 p.m. contest at McMorran Place Arena.

Kalamazoo will continue their three-game home stand on Friday, March 6th, with a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Flint Generals. On the season, the K-Wings are 10-1-0-0 versus the Generals, who are winless in their last two games and are in sixth place.

Kalamazoo will wrap up the home stand on Saturday, March 7th with a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Fort Wayne Komets on Nulty/Grange Insurance Night. The K-Wings are 8-4-1-0 against their arch-rivals; however, the Komets have skated away with victories in the past two meetings at Wings Stadium. Kalamazoo starts the week two points behind Fort Wayne for third.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Mark Nebus (24 Goals)

Assists: Glenn Detulleo (43 Assists)

Points: Glenn Detulleo (64 Points)

+/-: Lucas Drake, Mark Nebus (+16)

Penalty Minutes: Bryan Jurynec (108 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Rick Cleaver, Mark Nebus (6 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Anthony Battaglia, Glenn Detulleo, Lucas Drake (2 Goals)

Game Winning Goals: Glenn Detulleo (5 GW)

Shots: Rick Cleaver (185 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Tyler Willis (17.5%)

Overtime Goals: Lucas Drake (2 Goals)

Shootout Goals: Anthony Battaglia (4 Goals)

Shootout Percentage: Justin Cross (100%)

Goals Against Average: Joel Martin (2.82)

Save Percentage: Joel Martin (0.916)

Detulleo Nears 400

Forward Glenn Detulleo is closing in on a personal milestone. Detulleo needs three points to reach 400 in his career.

Back at Home

This Wednesday will start a three-game home stand for the K-Wings. Kalamazoo will play 11 of their final 20 games at Wings Stadium.

Cross Roads

Last week, forward Justin Cross had his most productive week of the season. Cross chimed in with four points (3 goals, 1 assist) in four games last week.

The 700 Club

Forward Tyler Willis will reach a milestone this week. Willis enters the week just two games shy of 700 in his career.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

Leading 2-0 after two periods last Friday, Kalamazoo gave up three unanswered goals to Fort Wayne to lose to the Komets. The loss marks just the second time this season (21-2-0-0) that the K-Wings have lost a game when leading after two periods; with the first occurring opening night to Bloomington.

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 Jarvis on the Radio

Join special guests Anthony Battaglia and Rob Jarvis 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

Wednesday, March 4th Vs Port Huron 10:30 AM (Education Day)

Friday, March 6th Vs Flint 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 7th Vs Fort Wayne 7:30 PM (Nulty/Grange Insurance Night)

Sunday, March 8th @ Port Huron 5:00 PM

Wednesday, March 11th @ Bloomington 7:05 PM (CDT)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics



International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 2, 2009


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.

OurSports Central