ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

December 7, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Game Rewind

Wednesday, December 2nd @ Cincinnati (Cincinnati 2-Kalamazoo1)

Cincinnati, OH- Setting the tone early, the Cincinnati Cyclones registered two goals in the first six minutes of the contest and never looked back, as they defeated the Kalamazoo Wings 2-1.

Mike McLean (6th) slap shot from the left circle broke the grid-lock giving the Cincinnati the lead 4:32 into the contest. Less than two minutes later, Brett Robinson extended the Cyclones lead to 2-0 with his own left-circle slapper.

Cincinnati kept their two-goal lead until the third period, when Travis Granbois (2nd) blue line blast beat Robert Mayer to cut the Cyclones lead in half. Despite a relentless effort in the period, where the K-Wings out-shot the Cyclones 13-4, Kalamazoo comeback bid would come up short.

Friday, December 4th @ Toledo (Toledo 5-Kalamazoo 4-Overtime)

Toledo, OH- Two visits this season to the Lucas County Arena for the Kalamazoo Wings and in both trips they suffered similar results, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Toledo Walleye.

The Walleye started the scoring 8:22 into the contest with a rebound marker from Mike Hedden (6th).

Kalamazoo tied the game later in the period with a power-play goal from Rick Cleaver, which snapped a 0-for-18 streak man-advantage streak for the K-Wings. The lamp-lighter from Cleaver was his team-leading fifth on the power-play and 10th overall.

Off of a face-off win, Justin Suda's (1st) left-point slap shot regained a one-goal lead for Toledo late in the first period.

An odd-man rush in the second period was the opening the K-Wings needed to knot the game at 2-2. Sal Peralta recorded the equalizer, his fourth of the season, scoring on a slap shot from between the circles.

Breaking the tie late in the period Toledo jumped back ahead with a power-play strike from Adam Hobson (6th).

Trailing by a goal in the third period, Kalamazoo pounced on Toledo receiving goals from Matt Jones (4th) and Brian McGuirk (4th) eight seconds a part to take a 4-3 lead.

Toledo evened up the game midway in the stanza, when Jonathan Carlsson (2nd) controlled the puck off the face-off and beat Jeremy Duchesne glove side high with a slap shot.

Despite controlling much of the third period and overtime, Kalamazoo's fate would be sealed 2:19 into overtime, when Toledo's J.C. Sawyer (8th) netted the game-winner.

-MORE-

Saturday, December 5th (Kalamazoo 7-Toledo 3)

Toledo, OH- Tying an ECHL season-high for goals in a game with four, Matt Jones finished the game with five points to guide the Kalamazoo Wings to an impressive 7-3 victory over the Toledo Walleye.

Buzzing around the rink, the first period belonged to the K-Wings and more precisely Jones and Sal Peralta. Jones (5th, 6th) registered both of Kalamazoo's goals, including a power-play strike. Peralta, who entered the game with five points in his last four games, added assists on both goals.

Kalamazoo out-shot Toledo 16-12 in the opening stanza and were 1-for-2 on the power-play, while the Walleye were 0-for-1 with a man-advantage.

The Walleye erased the K-Wings two-goal advantage netting goals from Justin Hodgman (5th) and J.C. Sawyer (9th) 29 seconds a part.

Making history, Jones (7th) regained the lead becoming the first K-Wings player to net a hat trick.

The pendulum swung back to Toledo midway in the period, when Maxium Tanguay (7th) recorded the equalizer 11:27 into the period on a back-handed rebound.

Just 12 seconds later the Walleye tied the game, Kalamazoo forged ahead with Jones' (8th) fourth of the contest.

In the late stages of the second period, Andrew Fournier (8th) gave the K-Wings some insurance lighting the lamp on rebound.

Combining for 76 minutes in penalties in the third period, when Kalamazoo wasn't committing infractions, they were scoring on the power-play. The K-Wings added man-advantage goals from Jeff Mason (4th) and Rick Cleaver (11th) to secure the victory.

Setting a season-high for shots on net, Kalamazoo out-shot Toledo 49-38.

Fast Forward

Home for the holidays, Kalamazoo will begin a season-high eight-game home stand this Wednesday, December 9th with a 7 p.m. face-off versus the Reading Royals. The K-Wings are 3-0-0-0 against the Royals, who start the week with a five-point lead over the Elmira Jackals for first-place in the East Division.

Last month, the K-Wings were named the Best Sports Team in Southwest Michigan in online vote by the Kalamazoo Gazette. As a way to thank the southwest Michigan community, the K-Wings organization will make all ticket prices for the game on Wednesday, December 9th versus the Reading Royals $3, the same price tickets were during the 1974-75 season.

On Friday, December 11th, the Toledo Walleye will visit Wings Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. face-off on B-93 Night featuring CMT's "Can You Duet" Season Two winners, Steel Magnolia. Kalamazoo is 1-1-2-0 against the Walleye, who are tied for third-place in the North Division. Steel Magnolia will perform the National Anthem, as sing songs from their upcoming CD during the first period intermission. Fans can meet and get autographs from the band in the second period intermission. Friday's game is also a Frugal Fan Friday, which feature's $1 hot dogs and $1 beers.

The K-Wings will finish the week on Saturday, December 12th with a 7:30 p.m. encounter versus the Wheeling Nailers during the 10th Annual Teddy Bear Toss Night presented by the WKFR. Saturday will be the first visit to Wings Stadium for the Nailers, who are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. On the season, the K-Wings are 1-0-0-0 against Wheeling, who are tied for third place in the North.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Rick Cleaver (11 Goals)

Assists: Rick Cleaver (12 Assists)

Points: Rick Cleaver (23 Points)

+/-: Devin Featherstone (+12)

Penalty Minutes: Bryan Jurynec (50 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Rick Cleaver (6 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Trent Daavettila, Andrew Fournier, Sam Ftorek (1 Goal)

Game Winning Goals: Mathieu Curadeau (3 GW)

Shots: Rick Cleaver (69 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Matt Jones (25.8%)

Overtime Goals: Mathieu Curadeau (1 Goal)

Shootout Goals: Five Players (1 Goal)

Shootout Percentage: Mathieu Curadeau, Matt Jones, Brian McGuirk (100%)

Goals Against Average: Ryan Nie (2.66)

Save Percentage: Ryan Nie (0.918)

Home for the Holidays

Kalamazoo will begin a season-high eight-game home stand this Wednesday. On the K-Wings the K-Wings are 6-3-0-0

Keeping Up with the Jones

Last Saturday, was a historic night forward Matt Jones. Highlighting a season-high five-point outing, Jones netted four goals to become the first K-Wings player to record an ECHL hat trick.

Good Things Come in Three's

Forward Sal Peralta and defenseman Devin Featherstone are each riding a three-game point streak. Peralta has earned points in four out of his last five games, while Featherstone also leads the K-Wings in plus/minus with a +12.

Good After Two

Kalamazoo has been stellar when leading after 40 minutes of play. On the season, the K-Wings are a perfect 9-0-0-0 when holding a lead entering the third period.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

This Saturday, Kalamazoo will face-off against the Wheeling Nailers during the 10th Annual Teddy Bear Toss game, presented WKFR. The K-Wings are 8-1-0-0 at home during the stuffed animal classic and 12-3-0-0 all-time in Teddy Bear Toss contests.

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 ECHL 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.

Fournier and Jones on the Radio

Join special guests Andrew Fournier and Matt Jones tonight 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 72 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, December 9th Vs Reading 7:00 PM ($3 Ticket Night)

Friday, December 11th Vs Toledo 7:30 PM (B-93 Night, Featuring Steel Magnolia/Frugal Fan Friday)

Saturday, December 12th Vs Wheeling 7:30 PM (10th Annual Teddy Bear Toss Game, Presented by WKFR)

Friday, December 18th Vs Gwinnett 7:30 PM (Frugal Fan Friday, $1 Beer, $1 Hot Dogs)

Saturday, December 19th Vs Gwinnett 7:30 PM (Santa Claus Visits/Air National Guard Night)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 7, 2009


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