ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

Published on December 28, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Game Rewind

Saturday, December 26th Vs Wheeling (Wheeling 5-Kalamazoo 3)

Kalamazoo, MI- A three-goal first period propelled the Wheeling Nailers over the Kalamazoo Wings 5-3 Saturday night at Wings Stadium.

There was no holiday rust for the Nailers and in particular T.J. Fox (7th), who scored from the slot 53 seconds on the first shot of the game.

Kalamazoo fired back at the 5:30 mark of the period, when Matt Jones (11th) knocked in the equalizer on his own rebound.

Otsego, Michigan native, Kyle Bushee rallied for the Nailers sending a slap shot over Ryan Nie's shoulder for his first goal of the season.

Entering Saturday's contest with only four goals in his three-year career, Bushee (2nd) struck for his second goal of the period two minutes later to extend the Nailers lead to 3-1.

Just as they did the in the opening period, Wheeling would waste no time in the second period, Fox (8th) deflected a power-play blast from Cleve Kinley 1:09 into the second period gave the Nailers their largest lead of the night.

Brining the deficit back to three goals midway into the period, Rick Cleaver snipped a rocket from the right circle. The tally from Cleaver tied him with Andrew Fournier for the team-lead in goals scored with 13 and also extended the forward's point streak to K-Wings' season-high eight games.

Keeping momentum into the third period, Ryan McGinnis (5th) lifted a backhander over Brad Thiessen to bring the K-Wings back to within a single-goal.

However, Kalamazoo's comeback bid came to halt at the 14:13 into the final stanza with a goal from Chris Davis (3rd).

With the loss, the K-Wings relinquish first place in the North Division for the first time this season. Kalamazoo remained tied for second place with the Cincinnati Cyclones for second place, while the Toledo Walleye moved into first place with a 4-3 victory over Cincinnati.

Despite being in second place, the K-Wings, who have three games in hand over the Walleye and have played two fewer games than the Cyclones, have the best winning percentage in the division.

Sunday, December 27th Vs Cincinnati (Cincinnati 3-Kalamazoo 2-Overtime)

Kalamazoo, MI- Overtime continues not to be kind for the Kalamazoo Wings. This time it was Jason Jozsa's extra session game-winner that lifted the Cincinnati Cyclones to a 3-2 win at Wings Stadium and dropped the K-Wings OT mark to 1-4.

After being held scoreless for just the second time in his last five games, the night before, Andrew Fournier found himself back on a scoring ledger. Keeping the puck in the attack zone, Matt Jones found Fournier, who dangled through two Cyclones defenseman to ring up his team-leading 14th goal of the season 2:32 into the contest.

In the waning moments of the opening period, Scott Reynolds (12th) crashed the net and tipped in his own rebound to tie the contest at 1-1.

Regaining the lead in the second period, Rick Cleaver sent a cross rink pass to Darryl Bootland, who was waiting at the Cincinnati blue line. With no one in front of him, Bootland (5th) was able to skate diagonal and rifle a slap shot past Cyclone goaltender Robert Mayer.

The assist from Cleaver extended his K-Wings' season-high point streak to nine games, which is two games shy of the ECHL season-high held by Matt Fornataro of the South Carolina Stingrays (Dec. 5th-present).

With victory at the K-Wings finger tips and an empty-net in the Cyclones zone, Reynolds deflated Kalamazoo's hopes by netting his second of the night with just 23 seconds remaining in regulation.

Finishing the comeback in dramatic fashion, Jozsa (3rd) scored the game-winner on a wrister over the shoulder of Jeremy Duchesne 1:38 into overtime.

Fast Forward

Concluding their season-high eight-game home stand this Thursday, December 31st, the K-Wings will host the Cincinnati Cyclones with a 7:30 p.m. face-off during the 8th Annual New Year's Eve Bash, presented by COOL 101 and WWMT News Channel 3. Kalamazoo is 2-3-1-0 versus Cincinnati. The Cyclones, who have won four straight over the K-Wings, lead Kalamazoo by one point for second place in the North Division.

For the eighth straight season, the K-Wings have teamed up with COOL 101 FM, and WWMT News Channel 3 to present the Bash. Your ticket to the game will give you FREE admission to the party after the game, which includes the COOL 101 FM Rock and Roll Oldies Dance in The Cube, as well as a public skate in Wings Stadium and The Annex. Being a premium night game, tickets for the New Year's Eve Bash will range from $10.90-$15.90 for adults and $7.90 for children under the age of 12. Game tickets purchased on game day will increase by $1.

Starting 2010 on the road, the K-Wings will head to the Lucas County Arena to battle the Toledo Walleye. This will be Kalamazoo's road game since December 5th, when they also battled Toledo.

On the season, the K-Wings are 1-2-2-0 against the Walleye and have a record of 1-0-2-0 at Lucas County Arena.

Finishing the week on Saturday, January 2nd, the K-Wings and Walleye will meet for a second straight night, this time with a 7:30 p.m. encounter at Wings Stadium. With 38 points, Toledo leads Kalamazoo by two points for first place in the North Division. Saturday's contest coincides with the K-Wings 2nd Annual Star Wars Night.

Besides being encouraged to dress as their favorite Stars Wars character, fans will have the opportunity to take pictures with characters from the movie. In total, nearly 15 characters from the Star Wars movies will be represented thanks to the 501st Legion costuming group. Fans will also have the opportunity to participate in a Blaster Range in Hospitality Hall. The interactive exhibits can be done for a $1 donation with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Andrew Fournier (14 Goals)

Assists: Rick Cleaver (21 Assists)

Points: Rick Cleaver (34 Points)

+/-: Mathieu Curadeau (+13)

Penalty Minutes: Bryan Jurynec (76 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Rick Cleaver (6 Goals)

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

Game Winning Goals: Mathieu Curadeau (4 GW)

Shots: Sam Ftorek (84 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Andrew Fournier (23.0%)

Overtime Goals: Mathieu Curadeau (1 Goal)

Shootout Goals: Rick Cleaver and Darryl Lloyd (2 Goals)

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

Goals Against Average: Ryan Nie (2.88)

Save Percentage: Ryan Nie (0.911)

Ringing in the New Year

Kalamazoo will play their final game of a season-high eight-game home stand this Thursday during the 8th Annual New Year's Eve Bash. The K-Wings, who are 3-2-2-0 during their current home stretch, own a record of 3-2-0-2 during the New Year's Eve Bash.

Nearing Double Digits

Kalamazoo's Rick Cleaver enters the week on a K-Wings' season-high nine-game point streak. Cleaver has earned 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) during his current run.

Ending a Streak

Kalamazoo will hit the ice on Thursday looking to snap a three-game winless streak (0-1-2-0). The three-game streak matches their longest winless streak of the season.

Road Warrior

While it has been a while since he has had to, Kalamazoo's Mathieu Curadeau has had no trouble lighting the lamp on the road. Curadeau has scored goals in three straight goal games.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

When the K-Wings travel to Toledo this Friday, it will mark the K-Wings first road game in a span of 27 days. Kalamazoo's last road trip was back on December 5th also at Lucas County Arena to battle the Walleye.

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.

Legault and Simon on the Radio

Join special guests Ben Simon, Olivier Legault and guest co-host Bryan Jurynec as they join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno tonight 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

Thursday, December 31st Vs Cincinnati 7:30 PM (8th Annual New Year's Eve Bash, Presented by Cool 101 and WWMT News Channel 3)

Friday, January 1st @ Toledo 7:00 PM

Saturday, January 2nd Vs Toledo 7:30 PM (Star Wars Night)

Friday, January 3rd Vs Charlotte 7:30 PM (Frugal Fan Friday)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from December 28, 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