ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

January 22, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Wednesday, January 13th @ Cincinnati (Cincinnati 3-Kalamazoo 1)

Cincinnati, OH- Defending home ice, the Cincinnati Cyclones scored three answered to defeat the Kalamazoo Wings 3-1 and in the process reclaim first place in the North Division.

After Cincinnati's Hans Benson received a double-minor for holding the stick and unsportsmanlike conduct, Kalamazoo pounced on the opportunity scoring 23 seconds into the extended power-play with a left-point blast from Sam Ftorek (7th), which proved to be the lone goal in the opening period.

The Cyclones earned the equalizer midway in the second period connecting with a power-play marker of their own. Jimmy Kilpatrick (1st) pulled Cincinnati even after deflecting a Barrett Ehgoetz shot.

Cincinnati out-shot Kalamazoo 11-4 in the second period. Going 1-for-5 in the second, the Cyclones generated a majority of their scoring chances on the power-play.

Chris Morehouse (2nd) gained Cincinnati's first lead of the night redirecting an Ehgoetz slap shot 11:14 into the third period.

Receiving some breathing room late in the period, Ian McKenzie earned his first goal of the season to give the Cyclones a two-goal advantage.

Friday, January 15th @ South Carolina (South Carolina 3-Kalamazoo 0)

North Charleston, SC- The Kalamazoo Wings learned an important lesson on Friday night. If you give the defending Kelly Cup champion, South Carolina Stingrays, opportunities they will hurt you. The K-Wings allowed a power-play tally and then a blue-line turnover also proved costly in a 3-0 loss to the Stingrays.

A physical and open period of hockey was highlighted by two brilliant saves from Kalamazoo's Jeremy Duchesne. Midway in the period, Nikita Kashirsky cross-rink pass to Trevor Bruess on a two-on-one appeared to be a headed for a certain goal until Duchesne came up with a post-to-post save to keep the contest scoreless.

In the waning moments of the first period, Duchesne kept up his heroics denying a breakaway chance from Gregg Johnson.

Goaltending dominance continued to be brought to the forefront in the second period. The K-Wings penalty-kill helped Duchesne eliminate all of South Carolina's chances on a five-minute power-play that was created on a check from Darryl Lloyd, who earned five minute for charging and a game-misconduct.

After killing off the extended man-advantage, Kalamazoo received a power-play of their own; however, the best scoring opportunity was generated by Bruess. The forward was tripped on a breakaway, which led to a penalty shot.

Facing their first penalty shot of the season; Duchesne stacked the pads and turned aside Bruess' shot to keep the eggshells on the scoreboard.

A power-play late in the second stanza from South Carolina finally led to the first goal of the night. Darren Reid (1st), who was recently reassigned to the Stingrays from the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears, deflected a Zach Tarkir left-point shot giving the South Carolina a 1-0 advantage.

South Carolina put the game out of reach in the third, after a K-Wings turnover in their own zone, Jake Hauswirth (7th) snipped a shot from the between the circles to give the Stingrays insurance.

For good measure, Rob Ricci (14th) popped in an empty-netter with one-tenth of a second remaining to close out the scoring for South Carolina.

Stingray goaltender Shane Connelly stopped 39 shots to earn his first shutout of the season.

Saturday, January 16th @ South Carolina (South Carolina 4-Kalamazoo 1)

North Charleston, SC- The first three legs of the Kalamazoo Wings four-game road swing have not gone has planned. The K-Wings lost their third straight on the trip and the second consecutive versus the South Carolina Stingrays with a 4-1 decision on Saturday.

Just like they did the night before, South Carolina registered the first goal of the night with a power-play marker from Keith Johnson (16th). Knocking in a rebound, Johnson gave the Stingrays the lead 4:39 into the first period.

Unlike the night before, the K-Wings found a way to get the puck past goaltender Shane Connelly. Kalamazoo tied the game at 1-1 two minutes after South Carolina scored with a tape-to-tape pass from Brian McGuirk to Andrew Fournier. The tally from Fournier was his team-tying 17th of the season and the first posted by a K-Wings player in nearly six periods of hockey.

In the second period, the Stingrays used their special teams to regain the lead; however, it wasn't a power-play, but a Spencer Carbery (8th) shorthanded goal that gave South Carolina the go-ahead tally.

Scratched from Friday's contest, Michael Dubuc (7th, 8th) made his presence felt scoring twice in the third period for the Stingrays.

Sunday, January 17th @ Charlotte (Charlotte 4-Kalamazoo 3-Shootout)

Charlotte, NC- The Kalamazoo Wings finished off their four-game road swing with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Charlotte Checkers.

Aaron Slattengren (6th) put the Checkers on the board with a power-play goal 8:41 into the contest.

Not to be outdone, Kalamazoo's power-play unit brought the K-Wings back, when Darryl Bootland sent a cross rink pass to Devin Featherstone (1st), who slid the puck past Ryan Munce.

A continuation from the first period, both teams traded goals in the second. Julien Brouillette deflection of a Tyler Doig shot regained the lead for the Checkers.

Bootland (7th) earned his second-point of the game with four minutes remaining in the period, registering the equalizer with a blast from between the circles.

Grabbing their first lead of the contest, Tyler Willis (1st) put the K-Wings ahead 3-2 early in the third period scoring on a rebound in front of the Checkers net.

Lighting the lamp midway in the period, Slattengren (7th) tied the game at 3-3 scoring his second of the game and the last for either team in regulation.

In the shootout, Charlotte outlasted Kalamazoo 4-3, including the deciding tally from Andrew Carroll.

Fast Forward

Returning home from their four-game road trip, the K-Wings will battle the Cincinnati Cyclones this Friday, January 22nd with a 7:30 p.m. face-off on Culver's Night. Besides Culver's Night, January 22nd contest will also be a Frugal Fan Friday, which features $1 beer and $1 hot dogs. Kalamazoo trails Cincinnati by two points for second place in the North Division.

On Saturday (01/23), the K-Wings and Cyclones will finish their home and home series with a 7:30 p.m. encounter at the U.S. Bank Arena.

Kalamazoo returns home to Wings Stadium on Sunday, January 24th with a 4 p.m. face-off versus the Toledo Walleye on Charter Day. Fans can also upgrade their tickets for additional $10 to make their seats all-you-can-eat seats, featuring nachos, hot dogs and popcorn. Kalamazoo enters the week three points behind Toledo for first place in the division.

MON, JANUARY 18

Charlotte 6 at Gwinnett 4Trenton 3 at Reading 4

TUE, JANUARY 19

No games scheduled.

WED, JANUARY 20

American 10 at National 9 (SO)

THU, JANUARY 21

No games scheduled.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Rick Cleaver, Andrew Fournier (17 Goals)

Assists: Rick Cleaver (23 Assists)

Points: Rick Cleaver (40 Points)

+/-: Mathieu Curadeau (+14)

Penalty Minutes: Bryan Jurynec (102 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Rick Cleaver (8 Goals)

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

Game Winning Goals: Mathieu Curadeau (4 GW)

Shots: Sam Ftorek (108 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Andrew Fournier (21.0%)

Overtime Goals: Rick Cleaver, Mathieu Curadeau (1 Goal)

Shootout Goals: Rick Cleaver, Matt Jones, Darryl Lloyd (2 Goals)

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

Goals Against Average: Ryan Nie (2.71)

Save Percentage: Ryan Nie (0.914)

Home Sweet Home

Wings Stadium has been a tough building for opponents to play in. The K-Wings have won three straight games on home ice.

Cleaver Shines in All-Star Game

Forward Rick Cleaver registered a goal and assist in last night's ECHL All-Star Game. Cleaver was the lone representative to the American Conference for Kalamazoo.

Snapping a Streak

The K-Wings start the week on the four-game losing streak. The four-game streak is the longest winless drought this season for the Kalamazoo.

Mason Leaves K-Wings

Defenseman Jeff Mason has left the K-Wings to pursue another hockey opportunity in Europe. The K-Wings have placed Mason on team suspension.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

Defenseman Ryan McGinnis has dressed in every game this season for the K-Wings. McGinnis is the only K-Wings player to see action in every game this season for Kalamazoo.

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 HYPERLINK http://www.icerays.com www.kwings.com. The site has player profiles, information about Wings Stadium events, and much, much more.

Daavettila and Landry on the Radio

Join special guests Trent Daavettila and Jon Landry as they join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno this Monday 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

Friday, January 22nd Vs Cincinnati 7:30 PM (Culver's Night and Frugal Fan

Friday)

Saturday, January 23rd @ Cincinnati 7:30 PM

Sunday, January 24th Vs Toledo 4:00 PM (Charter Day/Upgrade Your Seats to All-You-Can Eat for $10)

Saturday, January 30th Vs Cincinnati 7:30 PM (2nd Annual McDonald's Golden Ice Game)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 22, 2010


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