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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

October 25, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Toledo, OH- Two weeks between their last preseason contest and the season opener didn't seem to bother the Kalamazoo Wings, as the K-Wings started the season with a 7-2 victory over the Toledo Walleye.

Outshot 14-9 in the opening period, the K-Wings made the most of their opportunities. Joining an odd-man rush, Mitch Versteeg (1st), received a stick-to-stick pass from Kory Karlander and then lifted a backhander past Toledo's Jordan Pearce 5:23 into the game to register the first goal of the season for Kalamazoo.

Less than three minutes later, the K-Wings answered again, this time defenseman Jon Landry (1st) jammed in a rebound past a sprawled out Pearce to extend the Kalamazoo lead to 2-0.

Starting the second period down a man, Landry (2nd) raced down a Darryl Lloyd pass and stepped around two Walleye defenders to score shorthanded.

Capitalizing on a 5-on-3 power-play, Karlander centering pass to the front of the Walleye crease was deflected by Andrew Fournier (1st) to push the K-Wings lead to three goals.

Right after the second half of the power-play elapsed, Karlander (1st) and Fournier reversed rolls scoring back-to-back goals 29 seconds apart.

The goal from Karlander was the last from Pearce, who was replaced by Scott Campbell. Pearce left the game after allowing five goals on 15 shots.

The goaltender change served as a spark for the Walleye, who finish the period with goals from Randy Rowe (2nd) and Mike Hedden to the cut the deficit to three goals.

Regaining composure to the start the final stanza, Steven Tarasuk found Trent Daavettila in the high slot. Daavettila rifled a wrister past Campbell for his first of the season. The assist was the first point in the career of Tarasuk. .

Matching their largest lead of the night, Jordan Fulton (1st) earned his first goal as a professional scoring on a wrap-around midway in the period.

Picking up where he left off a season ago when he led the league in victories with 28, Ryan Nie was stellar between the pipes stopping 32 shots to earn his first win of the season.

Saturday, October 23rd Vs Cincinnati (Kalamazoo 3-Cincinnati 2-Overtime)

Kalamazoo, MI- They needed extra time, but the Kalamazoo Wings remained undefeated on the young season defeating the Cincinnati Cyclones 3-2 in overtime during the K-Wings home opener and 7th Annual Orange Ice Game.

Striking quickly in the opening period, the Cyclones jumped ahead 1:01 into the game with tally from Mathieu Aubin. From behind the net, Aubin was able to step around a K-Wings defender and skated between the circles in front of Ryan Nie to lift the puck past the netminder for his first goal of the season.

Wasting no time in responding, the K-Wings scored 15 seconds later by taking advantage off of a Cincinnati turnover. Jordan Fulton (2nd) found the loose puck behind the net and caught Jeremy Smith out of position on the near post.

There were only three penalties in the first period, but two of them proved to be costly. The K-Wings jumped ahead late in the period with a power-play goal from Trent Daavettila (2nd); however, moments later on their lone man-advantage opportunity in the stanza, T.J. Fast's (2nd) blue line blast pulled the Cyclones back even at 2-2.

Remaining scoreless in the second and third periods, the K-Wings gave the third largest Orange Ice crowd of 4,772 a reason to celebrate in overtime. Winning a face-off draw in the Cyclones zone, the K-Wings set up the power-play game-winner when Sam Ftorek found Kory Karlander open at the right circle for a one-timer.

The victory is the second of the season for the K-Wings and their second all-time on orange ice (2-5-0-0).

Sunday, October 24th Vs Cincinnati (Kalamazoo 4-Cincinnati 3-Shootout)

Kalamazoo, MI- For the second straight night, the Kalamazoo Wings and Cincinnati Cyclones needed overtime to settle their differences and for the second straight game, it was the K-Wings that left victorious, this time with a 4-3 shootout win.

Flying out of the gate, the K-Wings outshot the Cyclones 12-3 in the opening period. Kalamazoo generated a majority of those opportunities on three power-plays. Capitalizing on the middle man-advantage, Kory Karlander found Trent Daavettila (3rd), who deflected the puck past Cincinnati goaltender Marc Cheverie. The goal extended Daavettila's goal and point streak to three games, it also extended Karlander's point streak to three games.

A role reversal from the first period, as the Cyclones received all four power-play chances in the second, but unlike the opening period, the Cyclones couldn't benefit from the man-advantage. However, Cincinnati's Sam D'Agostino (1st) did tie the game with an even-strength goal early in the period by jamming in a Brock Sheehan rebound. Also earning an assist on the tally was Dylan Hunter, who lengthens his point-streak to four games.

Kalamazoo answered back midway in the period, moving from the point to the left corner, AJ Thelen, started to move behind the net; however, using his vision, Thelen sent a perfect pass to Karlander, who knocked in his third goal of the season and in the process extended his goal streak to three games.

Early in the third, Kalamazoo extended their lead to two goals with a tally from Wes O'Neill (1st); however, Cincinnati would not be outdone, ring up back-to-back goals from D'Agostino (2nd) and Brett Robinson (1st) two minutes apart to tie the game at 3-3.

The teams remained deadlocked until Steven Tarasuk recorded the sole strike in an extended six-man shootout.

Fast Forward

The K-Wings will begin a four-game road swing, with the first three games occurring this week, as Kalamazoo heads down to battle the Florida Everblades for three straight games beginning this Wednesday, October 27th. The Everblades start the week in second place in the South Division, three points behind division leader, the Gwinnett Gladiators. Face-off for Wednesday's game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The K-Wings and Everblades will also meet on Friday, October 29th and Saturday, October 30th. Friday's game will start at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday's face-off will be at 7 p.m. This trip will be the only visit in the regular season for the K-Wings to the Germaine Arena. Last season, Kalamazoo was 2-2-0-1 against the Everblades and 1-1-0-1 at the Germaine Arena.

On the Road Again

The K-Wings will begin a four-game road swing this Wednesday against the Florida Everblades. Kalamazoo will play three straight contests at the Germaine Arena, where they went 1-1-0-1 last season.

Lighting the Lamp

Forwards Trent Daavettila and Kory Karlander have had a productive first three games of the season. Both players start the week on a three-game goal and point streaks.

Octoberfest

Since joining the ECHL last season, the K-Wings have thrived in games played in October. Over the last two seasons, the K-Wings are 9-1-0-0 in games played in October.

Solid Debut

Rookie forward Jordan Fulton is adjusting well to professional hockey. Fulton starts the week on the three-game point streak.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

The K-Wings have had their share of overtime/shootout contests. Including last year's playoffs, four of the K-Wings last five games, including two this season, have ended in either overtime or a shootout.

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.

Nie and O'Neill on the Radio

Join special guests Ryan Nie and Wes O'Neill as they join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno this Monday on "K-Wings Live" presented by Miller Lite. The show is on The Classic Hits Station WLKM (95.9 FM) and online through www.kwings.com from 7-8 p.m. at Center Ice Sports Bar inside Wings West on Sports Drive

K-Wings on Radio

Catch all the K-Wings games, home and away, on the K-Wings Radio Network (95.9 FM WLKM & 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, October 27th @ Florida 7:30 PM

Friday, October 29th @ Florida 7:30 PM

Saturday, October 30th @ Florida 7:00 PM

Wednesday, November 3rd @ Cincinnati 7:30 PM

Friday, November 5th Vs Toledo 7:30 PM (Direct Air Jimmy Buffett Beach Party Night with the Hooter's Girls

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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ECHL Stories from October 25, 2010


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