ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

December 26, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Game Rewind

Wednesday, December 21st @ Cincinnati (Cincinnati 5-Kalamazoo 1)

Cincinnati, OH- Owning the best home record in the ECHL (8-1-0-2), the Cincinnati Cyclones keep proving there is no place like home, as the Cyclones cruised to a 5-1 victory Wednesday night over the Kalamazoo Wings.

Outshooting the K-Wings 16-2, the Cyclones controlled the puck a major of the opening period. Despite the discrepancy in shots, Cincinnati earned only one goal in the period, with a power-play strike by Maury Edwards (3rd) 7:44 into the period.

The two shots in the opening period is a season-low for shots in a period this season for the K-Wings.

In the second period, Cincinnati's Mike Liambus inadvertently gave the K-Wings their best scoring chance of the period. With the puck loose behind goaltender Brian Foster, Liambus fell on top of the puck in the crease, which gave the K-Wings a penalty shot 9:47 into the frame.

On the ensuing shot, Taylor Ellington tried to go five-hole on Foster; however, as the puck was heading towards the line, the netminder fell on top of the puck keeping Cincinnati ahead by a goal.

While Ellington wasn't able to even up the game with the penalty shot, moments later he did help Kalamazoo pull even, when his shot was deflected by recently acquired forward Matt Whitehead (1st) midway through the period.

Storming back 29 seconds later, A.J. Jenks (1st) earned his first of two straight goals for the Cyclones on a rebound. While Jenks' goal proved to be the game-winner, the forward would score in similar fashion with less than two minutes remaining in the second to add some insurance for the Cyclones.

Putting the game out of reach in the third period, the Cyclones received goals from Robert Slaney (4th) and Garrett Wilson (8th).

For the game, Kalamazoo was outshot 46-14. The 14 shots were the fewest this season for the K-Wings, while the 46 shots allowed tied a season-high (Vs Cincinnati 10/29/11) for the team.

Maxime Clermont (4-3-0-0) made a season-high tying 41 saves in defeat, while Foster (4-1-0-0) turned aside 13 shots for the victory.

Friday, December 23rd Vs Toledo (Toledo 2-Kalamazoo 1)

Kalamazoo, MI- Led by a 37 save performance from Thomas McCollum, the Toledo Walleye defeated the Kalamazoo Wings 2-1 Friday night at Wings Stadium.

A late period rush in the opening frame by Toledo changed the fortune of what was an evenly played first period. With 20.9 second remaining in the period, Kyle Rogers (7th) skating from left-to-right in the attacking zone sent a wrist shot that dribbled through the legs of Riley Gill and over the goal line for the first goal of the night.

Scoring was halted until the third period, when Gleason Fournier (2nd) finished off a two-on-one deflecting the eventual game-winner past Gill 16:55 into the period.

Not to be held off the scoreboard, Darren Archibald (2nd) brought the K-Wings back to within a single goal late in the game, when he shot deflected off a Toledo defense past McCollum for the K-Wings lone goal.

Kalamazoo finished the night 0-for-7 on the power-play, while the Walleye went 0-for-4. With the loss, the K-Wings have a dropped a season-high three straight games.

Fast Forward

Kalamazoo will finish off the 2011 portion of their schedule with three games this week starting tomorrow, Tuesday, December 27th with a 7:35 p.m. face-off against the Cincinnati Cyclones. With 25 points, Cincinnati starts the week tied for third place in the North Division. On the season, Kalamazoo is 4-2-0-0 against Cincinnati and is 1-2-0-0 against the Cyclones at the U.S. Bank Arena.

Finishing a brief two-game road swing on Friday, December 30th with a 7:30 p.m., Kalamazoo will head to Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois to battle the Chicago Express. On the season, the K-Wings are 4-2-0-1 against the Express, who start the week in second place, three points behind Kalamazoo.

The K-Wings will return home to ring in the New Year this Saturday, December 31st with a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Toledo Walleye during the 10th Annual New Year's Eve Bash Presented by Cool 101 and WMMT News Channel 3. Fans that purchase tickets for the game on December 31st will receive FREE admittance to both the public skate and pre and post game concert featuring The Bronk Brothers.

Due to limited skate rentals, the K-Wings encourage fans to bring their own skates.

On the season, Kalamazoo is 2-1-0-0 versus Toledo, who starts the week with 25 points and tied for third place in the North Division.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Dean Strong (11Goals)

Assists: Trent Daavettila (21 Assists)

Points: Brandon Svendsen (27 Points)

+/-: Sam Ftorek (+11)

Penalty Minutes: Darryl Bootland (96 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Brandon Svendsen (5 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Trent Daavettila, Brandon Svendsen, Justin Taylor (1 Goal)

Game Winning Goals: Brandon Svendsen (5 GW)

Shots:

Sam Ftorek (77 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Dean Strong (27.5%)

Overtime Goals: Sam Ftorek, Kory Karlander (1 Goal)

Shootout Goals: Steven Anthony, Taylor Ellington, Dean Strong, Justin Taylor (1 Goal)

Shootout Percentage: Taylor Ellington (100%)

Goals Against Average: Riley Gill (3.07 )

Save Percentage: Maxime Clermont (0.893)

Ins and Outs

Forward Darryl Bootland has served his two-game suspension from the ECHL and will be able to return to the K-Wings lineup tomorrow night. However, Kalamazoo will be without defenseman Joe Charlebois, who was loaned earlier today to the AHL's Manchester Monarchs.

On a Roll

Kalamazoo's Darryl Bootland enters the week on an impressive point streak. Bootland has earned a point in each of his last six games, which is a K-Wings current team-high.

Snapping a Streak

Kalamazoo heads into Tuesday night's contest looking to snap a streak. The K-Wings will travel to the U.S. Bank Arena looking to snap a team season-long three-game losing streak.

Lighting the Lamp

Ranked second in the ECHL averaging 3.54 goals-a-game, the K-Wings have had trouble lately lighting the lamp. Kalamazoo has scored two goals in their last two games.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

Kalamazoo will ring in the New Year this Saturday night during the 10th Annual New Year's Eve Bash, presented by COOL 101 and WWMT News Channel 3. All-time, the K-Wings are 4-3-0-2 in the yearly classic, which includes a record of 1-1-0-0 since joining the ECHL.

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 the team's brand new website at www.kwings.com . The site has player profiles, video on your hometown team, and much, much more.

No K-Wings Live

Taking a e ngs Live will return on holiday break, there will no "K-Wings Live" this Monday. Join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno when "K-Wings Live" on Monday, January 9th. The show is on The Classic Hits Station WLKM (95.9 FM) and online through www.kwings.com from 6-7 p.m. at Old Burdick's Wings West.

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

Friday, December 30th @ Chicago 7:30 PM (CST)

Saturday, December 31st Vs Toledo 7:30 PM (10th Annual New Year's Eve Bash, Featuring a Pre and Post Game Concert with The Bronk Brothers, Presented by WWMT and COOL 101)

Friday, January 6th Vs Greenville 7:30 PM (Frugal Fan Friday)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 26, 2011


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