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Kalamazoo Caps off Preseason with Win

September 8, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings rode the back of a late third period goal by Nick Kovalchik on their way to a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Saturday at Wings West.

The two teams combined for some back and forth action throughout the first twenty minutes, as neither could find the back of the net through one.

Both Kalamazoo's Alex Okicki and Oakland's Matt Toter were stellar between the pipes in their respective goals, as they were flawless during the opening frame.

The second period was a completely different story than the first, as the two teams combined for five goals during the middle frame. The scoring got started just fifteen seconds into the period, as Robbie Payne notched his second of the preseason to give Kalamazoo a 1-0 lead.

That lead turned to two just a few moments later, as Dalton Carter was the beneficiary of a good bounce on the doorstep and poked home his first of the preseason.

Just eight seconds later, Christian George made it 3-0 Jr. K-Wings when he sliced through the Golden Grizzlies defense and took a quick wrist shot that beat Toter. The goal for George was his first of the preseason.

With less than three minutes to play, Oakland got themselves a goal of their own. Billy Balent used his speed to beat the Kalamazoo defense and knocked in a rebound past Okicki, to bring his club within two.

With just 15 seconds left in the second, the Golden Grizzlies drew to within a goal on a tally by Anthony Colizza.

Late in the third, trailing by one and on a power play, the Grizzlies tied the game with a slap shot tally by Adam Novack.

Shortly after, Kalamazoo had themselves a two-on-one with under three minutes to play. Kovalchik was on the receiving end of a Nolan Culver pass and buried the game winner.

The Jr. K-Wings will head out to Blaine, Minnesota on Wednesday to start their action in the NAHL's Showcase Tournament. They will play four games in four days, starting with the Coulee Region Chill on Wednesday, September 12th at 8:15 pm central time.

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