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Kalamazoo Defeats Michigan Behind Two Raffaele Goals

January 20, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Flint, MI- Brock Raffaele scored twice and had an assist, while Drew Graves added four assists of his own, as the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings dominated the Michigan Warriors in a 6-2 victory on Friday night at the Perani Hockey and Event Center in Flint.

Matching the general theme of the season with quick starts against the Warriors, the Jr. K-Wings took an early 1-0 lead at the 2:08 mark of the first period. Giving them the lead was Treor Boyd, notching his seventh of the season.

With just under five minutes remaining in the first period, and the Jr. K-Wings working on their first power play of the evening, Kyle Gattelaro lit the lamp for the 13th time on the season to make it 2-0 Jr. K-Wings.

While on a five-on-three late in the period, the Warriors found the scoreboard for the first time of the game. Chris Eckler (8th) buried a wrist shot from the left side circle past Kalamazoo starting goalie, Ken MacLean.

Kalamazoo didn't take long to regain their two-goal lead, as it only took one minute for them to respond to the Eckler tally. Brock Raffaele scored his third goal of the season at the 18:04 mark to make the score 3-1. Raffaele, who has only played four games with Kalamazoo, has already tallied seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) since his arrival.

Eight and a half minutes into the middle frame, and on yet another power play, Kalamazoo padded their lead to three goals with the first of the season by Chris Leone. Leone blasted a slap shot form the point that beat Michigan starter, Brach Tiller. After the goal, Tiller was pulled in favor of Trevor Gorsuch. Tiller made 17 saves on 22 shots.

The start of the third period provided even more good fortune for the Jr. K-Wings, as they completely opened up the contest by scoring their fifth of the night. Raffaele scored his second of the evening and fourth of the season. Assisting on the goal was Drew Graves, notching his third helper of the game.

To add even more fuel to the fire, Kalamazoo scored their sixth of the night on a rebound by Robbie Payne. The goal for Payne was his 21st, leading the Jr. K-Wings. The third period strike was the first goal by Payne since December 10th, a seven game streak, his longest of the season.

The Warriors would strike one more time before the end of the game, as AJ White scored his North Division leading 24th on a two-on-one strike.

MacLean (11-5-1) got the victory by posting 33 saves on 35 shots. The Jr. K-Wings improved their record to 8-1-0 on the season against the Warriors, and bettered their record at the Perani Hockey and Event Center in Flint to 4-1-0. In the last three contests against Michigan, Kalamazoo have outscored the Warriors 22-4.

The Jr. K-Wings will return to the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West again on Sunday, January 21st against the Michigan Warriors.

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