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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Kalamazoo Wings Week In Review

March 31, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


For the Week of March 31st-April 6th

Record Last Week: 1-2-0 Overall Record 29-39-8

Game Rewind The curtain fell on the K-Wings 2002-2003 season, as Kalamazoo finished off the year with three games last week. Kalamazoo concluded the home portion of their schedule with a game against the Port Huron Beacons on Friday, March 28th. Pepper Pierman started the scoring for the K-Wings, as he netted his 1st goal of the season midway into the opening period. The Beacons answered the K-Wings tally, with straight goals from Brent Gretzky. Kalamazoo tied the game at 2-2 in the second period, when Lubos Veleby lit the lamp for the first time in his professional career. However, from there the night belonged to Port Huron, as the Beacons shined bright scoring the games next three goals, including two more for Gretzky, giving him a season high 4 goal performance, as Port Huron defeated Kalamazoo 5-2.

The K-Wings traveled to Moline, Illinois, on Saturday (3/29), as they played the Quad City Mallards. This was the ninth and final meeting of the season between the two teams. Coming into the contest the K-Wings had a season record of 4-4-0 versus the Mallards. Quad City started the scoring in the first period, when Jeff Williams scored his 28th goal of the season 1:23 into the period. The Mallards would hang on to the one goal lead until early into the second period, when Kurt Miller scored his 21st goal of the season, this time on the power play to tie the game at 1-1. Moments later, the Mallards regained the lead when Mike Possin scored on a rebound to give Quad City the 2-1 lead. The K-Wings offense erupted later in the period, when both Pat O'Leary and Matt Kruzich scored 19 seconds apart to give the K-Wings their first lead of the game at 3-2. The K-Wings extended their lead over two minutes later, when Pepper Pierman capped off a three-point night, with his goal of the game to give the K-Wings a 4-2 lead. After two Quad City goals tied the game at 4-4, the K-Wings would put the game away with two quick goals. First it was Pat O'Leary netting his second of the game to give Kalamazoo a 5-4 lead, then former Mallard Lubos Velebny scored his second of the year 18 seconds later to give the K-Wings a 6-4 lead. Quad City scored once more, but it wouldn't be enough, as Kalamazoo defeated the Mallards 6-5. The victory gave the K-Wings the season series over the Mallards.

Kalamazoo concluded their season on Sunday (3/30), as they traveled to St. Charles, Missouri, to battle the Missouri River Otters. The K-Wings struck first late in the first period, when Jarret Whidden scored his first goal of the season to give the K-Wings a 1-0 lead. Over a minute later, the Otters would tie the game at 1-1, with a goal by Joe Ritson. The River Otters gained the lead in the second period, when Jeff Antonovich scored on a breakaway to give Missouri a 2-1 lead. Kalamazoo answered back later in the period, with a goal by Kurt Miller. However, the night belonged to Missouri, as the Otters scored twice more, including a second goal from Ritson, which proved to be the game winner, as the River Otters defeated the K-Wings 4-2. Fast Forward With the K-Wings out of the postseason, the focus now turns to next season. Next year will be the 30th Anniversary for both Wings Stadium and the Kalamazoo Wings. Season Tickets are now on sale at the Wings Stadium Box Office. Any fan that purchases their season tickets in full by May 15th will receive 30% off their season tickets. For more information call the Wings Stadium Box Office at (269)345-5101.

Vilneff Reaches 600 With his first shift against Quad City on 3/29, K-Wings defenseman Mark Vilneff reached a milestone. The game was Mark's 600th of his career. Currently, Vilneff ranks third all-time in the UHL in games played behind Scott Feasby (Muskegon), and Jim Duhart (Flint).

.500 Versus the West With their loss against Missouri the K-Wings ended the season with a 500 record against the Western Conference. Kalamazoo finished the season with a recorded of 17-17-5 against their division rivals. Shooting Star K-Wings forward Shawn Roed ends the season with the highest shooting percentage in the UHL. Roed finished the year with shooting percentage of .267. Shawn lit the lamp 16 times on 60 shots.

30% Off Next season will be the K-Wings 30th Anniversary Season, and to celebrate their anniversary season with their fans, the K-Wings are offering a special on season tickets. Any fan that purchases their season tickets in full by May 15th will receive 30% off of the ticket price. For more information call the Wings Stadium Box Office at (269) 345-5101.

Team Leaders The following is the list of the K-Wings season ending team leaders: Goals Richard Keyes (27 goals) Assists Mark Lawrence (41 assists) Points Peter Roed (57 points) +/- Chad Dameworth (+4) Penalty Minutes Charlie Elezi (260 Minutes) Power Play Goals Richard Keyes (9 Goals) Short Handed Goals Peter Roed (5 goals) Game Winning Goals Shawn Roed (4 GW) Shots: Peter Roed (246 Shots) Shooting Percentage: Shawn Roed (26.7%) Shootout Goals: Peter Roed (4 goals) Shootout Percentage: Matt Kruzich (100%) Goals Against Average: Chad Alban (3.40) Save Percentage: Chad Alban (.896)

The Obscure Stat of the Week With Jason Brown playing the complete game on Friday (3/28) against Port Huron, it broke a K-Wings streak. Chad Alban's consecutive games played streak of 38 straight appearances, including 37 straight starts ended. The streak was the longest consecutive games played streak by a goaltender in K-Wings history.

Get on Line This season the best to keep track of the K-Wings is to log onto www.kwings.com. The new site has player profiles, information about Wings Stadium events, and much more.

UP COMING GAMES -END OF THE REGULAR SEASON -NEXT GAME 2003-2004 SEASON

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