IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

Kalamazoo Wings Week In Review

Published on March 21, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


A tradition and a rivalry got rekindled on Thursday (3/17), as the K-Wings started their three-game week against the Fort Wayne Komets on the 24th Annual St. Patrick's Day Green Ice Game. Kalamazoo started the game's scoring midway in the opening period, when Andrew Luciuk (13) skated up through the left side of the ice and slapped a shot past Fort Wayne's Kevin St. Pierre to give the K-Wings a 1-0 lead. In the second period, the Komets tied the game at 1-1 with a power-play goal from Chris Grenville (28) just 32 seconds into the period. Kalamazoo regained the lead later in the period, as Daniel Carierre (9)joined the rush and scored on a wrap around to make the score 2-1 in favor of the K-Wings. Fort Wayne answered back a few minutes later with a game-tying goal from Colin Chualk (18). After a scoreless third period, the game headed into a shootout. The extra session proved to be a marathon, as each team sent out 15 skates a piece. Kalamazoo's Kevin Kerr, in his very first game as a K-Wing, sent the sellout crowd of 5,413 home happy, as the veteran forward netted the game-winning goal to give the K-Wings a 3-2 victory over the Komets.

Kalamazoo continued the week on Friday (3/18) against the Muskegon Fury. The game against the Fury was the first road contest for the K-Wings in the month of the March. Kalamazoo entered the game riding a four-game road winning streak. The K-Wings opened the scoring late in the opening period with a pair of goals. In his very first game, rookie forward Jason Deitch (1) scored on a deflection. A few moments later, the K-Wings offense rang up another goal, this time it was Tim Turner (22) scoring from just inside the right circle to make the score 2-0 Kalamazoo. In the second period, the Fury stormed back with two unanswered goals to tie the game at 2-2. However, just 51 seconds after Muskegon knotted the game at 2-2, defenseman Shaun Fisher (10) scored the game-winning goal on a one-timer from between the circles to give the K-Wings the lead and eventual 3-2 victory.

The K-Wings concluded the week on Saturday with a road trip to Fort Wayne to play the Komets. Fort Wayne may have scored the game's first goal, but it was Kalamazoo that controlled the game en route to their deceive 5-2 victory over the Komets. Kalamazoo's Kevin Kerr tied a K-Wings season high by recording a four point night (1 goal, 3 assists). Rookie sensation Jason Deitsch kept his scoring touch, as the native Indianapolis, scored his second goal in as many pro games. Goaltender Chad Alban was stellar stopping 26 shots to record his 30th victory of the season.

Fast Forward

The K-Wings will hit the ice three times this week. Kalamazoo starts the week with a morning contest against the Port Huron Beacons. The 11 a.m. game will be the third matinee contest for the K-Wings this year. Kalamazoo has a perfect 6-0-0 record against the Beacons this season's. The K-Wings and the Beacons will also meet on Friday, March 25th in Port Huron. Face-Off for the Friday night encounter will be at 7 p.m.

On Saturday (3/26), the K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium to battle the Rockford IceHogs on WRKR's Perry Harley-Davidson Night. The first 1,000 fans into Wings Stadium will receive a FREE Bottle Wrap and Team Poster courtesy of Perry Harley-Davidson. The K-Wings are 2-2-0 against the IceHogs this season. Rockford enters the week atop the UHL's Western Division with a record of 43-20-7.

Early Riser

For the third time this season, the K-Wings will wake up early to play a matinee game against the Port Huron Beacons this Wednesday, March 23rd. While the first two morning games were played at Wings Stadium, the 11 a.m. face-off will be played at the McMorran Place Arena in Port Huron. The game can be heard live on both WLKM 95.9 FM and WKLZ 1470 AM.

Magic Number

The K-Wings magic number to clinch their second consecutive playoff birth is just three points. Kalamazoo could clinch with any combination of K-Wings victory, shootout loss or Flint regulation loss, shootout loss, that equates to three points.

Just Win Baby

The K-Wings are on a three-game winning streak and are unbeaten in regulation in their last six games. In their last six games, the K-Wings have a record of 5-0-1.

Road Warriors

Besides being unbeaten in their last six games, the K-Wings are also on a six-game road winning streak. The six-game road winning streak is the longest current streak in the UHL and just one game shy of the K-Wings UHL franchise record set earlier this season.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

With their sellout on March 17th versus the Fort Wayne Komets, the Kalamazoo Wings have sold out their last two home games. This marks the first-time ever, including in the International Hockey League, that the K-Wings have had back-to-back crowds of 5,413. It's also the first time since the 1998-99 season that Kalamazoo has had back-to-back crowds over the Wings Stadium seating capacity (5,113).

Tickets Get Your Tickets!!

Tickets for all K-Wing home games are now on sale. Catch all the action as your K-Wings play the very best the UHL has to offer. Tickets are on sale now by calling the Wings Stadium Box 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.

Kotyluk and Holdridge on the Radio

Join special guests Kevin Kotyluk and Kevin Holdridge, as they join Head Coach Mark Reeds and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno on "K-Wings Live". The show is on Your Local Sports Leader AM 1660 WQSN Monday's from 6-7 PM at Sports Forum on Mosel.

K-Wings on Radio

Catch all the K-Wings games home and away on the K-Wings Radio Network (WLKM 95.9 FM and Your Local Sports Leader AM 1660 WQSN). Join the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno for all 80 regular season games plus the playoffs. Pre-game coverage begins with the Digital Highway 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, March 23rd @ Port Huron 11:00 AM

Friday, March 25th @ Port Huron 7:00 PM

Saturday, March 26th Vs Rockford 7:30 PM (WRKR Presents Perry Harley- Davidson and Team Photo Night)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 21, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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