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IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

Kalamazoo Wings Week in Review

April 3, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


The K-Wings started off the week on Wednesday (3/29) at home against the Flint Generals. Flint's Mike Kinnie (19,20) scored a goal in each of the first two periods to give the Generals a 2-0 lead. In the third period, Kalamazoo answered back with a pair of goals from Lucas Drake (29,30) to tie game at 2-2. The contest headed into a shootout and in the extra session the Generals would take the lead for good with a shootout goal from Joe Seroski, as the Generals defeated the K-Wings 3-2.

On Friday (3/31), the K-Wings started a three-game Michigan road trip in Muskegon. The two-time defending champions jumped out to a two-goal first-period lead, as the Fury received goals from David Wrigley (36) and Todd Robinson (18). The goal from Wrigley snapped a 144:29 minute scoreless streak for Muskegon against Kalamazoo. In the second period, the K-Wings stormed back with a pair of power-play goals. Kalamazoo Captain Nick Bootland (37) registered the first K-Wings tally 8:24 into the period. Exactly six-minutes later, forward Jason Deitsch (34) etched his name into K-Wings UHL history by scoring his 17th power-play goal of the season, which sets the team's record for most man-advantage goals in a single-season. With the game tied at 2-2, the Fury would take the lead for good, when Robin Bouchard (56) scored on the power-play late in the second period to give the Fury the 3-2 victory over the K-Wings.

Kalamazoo traveled to Flint on Saturday (4/1) to face-off against the Generals. With the K-Wings up 3-1 in the second period, the Generals erased the deficit by scoring three unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead. Kalamazoo's Greg Labenski (15) scored a power-play goal just 44 seconds into the third period to tie the game at 4-4. For the second straight game against the Generals, the game headed into a shootout; however, this time it would be Kalamazoo's Jason Deitsch that scored the goal that gave his team the victory, as the K-Wings skate away with a 5-4 victory over the Generals.

The K-Wings finished off the week on the road on Sunday (4/2) with the first half of a home and home series against the Motor City Mechanics. Kalamazoo took the lead late in the opening period, when Mark Vilneff (4) ripped a shot from the blue line past Rod Branch. After the Mechanics tied the game in the second period, the K-Wings answered back to two goals in the final period, including the game-winner from Damian Surma (24) to give the K-Wings a 3-1 victory over the Mechanics.

Fast Forward

After spending their past three games on the road, the K-Wings return home to Wings Stadium on Friday (4/7) to host Motor City Mechanics at 7:30 p.m. On the season, Kalamazoo has a record of 5-2-1 against Motor City. Friday's game coincides with Team Poster Night presented by Mark Maurer Great Lakes Mortgage Company, WRKR and Fed-Ex Kinkos. The K-Wings snapped a two-game winless streak against the Mechanics by defeating Motor City 3-1 last Sunday in Fraser, Michigan. The Mechanics start the week in third place in the Central Division and are in seventh place overall in the UHL. Kalamazoo and Motor City will face each other again this Sunday (4/9) in Fraser, Michigan.

The K-Wings will stay at home this Saturday (4/8) night for a 7:30 p.m. against the Port Huron Flags. Saturday will be Fan Appreciation Night presented by Terminix. Post-game festivities for Saturday include the K-Wings Yearly Player Award Ceremony and a jersey auction, as Kalamazoo will be auctioning off their third (blue) jerseys. On the season, the K-Wings are 8-0-1 against the Flags this season, who start this week in fifth place in the Central Division.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals Nick Bootland (37 Goals)

Assists Daniel Carriere (65 Assists)

Points Jason Deitsch (76 Points)

+/- Greg Labenski (+54)

Penalty Minutes Tyler Willis (289 Minutes)

Power Play Goals Jason Deitsch (17 Goals)

Short Handed Goals Mike Manley (6 Goals)

Game Winning Goals Tyler Willis, Damian Surma (6 GW)

Shots: Nick Bootland (329 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Jason Deitsch (24.6%)

Shootout Goals: Damian Surma (6 Goals)

Shootout Percentage: Lee Ruff (75.0%)

Goals Against Average: Joel Martin (2.20)

Save Percentage: Joel Martin (0.920)

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Rolling Along

Forwards Tyler Willis and Jason Deitsch both enter the week on lengthy point streaks. Willis is on a K-Wings high nine-game point streak, while Deitsch, who has recorded a point in 28 of his last 29 games, is on an eight-game point streak.

The Race for 300

Two K-Wings players are nearing the 300-point plateau in their career. Tyler Willis needs two points to reach the 300 mark, while Bootland is four points away.

Lighting the Lamp

The K-Wings are the most prolific scoring team in the UHL. Kalamazoo, who have scored 305 goals this season, are averaging a league best 4.36 goals a game.

Against Their Own

The Kalamazoo Wings have played very well against their own division. On the season, the K-Wings are 26-6-4 against the Central Division.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

Every player on the K-Wings current roster has recorded at least one-point this season. The K-Wings are the only team in the UHL to reach that achievement.

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 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 www.kwings.com. The site has player profiles, information about Wings Stadium events, and much, much more.

Deitsch and Handrahan on the Radio

Join special guests Jason Deitsch and Casey Handrahan 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 The Cabana Bar and Grill inside the Holiday Inn Kalamazoo on South 11th Street.

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 76 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

Friday, April 7th Vs Motor City 7:30 PM (Team Poster Night Presented by WRKR,

Fed-Ex Kinkos and Mark Maurer Great Lakes Mortgage Company)

Saturday, April 8th Vs Port Huron 7:30 PM (Fan Appreciation Night Presented by

Terminix)

Sunday, April 9th @ Motor City 5:00 PM

Wednesday, April 12th Vs Adirondack 7:00 PM

Friday, April 14th @ Missouri 7:00 PM (CST)

Saturday, April 15th @ Fort Wayne 7:30 PM

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 3, 2006


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