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IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

Kalamazoo Wings Week in Review

April 2, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Four games in five nights started on Wednesday (3/28) at Wings Stadium versus the Elmira Jackals. Kalamazoo's first goal resembled a David Copperfield trick, as a Ryan Gillis (6) slap shot disappeared underneath goaltender Zach Sikich. After both teams and refereeing crew believed the puck was under Sikich, it was later found that the puck was in the back of the net. Elmira tied the game at 1-1 late in the second period with a power-play goal from Andrei Lupandin (9). Controlling the third period, Kalamazoo outscored Elmira 3-1 in the final 20 minutes of play to win the game 4-2. Kevin Labatte scored his first professional goal 3:18 into the period. Finishing on a two on one, captain Nick Bootland (38) flung a back hander past Sikich to extend the lead to 3-1. Frank Littlejohn tied the Jackals' franchise record for goals in single season, scoring his 37th lamp lighter of the year at the 14:26 mark of the period. Kory Kalander (42) put the contest out of reach with an empty-netter with just 32 seconds remaining in regulation. Goaltender Tom Askey saved 30 shots to earn his 26th victory of the season.

Kalamazoo commenced a four-game road swing on Friday (3/30) against the Quad City Mallards. Luke Stauffacher (38,39) got the Mallards flying high with two unanswered goals in the opening period. With less than four minutes remaining in the second period, Kalamazoo cut the lead in half to 2-1 with a power-play goal from Paul Caponigri (12). Jason Lawmaster (11) tied the game at 2-2 with a wrist shot from the left circle 1:38 into the final period. Stauffacher (40) notched the final goal of the night, capping off a 3-2 victory and a hat trick for the Mallard forward. Quad City goaltender Jason Tapp earned his 29th victory of the season stopping 45 of the 47 shots he faced.

It's was a battle of the two top teams in the Eastern Conference on Saturday (3/31), as the K-Wings traveled to L.C. Walker Arena to face the Muskegon Fury. Kalamazoo jumped ahead 1-0 late in opening period with a historic goal from Karlander. Kory knocked in a rebound to register his 43rd goal of the season, which ties Jim Duhart (99-00) for the K-Wings' UHL franchise record for most goals scored in season. Early in the second period, while on a power-play, Kevin Cooper (8) finished off an odd man rush by faking Ryan Nie and scoring on the backhand to tie the game at 1-1. No scoring in the final 20 minutes of play forced the contest into a shootout. Kalamazoo outscored Muskegon 2-1 in the shootout, receiving goals from Bootland and Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn, to defeat the Fury 2-1. While the K-Wings won the game; however, the shootout point earned by the Fury clinched the Eastern Conference title.

Kalamazoo concluded the week on Sunday (4/1) on the road against the Port Huron Flags. After a scoreless opening period, both teams were able to find the back of the net in the second. Midway through the second, Port Huron's Robert Snowball (8) tipped the puck past Nie to give the Flags a 1-0 lead. Nearly six minutes later with 4:40 remaining in the period, Versteeg-Lytwyn (11) snuck a slap shot under the cross bar to tie the game at 1-1. For the second straight night the K-Wings would carry a 1-1 lead through the third period and into a shootout and for the second straight night Versteeg-Lytwyn clinched the victory in the extra session. Kalamazoo outscored Port Huron 4-3 in the shootout en route to a 2-1 win.

Fast Forward The K-Wings will conclude the regular season with three games this week. On Wednesday (4/4), Kalamazoo will lace up their skates for their final road contest of the season against the Flint Generals. This season, Kalamazoo is 5-3-0 against their first round playoff opponent. Flint is in third place in the Eastern Conference.

Kalamazoo returns to Wings Stadium on Friday (4/6) with a 7:30 p.m. versus the Bloomington PrairieThunder on Team Poster Night sponsored by FedEx Kinkos and Budweiser. The K-Wings are 3-2-0 against the Thunder this season; however, Bloomington has won the past two encounters over Kalamazoo.

Dropping the curtain on the regular season, the K-Wings will stay at Wings Stadium on Saturday (4/7) for a 7:30 p.m. encounter against the Fort Wayne Komets on Fan Appreciation Night presented by Outdoor Services and WKFR. During the game, Kalsee Credit Union will have a $1,000 cash giveaway. Following the contest, Kalamazoo will host their annual player's award ceremony and auction off both their Outdoor Services Warm-Up Jerseys and an actual 2006 Colonial Cup Championship Ring. The lucky fan that receives the highest bid on the ring will have it fit to their specifications. This season, Kalamazoo is 4-4-1 against Fort Wayne, who starts the week atop the Western Conference.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings Goals: Kory Karlander (43 Goals) Assists: Nick Bootland (43 Assists) Points: Kory Karlander (84 Points)

+/-: Kory Karlander (+19)

Penalty Minutes: Tyler Willis (168 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Kory Karlander (19 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Kory Karlander (5 Goals)

Game Winning Goals: Nick Bootland (9 GW)

Shots: Nick Bootland (356 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Kory Karlander (16.0%)

Shootout Goals: Nick Bootland (9 Goals)

Shootout Percentage: Tyler Kindle (66.7%)

Goals Against Average: Ryan Nie (1.95)

Save Percentage: Ryan Nie (0.932)

Playoff Bound

Kalamazoo will begin the 2007 Colonial Cup Playoffs at Wings Stadium on April 11th versus the Flint Generals. Kalamazoo, who plays Flint on Wednesday, is 5-3-0 against the Generals this season.

Nearing a Milestone

Forward Kory Karlander is closing in on a franchise record. Karlander, who has 43 goals, needs just one more to break the tie he currently has with Jim Duhart (1999-00) for the K-Wings' all-time UHL franchise record for goals in a season.

Instant Replay

Kalamazoo won back-to back shootout games over the weekend by the score of 2-1. In both games, fifth shooter, Mark Versteeg-Lywtyn tallied the winning goal.

March Madness

With a victory last Saturday in Muskegon, Kalamazoo accomplished something they haven't done all year. The win gave the K-Wings their first double-digit victory month (10-4-1) of the season.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

Playing back-to-back games as not hurt the K-Wings this year. Kalamazoo is 23-12-2 in games played on consecutive days and 7-6-0 in the third game in three nights.

Tickets, Get Your Tickets!!

Tickets for all K-Wings 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, photos, information about Wings Stadium events, and much, much more. Fans of myspace can befriend the official site of Wings Stadium and the Kalamazoo Wings at www.myspace.com/wingsstadium.

Bootland and Hart on the Radio

Come see special guests Nick Bootland and Jordan Hart, as they join Head Coach Mark Reeds and the Voice of the K-Wings, Mike Modugno on "K-Wings Live". The show is on ESPN 1660 Mondays from 6-7 PM at The Cabana Bar and Grille 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 ESPN1660). 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

Wednesday, April 4th @ Flint 7:15 PM

Friday, April 6th Vs Bloomington 7:30 PM (Team Poster Night Presented by Budweiser and FedEx Kinkos)

Saturday, April 7th Vs Fort Wayne 7:30 PM (Fan Appreciation Night Presented by Outdoor Services and WKFR)

Wednesday, April 11th Vs Flint

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 2, 2007


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