Kalamazoo wins by three in season opener

Published on September 12, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Blaine, MN- The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings relied on two goals from Robbie Payne, as he led the team to a 5-2 victory over the Coulee Region Chill in their first game of action at the North American Hockey League's Showcase Tournament in Blaine, Minnesota on Wednesday night.

Even being heavily outshot in the first period by the Chill, the Jr. K-Wings got the scoring underway during the latter stages of period number one.

It was Trevor Boyd scoring the first goal of the young season for Kalamazoo, as his shot from a sharp angle along the right wing side found the back of the goal at the 14:12 mark of the first period.

Three minutes later, James Hughes (1st)of Coulee Region tied the game at one apiece with a high-slot deflection off a shot by defenseman Derek Smith. The goal led both teams back to the locker rooms in a 1-1 tie after a period of play.

Half way through the second period, Kalamazoo got their second one goal lead of the game. Taylor Burden tipped in a slap shot by Mark Esshaki that gave the Jr. K-Wings a 2-1 advantage. The tally was Burden's first of the season.

Extending the Jr. K-Wing lead to 3-1 was Josh Dangel, who scored with under seven minutes remaining in the period. It was the veteran's first goal of the season, in his first game wearing a Kalamazoo sweater.

Just a minute and fifteen seconds into the third period, the Chill's Travis Underwood (1st) drew the game back to within one with his power play goal.

A few moments later, Kalamazoo's Payne(1st) reestablished the two goal Jr. K-Wing lead with his goal, that was scored just outside the goal crease of Blake Cates, the starting net minder for the Chill.

While working with a five-minute man advantage from a major elbowing penalty, Kalamazoo was able to take a 5-2 lead, again scoring for the Jr.

K-Wings was Payne (2nd). That lead would last until the final horn.

Nick Stuart was stellar in his Jr. K-Wing goaltending debut, making 30 saves and moving his record to 1-0-0.

K-Wings will continue the NAHL Showcase tournament tomorrow, with a 6:00 pm face-off against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, in game two of the four-day league-wide season opening tournament.

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North American Hockey League Stories from September 12, 2012


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