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Late Push Costs Kalamazoo

January 4, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Sault Saint Marie, MI- The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings had tied the game at two early in the third period against their division foe Soo Eagles, but four unanswered goals from the home team in the final frame spoiled Kalamazoo's winning chances, as they were dropped by a score of 6-2 on Friday night.

For the first thirteen minutes of the opening period, the Jr. K-Wings were skating stride for stride with the division leading Eagles in a fast paced frame. After drawing a penalty shot at the 13:03 mark, the Soo's Michel Covach was able to deke past and score on Alex Okicki, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

In the early stages of the second period, the Jr. K-Wings quickly moved the puck out of their own end, as Robbie Payne carried it into the attacking zone. He took it to the left, and slid a tape-to-tape backdoor pass to Taylor Burden (11th), who put it into the goal, deadlocking the game at 1-1.

Just moments later, the Eagles were able to regain their one goal lead. While working with a power play, Eric Rivard centered the puck onto the stick of Brandon Adams, who was able to deflect the puck into the net for his fourth of the season.

It would be the only goal of the period, as both goalies were very effective through the first forty minutes. Okicki had made 23 of 25 saves, and Soo goalie Tyler Marble stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced.

Only 43 seconds ticked off the clock in the third before Kalamazoo was able to tie the game for the second time of the night. This time it was Burden returning the favor to Payne from the back of the goal. The tic-tac-toe passing play led to Payne notching his team leading 17th of the season and tying the game 2-2.

Four minutes later, the Eagles would once again regain a one-goal lead. Jared Van Wormer was able to propel the Soo to a 3-2 advantage when he tallied while getting a helper from Eric Rivard.

Two minutes after the Van Womer marker to give the Eagles the lead, they were able to secure their first multi-goal edge of the contest. Kyle Loridon lit the lamp for the third time of the season, giving the Eagles a 4-2 leg-up.

The Eagles were able to blow the contest open, late in the third. With less than four minutes remaining in the final frame, Loridon notched his second of the night and fourth of the season on a gritty effort in front of the Jr. K-Wings' goal.

Down by three with fewer than three minutes to play, Kalamazoo pulled Okicki in a desperation effort to eliminate a three-goal deficit. However, it was the Eagles who were able to seal the game with an empty netter from Rivard (17th).

The win by the Eagles would be their seventh in a row, and made them the third team to reach the 50 point plateau on the season, joining Austin (52 points) and Amarillo (55 points).

The Jr. K-Wings will enter tomorrow's matinee contest trailing the Soo by eight points for the top spot in the North.

Official game stats can be found at:

http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1993735

The Jr. K-Wings will continue their season-long ten game road swing with the second of two straight tilts against the Soo Eagles. They take the ice tomorrow, January 5th at 3:00 PM.

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