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Michigan's AJ White Leads Warriors to Their First Victory Over Kalamazoo

December 16, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Flint, MI- On a night featuring fights and an abundance of penalties, Michigan's AJ White netted two goals to lead the Warriors to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Jr. K-Wings. Kalamazoo peppered Michigan goaltender Brach Tiller with 39 shots but were only able to manage two goals.

The first period began with the two squads feeling each other out, and letting their respective defenses rule the tempo. Off a steal in their own zone, the Warriors transitioned up ice quickly and had an odd-man rush on the Jr. K-Wings defense. A shot from the right side by Mike Economos produced a massive rebound, in which Ben Gislason was there to punch into the net. His first of the season was the only goal of the first period, giving Michigan a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room after twenty minutes of play.

The second period started with a bang for the Michigan Warriors. Just 3:40 into the period, White forced a turnover deep in the Kalamazoo zone. He stole the puck along the left-wing side, skated to the right, and slid a backhand pass across the slot. It found the stick of Tyler Perpich who was there to light the lamp for the seventh time on the season, giving the Warriors a 2-0 lead.

Just under seven minutes later, Kalamazoo would get on the scoreboard for the first time of the evening. Robbie Payne forced a turnover in the attacking zone, handed the puck to Austin Hervey, who slid it to Brandon Flood. Flood smoothly held the puck on his backhand until he had enough space in the net to blast it in. The goal was his first as a Jr. K-Wing, and his eighth of the season.

Only two and a half minutes passed before Michigan would jump back out to a two-goal lead. While working with a power play, AJ White put home a second-chance opportunity off a shot from Derek O'Flynn. The goal for White was his team-leading 20th of the campaign, good enough for fourth in the NAHL. -MORE- Turnovers in the defensive zone seemed to plague Kalamazoo all night long. Just 42 seconds into the third period another giveaway resulted in a tally for the Warriors. White's second of the night and 21st of the season came when he blasted a wrist shot over the stick-side of Ken MacLean from the slot area. The goal gave Michigan their biggest lead of the night at three goals.

Six and a half minutes into the third period and trailing by three goals, Kalamazoo pulled to within two. Kyle Gattelaro tallied his tenth of the season on a top-shelf finding shot from the right circle. His quick wrister beat Tiller to keep the Jr. K-Wings alive.

Later into the third period, Michigan again pulled ahead by three goals. Robert Mathana's fifth of the season was also the Warriors fifth of the game. The goal came unassisted 13:29 into the period.

The Jr. K-Wings will return to the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West again on Sunday, December 18th against the Michigan Warriors.

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