IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

Port Huron's Larry Sterling Blanks Kalamazoo 2-0 on Education Day

Published on March 4, 2009 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI - Wings Stadium was far from empty, with nearly 4,000 in attendance for an early Education Day start, but the Kalamazoo Wings were left with an empty feeling after being stifled by the Port Huron Icehawks 2-0 Wednesday. The K-Wings have now dropped three straight, matching a season-high.

Icehawks goaltender Larry Sterling stopped all 30 K-Wings shots for his first shutout of the season and seventh as a professional. His best save came at 5:01 of the third, when he slid headfirst to deny Kalamazoo's Lucas Drake from the right edge of the crease.

The highlight-reel stop prevented the K-Wings from entertaining any thoughts of a comeback. When the final horn sounded, the home team had been blanked for the sixth time this year and the first time since falling 5-0 to Muskegon at Wings Stadium January 30th.

Jason Tapp was strong between the pipes for Kalamazoo, turning aside 27 of 29 Port Huron attempts, but it wasn't enough to top his counterpart. The loss extended a tough stretch at home for the K-Wings, who are 1-4-1-0 since February 15th at Wings Stadium.

The first period was one of tremendous flow and few whistles, and through the first 18 minutes the play was fairly even, illustrated by each club throwing 10 shots on goal to that point. However, Port Huron got the final three shots of the frame, the last of which lit the lamp behind the Kalamazoo goal.

Following an extended shift in the K-Wings' zone, the Icehawks regrouped in their own end with Steve Rymsha regaining possession. The former WMU Bronco lobbed a breakaway pass through center for 17th-year pro and longtime NHLer Bryan Smolinski, playing the fourth game of his comeback.

Smolinski deked Tapp out of position and dumped a forehand shot into the cage with just four seconds left in the period, earning not only his first goal and point of the season but also his first IHL goal since 1996, when he netted five for the Detroit Vipers.

Smolinski would play a key role in the next Icehawks goal as well, dishing to Robert Snowball on right wing during a three-on-two rush. Snowball (4th) cruised into the faceoff circle and buried a wrister off the left post and in for a two-goal margin at 15:43 of the second.

It would be the only score of the period, putting the K-Wings in the same predicament they faced a week ago on the first Education Day - trailing 2-0 at home after 40 minutes.

For Game Stats: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=735832

The K-Wings will remain at home this Friday, March 6th for a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Flint Generals.

Single-game tickets for any of the K-Wings 38 regular season home games are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call Wings Stadium Ticket Office during regular business hours at (269) 345-5101.

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 4, 2009


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