Robbie Payne Leads Kalamazoo's Offensive Outburst

Published on October 30, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings News Release


Jamestown, NY- A wild game that featured no shortage of offense led to an 8-7 victory for the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings. Robbie Payne highlighted the contest with his seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) on the total of eight goals scored on the day by Kalamazoo. Andrew Graves also added three goals for the Jr. K-Wings who are now tied for first place in the North Division.

The back and forth first period got underway with a strike from Kalamazoo's Robbie Payne on an unassisted tally that gave the Jr. K-Wings the early lead. Taking advantage of a turnover in Jamestown's zone, Payne capitalized scoring his team leading 11th goal of the season.

Later in the period, Andrew Graves extended Kalamazoo's lead to 2-0. Taking assists from Chris Hughes and Robbie Payne, Graves slotted his 6th goal on the year giving the Jr. K-Wings some breathing room early in the first period.

However, it only took Jamestown 35 seconds to respond. Brett Szajner cut the Jr. K-Wings lead in half when he took a pass from brother Zack Szajner and beat Kalamazoo goaltender Alex Okicki.

Again wasting no time, Zack Sxajner scored only three minutes and one second later. The two tallies in three minutes brought Jamestown back from down 0-2. Matt Moore added the lone assist on the goal that tied the game up.

Completing the resurgence, Anthony Coles gave Jamestown their first lead of the game with only three minutes and twenty-six seconds left in the opening stanza. Taking a pass from Jeff McFarland, Coles beat a perplexed Okicki who watched his team's two goal lead turn into a one-goal deficit.

The second period started off with no goals in the first five minutes of action but that changed when Andrew Graves knotted the game up with his second goal of the game. Payne added the only assist for his third point of the game.

For the second time in the game, the Jr. K-Wings scored two unanswered goals, this time giving them a 4-3 lead in the second period. Danny Hamburg took advantage of a power play and scored his second on the year taking a pass from Payne who had a point on the first four goals Kalamazoo scored.

Following the form of the first period, the second yielded the same results as Jamestown capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play and once again tied the game. Wes Elrod, taking passes from Mark Esshaki and Jon Smith, buried the equalizer ten minutes into the second.

Seeing the lead disappear again, Kalamazoo waited less than two minutes in taking it back. Robbie Payne continued his hot streak with his second goal of the game and his fifth point on the afternoon. Matt Wurst had the only assist on the lead-changing goal.

Joining the festivities, Jr. K-Wings new addition Austin Harvey scored his first on the year to increase the Kalamazoo lead back up to two with six minutes remaining in the second period. Trevor Boyd added the lone assist on the sixth goal in just two periods for the Jr. K-Wings. The goal chased Jamestown goaltender Joe Ballmer from the game and brought in back up Joe Gladnick.

Once again Jamestown found it in them to respond being down by two goals. Jon Smith, taking a pass from Matt Moore, found the back of the net and scored the 11th goal of the game and cut the lead back to one at 6-5 with four minutes remaining in the second period.

However, the Kalamazoo power play proved to be too much to handle.

Andrew Graves added his third goal of the game recording his first hat trick with the Jr. K-Wings before the second period horn sounded. Robbie Payne added his fourth assist of the game as well as Brett Beauvais. The second period came to a close with a total of twelve goals favoring Kalamazoo 7-5.

The third period got off to a slow start in comparison with the rest of the game. No goals were scored until Jamestown's Anthony Coles scored his second of the game and cut the Jr. K-Wings lead to 7-6 with twelve minutes remaining the final frame.

Climbing all the back, Jamestown tied the game less than two minutes later. Wes Elrod scored his second of the game and Matt Moore added his third assist. It was the 14th goal of the game and seventh allowed by Okicki.

The way this game was going, there would be no surprises who broke the tie late in the game. Robbie Payne completed that hat trick and gave the Jr.

K-Wings the lead back. Not only was it Payne's third goal of the game, it was his 7th total point on the afternoon. Matt Cessna was credited with the assist on the 8th goal of the night for Kalamazoo.

With ten minutes to go in the game, Kenneth MacLean came into the game and replaced Alex Okicki. MacLean faced two shots and stopped them both.

When the final horn sounded in Jamestown, the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings skated away with an 8-7 victory highlighted by Andrew Graves's three goals and Robbie Payne's seven points (3 goals, 4 assists).

Official game stats can be found at http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html'gameid1646825

The Jr. K-Wings will return to the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West on Saturday, November 5th for a 2 p.m. contest versus the Port Huron Fighting Falcons.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American Hockey League Stories from October 30, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central