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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Week in Review

March 17, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


For the Week of March 17th- March 23rd

Record Last Week: 1-2-0 Overall Record 27-35-8

Game Rewind The K-Wings hit the ice three times last week, as they continued their push to the post season. Kalamazoo started the week on Tuesday (3/11), as they traveled to Glens Falls, New York, to battle the Adirondack IceHawks. Kalamazoo got the scoring commenced two minutes into the opening period, when Pat O'Leary scored his 11th goal of the season off a breakaway. The IceHawks tied the game later in the period, when Hugo Belanger netted his 38th goal of the year to make the score 1-1 heading into the second period. Just like the first period, the K-Wings scored a goal in the opening seconds of the period. K-Wing defenseman Matt Kruzich chipped in his own rebound 56 seconds into the second period, which gave the K-Wings a 2-1 lead. Adirondack answered back for the second time in the back, as Belanger scored his second goal of the game and his 39th of the year to tie the game at 2-2. The score remained tied until the third period, when Adirondack scored the eventual game winning goal when Frank Littlejohn scored on a backhanded, which gave the IceHawks the lead and the eventual 3-2 victory.

The Kalamazoo Wings continued the week on Saturday (3/14), as they hosted the Elmira Jackals. For the K-Wings and the Jackals the game was the first part of their two game series. Kalamazoo stormed out to an early 2-0 lead, thanks in part from goals by Kurt Miller and Shawn Roed. However, from the there the night would belong to the Jackals, as Elmira tallied five unanswered goals, including two from Captain Mike Thompson. Jackal goaltender Marco Emond recorded 30 saves on the night to record his league leading 30th victory as the Jackals defeated the K-Wings 5-2.

Kalamazoo finished off the week as they hosted the Jackals in the second half of their home series (3/15). To quote, Yogi Berra "It's deja vu all over again", as the K-Wings duplicated their efforts the day prior and took a two nothing lead over the Jackals. First it was, Pat O' Leary knocking in a rebound to give the K-Wings a 1-0 lead. Then, Yannick Carpentier extended his K-Wings season high 10 game scoring streak to 10 games when he scored on a wrist shot from the right circle. Also, like the night before, the Jackals stormed back, as the Jackals scored three unanswered goals, including two from Glen Stewart gave the Jackals a 3-2 lead. However, the similarities from the night prior would come to an end later in the period, when O' Leary scored his second of the game and 13th of the year to tie the game heading into the third. In the final period, the K-Wings took over thanks in part from a pair of goals from Carpentier. The two goals from Yannick gave him a hat trick for the game, which was the K-Wings fourth of the season and the 15th in their UHL history. Elmira would make the game interesting, as Stewart netted his third of the game with less than a minute left in regulation, but it wouldn't be enough, as the K-Wings avenged their loss the night before with a 5-4 victory over Elmira. Fast Forward The K-Wings with continue their tour of Eastern Conference teams with two of their three games this week being played against teams from the east. Kalamazoo hits the ice tonight (3/17) as they host the Fort Wayne Komets in the 22nd Annual Green Ice Game at Wings Stadium. Kalamazoo is 14-4-3 on the Green Ice, and will battle their arch-rivals for just the first time on the colored ice. On the season, the K-Wings are 3-2-1 against Fort Wayne. This seventh meeting of the season will be the last of the regular season between the two teams.

Kalamazoo continues the week on the road has they travel to Elmira, New York to battle the Jackals (3/21). both On the season the K-Wings are 2-3-0 against the Jackals, which includes a split in their two game set over the weekend. Lifetime the K-Wings have fared well against Elmira, as Kalamazoo leads the all-time series with a record of 5-4-0. Elmira starts the week in third place in the Eastern Conference five points behind Fort Wayne for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Jackals are led by Randy Murphy, who is tied for fifth place in the UHL in scoring with 86 points. The K-Wings will end the week at home (3/22), in a game that has huge playoff implications, as the Rockford IceHogs make their final appearance in Wings Stadiums this season. The K-Wings trail the IceHogs by just four points for fourth place in the Western Conference. Kalamazoo is 3-4-0 against Rockford on the season, but they are a perfect 3-0-0 against the IceHogs this season at Wings Stadium. Trew Nears Milestone With his next shift, K-Wings forward Jordan Trew will reach a milestone. Trew is just one game shy of 100 of his career.

It Reaches Double Digits K-Wings forward Yannick Carpentier and Kurt Miller enter the week with 10 game point streak. For both players, the 10 game streak is not only their longest scoring streak of the year, it is also ties them for the longest streak this season for the K-Wings. Carpentier also starts the week with a 5 game goal streak. Hodge Streak Reaches Four K-Wing defenseman Dan Hodge also starts the week on a point streak. Hodge has recorded an assist in each of his last four games

Lawrence Sets K-Wings Season High With 3 assists in the K-Wings game last Saturday (3/15) versus Elmira, forward Mark Lawrence set a K-Wings season high for assist in a game. Lawrence recorded three assist in the game, which saw the K-Wings defeat the Jackals 5-4.

Mad Hatter Yannick Carpentier's recorded a hat trick versus Elmira last Saturday (3/15). The hat trick was the K-Wings fourth of the season, and their 15th in their franchise UHL history.

Playoff Hunt The K-Wings start the week 5 points behind Flint and 4 points behind Rockford for the final playoff spot in the UHL playoffs. Heading into their game against Fort Wayne (tonight), the K-Wings have 6 games remaining in the regular season.

Brooks on the Radio Join special guest Chris Brooks, as he joins General Manager/Head Coach Paul Pickard and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno on "K-Wings Live". The show is on The Sports Station 1600 AM WQSN Tuesday's from 6:30-7PM at Gallagher's Eatery on Stadium Drive.

The Obscure Stat of the Week Tonight Kalamazoo will play in the 22nd Annual Green Ice Game. The K-Wings are 14-4-3 in the traditional Green Ice Game. Tonight also marks their long time rival the Fort Wayne Komets have played the K-Wings in the game.

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Tickets Get Your Tickets!! Tickets for all K-Wings home games are now on sale. Catch all the action as your K-Wings play the very best the UHL has to offer. Tickets are on sale by calling the K-Wings at 345-5101.

Get on Line This season the best to keep track of the K-Wings is to log onto www.kwings.com. The new site has player profiles, information about Wings Stadium events, and much more.

K-Wings on Radio Catch all the K-Wings games home and away on the K-Wings Radio Network (WLKM 95.9, WQSN 1660 AM, and WRCC 1400 AM). Join the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno for all 76 regular season games and the playoffs. Pre game coverage begins with the Basic Communications Pre Game Show 15 minutes prior to face-off. For the most complete coverage of the K-Wings from the Opening Face-Off to the Final Buzzer keep your radio tuned this season to the K-Wings Radio Network.

UP COMING GAMES Monday, March 17th Vs Fort Wayne 7:00 PM (22nd Annual Green Ice Game Sponsored by Fifth-Third Bank, WLKM, and WOTV) Friday, March 21st @ Elmira 7:00 PM Saturday, March 22nd Vs Rockford 7:30 PM Friday, March 28th Vs Port Huron 7:30 PM (Fan Appreciation Night) Saturday, March 29th @ Quad City 7:00 PM (CST) Sunday, March 39th @ Missouri 6:15 PM (CST) END OF THE REGULAR SEASON

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