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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Week in Review

March 25, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


For the Week of March 24th- March 30th

Record Last Week: 1-2-0 Overall Record 28-37-8

Game Rewind The K-Wings hit the ice three times last week, as they continued their push towards trying to squeeze into the final playoff spot. Kalamazoo started the week on Monday (3/17), as they hosted the Fort Wayne Comets in the 22nd Annual St. Patrick's Day Green Ice Game at Wings Stadium. Fort Wayne started the scoring eleven minutes into the opening period, when Josh Tataryn scored his 1st goal of the season. The Komets would add to their lead a few minutes later when Colin Chaulk netted his 27th of the season. Kalamazoo would get the only goal of the 2nd period as Pat O'Leary continued his hot streak by scoring his 14th goal of the season. With the score 2-1 going into the third, Fort Wayne solidified their victory and spoiled the K-Wings St. Patrick's Day celebration with two unanswered goals by Stewart and Forte. Fort Wayne would use strong goaltending by Cory Campbell in the 3rd period to post a 4-1 victory over Kalamazoo.

The Kalamazoo Wings continued the week on Friday (3/21), as they traveled to Elmira to take on the Jackals. For the K-Wings and the Jackals the game was their third against each other in a week. The Jackals took control early as they used goals by Mike Thompson and Aaron Phillips in the first ten minutes of the game to take a 2-0 lead into the 1st intermission. Kalamazoo would climb within one in the second when Dan Hodge scored his 4th goal of the year. The Jackals would get the goal back a minute later when Aaron Phillips got his second goal of the game. The K-Wings would put the pressure on the third period as they again got within a goal of the Jackals as Mark Vilneff put one past Elmira goaltender Marco Emond. Emond, however, would come up huge stopping 34 shots in the game giving the Jackals a 3-2 victory.

Kalamazoo finished off the week as they hosted the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday (3/22). Kalamazoo needing a regulation victory to keep their playoff hopes alive would take the lead early in the first period when Kurt Miller scored short handed for his 20th goal of the season. The K-Wings would extend their lead in the second when Peter Roed put one past Rockford Goaltender Martin Fillion for his 21st tally of the season. The IceHogs mounted a comeback starting with Kevin Kerr's 22nd of the season with only a minute to go in the second. The IceHogs would complete their comeback with a goal by Steve Cygan six minutes into the third period. Needing a win, the K-Wings would pull goaltender Chad Alban late in the third. With neither team able to net the game winner, the contest would head into overtime where Alban was sensational stopping all five of Rockford's attempts, Peter Roed scored the only shootout goal, giving Kalamazoo the 3-2 win. Fast Forward The K- Wings will finish off their season this week as they take the ice three times beginning on Friday (3/28) when they take on the Port Huron Beacons at Wings Stadium. Kalamazoo has enjoyed success this year against Port Huron going 4-3-0 against the Beacons. The game also coincides with Fan Appreciation Night; all K-Wings fans are encouraged to stay after the game to witness the Teams Award Ceremony.

After the game on Friday, Kalamazoo will hit the road for its final two games of the year. On Saturday (3/29), Kalamazoo will travel to Moline, Illinois to take on the Quad City Mallards. The K-wings are 4-4-0 against the Mallards this year, however, they are 1-3-0 at The MARKS of the Quad Cities.

The K-Wings will wrap up their season on the road on Sunday (3/30) when they take on the Missouri River Otters. This is an important game for Missouri as they sit 1 point behind the Muskegon Fury for second place in Western Conference and home ice in the first round. The game won't be easy for Missouri as the K-Wings hold a 6-2-3 record against the Otters.

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.

Vilneff Closes in on 600 K-Wings Defenseman Mark Vilneff is closing in on a personal milestone. With 598 professional games played, Vilneff needs only 2 more games to reach 600. To reach the feat, Mark will have to play in two of the K-Wings remaining three games. O' Leary Streak Reaches Four K-Wing forward Patrick O' Leary starts the week on a point streak. O'Leary has recorded 2 goals and has added 3 assists in his last four games

Velebny on the Radio Join special guest Lubos Velebny, 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. This week's K-Wings Live will be the last of the season.

The Obscure Stat of the Week There have been 9 penalty shots in the UHL this year, however only one player has scored. K-Wing Tyson Turgeon's penalty shot goal against Fort Wayne on February 19th has been the only penalty shot scored this season. In fact, the last penalty shot that was scored in the league was scored by New Haven's Doug Sheppard as he scored on B.C's Erasmo Saltarelli in a game back on 11/23/2001, a span of 13 penalty shots

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 Friday, March 28th Vs Port Huron 7:30 PM (Fan Appreciation Night) Saturday, March 29th @ Quad City 7:00 PM (CST) Sunday, March 30th @ Missouri 6:15 PM (CST) END OF THE REGULAR SEASON

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