
Wings Weekly: K-Wings Open 47th Season Saturday at Wings Event Center
October 18, 2021 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release
Kalamazoo hosts Toledo in first official game in nearly 600 days, opening the 2021-22 season Saturday at 7:00 p.m. after Fan Fest.
OVERALL RECORD: 0-0-0
LAST WEEK (PRESEASON): 1-1-0
KALAMAZOO, MI - The Kalamazoo Wings, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets, begin the 2021-22 regular season Saturday with the team's Home Opener against the Toledo Walleye at 7:00 p.m. at Wings Event Center. It'll be the team's first official game since March 11, 2020, a span of 591 days.
The K-Wings' annual Fan Fest, presented by Bud Light, will precede the game starting at 4:30 p.m. in The Valley at Wings Event Center. Fan Fest will feature live music, food and drinks, a player red carpet, a smash car, and new this year, axe throwing. Fans with a game ticket can enter Fan Fest through Door 7.
Gates to the main arena open at 6:00 p.m. for the game. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Kalamazoo Wings 2021-22 Magnetic Schedule, a team-branded face mask and a mini bottle of hand sanitizer.
RESULTS (PRESEASON)
Friday, Oct. 15 - Toledo 4, Kalamazoo 2, (Wings Event Center - Kalamazoo, MI) | Box Score
>> The Toledo Walleye jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead behind a 14-2 shots advantage in the first preseason game Friday at night at Wings Event Center. Kalamazoo answered, when rookie defenseman Collin Saccoman blasted a power play goal from the point midway through the second period. The Walleye responded 40 seconds later to go up 3-1, but the K-Wings bounced back when Michael Davies found the net 1:07 after Toledo's third marker. The visitors padded their lead to 4-2 in the final minute of the frame and held off Kalamazoo in the third period to win by that score. Western Michigan alum and former Walleye goaltender Trevor Gorsuch stopped 30 of 34 shots for the K-Wings.
Saturday, Oct. 16 - Kalamazoo 4, Toledo 1 (Huntington Center - Toledo, OH) | Box Score
>> Although the Walleye again outshot the K-Wings In the first frame, Kalamazoo broke the scoreless deadlock Saturday when Matheson Iacopelli scored a fancy breakaway goal early in the second period of the rematch at Huntington Center. Iacopelli added a second tally later in the period to put the K-Wings up 2-0, but Toledo cut their deficit in half late in the stanza with their only goal of the night. Max Humitz struck back for Kalamazoo 24 seconds later to make it 3-1 before the break and added his second of the game early in the third period to complete the 4-1 score. Rookie goaltender Jet Greaves was stellar, stopping 38 of 39 Walleye shots.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Saturday, Oct. 23 - Toledo vs Kalamazoo, 7:00 p.m. - Wings Event Center (Kalamazoo, MI)
ON THE MOVE
10/10 - Goaltender Jet Greaves loaned to Kalamazoo by Cleveland (AHL).
10/12 - Forwards Zach Jordan and Jake Slaker, and defensemen Olivier LeBlanc and Giovanni Vallati loaned to Kalamazoo by Cleveland (AHL).
10/12 - Forward Max Humitz returned to Kalamazoo from loan to Cleveland (AHL).
10/16 - Defenseman Andrew McLean and goaltender Kade Phipps released from professional tryouts.
10/16 - Forward Nick Jermain traded to Fort Wayne for future considerations.
10/17 - Forward Andrew Bellant released from professional tryout.
FAST FACTS
- Matheson Iacopelli and Max Humitz each scored two goals in Kalamazoo's 4-1 preseason win Saturday.
- Rookie goaltender Jet Greaves stopped 38 of 39 shots in his first preseason game, a 4-1 win Saturday.
- Defensemen Michael Davies and Collin Saccoman each scored goals in their first pro preseason game Friday.
TEAM TRENDS
- Toledo outshot Kalamazoo 26-9 combined in the first period of the two preseason games.
- The K-Wings scored the only third period goal of the weekend for either team in Saturday's win.
- Kalamazoo was penalized 23 minutes in the two games, while Toledo was penalized 13 minutes.
STATISTICAL LEADERS (PRESEASON)
POINTS: 3 - Matheson Iacopelli
GOALS: 2 - Matheson Iacopelli, Max Humitz
ASSISTS: 2 - Erik Bradford
PLUS/MINUS: +4 - Erik Bradford, Michael Davies
PIMS: 5 - Justin Murray
PP GOALS: 1 - Collin Saccoman
SH GOALS: 0 - N/A
GW GOALS: 1 - Matheson Iacopelli
SHOTS: 8 - Matheson Iacopelli
WINS: 1 - Jet Greaves
GAA: 1.00 - Jet Greaves
SAVE %: .974 - Jet Greaves
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY: Last Week - 1/4 (25%)
PENALTY KILL: Last Week - 7/9 (77.8%)
ECHL Stories from October 18, 2021
- Wings Weekly: K-Wings Open 47th Season Saturday at Wings Event Center - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Transactions - October 18 - ECHL
- Houser Assigned to Cyclones - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Cédric Montminy Named Captain of the Lions - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Komets Home Opener Saturday - Fort Wayne Komets
- IceHogs Assign Goaltender Morris to the Fuel - Indy Fuel
- Stingrays Ink Carter Allen to PTO - South Carolina Stingrays
- Klotz, Coatta, Chabot Returned from Tucson - Rapid City Rush
- Growlers Announce 2021-22 Leadership Group - Newfoundland Growlers
- Thunder Receive Rodrigue, Gennaro from Bakersfield - Wichita Thunder
- Everblades' Opening Week Headlined by Saturday Battle with Jacksonville - Florida Everblades
- Worcester Railers HC Hire Julia Snow as First Female Athletic Trainer in Worcester Pro Hockey History - Worcester Railers HC
- ECHL Season Opens on Thursday - ECHL
- Manitoba Moose Assign Todd Burgess to Newfoundland - Newfoundland Growlers
- Laval Assign Cam Hillis to Trois-Rivières - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Steelheads Weekly - October 18, 2021 - Idaho Steelheads
- Lions Inaugural Game Sold-Out - Trois-Rivieres Lions
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.
Other Recent Kalamazoo Wings Stories
- Cadeau Earns Babik Award, ECHL Media/PR Director of the Year
- K-Wings Announce 2025-26 Schedule Change with Cyclones in February
- K-Wings Garner Six 2024-25 ECHL Team Award Nominations
- K-Wings Return to the Streets with the Kalamazoo Promise, Kzoo Parks & NHL Street©
- K-Wings Release 2025-26 Regular Season Schedule

