Game Rewind

Saturday, October 24th Vs Reading (Kalamazoo 3-Reading 2-Overtime)

Kalamazoo, MI- Energized by a crowd of 4,482 at Wings Stadium, the Kalamazoo Wings delivered in their first-ever ECHL home contest with a 3-2 overtime thriller versus the Reading Royals.

Looking to put a damper on the K-Wings home opener, the Royals jumped out to an early lead, when Charles Kronschnabel (2nd) found the loose puck and sailed it past Ryan Nie 9:05 into the first period.

With a Ryan McGinnis penalty carrying over into the second period, the Royals would capitalize on the power-play with tally from Stafano Giliati (3rd) to extend their lead to 2-0.

Storming back with a pair of goals later in the period, the K-Wings pulled even. Andrew Fournier’s (2nd) deflection of a Tom Morrow blast cut the deficit to a single goal. Kalamazoo knotted the contest at the 15:28 mark with a highlight reel marker from Mathieu Curadeau (2nd)

Neither team responded with a goal ahead go in the third, which forced overtime. In the extra session, Curadeau (3rd) squeezed the puck over the shoulder of Kevin Regan to secure the victory.

Nie stopped 31 shots in the victory, while Regan turned aside 42 in defeat.

Sunday, October 25th  Vs Reading (Kalamazoo 6-Reading 1)

Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Wings remain one of just three undefeated teams in the ECHL, improving their record to 5-0-0-0 with a 6-1 victory over the Reading Royals at Wings Stadium.

Kalamazoo jumped out a 2-0 lead midway into the opening period. Will Colbert registered his first pro goal at the 13:42 mark on a slap shot from the left circle. The K-Wings extended their lead two minutes later, when Darryl Bootland finished off a three-on-two scoring his third of the season.

Continuing the onslaught in the second, Kalamazoo erupted for a pair of goals from Rick Cleaver (2nd, 3rd), Cleaver scored on a give-and-go pass from Bootland 6:52 into the period. Less than two minutes later, it was Cleaver again this time on a left circle wrister that was setup on a feed from Anton Kharin.

Cleaver, who assisted on Bootland’s first period marker, has now recorded points in all five games this season for Kalamazoo.

Reading pulled to within three goals midway in the third period from team-leading scorer Stafano Giliati (4th), who now has eight points on the season.

Dominating the rest of the period, Kalamazoo’s Trent Daavettila (2nd) and Matt Jones (1st) lit the lamp 22 seconds apart to conclude the scoring in the game.

Ryan Nie stopped 26 shots to earn his third victory of the season, as the K-Wings out shot the Royals 42-27 for the game.

Fast Forward

Returning to the ice on Friday, October 30th, the Kalamazoo Wings will head to the WesBanco Arena for a 7:35 p.m, face-off against the Wheeling Nailers. The Nailers, who are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are currently in fifth place in the North Division with a record of 1-5-0-0. Wheeling is coached by Greg Puhalski and finished last season with a record of 36-28-8, earning a birth in the Kelly Cup playoffs.

The K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium this Saturday, October 31st for a 7:30 p.m. versus the Toledo Walleye during the 6th Annual Orange Ice Game. Kalamazoo is 1-4-0-0 on the pumpkin colored surface. The last time a team from Kalamazoo faced-off against a team from Toledo was during the 1985-86 season, when the K-Wings played the former Toledo Goaldiggers of the International Hockey League.  The Walleye start the week tied with the Cincinnati Cyclone (6 points) for second place in the North Division. Toledo is coached by ECHL Hall of Famer Nick Vitucci and is an affiliate for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.

Off to a Good Start

One of just three undefeated teams remaining in the ECHL (Elmira and Idaho), Kalamazoo is off to one of their best starts in their history. The organizations record for best start to a season is 7-0-0-0 set during 1990-91 season, when the K-Wings were in the International Hockey League.

Five Alive

Forward Rick Cleaver has had a productive start to the sesaon. Cleaver, who has recorded two three-point nights this year, is currently on a five-game point and assist streak.

Nearing the Century Mark

Stingy Defense

Through five games the K-Wings have allowed a total of six goals. The six goals allowed is the fewest of any team in the ECHL.  

The Obscure Stat of the Week

A tradition will continue this Saturday, as the K-Wings host the Toledo Walleye during the 6th Annual Orange Ice Game. Ironically, designed to celebrate Halloween, this year will be the first that the contest will actually be played on October 31st.

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 ECHL has to offer. Tickets are on sale now by calling the Wings Stadium Ticket Office at (269) 345-5101.

Get On-Line

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

Bootland and Mason on the Radio

Join special guests Darryl Bootland and Jeff Mason tonight as they join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the “Voice of the K-Wings” Mike Modugno on “K-Wings Live”. The show is on The Classic Hits Station WLKM (95.9 FM) and online through the B-2 Networks through www.kwings.com from 7-8 p.m. at Old Burdick’s Bar and Grill inside the Holiday Inn Kalamazoo on South 11th Street. 

K-Wings on Radio

Catch all the K-Wings games, home and away, on the K-Wings Radio Network (95.9 FM WLKM & B-2 Networks on kwings.com). Join the “Voice of the K-Wings” Mike Modugno for all 72 regular season games plus the playoffs. Pre-game coverage begins with the Kalsee Credit Union 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.