Kalamazoo, MI- A defensive battle the night before, an offensive explosion tonight. The Kalamazoo Wings matched their season-high for most goals in a game with 7-4 victory versus the Charlotte Checkers.

 

Before the crowd of 3,251 could get settled, the Checkers leaped ahead of the K-Wings with a goal from Andrew Carroll (14th) 1:58 into the contest.

 

The early goal allowed didn’t seem to unnerve Kalamazoo, who rattled off four answered goals of their lone.

 

A pair of lamp-lighters from Matt Jones (13th, 14th) propelled the K-Wings ahead. Later in the frame, Tyler Willis chipped a perfect pass to Sam Ftorek, who slit the defense to ring up his fifth goal of the season.

 

Each team exchanged power-play goals in the second period. Mathieu Curadeau (14th) rifled a shot from the point early in the stanza, while Julien Brouillett (7th) answered back with a 5-3 tally for the Checkers.

 

Putting the contest out reach in the third period, Jones (15th) earned his second professional hat trick after a Ftorek power-play drive hammered off the end wall and slid back in front of the net.

 

Kalamazoo recorded their third man-advantage marker midway in the period, when Rick Cleaver snipped his team-leading 17th goal of the season. Tonight was a milestone evening for Cleaver, who was playing in his 100th career pro contest.

 

Assisting on the tally was Jones, who ended the night with four points (3 goals, 1 assists). 

 

Keeping the pendulum swinging their way, Ftorek (6th) pushed the K-Wings lead to five goals netting his second of the evening to cap off a four-point night (2 goals, 2 assists) for the captain.

 

Charlotte closed out the scoring adding goals from David Marshall (6th) and Carroll (15th).

 

Perhaps giving the K-Wings a bit of good luck, two-year season ticket holder Dennis Randall was behind the bench, serving as assistant coach for the game. Randall received the honor by being selected the K-Wings’ January Two-Year Season Ticket Holder of the Month.

 

For Game Stats: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=7519               

Kalamazoo will commence a four-game road swing this Wednesday, January 13th with a 7:30 p.m. encounter against the Cincinnati Cyclones.

The K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium on Friday, January 22nd with a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Cincinnati Cyclones on Culver’s Night. The contest on January 22nd will also be a Frugal Fan Friday, which features $1 beer and $1 hot dogs.

Single-game tickets for any of the K-Wings 36 regular season home games are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call Wings Stadium Ticket Office during regular business hours at (269) 345-5101.

For more information about tonight’s game, please contact director of public relations/broadcaster Mike Modugno at (269) 349-9772 extension 220.

 

-www.kwings.com-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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