WINGS WEEKLY: TAKING MOMENTUM ON THE ROAD

Last Week:

Fri., Jan. 25 – Kalamazoo vs. Rapid City, OTW, 3-2

Sat., Jan. 26 – Kalamazoo at Indy, L, 4-2

Sun., Jan. 27 – Kalamazoo vs. Indy, W, 4-3

This Week:

Thurs., Jan. 31 – Kalamazoo at Toledo, 10:30 am

Sat., Feb. 1 – Kalamazoo at Wheeling, 8:05 pm

Upcoming:

Back on the Road:

The K-Wings will play five of the next six games away from home, with the lone home game coming on February sixth against the Indy Fuel. The Feb. 6 meeting with the Fuel will be a 2-6-9 night and Winning Week Day. Fans are invited to enjoy $2 beer, $6 hot dog baskets, and $9 tickets. In addition if the K-Wings win fans will be able to redeem their ticket at the box office for a ticket to the next week day game.

Quick Hits:

Thomas’ Tallies:

After scoring only three goals in his first 27 games, Kyle Thomas has paced the K-Wing offense in the last four games scoring five times. The forward also recorded assists in the prior two games, giving him a point in each of his last six games. His four-game scoring streak is tied for the second longest active streak in the ECHL. Only Chris Collins has a longer ECHL streak. The six-game point streak is a career high for Thomas. He tied a career-high five-game streak on two occasions last season while with the Utah Grizzlies last season. Thomas ranks fifth on the team in points with 23 (8g, 15a).

Back-to-Back-to-Back:

After collecting a shootout victory last Saturday night Jake Hildebrand headed into the weekend looking to win consecutive starts for the third time this season.  Hildebrand picked up victories over Rapid City on Friday and Indy on Sunday to give the netminder three-straight victories for only the second time this season. Hildebrand’s career long win-streak is five games, and came from Nov. 11-Nov. 23 during the 2016-17 season, while as a member of the Indy Fuel. The Michigan State product is currently 12-13-0-2, with a 3.70 goals against average, and a .886 save percentage.

Reigning Player of the Week Makes Push for Month Honors:

Reigning ECHL Player of the Week Tanner Sorenson continued his push for Player of the Month honors over the weekend notching a goal on both Saturday and Sunday. Through ten games in January Sorenson leads the ECHL with 19 points, (8g, 11a) paired with a plus-four rating. Kalamazoo has one game remaining in the month of January. Since returning to the K-Wings from playing in Europe Sorenson has notched 31 points in 25 games for Kalamazoo.

Big Goals from a Big Player:

Forward Zach Saar recorded his first multi-goal game on Sunday afternoon, picking up a pair of goals including the game-winner against the Indy Fuel. Saar, 25, had recorded four career multi-point games in his career, but had never scored more than a single goal in a game. The game-winner was Saar’s second of the season.

Central Division Standings:

1. Cincinnati, (27-8-3-3), 60 pts
2. Toledo, (26-10-3-3), 58 pts
3. Indy, (22-19-2-1),47 pts
4. Indy, (22-17-1-2), 47 pts
5. Wheeling, (20-20-2-0), 43 pts
6. Kalamazoo, (20-20-0-2), 42 pts

K-Wings Leaders:

1. Reid Gardiner, F, 21g-23a-44pts
2. Tanner Sorenson, F, 12g-21a-33pts
3. Justin Taylor, F, 21g-6a-27pts
4. Kyle Bushee, D, 5g-20a-25pts

Kalamazoo Wings single game and season tickets are available now! More information can be gathered at www.kwings.com/seasontickets.

Wings Event Center, owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group, is home to the Kalamazoo Wings professional hockey team and a full entertainment venue offering concerts, sporting events, family shows and trade shows. Built in 1974, Wings Event Center values partnerships with the community to bring events and attractions that enrich the lives of residents in the Kalamazoo area.