FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 9, 2019

K-WINGS SPLIT SERIES IN WHEELING TO START ROAD TRIP

Kalamazoo prepares for four games in five days, starting Wednesday in Cincinnati and wrapping up with return home Sunday afternoon.

OVERALL RECORD:  7-11-2

LAST WEEK:  1-1-0

RESULTS

Friday, Dec. 6 – Wheeling 6, Kalamazoo 2  (WesBanco Arena – Wheeling, WV) | Box Score

>> The Kalamazoo Wings started a five-game road trip with an early goal from Yannick Veilleux 2:51 into Friday’s game at WesBanco Arena. However, the Nailers scored three straight goals on three consecutive odd-man rushes to lead 3-1 by the 5:19 mark of the first period. Zach Saar helped the K-Wings close the gap with a power play goal before the end of the frame. Wheeling added a short-handed goal and a late second period marker to go up 5-2 entering the third, and Brandon Hawkins completed a hat trick with a power play goal late in regulation to complete the scoring.

Saturday, Dec. 7 – Kalamazoo 4, Wheeling 1  (WesBanco Arena – Wheeling, WV) | Box Score

>> The K-Wings responded in a big way with two goals in the first 6:33 of the opening period and held the Nailers to just one shot in the first 20 minutes. Boston Leier scored a power play goal 3:15 into the game and Matt VanVoorhis made it 2-0 with his first pro goal minutes later. Jake Kielly, who saw only one shot in the first, stopped seven in the second period and 16 of 17 in the third in the 4-1 victory. Ben Wilson made it 3-0 in the second period when he tapped in a centering pass on a 3-on-1 rush. The Nailers spoiled Kielly’s shutout bid with 10:05 to play, but Leier added an empty net goal for his second of the game to seal Kalamazoo’s bounce-back win.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, Dec. 11 – Kalamazoo AT Cincinnati, 7:35 p.m. – Heritage Bank Center (Cincinnati, OH)

Friday, Dec. 13 – Kalamazoo AT Cincinnati, 7:35 p.m. – Heritage Bank Center (Cincinnati, OH)

Saturday, Dec. 14 – Kalamazoo AT Indy, 6:05 p.m. – Indiana Farmers Coliseum (Indianapolis, IN)

Sunday, Dec. 15 – Cincinnati vs. Kalamazoo, 3:00 p.m. – Wings Event Center (Kalamazoo, MI)

FAST FACTS

• Yannick Veilleux has a 5-game point streak (2g, 4a) for the second time this season.
• Boston Leier recorded his first career three-point game (2g, 1a) Saturday at Wheeling.
• Eric Kattelus has seven assists in his first six games of the season, including three multi-assist games.

TEAM TRENDS

• Three of Kalamazoo’s last four wins have come against Wheeling.
• The Nailers 1 shot in Saturday’s first period was the fewest the K-Wings have allowed in a period.
• The only division opponent Kalamazoo hasn’t faced is Indy…until Saturday’s meeting in Indianapolis.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

POINTS:               22 – Dylan Sadowy

GOALS:                 13 – Sadowy

ASSISTS:               11 – Yannick Veilleux

PLUS/MINUS:    +3 – Ian Edmondson, Tyler Ganly, Luke Sandler

PIMS:                   67 – Sandler

PP GOALS:          6 – Sadowy

SH GOALS:          1 – Brennan Sanford, Tanner Sorenson

GW GOALS:        2 – Sadowy

SHOTS:                58 – Matheson Iacopelli, Sadowy, Veilleux

WINS:                   4 – Jake Hildebrand

GAA:                     3.43 – Hildebrand

SAVE %:               .891 – Hildebrand

SPECIAL TEAMS

POWER PLAY:    Overall – 14/87  (16.1%) – 14th in ECHL

                                Last Week – 2/13  (15.4%)

PENALTY KILL:   Overall – 73/95  (76.8%) - 25th in ECHL

                                Last Week – 9/10  (90.0%)

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SUNDAY, DEC. 15 – PUCKS AND PAWS

There’s a 14/10 chance you (and your dogs) will have a great time at our annual “Pucks and Paws Game”, as the Kalamazoo Wings welcome the Cincinnati Cyclones at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15. Make sure to check out the dog race on the ice during the first intermission, and hang around after the game for a postgame skate with the players. Dog tickets are $5.

#StrongAloneUnstoppableTogether