FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20, 2020

K-WINGS FOLLOW ALL-STAR BREAK WITH SIX-GAME ROAD TRIP

Kalamazoo travels to Tulsa for two games this weekend against the Oilers at BOK Center.

OVERALL RECORD:  13-20-4

LAST WEEK:  1-2-0

RESULTS

Wednesday, Jan. 15 – Florida 6, Kalamazoo 3  (Wings Event Center – Kalamazoo, MI) | Box Score

>> The Kalamazoo Wings returned home for the first time in 2020 and fell behind 3-0 in the first period to the Florida Everblades. Two power play goals from Justin Kovacs and newcomer Austin Farley in the first 5:06 of the middle frame brought the K-Wings back to within one, but the Everblades added their fourth goal to go up 4-2 after two. Kovacs added his second goal of the game with eight minutes left in regulation to make it 4-3, but Florida tallied an insurance goal 1:18 later and added an empty net marker in the final minute to complete a 6-3 win.

Friday, Jan. 17 – Kalamazoo 5, Wheeling 4  (Wings Event Center – Kalamazoo, MI) | Box Score

>> An early strike from Luke Sandler started a back-and-forth thriller between Kalamazoo and Wheeling Friday at Wings Event Center. After the Nailers tied it, Ian Edmondson scored to put the K-Wings back in front. Another Wheeling goal evened the score at 2-2 after one. Justin Kovacs continued his big week with another goal to put Kalamazoo back in the lead for the third time, but Wheeling scored a power play goal late in the second period to tie it at 3-3. Eric Kattelus put the K-Wings in front for good when he beat the buzzer with 6.6 seconds left in the stanza. Then Matheson Iacopelli buried a breakaway goal 27 seconds into the third for the eventual game-winner in a 5-4 finish.

Saturday, Jan. 18 – Florida 4, Kalamazoo 1  (Wings Event Center – Kalamazoo, MI) | Box Score

>> It took a few minutes longer than Wednesday’s game, but the Florida Everblades opened up another 3-0 first period lead of the K-Wings Saturday in the rematch. Justin Taylor brought Kalamazoo back to within two when he scored on a rebound midway through the second period, as the K-Wings trailed 3-1 entering the final frame. Florida, though, snuffed out Kalamazoo’s hopes with a power play goal, confirmed by video review, early in the third period and held the K-Wings to just 21 shots.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Friday, Jan. 24 – Kalamazoo AT Tulsa, 8:05 p.m. ET – BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)

Saturday, Jan. 25 – Kalamazoo AT Tulsa, 8:05 p.m. ET – BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)

ON THE MOVE

1/15 – Forward Austin Farley signed to standard player contract.

FAST FACTS

• Justin Kovacs had 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in 3 games last week.
• Austin Farley scored a goal and added an assist in his K-Wings debut Wednesday.
• Ian Edmondson recorded his first multi-point game of the season Friday.

TEAM TRENDS

• After Friday’s win, Kalamazoo is now 5-1-0 against Wheeling this season.
• The K-Wings scored 34 seconds apart (19:53 of the second period, 0:27 of the third) Friday.
• Kalamazoo now embarks on a season-long six-game road trip after the all-star break.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

POINTS:               34 – Dylan Sadowy

GOALS:                 17 – Sadowy

ASSISTS:               22 – Kyle Blaney

PLUS/MINUS:    +2 – Ian Edmondson, Tyler Ganly

PIMS:                   81 – Luke Sandler

PP GOALS:          6 – Sadowy, Justin Taylor

SH GOALS:          1 – Brennan Sanford, Tanner Sorenson, Aaron Thow

GW GOALS:        3 – Taylor, Matheson Iacopelli

SHOTS:                129 – Iacopelli

WINS:                   8 – Jake Hildebrand

GAA:                     3.85 – Hildebrand

SAVE %:               .880 – Hildebrand

SPECIAL TEAMS

POWER PLAY:    Overall – 29/146  (19.9%) – 7th in ECHL

                                Last Week – 2/10  (20.0%)

PENALTY KILL:   Overall – 119/157  (75.8%) - 25th in ECHL

                                Last Week – 6/8  (75.0%)

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#StrongAloneUnstoppableTogether