FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 8, 2023

K-WINGS STEAL POINT FROM CYCLONES IN THRILLER 

Kalamazoo rallies three times after trailing 2-0 to force overtime, but Cincinnati scores in final minute of OT.

BOX SCORE

CINCINNATI, OH – The Kalamazoo Wings (27-36-5-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets, withstood an early punch from the Cincinnati Cyclones (46-14-6-3) to force overtime, but fell 5-4 Saturday at Heritage Bank Center.

Justin Murray (5) netted the game-tying goal with just 7.1 seconds left in regulation to send the game to OT. With a 6-on-4 advantage, Brad Morrison (15) sent a feed to Ben Copeland (4) in the right circle for the initial shot, and Murray cleaned up the trash.

After back-and-forth action in overtime, which included an incredible save by Hunter Vorva (11-9-2-0) after losing his stick, the Cyclones scored the game-winning goal at the 6:13 mark of the extra frame.

Cincinnati pulled out to a 2-0 lead with goals at the 11:01 mark of the first and 15:49 mark of the second period, but Kalamazoo was ready to answer.

David Keefer (3) scored just 19 seconds after the Cyclones’ second goal to make it a 2-1 game. Off the center ice draw, Keefer tickled the twine from the left circle with a nasty wrister. Robert Calisti (18) earned the assist on the K-Wings’ first goal.

Then, at the 1:02 mark of the third, Luke Morgan (7) ripped a tough-angle shot that deflected off a Cincinnati defender and in for a goal. Collin Saccoman (14) and Morrison (14) assisted on Morgan’s goal to knot the game at two.

The Cyclones responded with a power play goal at the 9:15 mark to retake the lead.

But Morgan (8) wasn’t done yet, with a no-doubt wrister from the slot to make it 3-3. Copeland (3) sent a pretty pass between two Cincinnati defenders to Morgan’s stick, and Kyle Rhodes (8) earned the secondary assist on the game-tying goal.

Cincinnati regained the lead one more time with a goal at the 16:15 mark to set up Murray’s heroics.

Vorva finished with 32 saves on 37 shots faced in the overtime defeat.

Kalamazoo stays on the road against the Fort Wayne Komets (33-28-4-3) Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. EDT at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

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It’s the last regular-season $3 Friday game of the season, and we want to celebrate you, the fans, as the K-Wings take on the Toledo Walleye on April 14 at Wings Event Center. Get your tickets HERE, and we’ll supply the $3 beers, sodas and hot dogs so all you need to do is come cheer on your favorite team. We’ll also be giving away free team posters upon entry to the arena.

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The Kalamazoo Wings are a professional hockey team located in southwest Michigan that has been a staple in the Kalamazoo, MI professional sports landscape since 1974. The K-Wings compete in the ECHL and are the AA affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets and the American Hockey League’s Cleveland Monsters. Kalamazoo plays their 36 regular season home games at Wings Event Center from October through April.

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