FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

November 24, 2023

KALAMAZOO JUMPS ON TOLEDO EARLY, RIDES SPECIAL TEAMS TO ROAD WIN

K-Wings explode with three goals in 1st and respond to Walleye's charge back with crucial PPG.

BOX SCORE

TOLEDO, OH – The Kalamazoo Wings (5-8-0-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, came out swinging in the first with three goals and used the power play to right the ship after Toledo (8-3-1-1) surged in the second period to defeat the Walleye 4-3 at Huntington Center Friday.

Brandon Saigeon (1) threw the knockout punch by sniping in a juicy rebound from the left side with 2:02 left in the second period. Robert Calisti (4) and Ty Glover (6) assisted the game-winner with one second left on the power play via good puck movement and a well-placed shot off the boards.

Erik Bradford (4) opened the scoring by knocking a loose puck into the net from the crease at the 13:55 mark of the first. Glover (5) and Brad Morrison (6) recorded helpers on the K-Wings' first of two power play goals on the evening.

David Keefer (2) then crashed the back pipe to convert off a saucy pass from Josh Passolt (1) on a 2-on-1 rush. The forwards connected to double Kalamazoo’s lead with 1:51 remaining in the opening stanza.

Chaz Reddekopp (1) extended the lead just 61 seconds later when his shot from the point caromed off the end boards and found its way home after striking the Toledo netminder. Justin Taylor (1) and Drake Pilon (1) were credited with assists on the captain’s tally, and Pilon’s primary assist was his first professional point. 

Despite falling behind 3-0 after 20 minutes, Toledo fought its way back into the game with a big second period and scored three goals during the frame. The K-Wings stayed composed and responded with Saigeon’s game-winner.

Goaltender Hunter Vorva (1-2-0-0) made 36 saves and dazzled at times to fend off the Walleye surge, picking up his first win of the season. 

Kalamazoo finished the game 2-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. Toledo took the final shot total, 39-21.

The K-Wings are back in action Saturday at 7:00 p.m. EST for Lavender Ice versus the Cincinnati Cyclones at Wings Event Center. Tickets to the game can be purchased HERE.

Also, don’t miss out on the Hockey Fights Cancer Ticket pack. Enjoy four tickets to Lavender Ice on November 25, four silicone HFC bracelets and 10% of your ticket package will be donated to West Michigan Cancer Center. There will also be a HFC specialty jersey auction immediately following the game, benefiting WMCC. Click HERE to secure your package NOW! Or purchase single-game tickets to Lavender Ice HERE.

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Sunday, Nov. 26, the Indy Fuel visit for the annual ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ game, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, at 3:00 p.m. EST at Wings Event Center. What better way to kick off the holiday season than giving back? Join the K-Wings for the annual Teddy Bear Toss game. How can you help? Bring a new or lightly used teddy bear (or any stuffed animal) to throw onto the ice when the K-Wings score their first goal, and we’ll deliver it to kids in need this holiday season. Also, join us for our first postgame skate of the season with the players! $5 skate rentals will be available postgame.

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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 Vancouver Canucks and the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks. Kalamazoo plays their 36 regular season home games at Wings Event Center from October through April.

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