FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

January 27, 2024

K-WINGS WEATHER STORM, DOWNPOUR 5-1 ON WALLEYE

Bradford records three helpers, 100th franchise point in huge come-from-behind Kalamazoo win. 

BOX SCORE

TOLEDO, OH – The Kalamazoo Wings (19-17-2-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, used strong goaltending, four multi-point performances, yet another Erik Bradford milestone, and outstanding defense to defeat the Toledo Walleye (24-9-3-3) at Huntington Center on Saturday, 5-1.

Kalamazoo scored five straight goals from the 7:01 mark of the second period on and improved to 6-1-1-0 against Toledo with the come-from-behind victory. Goaltender Hunter Vorva (5-5-0-0) was sublime throughout, stole the show in the first period and tied his season-high with 36 stops on 37 shots faced. 

Josh Passolt (12) changed the game's trajectory with a one-timer from the left circle that pulled Kalamazoo even at one in the second. Passolt slapped home a loose puck after a Chad Nychuk (8) dump-in ricocheted off the corner to his stick. David Keefer (17) also assisted the goal.

Keefer (11) gave the K-Wings a 2-1 lead at the 13:37 mark with a tip-in from the slot. Derek Daschke (9) released the initial shot from the left point while Bradford (28) recorded the secondary assist with a hustle play to keep possession of the puck.

Erik Bradford (30) skated in his 100th game with Kalamazoo and recorded his 100th point as a K-Wing with the primary assist on a gorgeous Nychuk (1) backhand goal at the 19:36 mark of the second. Passolt (7) also assisted Kalamazoo’s sixth 4-on-4 goal of the year to make the score 3-1.

Kalamazoo kept the pressure on in the third, as Passolt (13) netted his second goal of the contest with a tap-in from the right side of the crease at 6:32. Passolt converted on a Bradford (30) pass that fell to his feet after hitting his shin pad. The goal was set up by a nifty Jordan Seyfert (3) drop pass to Bradford after the forward stole the puck in the neutral zone.

Luke Morgan (1) scored the game’s final goal at the 10:17 mark with an unassisted snipe from the left circle. Morgan scampered down the ice after creating a turnover and no-looked the puck into the goal on a two-on-one rush to score his first goal of the year.

Toledo scored its only goal of the game at the 1:17 mark of the second. 

The K-Wings finished the game scoreless on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Toledo took the final shot total, 37-26.

Kalamazoo is back in action Sunday at 3:00 p.m. EST versus the Indy Fuel (20-15-4-0) for Alzheimer’s Awareness at Wings Event Center. Tickets to the game can be purchased HERE.

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Join the K-Wings for Pink Ice, presented by Bronson, on Feb. 10 and catch the deal of the month with the Stick it to Cancer Ticket package! Get (4) four tickets to the game and (4) silicone bracelets with 10% of the package cost donated to Bronson Health Foundation for just $49. Click HERE to secure your package now!

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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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