K-WINGS PUNCH BACK, BEAT NAILERS 5-3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

February 25, 2024 

K-WINGS PUNCH BACK, BEAT NAILERS 5-3

Four multipoint performances, 28 Vorva saves help Kalamazoo take 2-of-3 on the week.

BOX SCORE

WHEELING, WV – The Kalamazoo Wings (27-20-3-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, used two power-play goals, three Josh Passolt points, and 28 Hunter Vorva saves to beat the Wheeling Nailers (30-20-1-1) at WesBanco Arena Sunday, 5-3.

Erik Bradford (1g-1a), Luke Morgan (1g-1a), rookie Jacob Nordqvist (1g-1a), and Josh Passolt (2g-1a) each recorded multiple points to push Kalamazoo past Wheeling. 

Nordqvist scored his first professional goal in the win while Bradford bumped his team-leading points total to 56 (19g-37a) in his 500th professional game.

Goaltender Hunter Vorva (13-6-0-0) also extended his career-best win streak to seven games with 28 saves on 31 shots faced.

Luke Morgan (5) opened the scoring at the 3:05 mark of the first period after tipping in a Collin Adams (15) shot from below the right circle.

Jacob Nordqvist (1) doubled the Kalamazoo lead at the 6:13 mark with a one-timer from the left circle on the power play. Derek Daschke (14) and Morgan (7) assisted the rookie’s first professional goal. 

Wheeling made it 2-1 at the 6:50 mark.

Erik Bradford (19) restored Kalamazoo’s two-goal lead at the 13:07 mark with a snipe from the right circle. Bradford, skating in his 500th professional game, found himself in scoring position after linemates Josh Passolt (15) and David Keefer (25) used perfect puck cycling to force the defense out of position.

Passolt (18) netted the game-winner with a bar-in one-timer from the right circle at the 7:26 mark of the second. Bradford (37) and Michael Joyaux (14) assisted the power play strike.

The Nailers cut the deficit to two with a power play goal at the 12:05 mark of the third and made it 4-3 with 3:48 remaining.

Passolt (19) secured his team-high seventh multi-goal game of the year with an empty-netter from his own zone at 19:41. Nordqvist (6) and Chaz Reddekopp (6) assisted the insurance tally.

The K-Wings finished 2-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. Wheeling took the final shot total, 31-27.

Kalamazoo is back in action Friday at 5:30 p.m. EST against the Newfoundland Growlers (24-21-7-2) at Mary Brown’s Centre.

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The K-Wings return to Wings Event Center for ‘Dumb & Dumber’ Night on Friday, March 8! Just when we thought we couldn’t have done anything stupider, we’ve gone out and totally redeemed ourselves with Dumb & Dumber Night at Wings Event Center. Join us, as we pay honor to the hit 90s movie, and enjoy $3 Friday ($3 beers, sodas & hot dogs) at the game. And get your paddle arm warmed up because there’ll be a Specialty Jersey auction 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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