FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2024
K-WINGS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH, FALL TO FUEL IN OT
Kalamazoo secures point in close contest at Indy, set to make first playoff appearance since 2018-19.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Kalamazoo Wings (38-30-4-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, staged a two-goal comeback but ultimately fell to the Indy Fuel (39-25-6-2) at Indiana Farmers Coliseum Saturday, 3-2 in overtime.
Despite the loss, Kalamazoo clinched its first Kelly Cup Playoffs appearance since 2018-19 due to Fort Wayne’s regulation loss at Toledo.
Goaltender Jonathan Lemieux (17-16-3-0) stood on his head throughout and made 38 saves on 41 shots against.
Indy opened the scoring at the 8:40 mark of the first period and doubled its lead at 10:51.
Michael Joyaux (8) found the back of the net from the right point at the 14:29 mark. Chaz Reddekopp (10) and Luke Morgan (13) assisted the long-range strike.
Collin Adams (22) tied the game 2-2 at the 3:52 mark of the second with a wrister from the right circle on the rush. Quinn Preston (16) made an impressive adjustment to sling the puck to Adams across the neutral zone after corraling a stretch pass from Derek Daschke (22).
Indy scored the game-winner at the 6:22 mark of overtime.
The K-Wings finished the game scoreless on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Indy took the final shot total, 41-21.
No. 4 Kalamazoo (38-30-4-0) is back in action Friday at 7:15 p.m. EDT against No. 1 Toledo (47-14-4-5) for Game 1 of the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs in the Central Division Semifinals at Huntington Center.
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Season Tickets for the 2024-25 Kalamazoo Wings season are now available! Secure yours HERE!
Round 1 Kelly Cup Playoff tickets will go on sale Monday at 12:00 p.m. EDT, and a full Round 1 schedule with matchup dates will be released Sunday at 12:00 p.m. EDT.
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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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