FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2024
K-WINGS HANDLE HEARTLANDERS, 5-1
Kalamazoo wins season series finale at Iowa, heads to Indy in playoff position.
CORALVILLE, IA – The Kalamazoo Wings (38-30-3-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, leaned on their leadership to defeat the Iowa Heartlanders (26-37-6-2) at Xtream Arena Friday, 5-1.
Captain Chaz Reddekopp set a single-game career-high with two goals (2g-1a) and alternate captain Erik Bradford (1g-1a) added two points in the win.
Goaltender Hunter Vorva (20-14-0-0) was sublime and saved 32 of 33 shots faced.
Evan Dougherty (4) opened the scoring with a wrister from above the left circle at the 4:59 mark of the first period. Brian Chambers (1) and Jay Keranen (3) assisted the goal with Chambers’ first pro point.
Reddekopp (4) doubled the Kalamazoo lead with a chip from the right circle at the 15:06 mark. Quinn Preston (20) fed Reddekopp from beneath the goal line while Chad Nychuk (10) notched the secondary assist.
Reddekopp (5) secured his first professional multi-goal game with a quick release from the left circle at the 7:32 mark of the second. Bradford (57) hit Reddekopp with a pass from the right side and Josh Passolt (24) recorded his 100th pro point with the secondary assist.
Bradford (30) made it 4-0 at the 10:47 mark with a snipe from the right circle on the rush at the 10:47 mark. Passolt (25) moved the puck to Bradford in the neutral zone after receiving a stretch pass from Reddekopp (9).
Iowa scored at the 17:59 mark.
Ayden MacDonald (14) put it away with a tap-in from just outside the crease on the power play at the 19:25 mark of the third. Chambers (2) and Nychuk (11) assisted the extra-man marker.
The K-Wings finished the game 1-for-1 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Iowa took the final shot total, 33-26.
With his fifth assist in the K-Wings’ last three games, Bradford (57) secured his place in Kalamazoo’s All-Time Record Book, moving into a tie for No. 16 all-time with Kevin Schamehorn (1978-79).
Kalamazoo is back in action Saturday at 7:00 p.m. EDT against the Indy Fuel (37-25-6-2) at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
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Season Tickets for the 2024-25 Kalamazoo Wings season are now available! Secure yours HERE!
More information about potential playoff scheduling and tickets will be made available when known.
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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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