KALAMAZOO CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH, TAKES POINTS IN THREE STRAIGHT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2024

KALAMAZOO CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH, TAKES POINTS IN THREE STRAIGHT

K-Wings secure five of six points to earn first playoff appearance since 2018-19.

OVERALL RECORD:  38-30-4-0

LAST WEEK:  2-0-1-0

KALAMAZOO, MI - The Kalamazoo Wings, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, begin the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs with two games on the road this week.

Tickets for the Kelly Cup Playoffs go on sale today at Noon! Click HERE to secure your seats!

Last week, the K-Wings went 2-0-1-0 (6-2, 5-1, 2-3 F/OT).

Kalamazoo opened the week at Iowa on Wednesday. The K-Wings jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the game’s first 10 minutes and rode goaltender Hunter Vorva (36/38, .947 SV%) to a 6-2 victory. Forward Collin Adams led Kalamazoo in scoring with a career-high three assists and four points (1g-3a).

The K-Wings concluded their season series with the Heartlanders in Coralville on Friday. Captain Chaz Reddekopp set a career-high with two goals (2g-1a), while alternate captain Erik Bradford added a goal and an assist to become the ECHL’s No. 2 scorer (87 pts). The alternate captain also moved into a tie for No. 16 for single-season assists with Kevin Schamehorn (1978-79) in Kalamazoo franchise history with 57.

Kalamazoo played its final game of the regular season Saturday in Indy. Despite falling behind 2-0 early, the K-Wings responded with goals from Michael Joyaux and Collin Adams to force overtime. Kalamazoo ultimately fell, 3-2 in overtime, but clinched a playoff berth by securing its 80th point of the season. Goaltender Jonathan Lemieux was rock steady and made 38 saves on 41 shots against to get the K-Wings through regulation.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN DETAIL

The K-Wings play two games on the road this week.

Kalamazoo Wings Playoff hockey returns to Wings Event Center on Wednesday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The K-Wings host the Toledo Walleye for Game 3 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs Divisional Semifinal and a playoff edition of 269 Night ($2 Beers & Sodas & $6 Wing Baskets). Tickets go on sale Monday, April 15 at noon EDT. 

Then, it’s the playoff edition of $3 Friday ($3 Beers, Sodas & Hotdogs) on Friday, April 26 at Wings Event Center. Join us, as the K-Wings take on the Walleye for Game 4 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs Divisional Semifinal.

Don’t miss out on Group Outing opportunities for the K-Wings 2024 playoff run. Text (269) 488-8158 or head to K-Wings.com for more information. 

RESULTS
Wednesday, Apr. 10 – Kalamazoo 6, Iowa 2 (Xtream Arena, Coralville, IA) | Box Score

>>   The Kalamazoo Wings (37-30-3-0) struck early and often to move back into playoff position by defeating the Iowa Heartlanders (26-36-6-2) at Xtream Arena Wednesday, 6-2. Forward Collin Adams contributed to four of Kalamazoo’s first five goals to secure single-game career-highs in assists (3) and points (4). Derek Daschke (16) opened the scoring with a rocket from the left point just 47 seconds into the game. Josh Passolt (25) doubled Kalamazoo’s lead with a wrister from the slot at the 3:21 mark. Adams (21) made it 3-0 after marching through the slot at the 10:28 mark. Iowa got on the board 44 seconds into the second period. Jordan Seyfert (5) made it 4-1 with a tip-in from outside the crease on the power play at the 10:22 mark. Quinn Preston (6) found the back of the net from between the circles at the 3:50 mark of the third. Michael Joyaux (7) scored Kalamazoo’s second power-play goal of the evening with a snapshot from up top at the 10:36 mark. The Heartlanders added a goal with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Goaltender Hunter Vorva (19-14-0-0) got back in the win column with an impressive 36 saves on 38 shots faced. The K-Wings finished the game 2-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Iowa took the final shot total, 38-29. With the three-assist effort, Bradford (56) secured his place in Kalamazoo’s All-Time Record Book, moving into a tie for No. 17 all-time with Trent Daavetilla (2011-12) & Glenn Detulleo (2007-08).

Friday, Apr. 12 – Kalamazoo 5, Iowa 1 (Xtream Arena, Coralville, IA) | Box Score

>>   The Kalamazoo Wings (38-30-3-0) 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. Reddekopp (4) doubled the Kalamazoo lead with a chip from the right circle at the 15:06 mark. 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 (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. 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. 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).

Saturday, Apr. 13 – Kalamazoo 2, Indy 3 F/OT (Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis, IN) | Box Score

>>   The Kalamazoo Wings (38-30-4-0) 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.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Friday, Apr. 19 – Central Division Semifinals Game 1 – Kalamazoo at Toledo, 7:15 p.m. EDT – Huntington Center (Toledo, OH)

Saturday, Apr. 20 – Central Division Semifinals Game 2 – Kalamazoo at Toledo, 7:15 p.m. EDT – Huntington Center (Toledo, OH)

ON THE MOVE

Apr. 9 Goaltender Trevor Babin was released

Apr. 9 Forward Brad Morrison was released

FAST FACTS

• Rookie forward Brian Chambers recorded his first professional point with two assists Friday
• Forward Josh Passolt set a new career-high with his 50th point of the season Friday (2a)
• Forward Erik Bradford ranks T-No. 2 in the ECHL with 87 points

TEAM TRENDS

• 26-0-0-0 when scoring four or more goals this season
• 10-5-1-0 in standalone game this season
• 8-1-0-0 when scoring two power-play goals this season

STATISTICAL LEADERS

POINTS:              87 – Erik Bradford

GOALS:               30 – Erik Bradford

ASSISTS:          57 –  Erik Bradford

PLUS/MINUS:    +17 – Erik Bradford

PIMS:                   194 – Chaz Reddekopp

PP GOALS:      7 – Ayden MacDonald

PP ASSISTS:        16 – Erik Bradford

SH GOALS:      2 – Josh Passolt

GW GOALS:     7 – Collin Adams

SHOTS:            215 – Erik Bradford

WINS:                  20 – Hunter Vorva

GAA:                   2.51 – Hunter Vorva

SAVE %:             .920 – Hunter Vorva

* Currently with Abbotsford (AHL)

** Currently with Vancouver (NHL)

SPECIAL TEAMS

POWER PLAY:   Last Week – 3/6 (50%)

                            This Season – 42/226 (18.6%) – No. 18 in the ECHL         

PENALTY KILL:   Last Week – 6/6 (100%)

                             This Season – 196/236 (83.1%) – No. 4 in the ECHL

--

Season Tickets for the 2024-25 Kalamazoo Wings season are now available! Secure yours HERE!

--

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.

###