FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2025

K-WINGS THUMP BISON, EARN ROAD WIN FRIDAY

Kalamazoo’s offense erupts for a season-high six goals, as five different K-Wings find the net. 

BOX SCORE

BLOOMINGTON, IL – The Kalamazoo Wings (9-11-2-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, erupted for a season-high six goals and defeated the Bloomington Bison (15-7-2-0) Friday at Grossinger Motors Arena, 6-2.

Zach Okabe (6) started the night’s scoring, sniping a shot inside the right post, from the top of the right circle, at the 13:04 mark of the first period. On the play, Ryan Cox (5) won a left-circle faceoff recovered by Antonio Venuto (8). Venuto then back-handed a pass to Okabe, who found an open look. 

Derek Daschke (2) added another goal with a top-shelf snipe at the 19:54 mark of the first period. On the setup, Okabe (14) rocketed a pass to a shooting Venuto (9) at the top of the crease. Collecting the rebound, Daschke did the rest.

The Bison found the net first in the second period to briefly narrow the deficit to one at the 9:52 mark.  

Quinn Preston (10) immediately brought the lead back to two with a breakaway game-winning goal just 17 seconds later at the 10:09 mark. On the goal, Collin Saccoman (4) passed to Davis Pennington (10), who launched a bomb, leading Preston all the way into the offensive zone slot, allowing him to dangle his way past a one-on-one with the goaltender for the goal. 

Spencer Kennedy (1) continued the offensive onslaught with his first goal as a K-Wing at the 2:44 mark of the third frame. The setup came courtesy of defenseman Jayden Lee (7), who stole the puck near center ice and fired a pass to Kennedy, who walked in for a backhand goal, bringing the score to 4-1. 

Adding insult to injury, Pennington (2) darted a top-shelf goal just 43 seconds later at the 3:27 mark. The buildup saw Griffin Ness (10) hand the puck off to Colin Bilek (4), who sent a backhanded cross-zone pass to Pennington, loading up in the right circle. The defenseman then flicked a wrister to bring the lead up to four. 

Unfortunately, Bloomington capitalized on the first penalty of the game with a power-play goal at the 8:23 mark.

Kalamazoo spoiled any chance to maintain momentum, as Pennington (3) sent the puck from ten feet inside his own right-point for an empty net goal with 4:49 remaining in regulation. 

Ty Young (3-0-0-0) was phenomenal between the pipes, turning aside 23 of 25 shots, and the K-Wings outshot the Bison 36-to-24, including a season-high 18-5 shot advantage in the second frame. 

Kalamazoo and Bloomington uncharacteristically combined for only three trips to the penalty box, resulting in 30 penalty minutes between the two teams.

The K-Wings drop the puck on the back half of the weekend series against the Bloomington Bison (13-5-2-2) at 8 p.m. EST on Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena. 

Kalamazoo returns home for its annual New Year’s Eve hockey game! Join the K-Wings as they battle the Toledo Walleye at 6 p.m. EST, December 31, at Wings Event Center. Start your NYE with thrilling hockey action, then catch the football games on TVs throughout the arena. It’s a tradition decades in the making—don’t miss out on ringing in the new year, K-Wings style!

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Jersey Giveaway Sundays continues on Sunday, January 4, as we honor the Detroit Pistons! The second of four themed games, this night features a special giveaway: the first 500 kids (12 & under) will receive a limited-edition K-Wings/Detroit Pistons-inspired youth basketball jersey. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate Detroit’s legendary sports teams and score some exclusive gear!

Season Tickets for 2025-26 are available NOW. Click here to join the ranks of the High Flyers and catch all the action next season with all the perks!

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The Kalamazoo Wings are a professional hockey team based in southwest Michigan, having 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 its 36 regular-season home games at Wings Event Center from October through April.

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