FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 31, 2026

K-WINGS DRAIN WALLEYE, WALKER SPLASHES HAT TRICK SATURDAY

Kalamazoo wins a nail-biter, as Nolan Walker notches 1st professional hat trick.   

BOX SCORE

TOLEDO, OH – The Kalamazoo Wings (17-17-2-2), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, rode a Nolan Walker hat trick and lauded defensive play to beat the Toledo Walleye (24-9-3-3) in a thrilling 3-2 Victory on Saturday at Huntington Center.

Kalamazoo’s Nolan Walker recorded his first career hat trick, and Jonathan Lemieux made 33 of 35 saves in an exhilarating game that had fans on the edge of their seats down the stretch. 

Walker (8) ignited the scoring for Kalamazoo, sniping his first goal of the night just inside the left post at the 13:36 mark of the first period. On the play, Powell Connor (2) charged into the zone and wrapped around the backside of the net, delivering the puck to Andre Ghantous (12) down low. Ghantous then crossed to Walker, crashing down the slot side of the left circle.

Kalamazoo then cashed in on the power play at the 17:15 mark of the first, as Walker (9) tipped in his second goal of the night. On the setup, David Keefer (11) back-handed a pass from above the right circle to Davis Pennington (18), who launched a bomb from just inside the blue line that found the stick of Walker crossing into the high slot from the right circle. 

The Walleye responded in the second period with a goal at the 9:39 mark, narrowing the lead to one. 

Following a scoreless initial 15 minutes of the third period, Walker (10) was launched all alone down the center of the ice for a breakaway game-winning goal. The forward dangled the puck and fired a five-hole bullet on the rush at the 15:46 mark. On the setup, Hunter Strand (9) stole the puck in the K-Wings’ zone and dished to Walker on the defensive zone blue line.

Unfortunately, Toledo responded with an extra-attacker goal of their own at the 18:13 mark, but did not find the net again, despite multiple posts hit and heavy pressure until the final horn.

Jonathan Lemieux (5-5-1-2) turned in one of his best performances this year. Kalamazoo went a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, 1-for-5 on the power play and Toledo took the shot total 35 to 26.

Next up, Kalamazoo finishes the weekend at home with Hockey with the Heelers, presented by Parker Aerospace, on Sunday, February 1, at 3 p.m.! Enjoy a FREE character appearance by Bluey & Bingo! Meet them, take photos, enjoy face painting, play Bluey-themed intermission games, and show off your keepie-uppie skills in the stands. Perfect for families - laugh, play, and cheer the K-Wings with the Heelers!

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269 Night is back at 7:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, February 4, at Wings Event Center! It’s a party all about the 269 as the K-Wings host the Cyclones with $2 Beers, $6 Wing Baskets and $9 tickets (*Tickets $9 if purchased at Box Office &  $11 if purchased Gameday).

Kick off the weekend with $3 Friday, presented by Bud Light, as the K-Wings face the Bloomington Bison on Friday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy $3 beers, sodas, and hot dogs until 8 p.m. - it’s the best value in hockey and the perfect way to start your weekend in Kalamazoo!

It’s time for the 25th annual Pink Ice game at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 7, at Wings Event Center - a beloved Kalamazoo tradition! Whether you're honoring Breast Cancer survivors or making it a Valentine's celebration to remember, Pink Ice promises a night full of meaning and memories. Join us for a special pregame ceremony and puck drop as we celebrate the strength and resilience of survivors. Plus, all fans will receive LED Batons to light up the arena in Pink!

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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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