FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2026

K-WINGS DROPPED BY CYCLONES SATURDAY 

Kalamazoo falls in first of two-game set in Cincinnati.   

BOX SCORE

CINCINNATI, OH – The Kalamazoo Wings (22-23-3-3), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, battled hard but were bested in the third period, falling to the Cincinnati Cyclones (25-23-3-0) on Saturday at Heritage Bank Arena, 4-2.

After an uneventful first period, Cincinnati struck first with a goal at the 4:30 mark of the middle frame. 

Jackson Kunz (4) responded by forcing the puck through to knot the game at one at the 15:20 mark. On the play, Andre Ghantous (14) passed to a firing Jayden Lee (16) at the blue line that caromed off the goaltender's pads and was collected by Kunz in the crease for the equalizer. 

Kunz (5) then broke away on the rush and delivered a beautiful bar-down snipe, notching his first professional multi-goal game and giving the K-Wings a 2-1 lead at the 18:59 mark. On the goal, Powell Connor (7) slipped a pass to Kunz in the defensive zone who went back-and-forth with Ghantous (15) before scoring the goal on the rush.

Unfortunately, the Cyclones owned the final frame, scoring a pair of goals at the 11:22 and 15:33 marks. Cincinnati then added an empty net goal with 34 seconds remaining to finalize a 4-2 score. 

Aku Koskenvuo (2-6-0-0) was phenomenal in net, making 35 saves in the contest, and the K-Wings went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. 

Next up, Kalamazoo looks for revenge against the Cincinnati Cyclones tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. EST at Heritage Bank Center.

Our local first responders put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. For that, we want to say, ‘Thank you.’ Join us to celebrate Kalamazoo’s finest on First Responders Night, honoring our local police officers, firefighters & EMTs at 7 p.m. EST March 6 at Wings Event Center. Plus, take advantage of the best food & drink deal in Kalamazoo via $3 Friday ($3 Beers, Sodas & Hot Dogs), presented by Bud Light.

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Celebrate strength, spirit, and the power of women at K-Wings EmpowHER Night! We're spotlighting the incredible impact women make both in Kalamazoo and in sports at 4:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 7, at Wings Event Center. The first 1,000 women, of all ages, through the doors score a limited-edition EmpowHER K-Wings baseball cap! After the final whistle, stick around for a Fans Skate the Ice event - just $5 for skate rentals!

Mascot Madness is back and Slappy’s throwing the wildest party of the season at 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 8, at Wings Event Center! Catch your favorite mascots battling it out in intermission broomball! You won’t want to miss this family-friendly fan-favorite with all of Slappy’s friends.

The legend returns! Green Ice is back, presented by Southern Michigan Bank & Trust! Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the Kalamazoo way with the game that started it all at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 14, at Wings Event Center. From glowing Green Foam LED Sticks for every fan to the post-game auction of player-worn specialty jerseys benefiting The Salvation Army, this is a night where memories are made, and history lives on.

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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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