FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 27, 2026

K-WINGS LOSE TO NAILERS FRIDAY 

Kalamazoo outmatched in a dominant performance by the Wheeling Nailers.   

BOX SCORE

WHEELING, WV – The Kalamazoo Wings (22-22-3-3), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, found no luck in the North Division, falling to the Wheeling Nailers (31-14-2-3) on Friday at WesBanco Arena, 7-2.

Wheeling took the initial momentum, scoring a pair of first-period goals. The first came on the power-play at the 1:17 mark and then even-strength at the 4:00 mark.

Andre Ghantous (13) responded with a left post wraparound tuck at the 5:03 mark. On the play, Jackson Kunz (1) notched his first ECHL assist after slipping the puck past a defender to Nolan Walker (22) in the trapezoid, who relayed to Ghantous behind the net for the wraparound. 

The Nailers answered with a goal of their own at the 12:15 mark. 

Josh Bloom (8) narrowed the deficit back to two with a breakaway five-hole dart at the 14:57 mark. On the breakaway, Colin Bilek (14) crossed a pass through the defensive zone to Brendan Dowler (1), who ignited the rush with a leading pass to Bloom at the offensive zone blue line, and Bloom did the rest. 

Wheeling controlled the second period, scoring on the power play at the 6:36 mark and then again short-handed at the 12:39 mark, bringing the score to 5-2. 

The Nailers continued to find the net in the third period, scoring at the 3:07 mark and on the power-play at the 11:39 mark. 

Aku Koskenvuo (2-5-0-0) made 34 saves in the contest.

Next up, Kalamazoo travels to Cincinnati to take on the Cyclones on Saturday at 7:35 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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