FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22, 2026

K-WINGS DOMINATE TO TAKE SERIES VERSUS RUSH

Kalamazoo’s defense shines & offense erupts for six goals in emphatic series win over Rapid City. 

BOX SCORE

KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings (28-26-3-3), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, rode a dominant defensive and potent offensive performance to thump the Rapid City Rush (25-31-4-1), Sunday at Wings Event Center, 6-1.

Aku Koskenvuo (5-8-0-0) was phenomenal in this one, making 25 saves in the contest, and Kalamazoo held Rapid City to only two shots in the first period. 

The K-Wings got off to the fastest start of the season as Nolan Walker (17) found the back of the net just 25 seconds into the game. On the play, Jayden Lee (21) passed from near the blue line to Zach Okabe (32) above the left circle. Okabe relayed beneath him to Walker, who dangled into the left dot and sniped a bullet inside the right post. 

Walker (18) wasn’t done yet as he flicked his second goal of the afternoon at the 8:02 mark to give Kalamazoo a two-goal advantage. On the setup, Powell Connor (9) sent a pass across the neutral zone to Jackson Kunz (6), who fired a right circle shot that caromed off the netminder’s pillows directly to Walker on the goaltender’s right flank.

The captain Collin Saccoman (5) kept the momentum rolling with a snipe inside the right post on the rush at the 14:33 mark. On the goal, Okabe (33) passed to Saccoman in the defensive zone, and the captain rushed down the ice before crossing a pass to Ryan Cox (10), who relayed back to Saccoman for the net-front goal. 

After a scoreless second period, Colin Bilek (18) fired a shot that deflected off the netminder and into the roof of the net to give the K-Wings a 4-0 lead. On the play, Cox (11) sent a pass to Griffin Ness (16), who skated to the goalline before feeding Bilek at the goaltender’s right flank for the bang-bang goal. 

Jackson Kunz (7) then deposited a goal from the left edge of the crease to continue Kalamazoo’s offensive onslaught at the 13:45 mark. On the setup, Okabe (33) passed to Davis Pennington (32) at the goal line, who wrapped around a shot that deflected off Kunz’s stick and into the back of the net.

That's when the Rush spoiled the shutout on a very controversial goal at the 15:12 mark. On the zone entry, Rapid City tossed the puck off the turned glass on the K-Wings bench, but the play was not blown dead.

Evan Dougherty (5) capped the scoring on the afternoon with a top-shelf snipe at the 18:25 mark to finalize a 6-1 victory. On the play, Andre Ghantous (18) redirected an airborn pass in the slot to Pennington (33) above the left circle, who skated beneath the goalline before passing to Dougherty waiting at the paint for the goal. 

The K-Wings took the shot total 44-26, marking a new season high. 

Next up, Kalamazoo travels to Adirondack (34-18-7-1) for a three-game set against the Thunder, starting at 7 p.m. EDT on Friday at Harding Mazzotti Arena. 

--

The K-Wings next return home for a matchup against the Toledo Walleye at 7 p.m. EDT on April 3. Wastin’ away again at Wings Event Center! Margaritaville Night, presented by Honor Credit Union, brings the beach vibes to the barn on April 3. Plus, sip $3 beers, sodas, and dogs ’til 8 PM, then kick back, relax, and enjoy a tropical twist on K-Wings hockey. Also, don’t miss the Jersey Auction post-game benefiting KZoo Parks - flip flops optional, fun guaranteed!

51 years of K-Wings hockey wouldn’t be possible without YOU - our incredible fans! Get loud and join us for Fan Appreciation Night!  We’re celebrating the best fans in the league at our final regular-season Saturday game, on Apr. 11, presented by Bronson. We’re packing the night with giveaways, surprises, and family fun from puck drop to final horn. Puck drops at 4:30 p.m., presented by Discover Kalamazoo. Be one of the first 1,000 through the doors and score a K-Wings team poster!

We’re swinging for the fences in the Regular-Season Finale, presented by MAGNA International, with our last ‘Jersey Series’ game! Join us as we close out the 51st year of K-Wings hockey in true Detroit Tigers style, Sunday, Apr. 12 at 3 p.m. EDT. The first 500 kids (12 & under) will snag a Tigers-inspired Youth K-Wings Baseball Jersey, and the night wraps with our last specialty jersey auction, benefiting KOHA. It’s the regular-season finale, and the playoff race is heating up - don’t miss the grand slam finish!

--

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.

###