FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 13, 2026

K-WINGS THUMP BISON 6-2 ON FRIDAY

Kalamazoo shines on every level in road win over Bloomington. 

BOX SCORE

BLOOMINGTON, IL – The Kalamazoo Wings (26-24-3-3), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, rode incredible goaltending and an electric offensive showing in a great team win over the Bloomington Bison (27-25-2-2) Friday at Grossinger Motors Arena, 6-2.

Following a scoreless first period, Zach Okabe (15) started the scoring for the K-Wings, depositing a backhand inside the right post on the rush at the 2:39 mark of the second frame. On the play, Jackson Kunz (4) collected a loose puck, deflected to him by Orlando Mainolfi (5), at the defensive zone blue line and ignited a 2-on-2 rush passing to Okabe at the netminder’s left flank for the bang-bang goal. 

Evan Dougherty (3) then sniped the puck into the net from behind the goalline to give Kalamazoo a 2-0 advantage at the 6:32 mark. On the goal, Collin Saccoman (11) and Griffin Ness (14) created a netfront scrum jamming the puck in the paint before it snuck out to Dougherty’s stick for the bank snipe.

However, Bloomington responded with a pair of goals at the 7:30 and 10:04 marks. 

Ness (7) then spoiled the Bison’s power-play opportunity on a beautiful play for his first goal as a K-Wing and first career shorthanded goal at the 12-minute mark. On the shorty, Ness pickpocketed the opposing defense in their own zone, rushed toward the goaltender, firing a shot that deflected into the back of the net, and Kalamazoo wouldn't look back. 

Colin Bilek (16) started off the third period by finding the back of the net at the 2:56 mark. On the goal, Saccoman (12) passed to Bilek in the right circle, who attempted a centering pass but found the skate of a defenseman and it snuck inside the right post to give the K-wings a 4-2 advantage. 

Bilek (17) then fired his signature one-timer for his second goal of the night on the power-play at the 7:40 mark. On the setup, Ness (15) sent a pass from near the right circle to Davis Pennington (29) at the blue line, who relayed to Bilek above the left circle for the blast. 

Nolan Walker (15) then found an empty net unassisted at the 17:19 mark to finalize a 6-2 final score. 

Jonathan Lemieux (9-6-1-3) was incredible between the pipes, turning aside 40-of-42 shots. The K-Wings went a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill and 1-for-4 on the power-play. 

Next up, Kalamazoo returns home for the grand-daddy of all painted ice games. It’s Green Ice tomorrow, Friday, March 13, versus the Indy Fuel (26-20-8-1) at 7 p.m. EDT at Wings Event Center. 

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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March into the weekend with $3 Friday, presented by Bud Light, on Friday, Mar. 20 at 7:00 p.m. EDT at Wings Event Center! Enjoy $3 beers, sodas, and hot dogs (*until 8 p.m.) while the K-Wings bring the heat on the ice to welcome the Rapid City Rush. Great hockey, great vibes, and great deals - what more could you want?

Good grief! Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang are taking over Wings Event Center as the K-Wings face off against the Rush on Saturday, Mar. 21, for a 4:30 p.m. EDT puck drop, presented by Discover Kalamazoo. It’s also Pucks ‘N Paws - where your pup takes center ice! We’re silencing the goal horns and turning up the tail wags. Plus, don’t miss the dog race during the first intermission and the Peanuts-themed specialty jersey auction after the game, benefiting the MRC Industries!

Little fans, big energy! It’s our third Jersey Giveaway Sunday game, and this one’s all about the kids - and hockey-inspired at 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 22, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield. The first 500 kids (12 & under) score a Detroit Red Wings-themed K-Wings hockey jersey, and the fun doesn’t stop there. After the game, Kids (under-12) hit the ice for an epic Golden Shot prize showdown. Let’s hear it for the next generation of hockey legends!

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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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