FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2026

K-WINGS CLIMB BACK, LOSE OT THRILLER TO BISON IN SEASON OPENER

Kalamazoo rallies for three straight in the third period before falling in OT.  

BOX SCORE

KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings (0-0-1-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, rallied with three straight goals in the third, but fell 4-3 in overtime to the Bloomington Bison (1-0-0-0) to kick off the season at Grossinger Motors Arena. 

Former Utah Grizzlies captain Tyler Gratton (1) scored the Wings’ first goal of the new season at 6:29 of the third. Gratton buried a one-timer from the left side of the slot that was set up by a Stepan Timofeyev (1) below-the-goal-line pass. Konstantin Khremkin (1) notched the secondary assist. 

The K-Wings drew to within one at the 9:53 mark of the third with their first power-play goal of the year.  On the play, Timofeyev (1) rocketed a slap shot from the blueline for his first goal as a K-Wing. Dylan Wendt (1) and Khremkin (2) assisted on the power-play strike.

Zach Urdahl (1) tied the game at the 16:00 mark of the third. The left-shot forward cashed in with a one-timer from the right side of the slot, served up by his former Wheeling teammate Aidan Sutter (1). Wendt (2) earned the secondary assist, going in the books as his second helper of the game. 

The comeback effort was cut short, as Bloomington scored the overtime winner at the 2:19 mark.  

Bloomington jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two tallies just 1:03 (1:44, 2:47) apart to start the second. The Bison added to their lead with a shorthanded goal at the 3:42 mark of the third period. 

Aku Koskenvuo (0-1-0-0) was brilliant at times for the K-Wings, stopping 32 of 36 shots on net, and three K-Wings notched multiple points (Khremkin, Timofeyev, Wendt) in a wild third period to grab a point on the road. 

The K-Wings went 1-for-7 on the power play, were a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and were outshot 36-30 in the contest. 

Kalamazoo will look to rebound in Reading (1-0-0-0) on Saturday, October 24, at 7 p.m. EDT against the Royals for the first of two games next weekend at Santander Arena. 

The Home Opener, presented by Bronson, is scheduled for October 30 at 7 p.m. EDT versus the Toledo Walleye at Wings Event Center. This matches the date of the K-Wings' very first home opener in 1974. The game is already trending toward max capacity. Click here to select your seats now for the Home Opener!

Tickets for the 2027 Outdoor Game are on sale NOW! Click HERE to purchase tickets! The game takes place at 3:00 p.m. EST on January 31 versus the Toledo Walleye at Waldo Stadium. For everything you need to know about the 2027 Outdoor Game, including FAQs, groups and suite information - Click HERE.

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The Hungry Howie’s Friends and Family Ticket Package is also BACK for the 2026-27 season. The package includes four tickets, four K-Wings knit hats and a $20 Hungry Howie’s Voucher - for just $59. 

Season Tickets for 2026-27 are available NOW. Click here to join the ranks of the High Flyers and catch all the action next season with all the perks!

Are you a group planner at work or for the family? Save serious money on ticket packages of 10 or more, while delivering a group experience of a lifetime with the K-Wings. Plus, take advantage of more savings with our summer booking incentives NOW! 

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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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