WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
The Kalamazoo Wings (6-7-1-0) were victorious in their two games at Wings Event Center this weekend. The weekend ended on a sour note, however, as they lost in their first-ever game against the Brampton Beast (5-6-1-0).
On Friday, the K-Wings hosted the Evansville IceMen (3-7-0-0). After a scoreless first period, the K-Wings pulled ahead of the IceMen scoring two goals in the middle stanza.
Tyler Shattock (4) and Tanner Sorenson (2) scored for the K-Wings.
Coming alive in the third, the IceMen scored two goals in just over two minutes to tie the game at two goals apiece. Tyson Fawcett and Chris Rumble scored for the IceMen.
Responding quickly, Dane Fox (5) scored three minutes later to give the K-Wings a 3-2 lead. Holding off the IceMen, Alex Mallet secured the K-Wings victory with an empty-net goal with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Joel Martin stopped 33 of the 35 shots he faced in the victory.
Saturday night saw the Cincinnati Cyclones (7-2-1-1) blow into town. It was a low scoring game as Cody Pritz scored a goal in the first period for the K-Wings. The goaltenders shut the door on any further goal scoring until the Cyclones Brenden Gracel scored the equalizer with just 42 seconds left in regulation.
Justin Taylor scored the game winner just 31 seconds into the three-on-three overtime to give the K-Wings the win.
The K-Wings boarded the bus following Saturday night’s game and headed to Brampton, Ontario for their first-ever matchup with the Brampton Beast.
From the start, the Beast took control over the game.
The Beast were able to take a 1-0 lead midway through the opening frame, courtesy of Scott Howes. After a face off win by the Beast, Howes found the puck in the slot area and beat Joel Martin into the top corner on the glove side.
A little over five minutes later, Howes would strike again for his second of the night, giving his team a 2-0 lead.
Four goals were scored in the second period, as the K-Wings and the Beast each scored two apiece. Justin Taylor (4) and Tyler Shattock (5) scored for the K-Wings.
Leading by a 4-2 margin to start the third period, the Beast added to their lead in the opening minutes. Steve McCarthy scored for the K-Wings later in the period to make it a 5-3 game, but the Beast held off the K-Wings for a 6-3 victory.
The K-Wings will remain on the road as they battle the Toledo Walleye at 10:35 am on Thursday. On Friday they will travel to Fort Wayne to battle the Komets and then head to Evansville on Saturday to face the IceMen.
You can listen to the K-Wings on AM 1660 The Fan.
Notes: Sunday’s matchup was the first between Nick Bootland and Colin Chaulk as head coaches, as Chaulk served as an assistant coach with Bootland for two seasons from 2013-15. Three members of Brampton had multi-point games. Justin Taylor scored his second goal in as many games. Alex Mallet left the contest during the second period and didn’t return.
By Mark McGlothlen
