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KALAMAZOO — The Kalamazoo Wings celebrated Kory Karlander’s personal milestone in a major way on Sunday at Wings Stadium by knocking off the Reading Royals 5-1 thanks in part to a three-point night by Darren Archibald and a stellar game in net for Maxime Clermont.
Beginning his professional career with the Columbus Chill in the ECHL back in 1995, Karlander has now played 1,000 regular season games as a pro. In addition to the ECHL, Karlander has played in the IHL, UHL, CHL and AHL as well as playing two seasons in Germany. Karlander has played 380 of his games for the K-Wings and is the only player to play in each of the leagues that the K-Wings have been a member of (IHL, UHL and ECHL).
Karlander was honored before the game for his accomplishment.
Carrying the excitement from the pre-game ceremony for Karlander into the game, the K-Wings jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead and never looked back.
Darryl Bootland started the K-Wings scoring by knocking in his 14th goal of the season midway into the opening period. Just over three minutes later, an Elgin Reid shot was deflected over the shoulder of Royals net minder Michael Hutchinson by Mike Matczak for a 2-0 K-Wing lead.
Just 52 seconds later, Dustin Cloutier scored to give the K-Wings a 3-0 lead.
Archibald scored twice in the second period to give the K-Wings a 5-0 lead, heading into the final 20 minutes of hockey.
Clermont was on fire, turning away shot after shot that the Royals sent his way. Dale Mitchell broke up the shutout bid with a goal midway into the final period. Clermont stopped 41 of the 42 shots he faced while picking up his eighth win on the season.
On Friday, the K-Wings came back from a 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 lead with just 45 seconds left in regulation. But with their goaltender pulled for a sixth attacker, the Cincinnati Cyclones sent the game into overtime scoring a goal with just 16 seconds left. They went on to defeat the K-Wings with a power play goal in OT.
Traveling to Wheeling, W.Va. on Saturday, the K-Wings found themselves down 1-0 entering the third period trailing the Nailers 1-0. A power play goal by Dustin Cloutier midway into the final period tied the game and a Darryl Bootland goal with just under three minutes remaining in the game gave the K-Wings the 2-1 victory.
Earning five out of a possible six points over the weekend, the K-Wings continue to lead the North Division by seven points over the second place Chicago Express. The K-Wings’ record improves to 24-14-2-2 on the season.
K-Wings News and Notes
Charlebois Returns: Defenseman Joe Charlebois, who was loaned to the AHL Manchester Monarchs of the AHL back on Dec. 26, returned to the K-Wings lineup on Sunday afternoon.
Wheeling to the ‘Zoo: Defenseman Joe Tolles, who was waived by the Wheeling Nailers late last week, was signed by the K-Wings on Thursday.
Upcoming Games: The K-Wings will host the South Carolina Stingrays this Wednesday night at 7 p.m. and the Toledo Walleye on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Goals, Goals, Goals: The K-Wings have scored 152 goals in 42 games so far this season which puts them in second place in the ECHL. The Las Vegas Wranglers have scored 159 goals in 45 games.
