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K-Wings' Drake earns 'A' for effort

by Pam Shebest | Kalamazoo Gazette

Wednesday January 07, 2009, 10:44 PM

Brett Beier / Special to the Gazette K-Wings forward Lucas Drake, sporting a big red "A" on his jersey, has been named assistant captain.

KALAMAZOO -- When Kalamazoo Wings coach Nick Bootland asked left winger Lucas Drake to assume assistant captain duties before a recent game, Drake didn't think to much about it.

Tyler Willis wore the 'A' before he was put on injured reserve, leaving the position vacant.

The letter wasn't on the jersey, but Drake said he thought, "No big deal."

No one mentioned it to Drake when equipment manager Eric Bechtol sewed the big red 'A' on the No. 19 jersey before the next International Hockey League game.

"I didn't even notice when I put (the jersey) on," Drake said. "I was walking out for a game and (defenseman) Casey (Handrahan) was like, 'Hey, congratulations.'
"I looked down and I'm like, 'Oh, wow!' It's still kinda like a shock."

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Cleaver earns two IHL awards

by Pam Shebest | Kalamazoo Gazette

Tuesday January 06, 2009, 12:25 AM

KALAMAZOO -- The Kalamazoo Wings' Rick Cleaver was named International Hockey League rookie of the week and rookie of the month for December.

Cleaver scored five goals and added an assist in four games last week and, for December, recorded eight goals and seven assists in 12 games.

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Tapp has 43 saves as K-Wings hold off Komets

by Pam Shebest | Gazette

Saturday January 03, 2009, 10:51 PM

KALAMAZOO -- Home-ice is definitely sweet for the Kalamazoo Wings, who extended their Wings Stadium winning streak to nine games in a row and 10-2 overall with a 4-2 win against the Fort Wayne Komets Saturday night.

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K-Wings survive Flint rally

by Gazette Staff

Friday January 02, 2009, 11:26 PM

FLINT -- Enjoying a 4-0 lead after two periods, the Kalamazoo Wings ended up fighting for the win after the Flint Generals scored three unanswered goals in the third period.

The K-Wings held on, winning 4-3 Friday night, and with the Port Huron Icehawks losing 2-1 in overtime to the Fort Wayne Komets, Kalamazoo (20-10-0-0), with 40 points, sits all alone in first place in the International Hockey League.

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Kalamazoo Wings start new year in first place in IHL

by Pam Shebest | Kalamazoo Gazette

Friday January 02, 2009, 1:34 AM

KALAMAZOO -- The Kalamazoo Wings have been thriving on home ice, with a 9-2-0-0 record, but they'll have one more road trip before they're back at Wings Stadium to host Fort Wayne Saturday night.

The K-Wings continue to share first place with the Port Huron Icehawks after their 7-3 International Hockey League win against the Muskegon Lumberjacks Wednesday night and have won seven of their last eight games.

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Kalamazoo Wings rout Muskegon Lumberjacks, 7-3

by Pam Shebest | Kalamazoo Gazette

Wednesday December 31, 2008, 9:47 PM

KALAMAZOO -- The fireworks started early at Wings Stadium Wednesday night, and it was the Kalamazoo Wings who set them off.

The K-Wings fired 51 shots at two different Muskegon goalies in their 7-3 rout of the Lumberjacks to keep a share of the International Hockey League lead with the Port Huron Icehawks.

In addition, the two teams also treated the 4,696 fans to three bouts, with K-Wing Bryan Jurynec decisioning Luke Stauffacher in the first period, and K-Wing Jordan Little taking down Steven Later and then Muskegon's Marty Doyle winning the wrestling match with Blair Stayzer, both in the third.

Center Blair Manning accounted for three of the K-Wings goals with his first hat trick in several years.

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Kalamazoo Wings win in 14-round shootout

by Kalamazoo Gazette Staff Reports

Tuesday December 30, 2008, 1:52 AM

FORT WAYNE -- The Kalamazoo Wings rallied from two goals down, then went 14 rounds into a shootout before defeating the Fort Wayne Komets, 4-3, Monday night.

The win puts the K-Wings (18-10-0-0) into a first-place tie in the International Hockey League with the idle Port Huron Icehawks.

The K-Wings, whose last four games were on the road, finally return to Wings Stadium to host Muskegon Wednesday night with a New Year's Eve skate and dance to follow.

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Kalamazoo Wings lose at Muskegon, fall into second place in International Hockey League

by Kalamazoo Gazette Staff Reports

Saturday December 27, 2008, 10:20 PM

MUSKEGON -- Home ice really is an advantage when the Kalamazoo Wings and Muskegon Lumberjacks face off, at least this season.

With their 3-2 win Saturday night, the Lumberjacks have a 3-0 record against the K-Wings at L.C. Walker Arena.

The K-Wings won the only contest at Wings Stadium with the second meeting set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Fans with tickets to that game will be admitted free to the New Year's Eve party following the game.

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