Kalamazoo, MI– Unable to get its first victory in the month of April, the Kalamazoo Wings ended their season with a 5-3 loss to the Port Huron Icehawks.
Jeremy Leroux (8th) struck first for the Icehawks after a slapshot deflected off of defenseman Jordan Little and went into the goal.
Adding to their lead, Port Huron’s leading scorer Tab Lardner (39th) wrapped the puck around goaltender Ron Vogel 15 minutes into the first period.
The K-Wings got on the board when Nick Bootland (46th) one-timed a pass from Glenn Detulleo past goaltender Larry Sterling. The goal was also Bootland’s league-leading 19th power-play marker.
With 20 seconds remaining on the clock, Jeremy Tucker (9th) backhanded the puck to light the lamp and increase Port Huron’s lead to 3-1.
The Icehawks added the lone goal of the second period with a tally from Jamie Carroll (30th) 12 minutes into the period.
Late in the period, Tyler Willis reached a personal milestone with a 2 minute slashing call 5 minutes into the stanza. The penalty brought Willis to 3,000 penalty minutes in his career. That is the equivalent of spending 50 games in the box.
Leading a rally in the third, Kory Karlander (40th) struck shorthanded from the crease bringing the K-Wings within 2 goals.
A little over 10 minutes later, Karlander (41st) lit the lamp again, this time with a wrist shot from the left side circle.
Looking to knot the score the K-Wings pulled goaltender Ron Vogel for the final minute of the game; however, Icehawks forward Kris Vernarsky (21st) scored on the empty net to seal the game for Port Huron at 5-3.
For Game Stats: http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=534001.
Tonight’s contest wraps-up the 2007-08 campaign for the K-Wings, who will commence their 35th season of professional hockey in October. Season tickets for the K-Wings 2008-09 season are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office.
Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call the Wings Stadium Ticket Office during regular business hours at (269) 345-5101.
For more information about tonight’s game, please contact Director of Public Relations/Broadcaster Mike Modugno at (269) 349-9772 extension 220.
