Michigan UHL teams - News & Notes

The Kalamazoo Wings have played the early part of the 2006-07 United Hockey League season with a target on their backs as the defending league champions, but continue to post victories and currently have an 8-2-0 record.

The K-Wings are riding a three-game winning streak have claimed victory in five of their last six contests. They also remain as the only undefeated road team (4-0-0) in the UHL. Much of their success on the road has been the play of their special teams. Kalamazoo has not allowed a power play goal on the road, successfully turning away all 33 attempts by their opponents. The club leads the league in overall penalty killing percentage (94.0%).

Kalamazoo has used balance on offense as 19 of the 21 skaters to hit the ice for the team this season have registered a point. 2006 Colonial Cup Playoff MVP Nick Bootland (5g, 5a) along with Kory Karlander (5g, 6a) have returned from last season’s championship team and lead the team in scoring.

Goaltending continues to be a strong point as Tom Askey currently ranks second among UHL goaltenders with a 2.15 goals against average. Rookie Ryan Nie has helped solidify the tandem registering a 2-0-0 record, a 1.58 GAA, and a .953 save percentage in his three appearances this season.

The K-Wings will face a tough challenge with two games this week vs. the league leading Muskegon Fury (12-1-0). The Fury earned a 4-3 victory in the first meeting between the two clubs this season.

Flint Generals - (0-3-0) – Forward David Frawley has scored all seven of his points this season on the road...The Generals are 0-4-1 at home this season. The only UHL club without a home victory…Eight of the next ten games for Flint is on home ice…The Generals power play ranks third in the UHL (17.3%)…Center Terry Marchant netted his first goal on Sunday since joining the team earlier in the week…Flint ranks first in the league in shots allowed per game (28.75). The only team holding their opponents under 30 shots per game.

Kalamazoo Wings - (3-0-0) – Rookie right wing Justin Cross is on a six-game point streak...Winger Tyler Willis dished out his 200th career assist in Sunday’s victory vs. Quad City…Left wing Nick Bootland had the game-winning goal in two of the three victories during the week…Goaltender Ryan Nie made 40 saves in Sunday’s victory… Kalamazoo killed off all 21 opponent power plays during the week…After scoring one point in his first three games, forward Brett Pilkington has four points (3g, 1a) in his last two games, including the game-winning goal on Saturday.

Muskegon Fury - (3-0-0) – The Fury currently have an identical record after 13 games (12-1-0) as a season ago... Center Todd Robinson has scored a hat trick in two consecutive games vs. Port Huron…During the week, Muskegon outscored their opponents 9-1 in the third period…Center Elias Godoy is riding a seven-game point streak…The Fury have scored four or more goals in each game this season…After trailing 3-1 on Sunday, Muskegon scored the next four goals to beat Port Huron 5-3. They are 10-0-3 in their last 13 games vs. the Flags.

Port Huron Flags - (1-2-0) – The Flags snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-3 win vs. Rockford on Friday… After being held scoreless in the previous six games, left wing Brad Bonello tallied four points (1g, 3a) in Friday’s win…The Flags netted two shorthanded goals on the same Muskegon power play on Sunday…Center Mark Cadotte has an assist in four straight games. He leads the Flags with 12 points (1g, 11a)…Center Ryan Markham has a goal in three straight games and ranks fourth in UHL rookie scoring.

Text and Kalamazoo photo courtesy the official UHL website