Well..."SLAPPY" Me Silly! Kalamazoo K-Wings Opening Night Vlog vs FW Komets (10/18/2025)

Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00
Hitting The Road: 2:46
Hotel Review pt1: 7:51
Pre Game Show: 13:10
THE HOCKEY!: 24:18
Pre-Post Game Show: 1:06:30
Settling Down/Hotel Review pt 2: 1:12:40
The Soggy Drive back to IN: 1: 1:19:14

WE BACK FOR REAL NOW! In a tradition unlike any other for me, it's time ditch Ball State Homecoming (maybe one year Ball State) for some hockey! With the Komets schedule the way it is and with Kalamazoo within an 'enjoyable' road trip's distance from my new place. We'll get an Opening night in Kalamazoo (Not Fort Wayne) video. Maybe it's a nod to my first ever legit effort of doing Komet hockey vlogs.(I'd like to think I've gotten better since that video.) It gives me another excuse to see the Wings (Not Fishers) Event Center before that 'ole barn is history. Heck! If the weather cooperates, I can explore the subtle nature beauty of the region. (spoiler alert, it didn't) For those who are here for the first time that happens to be K-Wings fans to the channel, sorry, I am a Komet hockey fan. So that is my bread and butter. Although, we will see a lot of Kalamazoo this year on the channel. I try to keep these travel vlogs in the 60-90 minute range with Komet home games in the 30-45 minute range. That's my goal at least this season, games might go bonkers into extra time and run past that. Well enough talk, let's set up the matchup!

The Kalamazoo Wings Start their 51st season of K-Wings hockey with a new and hopefully better looking team. Looking to put their multiple 8 game losing streaks of 24-25 behind them. They signed Brighton, MI native Colin Bilek who formerly played at Indy last year. (who has haunted me as a Komet fan last year...) Bilek's 50 plus point season last year will put him on the top lines to go a few points better this year. Collin Saccoman, Quinn Preston, Zach Okabe, Ryan Cox, Johnathan Lemieux, and the home grown product, Hunter Vorva will give it another go in Kalamazoo. The K-Wings haven't won a round in the playoffs since 2012 (geez, has it really been that long?) and have only made it to the playoffs once (2023-24 season [huh how did that season go for the Komets btw?]) in the Joel Martin coaching era. K-Wings fans will be hoping for something different from the status quo this year and to give the ole Wings Event Center one last playoff ride before they move to a new building downtown. To relive the glory of Kalamazoo's back to back Turner Cup wins of 1978-79 and 1979-80.

Meanwhile, The Fort Wayne Komets (1-0-0) have already played their first game of the season. Roughly 18 hours earlier, the Komets made quick work of the Indy "Fishers" Fuel. It was a great defensive game for the Komets in a 4-0 win. Nathan Day has been reassigned by Bakersfield down to Fort Wayne. Now I'm hoping he stays down here for the entire season. In the small sample size that he has as a Komet is off the charts good! Pitching his 3rd shutout in 8 games regular and post season. In Nathan Day we trust indeed, but the defense has to do their work too to keep the high danger chances at a minimum. Brett Brochu has gone to play overseas, Connor Ungar will likely be the number 1 if Day gets called up, but he's an Bakersfield product as well and could theoretically get a call-up. That leaves the third and final option in goal, Samuel Jonsson. The 2024-25 Swedish 1st Division Goalie of the year. Jonsson is getting his first taste of an NHL-Style ice rink. I picture Jonsson as a low floor high ceiling goalie, especially in year one here in the Americas. The short Sample size I've seen (see the Komets-Preseason game video) wasn't reassuring. Speaking of not reassuring, the Komets were 1 of 8 on the Power Play against the Fuel. The Injury list is pilling up already, Jack the Flash has been put of IR and Nick Deakin-Poot left and didn't return after likely failing the Concussion Protocol last night. The Komets will play 11 straight games on the road from Iowa to Florida, so attrition is going to happen, the next man up mentality is going to be key.