Kalamazoo Wings

The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Western Conference, Central Division,[1] they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Event Center. They are the affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League, and the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League.

For the K-Wings franchise that played in the original IHL, see Kalamazoo Wings (1974–2000).
Kalamazoo Wings
CityKalamazoo, Michigan, United States
LeagueECHL
ConferenceWestern
DivisionCentral
Founded1999 (in the UHL)
Home arenaWings Event Center
ColorsRed, white, blue
     
Owner(s)William D. Johnston/Ronda Stryker (Greenleaf Hospitality)
General managerToni Will
Head coachJoel Martin
CaptainChaz Reddekopp
MediaWKZO
Kalamazoo Gazette
AffiliatesVancouver Canucks (NHL)
Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
Websitekwings.com
Franchise history
1999–2000Madison Kodiaks
2000–presentKalamazoo Wings
Championships
Regular season titles1 UHL 2005–06
Division titles1 UHL 2005–06
4 ECHL 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
Conference titles2 UHL 2005–06, 2006–07
1 ECHL 2010–11
Colonial Cups1 UHL 2005–06
Kelly Cups0 ECHL
Current season

Kalamazoo is home to the "Green Ice Game". Played since 1982 on St. Patrick's Day, it is one of the most celebrated games in minor league hockey. The team has sought to duplicate the game's success with the Pink Ice Game (Valentine's Day), the Orange Ice Game (Halloween), the Lavender Ice game (Hockey Fights Cancer) and the Rainbow Ice game.

History

The team began in the 1999–2000 season as the United Hockey League's Madison Kodiaks in Madison, Wisconsin. After one season in Madison, the franchise moved to Kalamazoo, where it renamed itself the Wings in honor of the original Wings that had played in the International Hockey League from 1974 through 2000. The new Wings obtained the right to use the old Wings' name and logo, as well as using the original team's history as its own.[2]

The K-Wings played in the UHL from October 2000 until June 1, 2009, when they withdrew because of concerns that the league, which had renamed itself the International Hockey League in 2007, might go bankrupt. Eight days later, the K-Wings joined the ECHL. From September 13, 2012 until the end of the 2014–15 season, the Wings had an affiliation with the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves.[3][4] They were also affiliated with the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks as well as their AHL affiliates the Springfield Falcons and Utica Comets, respectively.[5]

Prior to the 2015–16 season, the ECHL required teams to only have one official NHL/AHL affiliate, leading to the K-Wings only keeping their Columbus affiliation and the Blue Jackets' new AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. They ended their affiliation with the Blue Jackets after one season and affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Syracuse Crunch for the 2016–17 season.[2] They changed again for the 2017–18 season to the Canucks and Comets, their previous affiliates for several seasons.[6]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wings voluntarily suspended operations for the 2020–21 ECHL season.[7] When the team returned for the 2021–22 season, they switched their affiliation back to the Columbus Blue Jackets.[8] On June 23, 2022, the Wings signed an affiliation extension with the Blue Jackets (and therefore the Cleveland Monsters also) for the 2022–23 season[9][10]

On July 10, 2023, Kalamazoo announced they had returned to the Vancouver Canucks organization in an affiliation agreement for the 2023–24 season.[11] They also entered an agreement with the Canucks AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.[12]

Season records
SeasonGPWLT/OTLPtsGFGAPctRegular Season FinishPlayoffs
United Hockey League
2000–01743731680220220.5413rd Southwest, 9th of 15Lost Play-in game vs. Muskegon Fury
2001–02742737866213277.4466th Western, 11th of 14did not qualify
2002–03762939866210282.4345th Western, 10th of 10did not qualify
2003–04764522999281207.6514th Western, 4th of 12Lost Quarterfinal series vs. Fort Wayne Komets, 2–3
2004–058050246100257204.6632nd Central, 3rd of 14Lost Semifinal series vs. Fort Wayne Komets, 3–4
2005–067652177111332183.7301st Central, 1st of 14Won Colonial Cup Final series vs. Danbury Trashers, 4–1
2006–077647236100251191.6582nd Eastern, 4th of 10Lost Colonial Cup Final series vs. Rockford IceHogs, 3–4
International Hockey League
2007–087631341173242252.4805th of 6 IHLdid not qualify
2008–09764429391274253.5994th of 6 IHLLost Semifinal series vs. Fort Wayne Komets, 3–4
ECHL
2009–107242201094273243.6531st North, 3rd of 20Lost Quarterfinal series vs. Reading Royals, 2–3
2010–11724024888255225.6111st North, 4th of 19Lost Kelly Cup Final series vs. Alaska Aces, 1–4
2011–12723826884264237.5831st North, 8th of 20Lost Eastern Conference Final series vs. Florida Everblades, 1–4
2012–13723430876205215.5283rd North, 14th of 23did not qualify
2013–14724222892224197.6391st North, 4th of 21Lost Quarterfinal series vs. Greenville Road Warriors, 2–4
2014–15723630678226233.5423rd North, 16th of 28Lost Division Semifinal series vs. Fort Wayne Komets, 1–4
2015–16723828682233230.5693rd North, 13th of 28Lost Conference Quarterfinal series vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 1–4
2016–17723830480222237.5564th Central, 15th of 27Lost Division Semifinal series vs. Toledo Walleye, 3–4
2017–18723431775251251.5215th Central, 16th of 27did not qualify
2018–19723631577229254.5354th Central, 15th of 27Lost Division Semifinal series vs. Cincinnati Cyclones, 2–4
2019–20612330854194241.4435th Central, 22nd of 26Season cancelled
2020–21Opted out of participating due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22723635173224255.5075th Central, 19th of 27did not qualify
2022–23722937664178226.4445th Central, 23rd of 28did not qualify
2023–24723830480214203.5564th Central, 13rd of 27Lost Division Semifinal vs. Toledo Walleye, 0–4

Players

Current roster
Updated May 1, 2024.[13]
Team roster
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
18 Collin Adams LW L 26 2023 Brighton, Michigan Wings
19 Erik Bradford (A) C L 29 2021 Orangeville, Ontario Wings
21 Brian Chambers D R 25 2023 Weymouth, Massachusetts Wings
4 Evan Dougherty RW R 25 2023 Kalamazoo, Michigan Wings
14 Steve Holtz D R 25 2024 White Lake, Michigan Wings
7 David Keefer RW R 26 2023 Howell, Michigan Wings
90 Jay Keranen D L 26 2023 Brighton, Michigan Wings
44 Ayden MacDonald F L 27 2023 Langley, British Columbia Wings
9 Luke Morgan LW R 26 2023 Brighton, Michigan Wings
10 Ted Nichol C L 27 2023 Listowel, Ontario Wings
15 Jacob Nordqvist D R 26 2023 Göteborg, Sweden Wings
76 Jack Olmstead F R 26 2023 Troy, Michigan Wings
43 Quinn Preston F R 26 2023 Trenton, Michigan Wings
29 Chaz Reddekopp (C) D L 27 2023 West Kelowna, British Columbia Wings
81 Jordan Seyfert C R 25 2023 Annville, Pennsylvania Wings
74 Tanner Sorenson C R 31 2023 Anchorage, Alaska Wings
93 Justin Taylor (A) F L 35 2021 Mindemoya, Ontario Wings
79 Hunter Vorva G L 28 2022 Kalamazoo, Michigan Wings
55 Connor Walters D R 27 2023 Welland, Ontario Wings

Retired numbers

Team records

Single season
Goals: 46 Nick Bootland (2007–08)
Assists: 70 Daniel Carriere (2005–06)
Points: 94 Kory Karlander (2007–08)
Penalty minutes: 344 Tyler Willis (2003–04)
GAA: 2.02 Ryan Nie (2006–07)
SV%: .929 Ryan Nie (2006–07)

Career
Career games played: 614 Justin Taylor (2010–22)
Career goals: 237 Justin Taylor (2010–22)
Career assists: 263 Kory Karlander (2004–13)
Career points: 457 Justin Taylor (2010–22)
Career penalty minutes: 1,463 Tyler Willis (2003–10)
Career goaltending games played: 422 Joel Martin (2004-18)
Career goaltending wins: 152 Joel Martin (2004–18)
Career shutouts: 18 Joel Martin (2004–18)

References
  1. "ECHL Announces Revisions to Divisional Alignment and Playoff Format". ECHL. October 9, 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  2. "K-Wings Strike Deal to Become Tampa Bay Lightning Affiliate". OurSports Central. May 25, 2016.
  3. "Wolves Enter Affiliation Agreement with Kalamazoo". Chicago Wolves. September 13, 2012. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  4. "Wolves Extend Affiliation with Kalamazoo". Chicago Wolves. August 19, 2014. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  5. "Kalamazoo renews affiliation with Vancouver and signs new agreement with Columbus". Kalamazoo Wings. August 20, 2014. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  6. "Kalamazoo Wings enter affiliation agreement with Vancouver Canucks". Michigan Live. July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  7. "CINCINNATI, IDAHO AND KALAMAZOO ELECT SUSPENSION OF PLAY FOR 2020-21 SEASON". ECHL. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  8. "K-WINGS ANNOUNCE NHL AFFILIATION WITH COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS". Kalamazoo Wings. July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  9. "WINGS EXTEND NHL AFFILIATION WITH COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS". Kalamazoo Wings. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  10. "CBJ & Kalamazoo Wings extend affiliation agreement for 2022-23 season". Columbus Blue Jackets. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  11. "Canucks reach affiliation deal with ECHL's Wings". The Sports Network. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  12. "K-Wings announce NHL affiliation with Vancouver Canucks". Kalamazoo Wings. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  13. ":: Kalamazoo Wings playing Roster". Kalamazoo Wings. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  14. "WINGS TO RETIRE PAIR OF NUMBERS". Kalamazoo Wings. September 24, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2019.

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