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
MediaWQLR
Kalamazoo Gazette
AffiliatesVancouver Canucks (NHL)
Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
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 (Pride Night).

History
A road game in October 2012 vs. Toledo Walleye.

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

Players

Current roster
Updated July 3, 2023.[13]
Team roster
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
– United States Collin Adams LW L 25 2023 Brighton, Michigan Wings
2 United States Brendan Bushy D L 25 2023 Thief River Falls, Minnesota Wings
48 Canada Anthony Collins RW R 34 2022 Langley, British Columbia Wings
35 United States Drew DeRidder G L 23 2023 Fenton, Michigan Wings
38 United States Connor Fedorek D L 24 2023 Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Wings
4 United States Anthony Florentino D R 28 2022 West Roxbury, Massachusetts Wings
28 United States Kurt Gosselin D L 28 2023 Brighton, Michigan Wings
7 United States David Keefer RW R 26 2023 Howell, Michigan Wings
44 Canada Ayden MacDonald F L 27 2023 Langley, British Columbia Wings
18 Canada James McEwan C L 26 2023 Chatham, Ontario Wings
25 United States Luke Morgan LW R 26 2023 Brighton, Michigan Wings
21 Canada Brad Morrison C L 26 2023 Prince George, British Columbia Wings
24 Canada Justin Murray D L 25 2021 London, Ontario Wings
8 United States Coale Norris LW L 26 2022 Oxford, Michigan Wings
73 Canada Drake Pilon RW R 25 2023 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Wings
– Canada Chaz Reddekopp D L 26 2023 West Kelowna, British Columbia Wings
3 United States Kyle Rhodes D R 25 2023 Ashburn, Virginia Wings
23 United States Colin Saccoman D R 26 2021 Stillwater, Minnesota Wings
17 Canada Brandon Saigeon C L 25 2022 Grimsby, Ontario Wings
6 United States Aidan Spellacy F L 25 2023 Lakewood, Ohio Wings
93 Canada Justin Taylor F L 34 2021 Mindemoya, Ontario Wings
31 United States Hunter Vorva G L 27 2022 Kalamazoo, Michigan Wings

Retired numbers

Team records
Kalamazoo Wings playing against the Chicago Express in 2011

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

Career
Career games played: 614 Canada Justin Taylor (2010–22)
Career goals: 237 Canada Justin Taylor (2010–22)
Career assists: 263 Canada Kory Karlander (2004–13)
Career points: 457 Canada Justin Taylor (2010–22)
Career penalty minutes: 1,463 Canada Tyler Willis (2003–10)
Career goaltending games played: 422 Canada Joel Martin (2004-18)
Career goaltending wins: 152 Canada Joel Martin (2004–18)
Career shutouts: 18 Canada 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 July 3, 2023.
  14. "WINGS TO RETIRE PAIR OF NUMBERS". Kalamazoo Wings. September 24, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2019.

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