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 Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League, and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.

For the K-Wings franchise that played in the original IHL, see Kalamazoo Wings (1974–2000).
Kalamazoo Wings
2021–22 ECHL season
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
General managerNick Bootland
Head coachNick Bootland
MediaWQLR
Kalamazoo Gazette
AffiliatesColumbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Cleveland Monsters (AHL)
Franchise history
1999–2000Madison Kodiaks
2000–presentKalamazoo Wings
Championships
Regular season titles1 UHL 2005–06
Division Championships1 UHL 2005–06
4 ECHL 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
Conference Championships2 UHL 2005–06, 2006–07
1 ECHL 2010–11
Colonial Cups1 UHL 2005–06
Kelly Cups0 ECHL

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).

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]

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

Players

Current roster
Updated April 17, 2022.[9]
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
18 Kyle Blaney F R 30 2016 Burlington, Ontario Wings
19 Erik Bradford C L 27 2021 Orangeville, Ontario Wings
10 Raymond Brice F L 26 2021 Houghton, Michigan Wings
48 Anthony Collins RW R 32 2022 Langley, British Columbia Wings
17 Ryan Cook D R 27 2022 Lancaster, New York Wings
3 Cody Corbett D L 28 2021 Lakeland, Minnesota Wings
4 Michael Davies D L 25 2021 St. Louis, Missouri Wings
23 Andrew DeBrincat D R 28 2021 Farmington Hills, Michigan Wings
35 Trevor Gorsuch G L 27 2021 St. Charles, Missouri Wings
21 Max Humitz F L 26 2021 Livonia, Michigan Wings
44 Matt Iacopelli F L 27 2019 Brownstown, Michigan Wings
20 Zach Jordan RW R 25 2021 Collinsville, Illinois Monsters
15 Eric Kattelus D L 34 2011 Houghton, Michigan Wings
29 Jake Kielly G L 25 2022 Eden Prairie, Minnesota Wings
7 Logan Lambdin LW L 26 2021 Wyandotte, Michigan Wings
6 Olivier LeBlanc D L 26 2021 Quebec, Quebec Monsters
2 Jeremy Masella D L 23 2022 Phoenix, Arizona Wings
24 Justin Murray D L 23 2021 London, Ontario Wings
37 Tanner Nagel RW R 24 2022 Mossbank, Saskatchewan Wings
11 Tyler Rockwell D L 25 2021 San Jose, California Wings
9 Colin Saccoman D R 25 2021 Stillwater, Minnesota Wings
14 Jake Slaker C L 25 2021 San Diego, California Monsters
25 Denis Smirnov LW L 24 2021 Moscow, Russia Wings
74 Tanner Sorenson F R 27 2018 Anchorage, Alaska Wings
93 Justin Taylor F L 33 2021 Mindemoya, Ontario Wings
5 Giovanni Vallati D L 22 2021 Ottawa, Ontario Monsters

Retired numbers

Team records
Kalamazoo Wings playing against the Chicago Express in 2011

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: 542 Justin Taylor (2010–20)
Career goals: 213 Justin Taylor (2010–20)
Career assists: 263 Kory Karlander (2004–13)
Career points: 442 Kory Karlander (2004–13)
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. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  4. "Wolves Extend Affiliation with Kalamazoo". Chicago Wolves. August 19, 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". MLive. 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.
  9. ":: Kalamazoo Wings playing Roster". Kalamazoo Wings. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  10. "WINGS TO RETIRE PAIR OF NUMBERS". Kalamazoo Wings. September 24, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2019.

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