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 Utica Comets of the American Hockey League and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wings voluntarily suspended operations through at least the 2020–21 ECHL season.[2]

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
General managerNick Bootland
Head coachNick Bootland
MediaWQLR
Kalamazoo Gazette
AffiliatesVancouver Canucks (NHL)
Utica Comets (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
On road 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.[3]

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.[4][5] 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.[6]

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.[3] They changed again for the 2017–18 season to the Canucks and Comets, their previous affiliates for several seasons.[7]

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

Players

Current roster
Updated January 7, 2021.[8]
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract

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. "CINCINNATI, IDAHO AND KALAMAZOO ELECT SUSPENSION OF PLAY FOR 2020-21 SEASON". ECHL. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  3. "K-Wings Strike Deal to Become Tampa Bay Lightning Affiliate". OurSports Central. May 25, 2016.
  4. "Wolves Enter Affiliation Agreement with Kalamazoo". Chicago Wolves. September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  5. "Wolves Extend Affiliation with Kalamazoo". Chicago Wolves. August 19, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  6. "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.
  7. "Kalamazoo Wings enter affiliation agreement with Vancouver Canucks". MLive. July 12, 2017.
  8. ":: Kalamazoo Wings playing Roster". Kalamazoo Wings. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  9. "WINGS TO RETIRE PAIR OF NUMBERS". Kalamazoo Wings. September 24, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2019.

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