K-Wings Announce Affiliation with New York Islanders

The Kalamazoo Wings announced on Monday morning that they have entered into an affiliation agreement with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. Under terms of the agreement, the K-Wings will become the Islanders ECHL affiliate and will also be associated with the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Read more

K-Wings Sign Four Familiar Faces

The roster for the 2010-11 Kalamazoo Wings is starting to take shape. The K-Wings and head coach Nick Bootland announced the signings of four players for the upcoming season on Thursday: forwards Andrew Fournier, Patrick Asselin, Anton Kharin and Trent Daavettila. All four players were with the K-Wings last season. Read more

K-Wings and Philadelphia end affiliation

The Kalamazoo Wings announced the end of their affiliation with the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League.
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K-Wings name new GM

Jim Burlew left the Kalamazoo Wings organization in 2004 to become a Regional Management Consultant for RE/MAX of Michigan. Burlew was the team’s general manager from 2002-2004 and was also named as the United Hockey Leagues Marketing Director of the Year in 2004.

In a statement released by the K-Wings on Tuesday, Burlew said that even though he worked outside of hockey for the past six years, he never lost touch with the sport he loves or the Kalamazoo Wings.

“I am excited and honored to return to an organization that has such a remarkable tradition and has meant so much to the city of Kalamazoo and the communities of Southwest Michigan,” Burlew said.

In addition to playing collegiate hockey at the University of Ohio, Burlew also worked over 1000 games as a referee. Burlew was also the co-owner and President of the El Paso Buzzards of the former Western Professional Hockey League, for which the team won two championships in their first three seasons.

Burlew also was co-founder, Vice President and director of sales and marketing for the now-defunct Huntington Blizzard of the ECHL.

“Jim has had success wherever he has been and we are thrilled he has decided to return to the organization,” said K-Wings president Paul Pickard.

GM Wade Welsh to leave K-Wings

The Kalamazoo Wings will be looking to fill more than roster spots for next season. General Manager and Vice President Wade Welsh has put in his resignation.  Welsh who came to the K-Wings six years ago as the assistant general manager became General Manager in 2007.  The club has already started looking for Welsh’s replacement.

Bootland back as coach for K-Wings

Nick Bootland will be back as the Kalamazoo Wings head coach and director of hockey operations when the team takes to the ice this fall.

In his first two seasons as coach of the K-Wings, Bootland has compiled a record of 86-49-8-5 and his teams reached the playoffs in both seasons.

This year, Bootland led the K-Wings to the North Division Championship in the teams first season in the ECHL.

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