K-Wings; Vancouver Canucks renew affiliation

KALAMAZOO – The Kalamazoo Wings announced yesterday afternoon that it has renewed its agreement to remain as an affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. In addition they also signed an agreement with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves for the upcoming season.

Both Vancouver and Chicago will be able to assign players to the K-Wings under the agreement.

“Our working relationship with Vancouver has been beneficial on and off the ice,” said K-Wings General Manager Jim Burlew in a statement released by the team. “By adding the Chicago Wolves, we not only have another organization that is dedicated to winning, but we have an AHL partner that is only two hours away.”

The agreement also marks the second consecutive year that the Canucks entire minor league system will be centered in the Midwest.

The Canucks joined the NHL in 1970 and has advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals on three occasions, most recently in 2011 against the Boston Bruins. Read more

K-Wings roster continues to grow

KALAMAZOO- As the Kalamazoo Wings inch closer to training camp, their roster continues to grow.

Announcing the addition of three more players for the upcoming season, the K-Wings will be bringing back two more familiar faces and a new one.

Forward Justin Taylor will be returning for this third season as a K-Wing. After earning the K-Wings Rookie of the Year two seasons ago, Taylor picked up where he left off last season by scoring 23 goals and 23 assists in 70 games. The 23 goals tied for second among K-Wing players.

Taylor received the Booster Club Appreciation Award last season for his commitment to the community by making the most public appearances of any member of the team with 43.

“He (Taylor) found ways to contribute despite battling through injuries down the final stretch of the season,” said K-Wings head coach Nick Bootland in a statement released by the team. “With Justin’s growth over the past two seasons, our expectations of his role will increase this season.” Read more

Defensively speaking, K-Wings sign three more

KALAMAZOO – The Kalamazoo Wings roster continues to grow as the organization announced the signing of three more players for the upcoming season.

Defenseman Joe Charlebois and Elgin Reid are returning to the K-Wings and the team also completed a trade with the Toledo Walleye for defenseman Kyle Page. The Walleye received future considerations in the trade.

Charlebois, who has been named as the K-Wings Fifth Third Defenseman of the Year for the past two seasons, will be entering this third season in Kalamazoo. Last season, Charlebois received two call-ups to the AHL last season to the Lake Erie Monsters and Manchester Monarchs. In 52 games last season, Charlebois scored three goals and added 12 assists. Read more

K-Wings announce first four signings of the season

KALAMAZOO – With the 2012-2013 season of Kalamazoo Wings hockey just around the corner, the K-Wings announced their first four signings yesterday evening.

All four players have previously played for the K-Wings, with two of them returning to the team after playing elsewhere the past few years.

Goaltender Joel Martin will be returning the K-Wings after spending last season playing in Denmark. Martin, who first played for the K-Wings in 2004-05, was a member of the Colonial Cup Championship team the following year. Martin also played for the K-Wings during the 2008-09 season.

“Very few goaltenders, no matter what level of hockey, bring the conditioning and competiveness of Joel Martin,” said K-Wings coach Nick Bootland in a press release. “We (K-Wings) have seen firsthand that he has what it takes to help a team win a championship.”

Since his last stint with the K-Wings, Martin has spent two seasons in the Central Hockey League with the Odessa Jackalopes where he was named the CHL Goaltender of the Year in 2010. Martin also played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL during the 2010-11 season.

After spending last season playing for the Belfast Giants, Aaron Clarke returns to the K-Wings for his first full season. In 34 games for the Giants, Clarke scored 16 goals and added 34 assists. Clarke first played for the K-Wings during the 2010-11 season.

“Aaron is a player that competes at a high level every time he is on the ice,” said Bootland. “During our run to the Kelly Cup Finals, he (Clarke) demonstrated that he can help our team in every facet.”

Defenseman Sam Ftorek is returning for his fourth season. Ftorek, who is entering his 15th season overall scored 11 goals and 32 assists in 63 games last

season.

“With his (Ftorek) team-first mentality and knowledge of the game, Ftorek is an invaluable member of the team for his efforts on and off the ice”, said Bootland. “Sam does whatever needs to be done to win games, whether that’s at blue line or up front.

Entering his 18th season of professional hockey, Kory Karlander will be returning for his seventh season as a member of the K-Wings. Last season, Karlander

played in his 1,000the career game and has the distinction of being the only K-Wing player in history of playing in each of the leagues that the K-Wings have

played in, including the original IHL.

“Karlander has the ability to make players around him better,” said Bootland. “He (Karlander) is a reliable two-way player that exemplifies what being a K-Wing is all about.”

Karlander, Martin and Bootland were all members of the 2005-06 championship team.

The regular season kicks off on Friday October 12th as the K-Wings travel to Fort Wayne to take on the Komets.

K-WINGS REWARD BOOTLAND WITH NEW THREE-YEAR DEAL

The Kalamazoo Wings, proud member of the ECHL, three-time defending North Division Champions and National Hockey League affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils and the American Hockey League’s Albany Devils, announce the organization has signed director of hockey operations and head coach Nick Bootland to a new three-year contract through the 2014-15 season; per team policy, the terms of the contract will be undisclosed.

Just one year after inking a two-year deal, which would have gone through next season, the K-Wings decided to tear up the agreement and reward the fourth-year head coach with a brand new contract.

“We (K-Wings) have prided ourselves as an organization in rewarding our top performers and there is no denying that Nick Bootland is one of the top coaches in minor league hockey,” said general manager Jim Burlew. “Since joining the ECHL three seasons ago, we have had tremendous success and Nick has been the driving force. From being a solid role model in our community, recruiting great talent, creating winning game plans and working with our affiliates, he (Bootland) has proven that he is a true professional and we are extremely excited to reach this new agreement. ”

Guiding the K-Wings to four-straight postseason appearances, Bootland has already won 164 games in his young coaching career, which doesn’t include the playoffs, where he has won another 20 contests over the past two seasons.

“Kalamazoo is more than a city for my family and myself, it is our home; I have spent more time here than anywhere else in my playing or coaching career,” said Bootland. “The support that this organization has shown me is second to none and, we are both committed to bringing another K-Wings professional hockey championship to southwest Michigan.

Since joining the ECHL in 2010, Kalamazoo has captured the North Division in all three seasons and capped off a second straight trip to the Eastern Conference Finals this season.

Season tickets for the upcoming 2012-2013 season of K-Wings hockey are currently on sale at the K-Wings front office. Fans can purchase their tickets during regular business hours of Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or by calling (269) 349-9772.

Submitted by Mike Modugno

K-WINGS TO START THE 2012-2013 SEASON AGAINST THE KOMETS

The Kalamazoo Wings, proud member of the ECHL, three-time defending North Division Champions and National Hockey League affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils and the American Hockey League’s Albany Devils, announce its 72-game schedule for the upcoming 2012-2013 season.

The K-Wings regular season will run from October 12th-March 30th. All 23 of the member clubs in the ECHL will play 72 games (36 home and 36 away).

Kalamazoo will start the season at the Allen County Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana to the battle the Fort Wayne Komets. The encounter will be the first between the teams since the 2008-09 season in the old International Hockey League and will rekindle one of the greatest rivalries in minor league hockey.

A week later on Friday, October 19th, the K-Wings and Komets will reconvene, this time at Wings Stadium for Kalamazoo’s home opener, when the K-Wings raise their North Division Championship banner prior to face-off. Rivalry weekend will continue the following night on Saturday, October 20th, as the Toledo Walleye come to town.

Also in the month of October, the K-Wings will host the 9th Annual Orange Ice Game on Saturday, October 27th when the Evansville Icemen make their first-ever appearance at Wings Stadium. Fans are encouraged to dress in costumes and participate in Halloween festivities. The Orange Ice clash will be the first of five premium night games on the K-Wings’ schedule.

Other game highlights include the 11th Annual New Year’s Eve Bash versus the Cincinnati Cyclones. On Thursday, February 14th, the K-Wings will battle the Trenton Titans during the 13th Annual Pink Ice Game. The K-Wings will also host their 5th Annual McDonald’s Golden Ice Game, with the opponent and date to be announced at a later date.

One of the most historic traditions in hockey will continue on Sunday, March 17th, when the Greenville Road Warriors invade Wings Stadium for the 32nd Annual World Famous “Green Ice” Game.

For the first-time in the regular season, the K-Wings will host a regular season contest versus a member of the Western Conference, as the Bakersfield Condors come to town on Sunday, January 27th.

Kalamazoo will play the defending Kelly Cup Champions and the team that eliminated the K-Wings from the postseason, the Florida Everblades, two times during the season both at Wings Stadium on Saturday, December 15th and on Sunday, March 10th.

The K-Wings, who will not play the Everblades in the Sunshine State, will head to Florida for three games in mid-November to play one of the league’s newest teams, the Orlando Solar Bears. The games will be the only games between the teams this season.

This year, the K-Wings will be celebrating their 39th season of professional hockey and third in the ECHL, which features coast-to-coast hockey with 23 teams in 16 states. Kalamazoo will play 13 of the league’s 23 teams, including all 12 Eastern Conference teams.

The four teams the K-Wings battle the most this year are the Fort Wayne Komets (15 games; 9 home and 6 away), the Toledo Walleye (13 games; 7 home, 6 away), the Evansville Icemen (13 games; 7 home, 6 away) and the Cincinnati Cyclones (8 games; 3 home and 5 away).

A complete schedule of K-Wings games for the 2012-2013 season is attached to this press release.

Season tickets for the upcoming 2012-2013 season of K-Wings hockey are currently on sale at the K-Wings front office. Fans can purchase their tickets during regular business hours of Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or by calling (269) 349-9772.

Submitted by Mike Modugno

October 2012

Date Opponent

Friday, October 12^th @ Fort Wayne Komets

Saturday, October 13^th @ Toledo Walleye

Friday, October 19^th Vs Fort Wayne Komets (Home Opener)

Saturday, October 20^th Vs Toledo Walleye

Friday, October 26^th @ Evansville Icemen

Saturday, October 27^th Vs Evansville Icemen (Orange Ice)

Wednesday, October 31^st @ Cincinnati Cyclones

November 2012

Friday, November 2^nd Vs Cincinnati Cyclones

Saturday, November 3^rd Vs Fort Wayne Komets

Wednesday, November 7^th Vs South Carolina Stingrays (Education Day)

Friday, November 9^th Vs South Carolina Stingrays

Saturday, November 10^th Vs Fort Wayne Komets

Saturday, November 17^th @ Orlando Solar Bears

Sunday, November 18^th @ Orlando Solar Bears

Tuesday, November 20^th @ Orlando Solar Bears

Thursday, November 22^nd @ Fort Wayne Komets

Friday, November 23^rd Vs Fort Wayne Komets

Sunday, November 25^th Vs Toledo Walleye

Friday, November 30^th @ Toledo Walleye

December 2012

Saturday, December 1^st @ Evansville Icemen

Friday, December 7^th @ Cincinnati Cyclones

Saturday, December 8^th Vs Toledo Walleye

Wednesday, December 12^th @ Fort Wayne Komets

Friday, December 14^th Vs Evansville Icemen

Saturday, December 15^th Vs Florida Everblades

Sunday, December 16^th @ Fort Wayne Komets

Friday, December 21^st Vs Fort Wayne Komets

Saturday, December 22^nd @ Evansville Icemen
Friday, December 28^th Vs Fort Wayne Komets

Saturday, December 29^th @ Toledo Walleye

Monday, December 31^st Vs Cincinnati Cyclones (New Year’s Eve Bash)

January 2013

Friday, January 4th Vs Toledo Walleye

Saturday, January 5^th Vs Evansville Icemen

Sunday, January 6^th @ Toledo Walleye

Wednesday, January 9^th Vs Reading Royals

Saturday, January 12^th @ Gwinnett Gladiators

January 2013 (Continued)

Date Opponent

Saturday, January 19^th Vs Fort Wayne Komets

Friday, January 25^th @ Toledo Walleye

Saturday, January 26^th @ Cincinnati Cyclones

Sunday, January 27^th Vs Bakersfield Condors

Wednesday, January 30^th Vs Fort Wayne Komets

February 2013

Friday, February 1^st @ Fort Wayne Komets

Saturday, February 2^nd Vs Wheeling Nailers

Wednesday, February 6^th Vs Evansville Icemen

Friday, February 8^th @ Elmira Jackals

Saturday, February 9^th @ Trenton Titans

Sunday, February 10^th @ Reading Royals

Thursday, February 14^th Vs Trenton Titans (Pink Ice)

Friday, February 15^th Vs Toledo Walleye

Saturday, February 16^th @ Toledo Walleye

Monday, February 18^th @ Cincinnati Cyclones (Road Education Day)

Thursday, February 21^st @ Reading Royals

Saturday, February 23^rd @ Elmira Jackals

Sunday, February 24^th @ Elmira Jackals

March 2013

Friday, March 1^st Vs Cincinnati Cyclones

Saturday, March 2^nd @ Cincinnati Cyclones

Sunday, March 3^rd @ Wheeling Nailers

Friday, March 8^th Vs Evansville Icemen

Saturday, March 9^th Vs Toledo Walleye

Sunday, March 10^th Vs Florida Everblades

Friday, March 15^th Vs Fort Wayne Komets

Saturday, March 16^th @ Evansville Icemen

Sunday, March 17^th Vs Greenville Road Warriors (Green Ice)

Wednesday, March 20^th @ Wheeling Nailers

Friday, March 22^nd Vs Toledo Walleye

Saturday, March 23^rd @ Evansville Icemen

Sunday, March 24^th Vs Evansville Icemen

Wednesday, March 27^th Vs Evansville Icemen

Saturday, March 30^th @ Fort Wayne Komets

Bold Indicates Home Game

Bold and Italics Indicates Premium Home Night

« Previous Page — Next Page »