Kalamazoo Wings re-align with Vancouver Canucks for upcoming season
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KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings, entering their 49th season this fall, have announced a new affiliation with a very familiar organization.
For the fourth time in team history, the K-Wings will be the minor-league affiliate of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. The teams were also partners from 1984-87, 2011-15 and 2017-21. The agreement also includes the Canucks AHL affiliate the Abbotsford Canucks.
“The K-Wings are excited to be working once again with the Vancouver Canucks and their AHL affiliate the Abbotsford Canucks,” Joel Martin, Kalamazoo Wings Director of Hockey Operations and head coach said in a statement released by the team. “We’re thankful for the opportunity and belief that Ryan Johnson (Abbotsford Canucks General Manager and Vancouver Canucks Assistant to the General Manager), and the entire Canucks organization, have in us. Most importantly, we look forward to providing their young prospects with everything they need to develop.”
The Canucks are equally excited to be working with the K-Wings organization again.
“Securing a full-time ECHL affiliation is something we have wanted to do for our players and the Abbotsford Canucks,” said Patrik Allvin, Vancouver Canucks General Manager, in the press release. “Giving our guys every opportunity to grow, improve and succeed on the ice is extremely important to the hockey club. Having this agreement with Kalamazoo gives our team, and our development staff, another touch point in the long hard journey to becoming a pro hockey player.”
Several players who passed through Kalamazoo during past affiliations worked their way up to play in the NHL, including Darren Archibald (2013-14, 2017-19), Alexandre Grenier (2015-17), Alex Friesen (2015-16), Jann Sauve (2013-14) and Even McEneny (2016-17).
The emphasis of the partnership, according to Ryan Johnson, is to work together to benefit the players.
“The goal for us is to try and develop players at all levels and having a direct pipeline to the ECHL is…
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