The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, were a professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The team played in the International Hockey League from the 1974–75 season to the 1999–2000 season. The team played in Wings Stadium and was affiliated with the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, and the Dallas Stars.
Kalamazoo Wings | |
---|---|
City | Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States |
League | IHL |
Conference | Eastern |
Founded | 1974 |
Operated | 1974–2000 |
Home arena | Wings Stadium |
Colors | Green, gold, black, white |
Owner(s) | R.T. Parfet |
Affiliates | Detroit Red Wings (NHL) Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars (NHL) |
Franchise history | |
1974–1995 | Kalamazoo Wings |
1995–2000 | Michigan K-Wings |
Championships | |
Regular season titles | 2 IHL 1979–80, 1980–81 |
Division titles | 5 IHL 1979–80, 1980–81, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1998–99 |
Conference titles | 3 IHL 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981-82 |
Turner Cups | 2 IHL 1978–79, 1979–80 |
History
editThat team, which had named itself for its affiliation with the NHL Detroit Red Wings, changed its name during the 1995 playoffs to the Michigan K-Wings because the league wanted to raise its appeal for expanding to larger markets. The team's owner, the late R.T. Parfet, was the only small-market owner to oblige. However, concerns about larger-market teams entering the league, the league's instability, and the Dallas Stars ending their affiliation led to the Wings owners to request inactive status on April 17, 2000, and the team was dissolved.[1] The IHL would fold a season later before the franchise could be resurrected.
The original team colors were red, white, and blue until the end of the 1987–88 season when the owners announced that they would change colors to green, gold, black, and white to match their new NHL affiliate, the Minnesota North Stars.
On July 27, 2000, the Madison Kodiaks of the United Hockey League announced that they were moving to Kalamazoo for the 2000–01 season, and would be known as the Kalamazoo Wings.
Championships
editYear | League | Trophy |
---|---|---|
1979–1980 | IHL | Turner Cup |
1978–1979 | IHL | Turner Cup |
Standings
editYear | GP | W | L | T/OTL* | PTS | GF | GA | Pct | Standings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974–1975 | 75 | 17 | 53 | 5 | 39 | 203 | 318 | .260 | 10 of 11 |
1975–1976 | 78 | 27 | 41 | 10 | 6 | 273 | 318 | .410 | 8 of 9 |
1976–1977 | 78 | 38 | 27 | 13 | 89 | 325 | 290 | .571 | 2 of 9 |
1977–1978 | 80 | 35 | 31 | 14 | 84 | 315 | 288 | .525 | 4 of 9 |
1978–1979 | 80 | 40 | 28 | 12 | 92 | 368 | 327 | .575 | 4 of 9 |
1979–1980 | 80 | 45 | 26 | 9 | 99 | 366 | 274 | .619 | 1 of 10 |
1980–1981 | 82 | 52 | 20 | 10 | 114 | 369 | 244 | .704 | 1 of 8 |
1981–1982 | 82 | 41 | 36 | 5 | 89 | 355 | 333 | .543 | 3 of 7 |
1982–1983 | 82 | 32 | 44 | 6 | 76 | 311 | 341 | .463 | 5 of 8 |
1983–1984 | 82 | 37 | 38 | 7 | 83 | 333 | 316 | .506 | 5 of 7 |
1984–1985 | 82 | 40 | 35 | 7 | 89 | 323 | 297 | .543 | 5 of 9 |
1985–1986 | 82 | 47 | 35 | 0 | 100 | 345 | 314 | .610 | 4 of 10 |
1986–1987 | 82 | 36 | 46 | 0 | 80 | 331 | 353 | .479 | 8 of 9 |
1987–1988 | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | 328 | 360 | .524 | 7 of 9 |
1988–1989 | 82 | 39 | 36 | 7 | 85 | 345 | 350 | .518 | 6 of 10 |
1989–1990 | 82 | 53 | 23 | 6 | 112 | 389 | 311 | .682 | 3 of 9 |
1990–1991 | 82 | 52 | 29 | 1 | 105 | 354 | 302 | .640 | 2 of 11 |
1991–1992 | 82 | 37 | 35 | 10 | 84 | 292 | 312 | .512 | 7 of 10 |
1992–1993 | 82 | 29 | 42 | 11 | 69 | 291 | 367 | .421 | 10 of 12 |
1993–1994 | 81 | 48 | 26 | 7 | 103 | 337 | 297 | .636 | 5 of 13 |
1994–1995 | 81 | 43 | 24 | 14 | 100 | 288 | 249 | .617 | 5 of 17 |
1995–1996 | 82 | 40 | 24 | 18 | 98 | 290 | 272 | .598 | 7 of 19 |
1996–1997 | 82 | 31 | 44 | 7 | 69 | 208 | 272 | .421 | 17 of 19 |
1997–1998 | 82 | 39 | 36 | 7 | 79 | 223 | 261 | .518 | 15 of 18 |
1998–1999 | 82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 | 232 | 253 | .506 | 11 of 16 |
1999–2000 | 82 | 33 | 37 | 12 | 78 | 178 | 223 | .476 | 12 of 13 |
(*) - For 1987–1988 season Overtime Losses were tracked instead of Ties
Team records
editRetired numbers
edit- #22 Mike Wanchuk
- #26 Kevin Schamehorn
Single season
edit- Goals: 66 Dave Michayluk (1984–85)
- Assists: 113 Rob Brown (1993–94)
- Points: 155 Rob Brown (1993–94)
- Penalty minutes: 648 Kevin Evans (1986–87)
Career
edit- Career goals: 239 Mike Wanchuk and Kevin Schamehorn
- Career assists: 308 Brent Jarrett
- Career points: 475 Kevin Schamehorn
- Career penalty minutes: 2,176 Kevin Evans
- Career games played: 495 Kevin Schamehorn (1976–90)
References
edit- ^ Team History, Kalamazoo Wings. Accessed February 3, 2024. "Oct 30, 1974 - The Kalamazoo Wings play their first home game in front of 4,157 fans.... Apr 17, 2000 - The Dallas Stars end their affiliation agreement with the Kalamazoo Wings, resulting in the franchise's request for inactive status in the IHL."