Kalamazoo Wings (1974–2000)

This article is about the former IHL team. For the current ECHL franchise, see Kalamazoo Wings.

Ice hockey team in Michigan, United States

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

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.

## History

[edit]

That 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. The new K-Wings also obtained the rights to use the original team's name, colors, logos, and history as their own.

## Championships

[edit]

Year  | League  | Trophy

|
|

1979–1980  | IHL | Turner Cup
1978–1979  | IHL  | Turner Cup

## Standings

[edit]

Year  | 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

## Players

[edit]

### Team captains

[edit]

* Unknown, 1974–95
* Brad Berry, 1995–99
* Unknown, 1999–00

## Team records

[edit]

### Retired 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]

1. ^ 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."

## External links

[edit]

* Kalamazoo Wings All-Time Roster
* Michigan K-Wings All-Time Roster

* v
* t
* e

International Hockey League (1945–2001)

Teams|

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Trophies and
awards|

* Turner Cup
* Fred A. Huber Trophy
* Commissioner's Trophy
* Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy
* James Gatschene Memorial Trophy
* Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy
* Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy
* Ken McKenzie Trophy
* Governor's Trophy
* James Norris Memorial Trophy
* John Cullen Award
* Ironman Award
* IHL Man of the Year

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