KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The Kalamazoo Wings are celebrating 50 years of minor league hockey this year.
“It happens because of intentional strategies, intentional work, intentional investment from all the people that have been involved for professional hockey in Kalamazoo for 50 years,” owner William Johnston said. “It’s a tremendous span of time and everybody persevered, everybody contributed. Everybody skated hard every shift — and that’s really a euphemism for everybody in the organization.”
The team held its season kickoff news conference Tuesday morning on the concourse of the Wings Event Center concourse, dubbed the “Miracle on Vanrick” after it was built in just seven months.
The K-Wings played their first season of hockey in 1974 in the old International Hockey League and have since won three league championships. The team has had several historic moments, including its first green ice game in 1982 and the first rainbow ice game 40 years later in 2022.
The club on Tuesday unveiled a 12-by-9-foot Wall of Honor outside Section 1 to recognize those who have made an impact in Kalamazoo. The wall lists 50 players, five coaches and five builders.
The K-Wings also announced they would be retiring former center Brent Jarrett’s number, 11, in January. Jarrett played for the Wings from 1981 to 1982, and then again from 1983 to 1989. He was also an interim coach for the team at the end of the 2007-2008 season. In 369 career games, he had 307 assists and 421 points. He ranks No. 2 in the franchise for single-season points with 122 and assists at 82.
Players will wear 1974-75 throwback jerseys for Legacy Night on Nov. 1. The K-Wings will go for another world record at their home opener on Oct. 19, this time aiming to have the most people waving foam fingers simultaneously. They will host the Stanley Cup during the 2025 Warrior/ECHL Hockey Heritage Weekend on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18.
The K-Wings are the ECHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks.
