Kalamazoo Wings Tickets

Kalamazoo Wings
The Kalamazoo Wings (K-Wings) were an ice hockey team that began play in the International Hockey League for the 1974-1975 season. While the team was originally known as the Kalamazoo Wings, most people shortened the name to K-Wings. On May 16, 1995, team owners changed the name of the team to the Michigan K-Wings, hoping to be able to compete for name recognition with the other teams in the IHL, which at the time was moving into larger markets such as Chicago.

The team played in Wings Stadium for their entire IHL membership. On April 17, 2000 the Dallas Stars announced that they were ending their affiliation agreement, and the franchise requested inactive status from the IHL. On July 27, 2000, the Madison Kodiaks of the United Hockey League announced that they were relocating to Kalamazoo for the 2000-2001 season, and would be known as the Kalamazoo Wings.

Team colors were originally red, white, and blue, but on June 1, 1988, they announced that they were going to change their colors to green, gold, black, and white in order to match the Minnesota North Stars, their NHL parent club. For games on or near holidays, the Wings use special jerseys usually for Halloween, Valentine's Day, and St. Patrick's Day. The Green Ice Game (St. Patrick's Day) is one of the most celebrated games in all of minor league hockey. It has been around since 1982.They are a member of the International Hockey League and play in Wings Stadium.The current franchise was granted the right to use the name and logo of the previous Kalamazoo Wings, which was a member of the International Hockey League's previous incarnation from 1973 through 2000. The earlier team was known as the Michigan K-Wings from 1995 until its demise in 2000.

In October 1973, an IHL expansion franchise is awarded to Kalamazoo, MI and a group of investors headed by Ted and Martha Parfet. In February 1974, Wings Stadium ground breaking ceremony is held, paving the way for the Inaugural Season of the Kalamazoo Wings. Construction of the arena is completed in less than 9 months. On June 1, 1974 Bob Lemieux reported as the first GM/Head Coach of the Kalamazoo Wings December 8, 1974 witnesses the first sellout crowd at Wings Stadium (5,196) watches as the K-Wings lose to Muskegon, 2-1, in overtime. December 19, 1974 The Doobie Brothers are the first major musical act to play at Wings Stadium. On July 12, 1975 Eric Clapton performs for a sellout crowd of 8,596. Other acts who sold out Wings Stadium in 1975 were the Beach Boys, Jefferson Starship, Alice Cooper, and Chicago. The Ice Capades, Royal Lipizzaner Stallions, The Globetrotters, and the Ali/Frazier Fight also appeared at Wings that year. October 21, 1976 saw Elvis Presley making his first of two appearances at Wings Stadium. Other popular acts to play that year were Frank Sinatra, David Bowie, Peter Frampton, and Bob Seger. In April 23, 1977, a franchise-record crowd of 5,758 packs Wings Stadium for a play-off game against Saginaw. On December 27, 1977, Mike Wanchuk's No. 22 jersey is retired. He remains as the only K-Wing to be so honored.

October 11, 2000 The Kalamazoo Wings play their first regular season UHL game, a 2-1 win at Flint. Coincidentally, the game is played at the IMA Sports Arena in Flint, the site of the original Wings' first game in 1974. October 20, 2000 The first regular season UHL game at Wings Stadium sees the Wings lose to the Quad City Mallards, 4-3. March 17, 2001 the storied Kalamazoo St. Patrick's Day tradition makes a smooth transition into the UHL as the Wings stage the 20th Annual St. Patrick's Day Green Ice Game. A standing room only crowd of 5,413 witnesses a 6-3 victory over the Missouri River Otters. It is the Wings' first UHL sellout. April 6, 2001 The Wings make the playoffs in their first UHL season, but it is short-lived as the Muskegon Fury upends Kalamazoo in a one-game wild card by a score of 6-3.

During April 27, 2006 for the first-time in their UHL history, Kalamazoo advanced out the first round of the playoffs with a sweep of the Motor City Mechanics. On May 6, 2006 Lucas Drake sets a UHL record for most goals in a playoff game by netting five goals in the K-Wings 8-7 victory over Rockford. May 27, 2006 witnesses K-Wings capturing their first Colonial Cup and the first championship of any kind in 26 years with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory in Danbury. Kalamazoo's Lucas Drake scored the game-winner 1:42 into the overtime session. On June 3, 2006 K-Wings are the Grand Marshals of the Do-Dah Parade and the organization holds a Colonial Cup Celebration Party at the Complex. Finally in June 4, 2006, WWE Smackdown Brand returned to the Wings Stadium Complex.