Kalamazoo Wings (1974–2000)
| Kalamazoo Wings | |
|---|---|
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|
| 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 Championships | 5 IHL 1979–80, 1980–81, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1998–99 |
| Conference Championships | 3 IHL 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981-82 |
| Turner Cups | 2 IHL 1978–79, 1979–80 |
Green, gold, black, white
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.
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. 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.
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