FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 8, 2023

K-WINGS LOANED SIX FROM AHL, ANNOUNCE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER 

Kalamazoo infused with talent via Abbotsford & Charlotte loans ahead of 2023-24 season.

KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced Sunday that Abbotsford (AHL) has loaned five players, and Charlotte (AHL) has loaned one player, to the team.

The K-Wings have also announced their training camp roster below.

Abbotsford Loans

Forwards:

Josh Passolt, 27, is a 6-foot, 194-pound, Hayward, WI native who’s entering his second professional season out of Western Michigan University. Last season, Passolt led all Cincinnati Cyclones rookies in goals and points scored (69 GP, 25g, 22a, 47 PTS, 18 PIM, +13). The forward also finished the season T-No.1 in ECHL rookie game-winning goals (6) and No. 1 in shorthanded points scored (5).  

Cooper Walker, 21, is a 6-foot, 174-pound, Cambridge, ON native who’s entering his rookie season after playing three seasons with the Guelph Storm (OHL). In 2022-23, while serving as the Storm’s captain, Walker scored 51 points (66 GP, 21g, 30a, 21 PIM), improving on his previous season’s production (15g, 20a, 18 PIM), while serving as the team’s alternate captain. 

Defensemen:

Derek Daschke, 25, is a 6-foot 2-inch, 194-pound, Troy, MI native who’s continuing his rookie season after suiting up for the Toledo Walleye (1g, 6a, 8 PIM) in 10 games last season upon finishing his fifth-year senior campaign with the University of Minnisota-Duluth (37 GP, 2g, 14a, 6 PIM). Before transferring to the Bulldogs, Daschke played four seasons at Miami (OH) University (133 GP, 24g, 66a, 40 PIM) serving as team captain in 2021-22.

Michael Joyaux, 26, is a 5-foot 10-inch, 181-pound, Bloomingdale, IL native who’s entering his second professional season after suiting up for Newfoundland (72 GP, 9g, 32a, 28 PIM, +11). Joyaux also earned an ECHL All-Rookie Team selection for his performance last season. Before turning pro in 2022-23, the forward played four seasons for Western Michigan University (120 GP, 16g, 81a, 88 PIM).

Goaltender:

Jonathan Lemieux, 22, is a 6-foot 1-inch, 185-pound, left-catching, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC native who’s entering his rookie season. Last season, Lemieux played 21 games for Concordia University, sporting a 16-4-0 record with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage to go along with three shutouts. 

Charlotte Loan

Defensemen:

Robert Calisti, 22, is a 5-foot 9-inch, 183-pound, Toronto, ON native who returns to Kalamazoo after finishing the season with the team in 2022-23 (15 GP, 2g, 8a, 4 PIM). Calisti was acquired by Kalamazoo via a trade with the Florida Everblades (42 GP, 10g, 12a, 24 PIM) last March. 

Note: Abbotsford has released forwards Collin Adams, Brad Morrison and defenseman Chaz Reddekopp from their PTO agreement. These players have been added to Kalamazoo’s training camp roster. 

Kalamazoo Wings 2023-24 Training Camp Roster

Forwards (20)

Collin Adams, Nicholas Blachman, Erik Bradford, David Keefer, Ayden MacDonald, James McEwan, Rex Moe, Luke Morgan, Brad Morrison, Ted Nichol, Josh Passolt, Drake Pilon, Brent Raedeke, Brandon Saigeon, Aidan Spellacy (CLE), Jordan Seyfert, Tanner Sorenson, Justin Taylor, Cooper Walker, and Brandon Yeamans.

Defensemen (11)

Stephen Alvo, Robert Calisti, Derek Daschke, Connor Fedorek, Kurt Gosselin, Michael Joyaux, Jay Keranen, Jacob Nordqvist, Chaz Reddekopp, Collin Saccoman, and Connor Walters.

Goaltenders (4)

Trevor Babin, Mariah Fujimagari, Jonathan Lemieux, and Hunter Vorva.

Kalamazoo’s ‘Home Opener’ kicks off the 2023-24 regular season on Saturday, October 21 versus Toledo Walleye at 7:00 p.m. EST at Wings Event Center. Tickets to the preseason, the Home Opener and each of the K-Wings’s 36-game home schedule can be purchased HERE.

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Last season, over 25 thousand people enjoyed a K-Wings game on a Group Outing! And with the season just a few months away, spots are filling up fast for 2023-24. Click HERE to lock in your group NOW!

It’s also not too early to secure 2023-24 K-Wings season tickets. Enjoy exclusive benefits, including guaranteed seat location to all 36 home games, complimentary parking, early access to the arena and more. Click HERE to join the ranks of the K-Wings High Flyers today.

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The Kalamazoo Wings are a professional hockey team located in southwest Michigan that has been a staple in the Kalamazoo, MI professional sports landscape since 1974. The K-Wings compete in the ECHL and are the AA affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks and the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks. Kalamazoo plays their 36 regular season home games at Wings Event Center from October through April.

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