FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2026
K-WINGS SIGN ROOKIE FORWARD NATHAN BERKE
Kalamazoo taps SPHL rookie forward Berke to add forward depth.
KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced Wednesday that the team has signed rookie forward Nathan Berke to a Standard Player Contract (SPC).
Berke, 26, is a 6-foot 3-inch, 181-pound, Williamsville, NY native who’s played parts of the last two seasons for the Huntsville Havoc (SPHL) and the Quad City Storm (SPHL), scoring 24 points (9g, 15a) in 37 games played.
Prior to the SPHL, Berke played parts of five seasons (2020-25) with SUNY-Cortland (NCAA III), amassing 111 points (50g, 61a) in 106 games played. The forward also earned NCAA III (AHCA) First Team All-American (East), NCAA III (All-USCHO) Second Team, NCAA III (SUNYAC) First Team All-Conference, and was named the NCAA III (SUNYAC) Player of the Year in 2024-25.
Kalamazoo hits the road for a midweek clash against the Iowa Heartlanders (9-21-2-0) for an 8 p.m. EST puck drop on Wednesday, January 14, at Xtream Arena.
The K-Wings then return home for our 5th Annual Rainbow Ice Night at 7 p.m. EST on Friday, January 16! The ice will shine bright, and so will the fans at Wings Event Center in a show of unity and support. Don’t miss this vibrant night of inclusion, celebration, and K-Wings hockey! Stick around post-game for the specialty jersey auction.
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Take it easy on the wallet with the K-Wings Rainbow Ice Ticket Package! For just $89, you and your crew get four great seats (White or Blue level) to the exciting Rainbow Ice game plus a free game of bowling at Airway Fun Center, perfect for pre- or post-game fun. Even better: 10% of your purchase goes to support United Way of South Central Michigan, so you’re scoring big both on and off the ice. Don’t wait — this limited-time package brings fans together for thrilling hockey and good times!
The Dark Side invades Wings Event Center on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 4:30 p.m., presented by Discover Kalamazoo, as the K-Wings battle the Toledo Walleye on Star Wars Night! Join the Resistance, wear your Jedi best, and get ready for an epic showdown in a galaxy not-so-far away.
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The Kalamazoo Wings are a professional hockey team based in southwest Michigan, having 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 its 36 regular-season home games at Wings Event Center from October through April.
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