IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

Allan Joins K-Wings Before Camp Begins

Published on October 1, 2004 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Wings of the United Hockey League announce the start of their 2004-05 Training Camp. The K-Wings have invited 29 players to this year's camp, which begins this Sunday when players report for physicals.

While the K-Wings will have 11 returnees competing in camp, they will be joined by a solid foundation of newcomers to help mold this year's team. All players will report to camp on Sunday for physicals; however, the first day of actual skating won't occur until 10am on Monday, October 4th, when the K-Wings hold their first practice at Wings Stadium. Fans are welcome to witness the molding of the 04-05 K-Wings by attending the open practices.

Besides the practices, Kalamazoo will have three preseason games this week, including two at Wings Stadium. The first preseason clash is Wednesday night (10/6), when the K-Wings host the defending Colonial Cup champions the Muskegon Fury at 7 p.m. Kalamazoo continues the preseason on Friday, October 8th, when the K-Wings travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana to battle their arch rivals the Fort Wayne Komets. Then on Saturday, October 9th, both the K-Wings and the Komets return to Wings Stadium to conclude the preseason schedule. Face-off at Wings Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the K-Wings preseason games are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Box Office for only $5.

Fans can tune into the K-Wings Radio Network (WLKM 95.9 FM, WQSN 1660 AM) for all K-Wings games this season, including the preseason games against Muskegon and Fort Wayne.

The following is a position-by-position preview of the K-Wings training camp.

GOALTENDING For the third straight season the K-Wings net will be guarded by Chad Alban. Alban followed up his Kalamazoo Gazette Most Valuable Player season of two years ago by solidifying his place in UHL history by tying the UHL record for shutouts in a season with eight.

Besides Alban, the team has invited three other netminders to camp. Brock McGillis rejoins the K-Wings after missing the later part of the season with an injury. Joel Martin comes to Kalamazoo after having success in the Central Hockey League with the Odessa Jackalopes. Finishing off the list of K-Wing goaltending hopefuls is Nick Foley. Foley will be looking to start his professional career after having success at the collegiate ranks at St. Mary's University (CIS).

DEFENSEMEN Coming off of his best season as a defenseman, Daniel Carriere is ready to start his second season in Kalamazoo. The third year pro, established a new K-Wings' UHL record for goals by a defenseman, with 18.

Also returning on defense will be Tyson Turgeon. In his two years with the K-Wings, Turgeon has seen time at both defense and at forward.

Highlighting the new crop of defensemen are Chad Allan, Zarley Zalapski and Shaun Fisher.

After spending last season overseas with Ingolstad ERC, Allan makes his return to North America. The 28 year-old d-man has spent the past three seasons playing in the best leagues in Europe. Prior to that, the native of Davidson, Saskatchewan had five productive seasons in the American Hockey League.

Zalapski brings the most experience of any of the K-Wings defensemen. The native of Edmonton, Alberta is a 15 year professional that has played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League.

Fisher joins the K-Wings after spending the past three seasons in the ECHL. The 5-11 defenseman is coming off a playoff run with the Roanoke Express.

Other defensemen coming to camp are Andy Chipelski, Bryan Cummings, Josh Elzinga, Rico Fatticci, Jason Goulet, and Mark Rummukainen.

Chipelski is entering his first year as a pro. At 6-3 and 210 pounds, this native of Angersville, Manitoba will give the K-Wings size at the blue line.

After finishing his college career at the University of Wisconsin Stout, Cummings finished last year with the Adirondack IceHawks. Cummings had 78 PIMS in just 38 games with the IceHawks.

Elzinga is a young player looking to break into the pros. The 20 year-old has spent the past two seasons in the USHL with both the Chicago Steel and the Sioux Falls Stampede.

While Fatticci is only a two year professional, he does bring a wealth of playoff experience. Fatticci has played in the post season in both of years as a pro, including last season in the Central Hockey League with the Wichita Thunder. Prior to that, the young defenseman also made two consecutive playoff runs in the USHL.

At 6-5 and 245 pounds, Goulet should add toughness to the K-Wings roster. The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba is a scrappy player that has played in the WHL, SJHL, and most recently the ECHL with the Fresno Falcons.

No player on the K-Wings roster has come farther that Rummukainen. Rummukainen comes to camp after playing last season with the Australian National Team.

FORWARDS After receiving a major facelift a year ago, the K-Wings established themselves an offensive juggernaut. Returning from last season will be Andrew Luciuk, Tyler Willis, Tim Turner, David Hukalo, Faron Duthie, Sean Edwards, and Yannick Carpentier.

No player was as consistent for the K-Wings last year than Luciuk. The veteran forward used his steady play to amass 63 points last year, which lead all K-Wings in that category.

In the K-Wings UHL history, no player has been as much of a crowd favorite as Tyler Willis. Willis shattered the K-Wings UHL record of PIMS in a season with 344. In fact, the 344 minutes in penalties also sets the K-Wings UHL record for PIMS in a career.

Tim Turner returns to Kalamazoo looking to duplicate his rookie campaign. Turner, won the K-Wings' Rookie of the Year honors by tallying 55 points.

After missing the end of last season with an injury, Hukalo hopes to continue where he left off before the injury.

Duthie is a gritty player that has a knack to score. Last year, in one of his first games as a pro, Duthie lit the lamp three times to record his first professional hat trick.

Another young player returning is Sean Edwards. After graduation from the University of Ottawa, Edwards played just three games with the K-Wings.

Also returning to the K-Wings is Yannick Carpentier. Carpentier, who is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro, will be playing in Kalamazoo for his second full season.

The K-Wings will be bringing in six new players upfront. The most impressive of the new addition is Kory Karlander. The native of Melita, Manitoba spent a majority of last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. Karlander is currently in Griffins training camp, but is expected back during the K-Wings camp.

Also invited to K-Wings training camp are Erik Wendell, Jouni Pentinnen, Josef Budaj, Kyle Sheen, Sarren Salmon, and Bill Zalba.

Wendell is the only player in this group that isn't a rookie. The 25-year-old forward has played two seasons of pro hockey. Before turning pro, Wendell played four seasons of college hockey at the University of Minnesota.

Pentinnen is a native of Finland, who joins the K-Wings after playing last season with the Porvoo Hunters. Budaj last played in the UHL two seasons ago, when he split time with both the Quad City Mallards and the Missouri River Otters. Sheen is a physical forward that played last season in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers. Salmon played Junior "A" hockey with the Aurora Tigers; while Zalba just finished his collegiate career with Brock University.

For more information about the training camp, please contact Mike Modugno, Director of Public Relations and Broadcaster at (269) 349-9772, extension 220.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 1, 2004


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