IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

Carriere and Willis Return to Kalamazoo

Published on August 3, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Wings, proud members of the United Hockey League, announce the signings of defenseman Daniel Carriere and forward Tyler Willis for the upcoming 2005-2006 season. Per team policy, the terms of the contracts will remain undisclosed.

The upcoming season is Carriere's fourth as a professional and his third in Kalamazoo. Last season, Carriere, 25, was the K-Wings Assistant Captain and was honored as the teams' Fifth-Third Defensemen of the Year and the Kalamazoo Gazette Most Valuable Player.

"He (Carriere) has developed into a leader on and off the ice," said Vice President/General Manager Paul L. Pickard. "Over the past two years, Daniel has proved he is one of the top defensemen in the league."

The signing of Carriere means the K-Wings have secured both of their all-stars from last year's team. The native of St. Malo, Manitoba joined defenseman Greg Labenski in representing the K-Wings during the 2005 Pepsi UHL All-Star Classic in Glens Falls, New York. Kalamazoo signed Labenski earlier in the off season.

Prior to coming to Kalamazoo in 2003, Carriere competed in the training camp of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL), which is the top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. During the 2002-03 season, Daniel played his first season of professional hockey with the Pee Dee Pride of the ECHL. Carriere played college hockey at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (CCHA).

Also joining the K-Wings for his third season in Kalamazoo is right-winger Tyler Willis. In his tenure with the K-Wings, no player has been more popular than Willis. In fact, Willis, 28, has received the K-Wings' WLKM Most Popular Player Award two straight seasons (2003-2004, 2004-2005).

The native of Princeton, British Columbia has earned the respect of K-Wings fans for his pit-bull like tenacity. Willis, who was named the K-Wings' team captain on January 1, 2005, quickly made his mark as leader, by leading the K-Wings on an 11-game winning streak.

"Over the past two seasons, Willis has demonstrated that he will do whatever it takes to win games," said Pickard. "We (K-Wings) will need even more of that kind of dedication from him (Willis) to get to where we want to be."

The former 8th round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks (1995 NHL Entry Draft), has registered 78 points (26 goals, 52 assists) and amassed 652 minutes in penalties in his 127 games as a member of the K-Wings. Willis matched his career high for goals in a season by lighting the lamp 15 times during the 2004-05 season. Tyler originally established the scoring feat during the 2001-02 season, as a member of the Long Beach Ice Dogs, of the then West Coast Hockey League.

Willis has had success at every level of professional hockey he has played including the AHL, where he played for the Worcester IceCats, who were coached by current K-Wings Vice President/General Manager Paul L. Pickard. Willis' best year in the AHL was back in the 98-99 season when he tallied 18 points on 8 goals and 10 assists, while accumulating 227 minutes in penalties.

The signings of Daniel Carriere and Tyler Willis give the K-Wings nine players signed for the upcoming 2005-06 season, which begins October 22nd, when the K-Wings travel to Port Huron to battle the Flags. Besides Carriere and Willis, the K-Wings have also signed forwards Nick Bootland, Mike Manley and Tyler Rennette, defensemen Josh Elzinga, Adam Elzinga, and Greg Labenski and goaltender Joel Martin earlier this off-season.

Season Tickets for the 2005-06 season are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. Fans can save 15% by purchasing their season tickets for next season by paying in full by September 15th. Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fans can either stop by during regular business hours or call (269) 345-5101.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from August 3, 2005


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