ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Ftorek Named Assistant Coach Of K-Wings

Published on June 19, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


The Kalamazoo Wings announce the hiring of Sam Ftorek as assistant coach for the upcoming season.

Ftorek, 40, played for the K-Wings from 2009-15 and ended his career with over 1,000 games played as a professional. In addition to playing in the states, Ftorek's career featured stops in Austria, England, Germany and Switzerland.

On December 13, 2014, in a game against Toledo, Ftorek played in his ECHL-record-breaking 790th game in the league, surpassing Cam Brown. He would eventually skate in 837 ECHL contests.

For the 17-year pro, the transition from player to coach was natural and part of the family business. After spending 15 seasons as a player, Ftorek's dad, Robbie, hung up the skates for a 30-year coaching career across the OHL, AHL, and NHL.

"The last eight years I've had more and more of a coach's mentality," said Ftorek. "Even though I was playing, I had my own thoughts and my own notebooks of what I would do if I was coaching."

Last season, Ftorek registered 35 points (3 goals, 32 assists), but played half of the campaign with an injured shoulder that required off-season surgery. "I wouldn't have been cleared to play until December," Ftorek said. "It was tough, but it was time. Everything kind of fell into place."

K-Wings Head Coach Nick Bootland is most intrigued by the detailed approach that Ftorek brings to the table every day. "Sam is always a player that's wanted to know why we did things," Bootland said. "He's been a student of the game for a long time."

Bootland is entering his eighth year as the head coach of the K-Wings, and spent the last two with Colin Chaulk as his assistant. Chaulk left Kalamazoo to take the head coaching job with the Brampton Beast in May. "You go back to Colin, (he's) here for two years and he has an opportunity to move on and be a head coach," Bootland added. "We like to feel that we had something to do with that, and we'd like to do the same thing with Sam Ftorek."

Ftorek resides in Kalamazoo with his wife, Misty, and their three children Ari, Savo and Mason. He is an avid artist and his illustrations are published in the children's book, "?The Bright Knight.'

For the official 2015-16 K-Wings season schedule, visit kwings.com. Season tickets for the 2015-16 season are available through the K-Wings front office by calling (269) 743-6011. For more information about the K-Wings and Wings Event Center, please contact Joe Roberts at (269) 226-0394.

Wings Event Center, owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group, is home to the minor league hockey team Kalamazoo Wings and a full entertainment venue offering concerts, sporting events, family shows and trade shows. Built in 1974, Wings Event Center values partnerships with the community to bring events and attractions that enrich the lives of residents in the Kalamazoo area.

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