ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Going Camping

Published on October 13, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


K-Wings Start Training Camp with 33 Players

Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Wings of the United Hockey League announce the start of their 2003-04 Training Camp. The K-Wings have invited 33 players to this year's camp. With only 20 roster spots available, the 30th training camp in franchise history could be the most competitive in recent years.

While the K-Wings have 10 returnees competing in camp, they have assembled a core of solid newcomers to help guide the them this season. The K-Wings, who had their first practice of the year yesterday, will be practicing all week from 10 am-12:30 pm at Wings Stadium and they are open to the public.

Kalamazoo will have their only preseason games this weekend with a home and home series against their arch rivals, the Fort Wayne Komets. The first preseason clash is Friday night (10/17) in Fort Wayne; fans can tune into the K-Wings Radio Network at 8:45 pm for this Friday's 9 pm face-off.. Then the two teams will return to Kalamazoo on Saturday, October 18th, to finish off Kalamazoo's preseason schedule. Face-off at Wings Stadium is set for 7:30 pm and all tickets for the game are $5 reserved seats. Tickets for the game are available by visiting the Wings Stadium Box Office or by calling (269) 345-5101.

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

GOALTENDING By far the strongest position last year was goaltending and with the K-Wings' Kalamazoo Gazette Most Valuable Player Chad Alban returning, the K-Wings should be in store for another great year between the pipes.

Besides Alban, the team has invited three other netminders to camp. Brock McGillis joins the K-Wings after playing the past two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sault Saint Marie Grayhounds.

Richard Marnon (meer-in) will also be looking to start his professional career in Kalamazoo, as the Canton, Michigan native, joins the K-Wings after concluding a successful college career at the University of Windsor. Finishing the list of K-Wing goaltending hopefuls is Andras Sajevics (An-drash Shae-vich). Sajevics is one of four European players competing at this year's training camp. Last season, Andras played for the Hungarian Junior National Team.

DEFENSEMEN The K-Wings will be looking to improve on their game average of 33.14 shots against them last year. To help solidify their defense Kalamazoo has invited 11 D-Men to camp this year.

Returning from last season will be the K-Wings' 5/3 Bank Defenseman of the Year Chad Dameworth. The Marquette, Michigan native, is fully recovered from a season ending injury that happened last January. Despite the injury, Dameworth was still able to capture a K-Wings high Plus/Minus +4.

Also returning on defense will be Mark Vilneff, Tyson Turgeon, Matt Kruzich and Josh Akright. Vilneff, who ranks third all-time in the UHL with 586 games played, adds stability and leadership to the K-Wings blue line.

Turgeon, who was the K-Wings' Canney's Water Conditioning Rookie of the Year could also see time at forward.

Kruzich, who is a Kalamazoo native, made the most of his time last year once he cracked the lineup including the game-winning goal in a sudden death shootout against the Port Huron Beacons on Saturday, March 9, 2003, at Wings Stadium.

Akright is ready for his first full season as a professional after playing just six games with the K-Wings last season following the completion of his college career at Western Michigan University.

While the Kalamazoo Wings do have a good core of returning defensemen, the K-Wings have also brought in a good stable of new defensemen that are trying to make the squad.

Daniel Carriere (carry-AIR) is a solid young defenseman, who has already seen ice time this season. Before coming to Kalamazoo, Carriere competed in the training camp of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, which is the top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.

Jim Dube (dew-BAY) will give the K-Wings added experience at defense. Dube, who is a graduate of Ferris State, will be entering his fourth year as a professional. Last season, Jim was a member of the Reading Royals of the ECHL.

K-Wing fans will remember Guy Dupuis (Dew-pwee). Dupuis, who was one of the first K-Wings, signed in the off-season, used to play in Wings Stadium as a visitor when he played in the former International Hockey League for the Fort Wayne Komets.

Petr Formanek (For-man-ic) is another European player competing for a roster spot. The 5-11 defenseman played junior hockey last season for the Simcoe Wolves of the World Junior Hockey League.

Like Formanek, Ondrej Skalos (ON-dre, Scale-lowsh) is a rookie defenseman that was also member of the WJHL. The native of Pribram, Czechoslovakia, played for the Dufferin Stingers last season.

While Rob Yamashita (ya-ma-SHEE-ta) is new to the K-Wings, he isn't new to the Kalamazoo area. Yamashita joins the K-Wings after playing college hockey at Western Michigan University last year.

FORWARDS The biggest facelift to the K-Wings will be to its offense. Kalamazoo invited 18 forwards to camp, and only four of those players were on the team last season. With last season's K-Wing team averaging United Hockey League lows in both goals per game and shots on goal, Kalamazoo has brought in some big time scoring to help their offensive production.

Of the returning K-Wings, Yannick Carpentier (car-pen-TEE-a) had the most productive numbers offensively. Carpentier registered 46 points on 19 goals and 27 assists in 74 games last year.

After maturing as a rookie, Pat O'Leary is ready to play his first full season in Kalamazoo. O'Leary, who was acquired early last year in a trade with the division rival Quad City Mallards, was named the K-Wings' Meijer Most Improved Player for his continuous development throughout the 02-03 season.

Pepper Pierman will try to rebound from his injury plagued season of a year ago. In fact, injuries kept Pierman out of all but 27 of the K-Wings games last year, In 27 games last year Pierman scored 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists); however, Pepper did end last year on a 2 game scoring streak.

Jordan Trew (true) proved to be one of the most physical players in the UHL last season with 128 penalty minutes in 56 games last year.

Of the newcomers, it will be a toss up to see who will have the most impact. Tyler Willis could be the quickest to become a fan favorite. Willis is a bona fide enforcer, who has the ability to score.

Marty Flichel (FLICK-ill) may be new to the K-Wings UHL era, but the sniper has a past here in Kalamazoo. Flichel played for the K-Wings as a member of the IHL from 1996-99.

A late off-season trade with the Muskegon Fury gave the K-Wings a double threat in Andrew Luciuk (lou-SEE-uk). Luciuk who had 74 point campaign (32 goals, 42 goals) last year can create scoring opportunities with his passing or shooting.

Another scoring option for the K-Wings could be Andrew Long. Long has had strong offensive numbers in each of his five years as a professional including last season with the Columbus Cottonmouths of the ECHL.

After completing an outstanding college career at Canisius College (NCAA), Corey Lucas had a sound rookie season as a professional spending the majority of his rookie season with the Macon Trax of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.

The K-Wings have also assembled a core of rookie forwards. Mark Allen joins the K-Wings after playing Junior "A" hockey for the Trenton Sting of the Ontario Hockey Association.

While Brian Blyth (ba-lie-th) is a rookie, he does have professional experience. Blyth, who is the brother of Missouri River Otters' Charlie Blyth, played two games last year for new K-Wings Head Coach Mark Reeds when he was with Missouri.

Eric Cavosie is another rookie forward looking to make his mark with the K-Wings. Cavoise played the past four seasons at RPI (NCAA).

Vladimir Chervov (cheir-ov) completes the four European players at training camp. Chervov played last year in his native Russia as a member of the storied Junior Red Army team. At 19 years of age, Vladimir is the youngest player at K-Wings camp this year.

Stephen Doherty is the only rookie from Kalamazoo at this year's camp. Doherty played Junior "A" last year in the North American Hockey League with both the Springfield (IL) Junior Blues and the Springfield (MO) Spirit.

Tyler Dukelow (duke-low) adds size up front for the K-Wings. Last season, the 6-2 right-winger played junior hockey for the Yarmouth Mariners (MJAHL).

B.J. Gaustad joins the K-Wings after playing college hockey St. Mary's University. B.J. isn't the only Gaustad that plays professional hockey, he brother Paul plays for the Rochester Americans. After completing a standout career at the University of Wisconsin, David Hukalo (Huck-uh-low) is hoping to start his professional career with the K-Wings. Hukalo scored 30 goals and added 54 assists in 143 career games as a Badger.

Kristjan Jefkins (Christian Jeff-kins) is another junior hockey product looking to make the K-Wings roster. Jefkins played last season in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the OCN Blizzard. The K-Wings will need to cut down their 33-man roster to 20 players by October 24th, when the K-Wings open their season on the road against Mark Reeds former team the Missouri River Otters.

The K-Wings open the home portion of their 30th Anniversary schedule on Saturday, November 1st, at 7:30 pm against their arch rivals the Fort Wayne Komets.

Before the game, Stadium Management Company along with special guests will unveil "A Wings Tradition". This exhibit will serve as a tribute to the rich tradition that the Wings Stadium Complex has had in southwest Michigan. Photo collages delineating the chronological history of the Wings Stadium Complex and the Kalamazoo Wings will be displayed throughout the main concourse of Wings Stadium. All fans entering Wings Stadium on November 1st will also receive a special Anniversary-themed Magnetic Game Schedule courtesy of Meijer.

Fans are encouraged to stay after the game as the entire K-Wings team will be signing autographs at the Centennial Wireless Autograph zone, and Wings Stadium, along with Cool 101 FM will be hosting the "30th Anniversary Retro Fest 70's Dance" in The Annex. Any fan that purchases a ticket to the K-Wings game will be permitted into the dance FREE. Individuals that would like to attend only the dance may purchase a 30th Anniversary Retro Fest ticket for $10. Also after the game, the band 6FP will play, as fans will have the opportunity to partake in a FREE public skating session (skate rental not included) within Wings Stadium.

Season tickets for the 30th Anniversary season of K-Wings hockey are still available by calling the Wings Stadium Box Office at (269) 345-5101. Single game tickets for all K-Wings home games will be available this Saturday, October 18th, the same day as the K-Wings lone home preseason game.

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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