IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings ink Reynaert and Krueckl

Published on August 30, 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 goaltender Jeff Reynaert (rain-ert) and forward Tim Krueckl (crew-KULL) for the upcoming 2005-2006 season. Per team policy, the terms of the contracts will remain undisclosed.

The signing of Reynaert, 26, is a homecoming of sorts for the native of Sterling Heights Michigan. Reynaert is very familiar with the city of Kalamazoo, as he played with the K-Wings during the 2002-03 season and played four seasons of college hockey with the Western Michigan University Broncos.

During the 2002-03 season, Reynaert was traded to Quad City, where he helped guide the Mallards to the Colonial Cup Finals. Reynaert's UHL success also includes being honored as a two-time UHL All-Rookie Team goaltender selection.

The netminder's tenure with the Mallards ended earlier this off-season, when the Port Huron Flags drafted Reynaert during the league's expansion draft. The K-Wings received the rights to Reynaert a few weeks later as part of a trade with the Port Huron Flags.

"He (Reynaert) is a proven goaltender in this league," said Vice President/General Manager Paul L. Pickard. "What we like best about Jeff is that he has playoff experience and he has taken a team to the Colonial Cup Finals."

Reynaert should enter this season with a lot of confidence, as he is coming fresh off a bronze medal performance at the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) InLine Hockey World Championship (Kuopio, Finland) after a 6-0 shutout of the Czech Republic.

The 2005-06 season will be the first full season for right winger Tim Krueckl with the K-Wings and his second as a professional. Krueckl, 25, joined the K-Wings last season after being traded from the Fort Wayne Komets in December.

"Tim was a spark plug for our team last year," said Pickard. "Whether it was in the corners or in the open ice, he (Krueckl) always seemed to know how to use his body to get the puck."

The native of Clareshom, Alberta had a splendid playoff run for Kalamazoo by registering three assists in six postseason games.

Before turning pro, Krueckl played college hockey at both Iona College and Lake Superior State University. While in college, Krueckl showed a knack for scoring, as he amassed 106 points in 132 games.

The signings of Jeff Reynaert and Tim Krueckl give the K-Wings sixteen 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 Reynaert and Krueckl the K-Wings have signed forwards Nick Bootland, Mike Manley, Tyler Rennette, Tyler Willis, Joe Seroski, Kory Karlander, and Tim Turner earlier this off-season. Also signed for next season are defensemen Josh Elzinga, Adam Elzinga, Greg Labenski, Daniel Carriere, and Lee Ruff, and goaltenders Joel Martin and Zach Sikich.

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. Starting September 6th, the ticket office will begin fall hours, which are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information about tickets, give the Wings Stadium Ticket Office a call during regular business hours at (269) 345-5101.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from August 30, 2005


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