ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Sign Two for Upcoming Season, Extend Six Qualifying Offers

Published on July 1, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


KALAMAZOO, MI- The Kalamazoo Wings, proud ECHL affiliates of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Syracuse Crunch, announced the signing of forward Tanner Sorenson and defenseman Sean O'Rourke on Friday, marking the first official additions for the 2016-17 season.

Sorenson, 23, returns to the Wings for his second season of professional hockey. In his rookie campaign with Kalamazoo, the native of Anchorage, Alaska registered 15 goals, 14 assists and 48 penalty minutes over 60 games. Sorenson appeared in all five of Kalamazoo's playoff contests and was able to chip in a goal and added four penalty minutes.

"Tanner is high energy, all the time," K-Wings head coach Nick Bootland said. "He plays with ferocious speed and has a great shot. His rookie season was a very pleasant surprise for us, and we're thrilled to have him back."

Before joining the Wings at the start of last season, Sorenson spent four years at Michigan State University (CCHA/Big-10), where he tallied 18 goals, 17 assists, and 32 penalty minutes in 104 games. His professional debut came during the 2014-15 season, as the forward skated in three games with his hometown Alaska Aces at the conclusion of his collegiate career.

O'Rourke, 25, appeared in one playoff game with Kalamazoo at the end of his four-year career at Ferris State University (CCHA/WCHA). The native of Alta Loma, California appeared in 129 games with the Bulldogs during his stay, posting six goals, 14 assists and 20 points.

"Sean has tremendous potential," Bootland said. "He only saw action in one game last year, but his speed, vision, and hockey sense were all apparent. There's no doubt that he will bring some burst to our defensive unit."

The left-handed-shooting defenseman was an assistant captain of last year's Ferris State team that won the Western College Hockey Association championship and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament. O'Rourke helped lead the Bulldogs to a first round victory over St. Cloud State, but Ferris State bowed out in the second round in a loss to Denver.

In separate roster news, the Wings have extended qualifying offers to Eric Kattelus, Sacha Guimond, Alex Mallet, Brett Ponich, Cory Pritz, and Lane Scheidl.

Per the ECHL, Players who had already signed a contract by June 30 did not need to receive a qualifying offer.

Each team was entitled to reserve the rights to a maximum of eight qualified players. Of the eight qualified players, no more than four could be veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the upcoming 2016-17 season). Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded.

The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until August 1 at which time the qualifying offer becomes null and void and the team may sign the qualified player to any salary or may elect to take no further action. Teams that extend a valid qualifying offer to a non-veteran player shall retain the rights to that qualified player for one playing season.

A team that extends a valid qualifying offer to a veteran player will retain the rights to that veteran until August 1 . After August 1, if the veteran player is not signed to a contract by the team, the veteran shall be deemed a restricted free agent and shall be entitled to seek and secure offers of employment from other ECHL teams. Restricted free agents may not be traded. When a restricted free agent receives a contract offer from a team other than the team with the player's rights and the restricted free agent wishes to accept the contract offer, the restricted free agent and the offering member must, within 24 hours, notify the ECHL, the team with the player's rights and the Professional Hockey Players' Association. The member with the player's rights shall have seven days after the date it is notified to exercise its right to match the contract offer.

If a restricted free agent is not signed to either an offer sheet or a contract by an ECHL team by August 31, the player shall be deemed an unrestricted free agent.

The Kalamazoo Wings host their 43rd annual home opener on Friday, October 21, as they entertain the Fort Wayne Komets. The entire season schedule can be found at www.kwings.com.

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