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IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

More NHL experience for the K-Wings

January 9, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Wings, proud members of the United Hockey League, announce they have received former National Hockey League forward Damian Surma in a trade with the Missouri River Otters.

To complete the trade the K-Wings will send the Otters veteran forward Joe Seroski and a player to be named later. In compliance of the trade agreement, the player Kalamazoo will send Missouri will be decided upon between the teams before or on the UHL Trade Deadline.

Surma, 25, was Missouri's leading scorer this season, recording 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 33 games with the Otters. The native of Lincoln Park, Michigan was selected in the 6th round (#174 overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricane. In two games in the NHL, Surma recorded a goal and assist.

"He (Surma) is a play making forward that will be a nice complement to the forwards we currently have," said Vice President/General Manager Paul L. Pickard. "Besides his offensive ability, Damian has proven playoff experience, as he helped the Florida Everblades to back-to-back appearances in the ECHL Finals."

The 2005-06 season is Surma's fourth full season as a professional. For the past two season's Surma played for the Florida Everblades (ECHL). The forward has also played 117 games in the American Hockey League with the Lowell Lock Monsters.

Before turning pro, Surma played four seasons of Junior "A" hockey with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.

The trade for Surma will reunite him with Brad Church, who the K-Wings received in a trade with Elmira last Friday. Surma and Church were line mates this season in Missouri.

Surma could make his K-Wings debut as soon as this Wednesday, January 11th, when the K-Wings host the Rockford IceHogs at 7 p.m. The game against Rockford will start a five-game home stand for the K-Wings and it also coincides with Monaco Bay College Night.

Tickets for this Wednesday's game, as well as all K-Wings home games are available by contacting the Wings Stadium Ticket Office at (269) 345-5101.Ticket office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday's from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.

The addition of Surma gives the K-Wings 11 players with either AHL or NHL experience. Surma joins Church and Rumun Ndur as the three K-Wings players that have played games in the NHL.

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