KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo Wings now say their upcoming hockey season won’t start until after the first of the year.
The K-Wings, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, revealed the organization’s intentions to play the 2020-21 season Wednesday, following the ECHL’s announcement of a return-to-play plan.
The K-Wings will play a 62-game season, truncated from January 15-June 6 that includes 31 home games and 31 road games. While some ECHL teams have opted to play a 72-game schedule starting in December, the league will use teams’ winning percentage as the determining factor for securing a playoff spot.
“The Kalamazoo Wings elected to begin the 2020-21 season in January for several reasons. First, the safety of our fans, staff and players is first and foremost,” said K-Wings Governor and Director of Business Operations Toni Will. “The additional time allows for the State of Michigan to continue to make positive progress in the reduction of positive COVID-19 cases. We have been working with local health officials and following CDC protocol to accomplish this very important task for the coming season. Additionally, the timeline looks to align better with our opponents in the Central Division. Another factor considered was our affiliates and the potential commencement schedule of the Utica Comets and the Vancouver Canucks.”
With a split-schedule format, 13 of the ECHL’s teams will begin their seasons in December, while 12 of the remaining teams will open in January. The K-Wings opted to start in the second group. One team elected to voluntarily suspend operations.
The K-Wings last played March 11 at Wings Event Center before the ECHL canceled the rest of the 2019-20 regular season and playoffs due to COVID-19. The 2020-21 season was originally scheduled to begin October 17, before the ECHL and Board of Governors agreed to delay the season with a targeted start of December 4.
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