Columbus Blue Jackets and Kalamazoo Wings reach affiliation agreement

Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today that the team has reached an agreement with the Kalamazoo Wings to serve as the ECHL affiliate for the Blue Jackets and the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters for the 2021-22 season. The K-Wings previously served as the Blue Jackets' ECHL affiliate from 2014-16.

"We are thrilled to partner once again with the Kalamazoo Wings as they operate as our ECHL affiliate," said Blue Jackets Director of Player Personnel Chris Clark, who oversees hockey operations for the club's professional affiliates. "We look forward to seeing the development of some of the young players in our system, both on and off the ice, while working with Head Coach Nick Bootland, his coaching staff and the entire K-Wings organization."
The K-Wings have been a staple in the southwest Michigan professional sports landscape since 1974 with the club most recently serving as the ECHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks from 2017-21. The franchise competes in the ECHL's Western Conference Central Division with the Cincinnati Cyclones, Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Iowa Heartlanders, Toledo Walleye and Wheeling Nailers. Kalamazoo plays its home games at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.