KWings Sign Steve McCarthy
The Kalamazoo Wings announced Friday the signing of Steve McCarthy and his addition to the training camp roster, as well as the return of four skaters from American Hockey League camps.
McCarthy joins Kalamazoo with 15 years of professional hockey under his belt which include stints in the NHL, AHL, Kontinental Hockey League (Russia), SM-liiga (Finland), and Swiss-A (Switzerland).
The 34-year-old defenseman was taken with the 23rd pick of the first round in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He made his professional debut for Chicago on October 4, 1999 in a game against the San Jose Sharks. The left-handed-shooting defenseman registered his first career point, an assist, on his first shift. McCarthy played in 302 NHL games over eight seasons from 1999-2008 with Chicago, Vancouver, and Atlanta.
Most recently, the native of Trail, BC was a member of the Iowa Wild (AHL), where he skated in 13 games, registering four points.
“He’s a leader whose experience will help the players and coaches moving forward,” K-Wings head coach Nick Bootland said. “We’re very excited to have Steve in Kalamazoo.”
Other than his eight seasons in the NHL, McCarthy’s decorated career includes being the first overall pick in the 1996 WHL Bantam Draft, scoring 128 points in 154 games with Edmonton and Kootenay in the WHL, and winning bronze medals with Canada’s World Junior Championship team in 2000 and again in 2001 while serving as the team’s captain.
In a separate transaction, Joe Sova and Alex Mallet have been returned from the Chicago Wolves’ (AHL) camp.
Sova is set for his fourth season with Kalamazoo after dressing in 62 games with the Wings last season. The 27-year-old defenseman registered 15 points and 34 PIMs in 2014-15, both career highs. The sixth-year pro played his college hockey with U. of Alaska Fairbanks (CCHA) before making his professional debut with the Albany Devils in 2011.
Mallet, a 6-foot-2 center from Montreal, has shown stable productivity in the ECHL since 2012-13. In 98 games played between Kalamazoo and Stockton, Mallet has tallied 62 points (23 goals, 39 assists) and 117 penalty minutes.
Photo Courtesy of Wings Event Center
Justin Kovacs and Ben Wilson have also been returned from AHL camp with the Lake Erie Monsters and have rejoined the Wings.
Kovacs, 23, returns to Kalamazoo for his first full season of professional hockey. The 5-foot-11 forward spent four years at Western Michigan University (CCHA/NCHC) before joining Kalamazoo at the conclusion of his college career in March of 2015. In eight games played with the Wings last season, Kovacs scored a goal, notched four assists, and was a +5 rating.
Wilson, 24, gears up for his fifth season of professional hockey and his third with the Wings. The gritty defenseman appeared in 52 games last year for Kalamazoo and registered five points (one goal, four assists) and 117 penalty minutes.
The Kalamazoo Wings open their 42nd season of professional hockey against the Fort Wayne Komets with the 2015-16 home opener presented by Bell’s Brewery on Friday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m. inside Wings Event Center. For the official 2015-16 K-Wings season schedule, visit kwings.com.
The K-Wings will host one preseason contest at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 10 inside Wings West, as Kalamazoo entertains Toledo. Attendance is free to the first 600 members of the public.
Single-game tickets are now on sale! Tickets can be purchased at kwings.com or at the Wings Event Center box office. Box office hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Season tickets for the 2015-16 season are available through the K-Wings front office by calling (269) 743-6011. For more information about the K-Wings and Wings Event Center, please contact Joe Roberts at (269) 226-0394.
Wings Event Center, owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group, is home to the minor league hockey team Kalamazoo Wings and a full entertainment venue offering concerts, sporting events, family shows and trade shows. Built in 1974, Wings Event Center values partnerships with the community to bring events and attractions that enrich the lives of residents in the Kalamazoo area.
More From 107.7 WRKR-FM
