K-Zoo Joins forces with Sharks and Flyers

Patrick Kissane, file photo
The speculation is over, the Kalamazoo K-Wings in their newly minted East Coast Hockey League affiliation have joined forces with the San Jose Sharks and the Philadelphia Flyers. Practically this means they will be funneling players to and from Wrochester Sharks and the Phillphedphia Phantoms both of the American Hockey League.

The move of K-Zoo from the IHL to the ECHL is great news for IceHog and Wolves fans, as it means the Gwinette Gladiators the shared farm team for the Wolves and Hogs will be a four hour drive away a couple of times a season. To those who have never been to Kalamazoo is is a lovely old barn of a stadium and easy to find off of the interstate. Three years ago it was the site of one of the best games I have ever witnessed in my life, game 6 of the 2007 Colonial Cup Championships a knock down drag out fight between the then United Hockey League K-Wings and the Rockford IceHogs. The game had everything, broken glass, a hole in the net, and to top it off a goalie fight! I can't wait to go back, can you say road trip?

Oct 6th, Quad City Flames-v- Rockford Ice Hogs, innagural AHL game.

Last night we packed up the van with the usual suspects, Alvious, Wolfkeeper,Princess, Kissane and myself. We then hit the road for the inaugural games of these two former UHL teams and arch rivals in their AHL incarnations. Both teams look "new", but I'll leave the improved analysis to others.

All I can say is that although we were in QC and surrounded by familiar faces in classic Hog sweaters, at least at this point in the season the old UHL soul seems to be gone from the teams. Like an injured vetran player, the old UHL spirt just was missing from both benches. It begs the question; "Can the dedicated fans of these two great UHL traditions bring their new teams and the rest of us, their UHL enthusiasm and desperately needed soul?" If there is a Hockey God in heaven they will, I for one will be lighting candles and wearing out the prayer beads in this effort. If any group of fans can get the rest of us off of our well padded rumpuses it is the Rockford Boosters. Any team that can inspire an Elvis tribute artist to follow them on the road, well, you just have to believe in insanity like that.

You read it here first,the UHL soul will rise again! It will be the true believers from QC and Rockford that like a crazed hockey fan shall lead us.



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