K-Wings Add Four Forwards to 50th Anniversary Roster

The Kalamazoo Wings continue to add to their 50^th anniversary roster as the 2024-25 ECHL season approaches.

The club added four forwards this week with the signings of Ted Nichol, Ian Mackey, Ryan Cox and Adam Tisdale to Standard Player Contracts (SPC) for the 2024-25 season.

The 27-year-old Nichol appeared in 34 games last year for Kalamazoo, scoring four goals with one assist and 16 penalty minutes, adding one assist in three playoff games.

“The fans at Wings Event Center always show up and give us great energy,” Nichol said. “They are some of the most loyal fans and to be able to play in front of such an intense and hungry fan base is something I look forward to each and every night.”

The second-year pro played 15 games for the Florida Everblades in 2022-23 in his pro debut, recording one goal and two assists with four penalty minutes.

The 5-foot-11, 201-pound native of Listowel, ON also spent five seasons at the University of Guelph, suiting up in 76 games and scoring 41 points (16-25-41) with 85 penalty minutes.

“Ted Nichol plays with pace and energy,” said Joel Martin, Kalamazoo Wings head coach and director of hockey operations. “He is great on the penalty kill and finishes every check.”

Mackey, 27, is a 6-foot 3-inch, 200-pound, Tower Lakes, IL native who played 28 games for the South Carolina Stingrays last season, scoring one goal with four assists and 49 penalty minutes.

Mackey, also a second-year pro, spent time in the ECHL’s South Division before arriving in South Carolina in 2022-23, playing 21 total games between Atlanta, Savannah and South Carolina, registering four points (2-2-4) with 34 penalty minutes.

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In 2021-22, Mackey split time between the HC Flyers and IFK Hallsberg in Finland Division 2, totaling nine goals and three assists with 149 penalty minutes in 23 games after making brief stops with Kansas City (2gp) and Fort Wayne (1gp) in 2019-20.

“I am super excited to be joining the K-Wings, an organization with a big history that has been around a long time,” Mackey said. “I can't wait to get in front of the great Kalamazoo fan base for the 50th year at Wings Event Center and have a great season!”

The forward played collegiately at Simon Fraser University (BCIHL), appearing in 40 games over two seasons and scoring six goals with eight assists and 48 penalty minutes.

Martin calls Mackey a reliable, 200-feet player.

“He’s hard-nosed and tough to play against,” Martin said.

The 26-year-old Cox, a St. Albert, AB native, is another forward who brings offense and intensity. The 5-foot-11, 181-pound Cox scored 26 points (14-12-26) last season between the Reading Royals and Orlando Solar Bears in 58 games.

“I’m looking forward to competing and giving everything I have for my team and the fans of Kalamazoo,” Cox said. “I have played as a visitor at Wings Event Center and vividly remember the energy and noise from the fans and I am fired up to be a part of it!”

The second-year pro played 12 games for the Toledo Walleye in 2022-23 in his pro debut, scoring five goals with six assists.

Collegiately, Cox scored 69 points (35-34-69) in 152 games over five seasons (2018-23) at Niagara University, including a 14-goal, 14-assist senior season which helped the Purple Eagles to their best record (19-18-3) since 2012-13 (23-10-5).

Tisdale, 25, is a 5-foot 9-inch, 172-pound, Cochrane, AB native who finished his collegiate career with 13 points (5-8-13) in 34 games last season with the University of Alaska-Anchorage after appearing in four games for the Seawolves in 2022-23. He will make his professional debut in his first game with Kalamazoo.

The rookie began his college hockey career at Clarkson University, scoring 18 points (8-10-18) in 59 games over two seasons (2018-20).

Tisdale transferred to Sacred Heart University for two more years (2020-22) in which he scored two goals with six assists in 37 games before transferring again to Alaska-Anchorage.

Tisdale is a two-way forward who plays with pace and a high hockey IQ.

“I have heard nothing but great things about the organization, staff, and fans and I can’t wait to get started and meet everyone at camp soon,” Tisdale said.