KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Kalamazoo Wings hockey team will not play its 2020-21 season in conjunction with the National Hockey League’s COVID-19 Voluntary Suspension Policy.
The team voted to suspend operations for the season, joined Monday by the Cincinnati Cyclones and Idaho Steelheads, a news release said.
A total of 10 ECHL teams have opted out of the season so far.
“After several months of planning, monitoring public health guidelines and agreeing on an initial return-to-play date, this was an extremely difficult decision to make,” K-Wings Governor and Director of Business Operations Toni Will said. “Our top priority has always been the health and safety of our fans, players, coaches and staff at Wings Event Center, and we determined it was in the best interest of our hockey community to sit out this season. We will immediately start planning for the 2021-22 season.
Kalamazoo and several other teams initially agreed to the league’s return-to-play plan that involved a split schedule.
Half of the league’s teams still plan to drop the puck this Friday.
