Category: News

KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced Tuesday the signing of two former Western Michigan University forwards, Justin Kovacs and Matt Iacopelli to the 2019-20 roster.

Kovacs, 27, returns to Kalamazoo where he started his pro career in 2015-16. The Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. native appeared in eight games for the K-Wings at the end of his senior season at WMU. He also spent his first full professional season in Kalamazoo, where he posted 29 points (6g, 23a) in 63 games.

“My family and I are very happy to be back in Kalamazoo,” said Kovacs. “It’s a great organization surrounded with great people, and it was an easy decision. I can’t wait to get back on the ice with some of the guys I have played with before, and I hope to help the K-Wings have a strong year and make a run in the playoffs.”

The 5-foot-11, 194-pound forward spent parts of two ECHL seasons with the Quad City Mallards, before heading overseas. Kovacs finished the 2017-18 campaign with HK Nitra in Slovakia, and spent the entire 2018-19 season with the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League, where he put up 43 points (13g, 30a) in 53 games.

“Justin has played for us before and understands the commitment we ask of our players,” said K-Wings Head Coach Nick Bootland. “He is a highly-skilled forward who makes a team’s power play better.”

Iacopelli, 25, joins the K-Wings for his third season as a pro, after splitting the 2018-19 campaign between the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs, and ECHL’s Indy Fuel and Manchester Monarchs. The Chicago Blackhawks drafted the Woodhaven, Mich. native in the third round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and signed him to his first pro contract in 2016-17 after his sophomore seasons at WMU.

“I’m excited to be back on the west side of the state,” said Iacopelli. “I already know what the city has to offer, having played two years here at Western Michigan, and I’m really ready to contribute to and represent the K-Wings this season.”

The 6-foot-3, 207-pound winger comes to Kalamazoo with 116 games of pro experience. He had 27 points (14g, 13a) in 85 games with Rockford and 19 points (15g, 4a) in 31 ECHL games.

“Matt is a huge pickup for us,” said Bootland. “He is a powerful skater with a great shot, and we love that he is still driven and hungry to move up and play at the highest level.

Both players enjoyed success at the collegiate level for the Broncos. Kovacs recorded 76 points (23g, 53a) in 129 games over four seasons at WMU, helping the Broncos to the CCHA Conference Championship in 2011-12 as a freshman. Iacopelli compiled 43 points (21g, 22a) in 67 college games over two seasons, including a very productive sophomore season in 2016-17, where he posted 36 points (20g, 16a) in 40 games.

The K-Wings’ 46^th Home Opener is Saturday, Oct. 19 against the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:00 p.m. at the Wings Event Center, following Fan Fest leading up to the game.

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2019-20 K-Wings season tickets, partial plans and 5-packs are on sale now! Visit KWings.com for details.

KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced Friday that single game tickets for the entire 2019-20 home schedule went on sale this morning at 10 a.m.

The K-Wings’ 36 home games feature a mix of popular past promotions, such as Orange Ice, Marvel Night, Nickelodeon Night, Teddy Bear Toss, Star Wars Night and Green Ice, as well as exciting new promotions like Hockey Fights Cancer, featuring Lavender Ice, 90’s Night, and DC Comics Night.

Single Game Tickets Available HERE

Full Promotions and Giveaway Schedule HERE

Additionally, Kalamazoo will face-off against the Toledo Walleye in a preseason game Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Wings Event Center. This will be the first opportunity to see the 2019-20 team in action, with tickets available for just $5! Tickets for that game are also on sale now.

$5 Tickets for Preseason Game (Oct. 4) Available HERE

The following night, Saturday, Oct. 5, the same two teams will play one more exhibition game at 7:15 p.m. in Toledo at Huntington Center.

The K-Wings’ Home Opener is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19 against the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:00 p.m. at the Wings Event Center. The team’s annual Fan Fest will start at 4:30 p.m. inside Door 7 before the game and will feature live music, a bounce house, a player red carpet, food trucks and a Smash Car, where a small donation will give fans the opportunity to smash a car with a sledgehammer.

Kalamazoo, MI – Rock legends ZZ Top are set to roll into Kalamazoo for a concert on Wednesday, October 30, at Wings Event Center. In honor of the band and their iconic facial hair, Wings Event Center is on the search for Kalamazoo’s Best Beard!

The Best Beard(s) will win a FREE pair of tickets to see the ZZ Top – 50th Anniversary Tour at Wings Event Center.

Contest Details:

Who can enter?

Anyone with facial hair who thinks they have what it takes to win the public vote!

How to enter the contest?

Beard photos can be submitted now through Wednesday, September 4 at 10am via wingseventcenter.com.

How do we vote?

Voting will be live Thursday, September 5 and run through September 13. The beard gallery will be posted to the Wings Event Center Facebook page once live on Sept. 5.

Beard winner(s) will be announced by Wings Event Center on Facebook following the close of voting on Friday, September 13.

Tickets to the ZZ Top – 50th Anniversary Tour are available now at the Wings Event Center box office and etix.com.

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Wings Event Center, owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group, is home to the Kalamazoo Wings hockey team and is 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.

Kalamazoo, MI (August 13, 2019) – Webster’s Prime is celebrating National Filet Day today with a feature menu offering a 3-Course Filet Dinner for just $35. 

 

Guests dining from the Filet Day Menu will enjoy choice of salad, a 6oz grilled filet with vegetable and mashed yukon gold potato, and choice of dessert. While reservations are not required, they are encouraged. To reserve a table visit opentable.com or call the restaurant at 269.343.4444.

 

To view the feature menu, visit webstersrestaurant.com/events.

 

Webster’s Prime is located in Downtown Kalamazoo on the second level of Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites.

 

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Webster’s Prime is locally owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group. It is a sophisticated steakhouse that offers locally sourced dishes. 

 

Greenleaf Hospitality Group (GHG) is comprised of Radisson Plaza Hotel, Wings Event Center, Wings West and several outlets located in each. Within the Radisson is the newest addition, The Morning Dish. GHG aims to make a positive impact on the greater Kalamazoo community by providing premier establishments of dining, hospitality, and entertainment.   

“That Little Ol’ Band From Texas,” the longest running major rock band with original personnel intact, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, ZZ Top are set to roll into Kalamazoo for a concert Wednesday, October 30, at Wings Event Center. There are three of them  — Billy F Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard — and they’re still very much together after 50 years of rock, blues, and boogie on the road and in the studio. “Yeah,” says Billy, guitarist extraordinaire, “we’re the same three guys, bashing out the same three chords.”

 

With songs like “La Grange,” “Tush,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and others, ZZ TOP’s music is always instantly recognizable, eminently powerful, profoundly soulful and 100% Texas American.  The band’s support for the blues has been unwavering and remains as rock solid as the music they continue to play. They have sold millions of records, have been officially designated as Heroes of The State of Texas, have been referenced in countless cartoons and sitcoms, and are true rock icons.

 

Tickets for the ZZ Top – 50th Anniversary Tour go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 12 at 10am. Tickets will be available at the box office at Wings Event Center oretix.com.

 

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Wings Event Center, owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group, is home to the Kalamazoo Wings hockey team and is 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.

 

Kalamazoo, MI (January 17, 2019) –  Downtown Kalamazoo breakfast restaurant, Burdick’s for Breakfast, is kicking off the new year with a complete renovation and rebrand. The last day of service as Burdick’s for Breakfast is Sunday, January 20th.

 

Burdick’s for Breakfast is locally owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group and located in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo on the second level of Radisson Plaza Hotel. The last renovation of the space occurred in September 2005.

 

The new breakfast restaurant, name to-be-announced, will feature an elevated experience and host a variety of seating, including private dining. Guests will be able to experience a fresh and colorful breakfast buffet as well as an improved full breakfast menu.

 

“Over time we’ve studied what our hotel business traveler, our weekend leisure traveler, and what the Kalamazoo Community wants out of our breakfast offerings, and we felt that it was time to upgrade our menu and atmosphere.  We’re ecstatic with what our culinary team has designed and look forward to an outstanding buffet and menu offering come April 2019,” said Chief Executive Officer, Tim Rayman.

 

Greenleaf Hospitality Group is passionate about providing an elevated breakfast experience for downtown residents, travelers, and the greater Kalamazoo Community. This renovation is about more than what is put on the table, it is about the total experience guests will have when they visit the breakfast restaurant.

 

 

 

 

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Greenleaf Hospitality Group (GHG) is comprised of Radisson Plaza Hotel, Wings Event Center, Wings West and several outlets located in each, including Burdick’s for Breakfast. GHG aims to make a positive impact on the greater Kalamazoo community by providing premier establishments of dining, hospitality, and entertainment.   

 

Burdick’s for Breakfast is a breakfast restaurant located on the second level of Radisson Plaza Hotel. It offers a buffet, full menu, room service in the Radisson, take-out, and delivery.

 

Kalamazoo based leader in hospitality, Greenleaf Hospitality Group (GHG), is proud to be named one of the nation’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies of 2015. This honor comes after being reviewed by an independent research company on principles including employee engagement, retention, diversity and inclusion, work-life balance, community initiatives, and many others. The Best and Brightest award identifies and honors organizations that value the importance of employee enrichment and excellence in operations. Following review from the National Association for Business Resources (NABR), organizations’ scores are compared to regional data and nationally set standards. “This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives, and building a stronger community as a whole” stated NABR. With 550 employees and 12 businesses under their leadership, Greenleaf Hospitality Group takes pride in providing not only an exceptional experience for their guests, but an exceptional work environment for employees as well. “Recognizing that our employees are our greatest asset has been essential to our success over the past couple years. We value what our employees value, and you can tell our company culture reflects their well-being and happiness” says Greenleaf Hospitality’s Executive Director of Human Resources, Sarah Miklusicak. “We’re proud to be part of such a caring organization”. Greenleaf Hospitality Group will be awarded and publicly recognized at the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® awards symposium and gala in Detroit, as well as the online edition of Corp! Magazine.