Vancouver Canucks Organization Officially Completes Trade for Former NCAA Captain
Photo credit: Kalamazoo Wings
The Vancouver Canucks organization has announced that they have acquired a former NCAA captain through a trade this week as they continue to prepare for the upcoming season.
In less than a week, the Vancouver Canucks will open up the 2025-26 season on home ice against the Calgary Flames and will be joined shortly after by their two minor league affiliates - AHL Abbotsford & ECHL Kalamazoo.
The Kalamazoo Wings have been one of the busiest teams in the entire ECHL over the four weeks, making several additions to their roster, including two-time Kelly Cup champion Todd Skirving, who signed a one-year deal for the 2025-26 season.
On Thursday, the Wings completed a trade that saw them bring a former NCAA captain following a career-year in the ECHL during the 2024-25 campaign.
Kalamazoo Wings acquire former NCAA captain from Maine Mariners
In a press release yesterday, the Kalamazoo Wings announced that they've acquired forward Colin Bilek from the Maine Mariners - who had previously landed him earlier in the day from the Indy Fuel - in exchange for future considerations.
"The Kalamazoo Wings, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, announced Thursday that forward Colin Bilek has been acquired for future considerations from the Maine Mariners." the club said.
Bilek, 28, spent four years in the NCAA with Army (U.S. Military Academy), including his final two as the team's captain, where he registered 93 points (43 goals, 50 assists), 102 penalty minutes and was a minus-one in 127 games.
At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Bilek agreed to terms on a one-year AHL contract with the Manitoba Moose before being traded to the Rockford IceHogs during his first season in professional hockey.
The Brighton, Michigan native has spent the majority of his professional career thus far in the ECHL with the Trois-Rivières Lions and the Indy Fuel, setting a new-high in points last season with 52 (18 goals, 34 assists) in 66 games.
Hopefully, Bilek will be able to replicate that offensive production this year and help the Kalamazoo Wings return to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for what would be only the second time in the last six seasons.
Source: Kalamazoo Wings
KALAMAZOO ACQUIRES FORWARD COLIN BILEK, SIGNS FORWARD TYLER GERMAN (PTO)
KALAMAZOO ACQUIRES FORWARD COLIN BILEK, SIGNS FORWARD TYLER GERMAN (PTO)
TRENDING NOW
