Kalamazoo sends two more to college

The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings have announced the college commitments of forward Mac McDonnell and defenseman Sam Johnson.

McDonnell has committed to play his collegiate hockey at the University of Windsor of the Canadian Intercollegiate Sport League. The team is run by head coach Kevin Hamlin, who has led the Lancers to a 10-2 record so far, which leads the Ontario West division and leaves them ranked No. 5 in the country.

The 20-year-old right-winger from Allen Park joined the Jr. K-Wings just last week from the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League in time to skate in his first game in a Kalamazoo sweater against the Michigan Warriors. He made his appearance felt by tallying an assist in Kalamazoo’s 3-2 overtime victory.

Johnson, a two-year veteran of the NAHL, joined Kalamazoo after being traded from the Amarillo Bulls and will be playing at Division III Trinity College of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The school, which has very high academic standards, is a perfect fit for Johnson, whose hobbies include creating iPhone apps, with goals after hockey including owning a software development company.

The Trinity team is currently ranked fourth in their conference.

Johnson is currently tied for the team lead in plus/minus with a +10 rating and was also the first Jr. K-Wing to be named an alternate captain during the active season. He currently wears an “A” with fellow alternate captains Nick Kovalchik, Taylor Burden and Matt Wurst.