K-Wings Add Former NHL’er McCarthy; Ex-Bronco Kovacs Returns

The Kalamazoo Wings have signed former NHL'er Steve McCarthy. McCarthy joins Kalamazoo with 15 years of professional hockey experience, including stints in the NHL, AHL, Kontinental Hockey League (Russia), SM-liiga (Finland), and Swiss-A (Switzerland).

The 34-year-old defenseman was taken with the 23rd pick of the first round in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He made his professional debut for Chicago on October 4, 1999 in a game against the San Jose Sharks. The left-handed-shooting defenseman registered his first career point, an assist, on his first shift. McCarthy played in 302 NHL games over eight seasons from 1999-2008 with Chicago, Vancouver, and Atlanta.

Most recently, the native of Trail, BC was a member of the Iowa Wild (AHL), where he skated in 13 games, registering four points.

“He’s a leader whose experience will help the players and coaches moving forward,” K-Wings head coach Nick Bootland said. “We’re very excited to have Steve in Kalamazoo.”

In a separate transaction, Joe Sova and Alex Mallet have been returned from the Chicago Wolves’ (AHL) camp.

Sova is set for his fourth season with Kalamazoo after dressing in 62 games with the Wings last season. The 27-year-old defenseman registered 15 points and 34 PIMs in 2014-15, both career highs. The sixth-year pro played his college hockey with U. of Alaska Fairbanks (CCHA) before making his professional debut with the Albany Devils in 2011.

Mallet, a 6-foot-2 center from Montreal, has shown stable productivity in the ECHL since 2012-13. In 98 games played between Kalamazoo and Stockton, Mallet has tallied 62 points (23 goals, 39 assists) and 117 penalty minutes.

Justin Kovacs and Ben Wilson have also been returned from AHL camp with the Lake Erie Monsters and have rejoined the Wings.

Kovacs, 23, returns to Kalamazoo for his first full season of professional hockey. The 5-foot-11 forward spent four years at Western Michigan University (CCHA/NCHC) before joining Kalamazoo at the conclusion of his college career in March of 2015. In eight games played with the Wings last season, Kovacs scored a goal, notched four assists, and was a +5 rating.

Wilson, 24, gears up for his fifth season of professional hockey and his third with the Wings. The gritty defenseman appeared in 52 games last year for Kalamazoo and registered five points (one goal, four assists) and 117 penalty minutes.