Kalamazoo signs ex-Wolverine, ex-Whaler

The Kalamazoo Wings have signed former Michigan defenseman Mike Roemensky and ex-Plymouth Whalers' goaltender Ryan Nie.

Roemensky, a White Lake native, joins the K-Wings for his third season as a professional. Before coming to Kalamazoo, Roemensky played in the ECHL with the Colombia Inferno and most recently with the now-defunct Motor City Mechanics in the UHL.

“Mike has proven himself at the collegiate level and has shown he can adapt his play to the pro game,” said Wings' GM Paul Pickard. “He’s a gritty player that can battle in the corners for pucks, as well as stand his man up at the blueline.”

While the 2006-07 campaign will be Nie’s rookie year, the netminder brings with him an impressive resume.

For the past four seasons, Nie has been one of the top goaltenders in the OHL. In 130 games between the pipes with Plymouth (2002-2005), Toronto and Sarnia, he had a goals-against average of 2.93 and a save percentage of .911.

Nie was originally a ninth-round pick of the Whalers in the 2001 OHL Priority Selection. He was also an All-Star in 2005, Plymouth's lone representative on the squad.

“We believe he will turn some heads with his play,” said Pickard. “With his resume, he has the ability to be our number one goaltender this year.”

The addition of Roemensky and Nie gives the K-Wings eleven players signed for their defense of the Colonial Cup.