Playoff hero Drake returns to Wings tonight

The Kalamazoo Wings have signed forward Lucas Drake.

Six and a half months ago, Drake helped the K-Wings reach the pinnacle of the UHL by scoring the Colonial Cup overtime clinching goal, May 27 in Danbury, Connecticut. Beginning tonight the forward is poised to lend a hand to the K-Wings repeating efforts.

“Lucas played a key role for us in capturing the championship,” said Kalamazoo GM Paul Pickard. “He brings a lot of intangibles to our team and we are looking for him to pick up where he left off.”

Besides scoring the most important goal in K-Wings’ UHL history, during the 2006 Colonial Cup Playoffs, Drake set the K-Wings’ UHL franchise record and tied the UHL record for goals in a playoff game with five on May 6 versus the Rockford IceHogs. In the same game, Drake also set the K-Wings’ UHL franchise record for most shorthanded goals (2).

Drake’s playoff success was a carry over from a stellar regular season, in which the left winger tallied career highs in goals (35), assists (33) and points (68).

Kalamazoo has been a second home for the Holt native. Besides last year with the K-Wings, Drake played four seasons of collegiate hockey for the Western Michigan Broncos (2000-2004), registering 55 points in 149 games.

After leaving WMU, Drake spent two seasons in the ECHL with the Mississippi Sea Wolves. With Mississippi, Drake had success recording 30 points in 72 games and made a playoff run in both of his seasons with the Sea Wolves.

Starting this season in the ECHL with the Columbia Inferno, Drake registered 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) in 22 games.

Drake is scheduled to be in the lineup tonight, as the K-Wings hit the road to start a home and home series against archrivals, the Fort Wayne Komets.