KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced the signing of veteran forward Justin Taylor for the 2019-20 season.
Taylor returns to Kalamazoo for his 10th pro season after playing in 35 games for the K-Wings in 2018-19. The 30-year-old led the team with 21 goals before a January injury cut short his season. Taylor finished with 27 points (21g-6a) for Kalamazoo and also appeared in one game for the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage.
The Mindemoya, Ontario native ranks 27th all-time in ECHL history with 541 games played, and with 59 games played would become just the 11th player in League history to reach the 600-games plateau.Taylor also ranks second all-time in K-Wings history in games played (493), behind only Kevin Schamehorn (495). Taylor is also third in team history in goals (193) and sixth in points (364).
The 2007 sixth-round pick of the Washington Capitals first joined Kalamazoo as a rookie in 2010-11 and has put together seven different 20-goal seasons and six 40-point seasons. Taylor set career highs with the K-Wings in 2016-17 with 61 points (31g-29a) in 70 games. He has also appeared in 18 AHL games between Bridgeport, Utica and San Antonio.