Raats joins K-Wings

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced that defenseman Joey Raats has signed a contract for the 2024-25 season.

Raats, 28, played 52 games for Coventry of the Elite Ice Hockey League in 2021-22 with four assists and 23 penalty minutes, plus one assist in two playoff games, before not playing professionally the last two seasons following a cancer diagnosis.

The fourth-year pro debuted for Utah in 2018-19, scoring eight points (2g-6a) in 38 games. Raats then went to France in 2019-20, splitting time between Briançon and Gap in Ligue Magnus and totaling six points (1g-5a) with 73 penalty minutes in 32 games.

Collegiately, Raats played 79 games over three seasons at Arizona State University, notching 28 points (5g-23a) with 56 penalty minutes.