K-Wings sign Bilek, MacDonald

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced that the team signed forwards Colin Bilek and Ayden MacDonald to contracts for the 2026-27 season.

Bilek, 29, enters his fifth professional season. In 2025-26, Bilek appeared in 71 games, finishing first on the K-Wings in goals (21) and power-play goals (10) and fifth with 40 points (22g-18a).

The Brighton, Michigan native has played for two other ECHL teams in his career (Indy, Trois-Rivières), and amassed 129 points (59g-70a) in 180 games before his time with the K-Wings. He also suited up in three American Hockey League games for the Manitoba Moose and the Rockford IceHogs in 2022-23.

Prior to turning pro, Bilek notched 93 points (43g-50a) in 127 games for Army. He was named the Black Knights captain twice (2020-21, 2021-22), named second-team NCAA (East) All-American twice (2020-21, 2021-22), and an NCAA (AHA) All-Star twice.

MacDonald, 29, is entering his sixth professional season and his second stint with the K-Wings (2022-25). MacDonald spent last season (2025-26) in Bloomington, scoring 19 points (10g-9a) in 55 games.

MacDonald played in 44 games for Greenville as a rookie in 2021-22, recording 33 points (20g-13a). He followed that with 15 points (5g-10a) in 46 games for the Swamp Rabbits in 2022-23 before being traded to the K-Wings in March, where he tallied nine points (2g-7a) in 12 games. MacDonald spent parts of the next two seasons (2023-25) in Kalamazoo, recording 34 points (18g-16a) in 84 games. He then continued his career in France, where he recorded two assists before returning to the ECHL and splitting the remainder of the season between Maine and Allen.

Prior to turning pro, MacDonald suited up in 89 games in four seasons for Brock University from 2017-22, finishing his collegiate career with 59 points (24g-35a) and 134 penalty minutes.