After setting a record for the largest lightsaber battle in 2019, the Kalamazoo Wings set their sights on another record this season.
It isn't every day one gets the honor of having their name etched in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The Kalamazoo Wings achieved that dream back in 2019, setting a GWR for the largest lightsaber battle in history.
In a November 2, 2019 matchup between Kalamazoo and the Wheeling Nailers, a crowd of 3,889 participated in a lightsaber battle during the first intermission. The battle lasted three minutes and 45 seconds.
Not content to rest on their laurels, the Vancouver Canucks' affiliate is hoping to make history for a second time. The club has its sights on setting a record for the most waving foam fingers simultaneously during their home opener at Wings Event Center October 19.
The K-Wings revealed the promotion at a press conference last Tuesday, along with information about a fan-friendly ticket package exclusively for the game. Fans who attended the first Guinness Record event in 2019 will receive an email offering them their own special ticket package.
The club also announced a two-year extension to continue its affiliation agreement with both the Vancouver Canucks and the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks. The Stanley Cup and other NHL Award Trophies will also be on hand for fans to experience during Hockey Heritage Weekend in January 2025.
"This is a very exciting time in K-Wings history with the announcement of our attempt to set a second Guinness World Record," Wings general manager and governor Tony Will told reporters last week. "Setting our first world record in 2019 was memorable, and accomplishing this feat while kicking off our 50th Anniversary Season makes this attempt even more special."
It certainly helps that the K-Wings have navigated the Guinness process before, a fact pointed out by Will at last week's press conference. It also doesn't hurt that the club has a rich, 50-year heritage in the community, a feat that's tough to accomplish in an area the size of Kalamazoo.
"The beautiful thing is we have the blueprint because we’ve done it before, so it’s a heck of a lot easier when you know what you’re doing versus the first time we did it five years ago," Will said.
While the Wings have one league championship in their 50-year history (a Colonial Cup in 2005-06 in the UHL), they're still looking for their first Kelly Cup. If they set a second GWR, the next obvious goal will be to grab that first elusive Kelly Cup and go from there.