Built on Commitment: Collin Saccoman Leading the Way in Kalamazoo

Leadership in hockey comes in many different forms. Some captains lead with big speeches and highlight-reel plays. Others lead in the quiet moments — blocking a shot, making the safe play, or saying the right thing in the locker room at the right time. For Kalamazoo Wings captain Collin Saccoman, leadership is built on consistency, preparation, and a love for the game that hasn’t changed since he was a kid.

Saccoman didn’t always grow up playing the position that would define his professional career. In fact, his path to becoming a defenseman started with a decision from a coach when he was just a kid. “Growing up, I was a forward, and then my coach, Bernie McBain, when I was 10 or 11, was like, Yeah, you're going to be a defenseman now, and I have been a defenseman ever since,” Saccoman said.

That move ended up shaping not just his position, but his identity as a player. Saccoman built his game around defense first, modeling his style after a player known for toughness and sacrifice. “On the ice, I really liked the way Anton Volchenkov played. I was trying to model my defensive play after him. Just a hard-nosed defenseman, blocking shots, and he was my inspiration on the ice." He credits his mom, who is his inspiration for off-ice matters. "Off the ice, my mom. My mom has done so much for our family. Bringing me to hockey practice, my brothers to their activities.”

Now in his fifth season in Kalamazoo, Saccoman has become one of the culture-setters inside the organization — a player who understands what it means to be a pro both on and off the ice. “It’s my fifth year in Kalamazoo, so just our culture and just how we operate. Kalamazoo does it right. A big believer in just how we go about a business, and I just try to teach guys how we go about a business, how to be on the ice, and off the ice.”

That culture has translated into a tight-knit locker room, something Saccoman believes is one of the team’s biggest strengths. “Guys that look out for each other. Our team is so resilient, and everybody's got each other's backs. We were talking about locker room guys, and then one of our guys said, yeah, every guy on our team's a locker room guy. So, it shows you the camaraderie and the bond that we all have.”

As a defenseman, Saccoman understands his role. While some players thrive on taking risks and jumping into the rush, his game is built on reading situations and supporting his teammates when the moment calls for it. “I think all of us have our own play. We have more high-risk, high-reward guys, but for me personally, I just try to take the opportunities as they come. I don’t want to force it to happen. So, I have my D partner, he's the more offensively minded guy, so I'll support him, but when I can jump up when I can, I will.”

That patience and discipline become even more important in big games — the kind of games Saccoman says every player lives for. “It’s why we play the game. Sometimes, it's not fun playing games where it's 10 to one, but games like this, where they are awesome. That's what you live for. It's a playoff-style game.”

For Saccoman, preparation is the key to being ready for those moments. He compares the process to something every student understands — studying for a test. “We’ve all been in these situations before, so it’s like preparing for a test. Do your homework, you study, and then you're ready for the test, and the same thing for a hockey game. You prepare, you study, and then you're ready for the test.”

That preparation doesn’t just apply to systems and video — it also applies to building chemistry with teammates, especially his defensive partner. “Some stuff off the ice, like just hanging out, and getting to know each other, and then on the ice, in practice, getting to know each other's habits, what works for each other, what he's looking to do, what I'm looking to do, and then just merge.”

Through it all — the practices, the travel, the grind of a long season — Saccoman says what keeps him going is simple. Saccoman is a new father and gives much credit to his wife for her support at home. “Just the love of the game. Plus, I have an awesome wife who supports me in this, and I wouldn't be able to do it without her. I love playing. If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. So, the love and support I get is what makes it possible.”

For Kalamazoo, Saccoman isn’t just a defenseman. He’s not just a captain. He’s part of the foundation — a player who represents what it means to be a professional, what it means to be a teammate, and what it means to love the game.

And when the games matter most, those are the players every team needs.