Kalkaska on the road
Coach Krzysztof Oliwa is taking his Kalkaska Rhinos on the road for four games in four days against teams from the Minnesota Jr. Hockey League.
The road trip begins tonight and concludes on Monday afternoon.
The Rhinos, who are a first-year independent team that is coached and managed by Oliwa — the former National Hockey League enforcer and Stanley Cup champion with the New Jersey Devils — have played 9 games thus far this season against teams from the Canadian International Hockey League and Midwest Jr. Hockey League.
Kalkaska has a respectable record of 4-5 with solo wins over the Batchewana Attack and Sudbury Royals of the CIHL and a pair of victories over the Detroit Fighting Irish of the MWJHL.
One of the four upcoming games against teams from the Minnesota league will be against the Illiana Blackbirds, who are coached and managed by former NHL journeyman forward Reid Simpson.
In fact, Simpson and Oliwa were NHL teammates with New Jersey during the 1997-1998 season.
PHOTO: Members of the Kalkaska Rhinos celebrate a goal during one of their victories this season.