ECHL: Maine Mariners Acquire Antonio Venuto From Kalamazoo

Originally posted on Inside The Rink
By Armand Klisivitch | Last updated Jan 7, 2026 8:02 PM ET

The Maine Mariners have acquired forward Antonio Venuto from the Kalamazoo Wings. Venuto, 25, had five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 22 games with the K-Wings. He’s also played in one game in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters. Venuto had two assists in six games with Kalamazoo at the end of the 2024-25 season. This trade completes the deal that sent Colin Bilek to Kalamazoo.

TRADE ALERT presented by Verizon: The Mariners have acquired forward Antonio Venuto from the @KalamazooWings, completing a future considerations trade.

Read more: https://t.co/PwqGEDSohf pic.twitter.com/KPLZnbld0U
— Maine Mariners (@MarinersOfMaine) January 7, 2026

Venuto’s Stats

Prior to going pro, the Whitmore Lake, Michigan, native spent his junior career in the NAHL and USHL. In 54 games in the NAHL with the Minot Minotauros and Jamestown Rebels, he put up 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points. He would add two goals and an assist for three points in five playoff games with the Rebels. During his time in the USHL, he put up 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points in 48 games with the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

After finishing his junior career, he would take the NCAA route, spending his first four years of eligibility at Ferris State University. In 120 games with the Bulldogs, he had 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points. Venuto would be nominated for the Hobey Baker Award in 2024 after putting up 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 36 games, he also led the team in goals and points. He would spend his final year of eligibility at Merrimack College, where he put up eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 35 games.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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