DETROIT RED WINGS STAFF
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Owner/Governor .................................................................................................MIKE ILITCH Owner/Secretary-Treasurer ............................................................................ MARIAN ILITCH President & CEO, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. .....................................................CHRISTOPHER ILITCH Senior Vice President/Alternate Governor .......................................................JIM DEVELLANO Exec. Vice President/General Manager/Alternate Governor .................................KEN HOLLAND Vice President/Assistant General Manager ................................................................ JIM NILL Vice President/Alternate Governor ................................................................STEVE YZERMAN Vice President/General Counsel/Alternate Governor ....................................... ROBERT E. CARR ———————— President & Chief Executive Officer ....................................................................TOM WILSON Senior Vice President of Business Affairs ...................................................... STEVE VIOLETTA Vice President of Finance .........................................................................PAUL MACDONALD Head Coach ..................................................................................................MIKE BABCOCK Associate Coaches .................................................PAUL MACLEAN AND BRAD MCCRIMMON Goaltending Coach ............................................................................................ JIM BEDARD Video Coach ........................................................................................... KEITH MCKITTRICK Director of Hockey Administration .................................................................... RYAN MARTIN Director of Pro Scouting .................................................................................... MARK HOWE Pro Scouts ................................... PAT VERBEEK, GLENN MERKOSKY AND BRUCE HARALSON Director of Amateur Scouting ...................................................................... JOE MCDONNELL Amateur Scouts ...............................................MARK LEACH, DAVID KOLB AND JEFF FINLEY Director of European Scouting ................................................................HAKAN ANDERSSON European Scouts ..........................................VLADIMIR HAVLUJ, EVGENI ERFILOV, ARI VOURI Part-Time Scout ...............................................................................................MARTY STEIN Executive Assistants ..................................................................KATHI WYATT, ANGELA LONG General Accountant .................................................................................. BRIDGET MERRITT Administrative Assistant ................................................................................... JULIE DAILEY Athletic Therapist .......................................................................................... PIET VAN ZANT Assistant Athletic Therapist.......................................................................... RUSS BAUMANN Equipment Manager .......................................................................................... PAUL BOYER Assistant Equipment Managers .................................... JOHN REMEJES AND ADAM SHEEHAN Team Masseur .................................................................................... SERGEI TCHEKMAREV Medical Director ............................................................................ DONALD W. WEAVER, MD Team Physicians .................................... ANTHONY COLUCCI, DO; DOUGLAS G. PLAGENS, MD Team Dentist .................................................DR. JEFFREY BOOGREN AND DR. RANDY FREIJ Senior Director of Communications ......................................................................JOHN HAHN Detroit Red Wings Foundation Director ............................................................... ANNE HAYES Media Relations Manager ................................................................................... TODD BEAM Media Relations Coordinator .............................................................................. LISA HICKOK Director of Marketing ...................................................................................... ROB MATTINA Executive Producer ....................................................................................AYRON SEQUEIRA Event Marketing Coordinator ...............................................................................JIM BIEWER Marketing Coordinator .............................................................................. KIMBERLY PALTER Fan Development/Youth Hockey Manager ........................................................... PHIL PIERCE CRM Manager ............................................................................................. YEA’STARI FORD Director of Ticket Sales & Service ...................................................................... JOE BARBER Ticket Service & Retention Manager ............................................................MOLLY WURDACK Inside Sales Manager ...................................................................................... MIKE MARTIN Service & Retention Reps ............................ RACHEL LUPO, ALICIA LYNCH AND MATT BOYCE Ticket Sales Manager .................................................................................. KRISTIN OUIMET Senior Account Executive .......................................................................... TORY NEWBERRY Ticket Sales Account Executives .................. CHAD WARDIE, ERICH FREINY, RYAN MICHAELS, ...............................................................CARLY REGER, JASON ROSE AND NICHOLE LOFTIN Inside Sales Representatives ........ KRISTEN ESTES, ANNIE MOORE, ADAM LOWLER AND MATT STONE Director of New Media, Publishing & Alumni Relations ........................................ MIKE BAYOFF New Media & Publishing Manager ....................................................................... BILL ROOSE Web Video Manager.................................................................................... MIKE PURGATORI Social Network Coordinator ........................................................................ NICOLE YELLAND Director of Broadcasting ...........................................................................SHELDON NUEMAN Radio Broadcasters ........................................................................... KEN KAL, PAUL WOODS TV Broadcasters ...................................... KEN DANIELS, MICKEY REDMOND, LARRY MURPHY
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copYright © detroit red wingS Reproduction in whole or in part without prior consent of the Detroit Red Wings Hockey Club and Olympia Entertainment is prohibited. All NHL and team insignias depicted in this publication are the property of NHL Enterprises, Inc., and the respective teams and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the prior consent of NHL Enterprises, Inc. Red Wings Today is published five times per season by the Detroit Red Wings Hockey Club, 19 Steve Yzerman Drive, Detroit, MI. 48226
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President ...........................................................................................................DANA WARG Vice President/General Counsel.................................................................... ROBERT E. CARR Vice President/General Manager .......................................................................TIM PADGETT Vice President, Sales & Marketing ............................................................................ BILL LEE Vice President, Hospitality, Catering & Restaurant Operations .............................MICHAEL PRAINITO Vice President, Corporate Security/Parking Services .................................... RICHARD FENTON Vice President, Finance ............................................................................. KEITH DOWDICAN Director of Corporate Development ................................................................RUSS GREGORY Director of Corporate Partnership Services .............................................. KIMBERLY RECKLEY Director of New Business Development ...................................................... HOWARD ROSNER Senior Account Executive .................................................................................... ROB CROLL Advertising Account Executives ..................... MARK KELLY, DOUG MURPHY AND CRAIG SHAW Corporate Events Sales Manager .................................................................... ERIN MAZUREK Premium Sales Account Executives ......... TINA SADOWS, KEVIN LAO AND KEVIN McCONNELL Sales Coordinator......................................................................................... CASEY GMEREK Corporate Partnership Account Services Managers ...................................LAUREN CAMPBELL, .................................................................................... NICOLE CHAMBERS AND MIKE FERA Vice President of Food & Beverage ................................................................ BOB STEFANSKI Director of Events/Amateur Hockey Development ................................................ LORI SHIELS Senior Director/General Manager, Hockeytown Café ..................................... STEVE DAVIDSON Director of Building Operations ........................................................................JAMES BULLO Director of Hospitality ...................................................................................... MIKE BEREND Director of Corporate Security & Safety ..................................................... JOHNNY JACKSON Director of Creative Services .................................................................. MICHELLE CHMURA Director of Ticket Operations ......................................................................... DAVE DECKERT Director of Concessions ................................................................................... MARTY BAITY Director of Human Resources .................................................................... MICHELE BARTOS
WINGS THINGS History of the HOBEY BAKER AWARD....................................17 Alumni Reunion with BASIL McRAE........................................19 CCHA Update.....................................................................21 Red Wings in the Community...............................................25 Hockeytown Trivia...............................................................29 Your 2009-10 Detroit Red Wings.........................................39 Dining & Beverage Guide.....................................................48
GAME DAY LIVE Game Notes......................................................................33 Today’s Line-Up..............................................................34-35 Around the NHL.................................................................36
featureS OPERATION HOMEFRONT
By Christy Hammond............................... 6
MILLER TIME
By Michelle Crechiolo.............................54
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DETROIT RED WINGS Team History
HISTORY BEHIND THE NAME Detroit joined the NHL for the 1926-27 season and was known as the Cougars. After an unsuccessful four years of play, coach Jack Adams thought a name change might help spur a winning season. The name was changed to the Falcons beginning with the 1930-31 season. When James Norris, Sr. purchased the hockey franchise in 1932, he changed the name a third time to the Red Wings. Red was a part of the name because the existing uniforms were red and white.
TEAM COLORS Little is known about why red and white were chosen for the team’s colors back in 1926. However, red is an emotionally charged color, demonstrating passion, strength, energy, fire and excitement. And initially, the sport of ice hockey, with roots dating back to the mid1880s, was played outdoors surrounded by snow, thus the color white. The colors of red and white do indeed seem fitting for an energetic hockey team that provides so much excitement to its fans.
THE LOGO After James Norris, Sr. changed the name from the Falcons to the Red Wings, he searched for a new logo. He was reminded of the logo worn by the Montreal Winged Wheelers – an amateur hockey team he had played for years before as member of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. That logo’s wheeled center seemed quite appropriate for Detroit, a city that had put the world on wheels, and the wing would denote speed as the players soared around the rink in smooth flight.
EVOLUTION OF THE LOGO The original Red Wings logo was rather crude, but it has been refined over the years. When Mike and Marian Ilitch purchased the team in 1982, they enlarged the logo on the game jerseys to demonstrate the pride they felt for the hockey team and the franchise’s long and rich history.
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operation homefront Sgt. Suiter assists Rafalski in Olympic effort By Christy Hammond
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gt. Damon Suiter was one of Brian Rafalski’s biggest supporters throughout the two-week Winter Olympic tournament and was one of millions of people in the U.S. to tune in to see Team USA suffer a 3-2 overtime defeat to Canada. “Every time I (saw) him score a goal, I wonder if that had anything to do with what I said,” Suiter wondered. Rafalski was the Red Wings’ lone player in the gold medal game played on Feb. 28. The Dearborn, Mich., native had an outstanding Olympics, finishing the tourney as the leading scorer among all defensemen with eight points, including four goals, and was tabbed as the tournament’s best defenseman. His plus-7
rating was second-best, only to U.S. teammate Ryan Suter’s plus-9. Suiter was paired up with Rafalski in a partnership formed by USA Hockey after general manager Brian Burke contacted Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance for U.S. troops, their families that they leave behind, and for the wounded warriors when they return home. Burke wanted his players to understand
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Operation Homefront
“Both things mean something to me because they both mark times in my life where so much has changed,” Suiter said. “That flag meant a lot to me because I bled under it.” the meaning of playing for their country. Operation Homefront partnered 23 wounded warriors with the 23 American players. Rafalski was partnered with Suiter, who grew-up as a big Wings’ fan in the tiny northern town of Atlanta, which is about an hour south of the Mackinac Bridge. Each player received something akin to a trading card of the wounded warrior. The card has a picture of the wounded warrior on the front and their profile on the back. In addition, the wounded warriors sent the players notes and small personal items that held special meaning. Suiter sent a one-paragraph letter to Rafalski, telling him that, “America needed something to believe in and that they’re it.” 8
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The Purple Heart recipient, who enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard shortly after the attacks on 9/11, included a token he received after his first deployment to Egypt and a small American flag patch that he wore on his right shoulder during his second deployment in Iraq. “Both things mean something to me because they both mark times in my life where so much has changed,” Suiter said. “That flag meant a lot to me because I bled under it.” On Jan. 13, 2007, Suiter and the rest of his 21-truck convoy were transporting construction materials from Mosul to reinforce a combat outpost along the Iraq-Syria border. Two mortars landed simultaneously next to Suiter’s vehicle
Sgt. Damon Suiter (left) stands at attention beside Combat Readiness Training Center Commander Col. Ewin Sansom Thursday before he receives the Purple Heart for injuries he received while serving in Iraq. Photo: Crystal Nelson Alpena News
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Rafalski, a Dearborn, Mich., native had an outstanding Olympics, finishing the tourney as the leading scorer among all defensemen with eight points, including four goals, and was named the tournament’s best defenseman.
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Operation Homefront
“The big reason that I did it was so that they know when they put that uniform on it’s just like when I put my uniform on to go on a mission,” Suiter explained. “They’re doing the same thing – fighting for their country and fighting for what they believe in... with hockey pucks and hockey sticks and scoring goals.” and the pressure from the blast wave threw him to the ceiling of his truck, knocking him unconscious. At the time, no one understood the severity of his traumatic brain injuries and Suiter was cleared to continue the mission. He was later involved in five more IED detonations only worsening the injury he sustained in Mosul. By April, Suiter was forgetting his rifle, misplacing other things, and had trouble speaking and walking. He was flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he spent four months in rehabilitation. It took 11 months of recuperation at three different hospitals before he was transferred to Fort Knox, Ky.
When the opportunity came to be a part of this unique partnership with USA Hockey, Suiter jumped at the chance. “The big reason that I did it was so that they know when they put that uniform on it’s just like when I put my uniform on to go on a mission,” Suiter explained. “They’re doing the same thing – fighting for their country and fighting for what they believe in. It may not be with bombs and bullets, but it’s with hockey pucks and hockey sticks and scoring goals.” Rafalski and Team USA didn’t win the gold medal, but they battled back from being two-goals down to force overtime, and most importantly, played in a way that honored the 23 wounded warriors they represented. RED WINGS TODAY
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hoBeY Baker award comeS to hockeYtown By wally Shaver
I
t’s college hockey’s most prestigious individual honor – the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, presented annually to the top player. This season’s winner will be named from a field of three finalists before a nationally televised audience on Friday, April 9 from Detroit’s Ford Field – the site of this year’s NCAA Frozen Four. So who was Hobey Baker? He was a superior American collegiate athlete in the early 20th century. A classy sportsman, he was an amateur in the pure sense, playing the game solely for the sport, who never fouled, despised publicity, and refused professional offers. To this day, he is offered as a striking example of the finest that America has produced. He entered Princeton University in 1910 where as a two-sport star he led the Tigers to national championships in football (1911), and in hockey (1912 and ’14) during an era where forward passing and substitutions were prohibited. Ironically, these seeming restrictions best showcased Hobey’s speed, stickhandling and endurance. He was simply a pleasure to watch. Baker was universally recognized as the best amateur hockey player in the United States. At a time when low scoring games were the rule, he set new standards, averaging more than four goals per game. Born into a wealthy Pennsylvania family, Baker eventually became known in sports circles as the King of Hockey. Yet, in spite of all
the well-deserved praise heaped upon him, he was totally unspoiled by it and he was modest almost to a fault. Baker joined the U.S. Army Air Service and was among the first group of American pilots to join the fight in World War I. Following the armistice, he was tragically killed in Dec. 1918 during a test flight near Toul in northeastern France. Baker was 26 at the time of his death. He remains the only athlete to be named to both the Hockey Hall of Fame (1945) and College Football Hall of Fame (1975). Unarguably, Baker was the first great American hockey player, which only stands to reason that the award presented annually to America’s top collegiate player bears his name. The Hobey Baker Award, first presented in 1981, celebrates the best in a student-athlete, including outstanding skills, leadership and character. Many of the previous 29 winners have come from college teams that have proven to be among the nation’s best, while individually many of these players graduated to productive pro careers. CCHA teams have been well-represented in the past with three teams claiming two recipients each – Bowling Green (George McPhee, 1982 and Brian Holzinger, 1995); Michigan State (Kip Miller, 1990 and Ryan Miller, 2001); and Michigan (Brendan Morrison, 1997 and Kevin Porter, 2008). RED WINGS TODAY
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E T R O IT ON OF D S A E S T R GREA R W IN S . ANOTHE N B IG G E R E O V F E E D N A IT ’S T IM PA RT IG H IT S TO BE A AMES, B D G U O IG R B P . HOCKEY E. R O G E R IS THE GAM K AND K C R A O F B S IS E IV HOCKEY Y T H AT L M M U N IT O C T A E ETOWN OF A GR
HOM SON. SH OUR I W HIS SEA E T W K C U OOD L TEAM G ©2009 The Kroger Co.
alumni
reuni
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a Q&A with former red wings forward
Basil Mcrae By Bill Roose
Do you keep in touch with any of your former Red Wings teammates? If so, who? Not really as far as day-to-day. I’m still involved in hockey, so I run into a lot of them. Over Christmas at the World Juniors, I got to run into Steve Yzerman, so that was very nice for us to see him there and to wish him the best of luck at the Olympics. Just run into a lot of guys here and there. I played for a long time and for a lot of teams, so the list is long. Which of the current Red Wings is your favorite? And why? My son plays and he’s always loved Henrik Zetterberg. To me he’s so focused, and yes, he’s very skilled and fun to watch. He’s just a tough guy to play against. He’s a true leader, and after Steve Yzerman was leading the charge for so many years, it’s nice for a guy like Henrik Zetterberg, who probably learned a lot from the Yzermans and Brendan Shanahans when they won the Cup. What was your favorite memory as a Red Wing? It was really when Jacques Demers got the job there. I played for Jacques in the American League and that was kind of my second chance, so-to-speak, at getting back to the NHL. I only played a half a year with the Red Wings, but I will always be indebted to them and their organization. Which of the guys you played with was the toughest? I get asked this question so much, and definitely I don’t think you’d get too many people to disagree with me, but I wouldn’t want to say that Bob Probert is tougher than Joey Kocur or vice-versa. I wouldn’t want to run into either one of them. As much as Steve Yzerman was the face of the Detroit Red Wings these two guys gave the team a real identity. Man, I was glad I was on their team, but when I got traded away it was pretty scary going into Joe Louis Arena. Who was the funniest? We had a bunch of characters there. That was one of the things that I enjoyed. We had success and had a lot of fun, but I would have to say that Tim Higgins was a pretty funny guy along with Mike O’Connell and Harold Snepsts. They had me laughing most of the time. Who had the biggest heart? That’s a tough question. That was the foundation of a lot of great things that happened in Detroit. There were so many great players there with great character, and I can’t really say one player. Jacques Demers brought in so many great character players, and if they didn’t have great character, they didn’t last long.
What was your favorite restaurant in metro Detroit? There are some great restaurants in Detroit, but I just love Greektown. It’s funny, my son now plays for the Plymouth Whalers – he was traded – and his billets live out in Plymouth and we’ve already made plans to go down to Greektown and probably visit Pegasus, which is one of my favorites. How has the NHL changed since you played? It’s still hockey and it’s still competitive. I think hockey players are the greatest athletes in the world and some of the greatest guys, so I don’t think that has changed. … It’s a fast game right now and these guys are skilled and I’m glad that I played when I did, because I had a hard enough time keeping up years ago. Toughest team (other than the Red Wings) when you played? When I played with the Red Wings a lot of the teams were tough. With Joe Kocur and Bob Probert in your lineup, I think most of the so-called tough guys raced to fight me, because they didn’t want to fight those other two guys. … They referred to it as the Chuck Norris Division – the Norris Division – because it was a tough division. They all had that identity. Like they said, ‘you can run, but you can’t hide.’ It was a tough division for sure. Who did you sit next to in the dressing room? I believe that Shawn Burr was on one side of me and Tim Higgins was on the other. It’s been quite some time, but that’s who I believe I sat beside. What do you love most about the game? It’s a great game and it brings together a lot of great people. I always look forward to going to the rink, whether it’s to an NHL game, a junior hockey game or to watch my daughter play. There are a few of us wacky hockey parents, but for the most part, I find that hockey parents, even at the NHL level, just love the game. Who had the greatest influence on your career? So many people at different stages, from the time you’re a kid living in Ontario on a farm with your parents. They make that commitment. It’s a big commitment now and it was a big commitment then. What advice would you give to kids playing today? I remember a line that Dale Hunter used to always say when I played with him, and he would say, ‘Enjoy it because this may be your Stanley Cup.’ Some times I think we all worry about the end result instead of enjoying the journey to get there, and not all of us will reach that pot of gold. It’s great to have goals and to have dreams, but enjoy the journey.
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update ccha announces all-rookie team For only the second time ever – and the first time since 1997 – six different schools placed a studentathlete on the 2009-10 CCHA All-Rookie Team, which was determined by a vote of the conference’s head coaches. Here is a look at the team: Andy Taranto, Forward, Alaska Fairbanks: a 21year-old from Chicago, was chosen as CCHA Rookie of the Month twice and finished the season with 12 goals and 19 assists. Taranto was also named CCHA Rookie of the Week three times and captured the freshmen scoring title. He was second in power-play points (14) and fifth in point scoring (31) among all CCHA players. Taranto was a unanimous AllRookie Team selection. Terry Broadhurst, Forward, Nebraska-Omaha: a 21year-old from Orland Park, Ill., he had nine goals and nine assists in conference play, placing him in a tie for fifth place in freshmen scoring. He was named CCHA Rookie of the Week on two occasions and tied for second in game-winning goals among rookies (2), tied for 12th overall. He was one of two freshmen to net a hat trick in CCHA play this season. Chris Brown, Forward, Michigan: an 18-year-old from Flower Mound, Texas, he finished second in CCHA scoring among rookies with 10 goals and 11 assists. The Phoenix Coyotes draft pick tied for first overall in power-play goals (7) and led all freshmen with three game-winning goals, tied for fifth overall in the CCHA. Brown was named CCHA Rookie of the Week once. Torey Krug, Defenseman, Michigan State: an 18year-old from Livonia, Mich., he led all CCHA rookie defensemen with 16 points, finishing tied for eighth among all rookies and tied for fifth among all CCHA defensemen. He was named CCHA Rookie of the Week once, CCHA Rookie of the Month twice and National Rookie of the Month once. Joe Hartman, Defenseman, Miami (Ohio): a 20-yearold from St. Cloud, Minn., he was second among rookie defensemen and 15th among all CCHA freshmen with 10 points. He scored two shorthanded goals to tie for the league lead and posted a plus-18 rating in 27 conference games, placing
him first among all rookies and third among all defensemen. Mike Johnson, Goalie, Notre Dame: a 21-year-old from Verona, Wis., he posted a .912 save percentage to lead all rookie netminders and placed ninth overall in that category. He finished the season with eight victories to tie for first in wins among freshmen goaltenders. His 2.57 goals-against average also led all rookie goalies. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Forward — Nik Yaremchuk, Alaska; Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Bowling Green; Curtis McKenzie, Miami; Derek Grant, Michigan State; Riley Sheahan, Notre Dame; Defense — Zach Trotman Lake Superior State; Kyle Follmer, Northern Michigan; Devon Krogh, Ohio State; Goalie – John Faulkner, Nebraska-Omaha.
MSU Defenseman Torey Krug
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communitY RED WINGS ANTE uP FOR CHARITY The Red Wings and their fans anted up for a great cause at the second annual MotorCity Casino Hotel’s Red Wings Charity Poker Tournament in February. With 108 poker players donating $300 for a place at the tables, the evening raised $32,400 for the Detroit Red Wings Foundation in the Texas Hold’em style tournament. The evening featured a strolling dinner reception with Red Wings’ players in the ballroom, followed by the tournament in the Poker Room. The winning player was Mark Ochsankehl of Grand Rapids, Mich., who won the event’s grand prize – a trip for two on the team plane to the March 7 game in Chicago. red Wings defensemen andreas lilja and Jonathan Ericsson go over their strategy (top) while forward darren helm (bottom) decides on his next move. (Photos by mike Purgatori)
WITH DELICIOUS GIFT TINS AND SPORTS PACKS FROM THE DETROIT RED WINGS A portion of the proceeds from the sales of these products go directly to the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, which invests in the future of our community by providing funds and resources to worthy causes that contribute to the growth of the sport of hockey. Choose from four delicious gift options and place your order at DetroitRedWings.com today!
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BOXED OUT: Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart and goalie Jimmy Howard stopped the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby from getting to the puck during a game on Jan. 31 at Mellon Arena. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
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how well do you know the red Wings’ final regular-season opponents? test your knowledge with this quiz that looks at nhl history involving the sabres, Penguins, Blues, Wild, oilers, Blue Jackets and Predators. 1. Red Wings defenseman Doug Janik was originally drafted by what team? a. Pittsburgh Penguins b. Buffalo Sabres c. St. Louis Blues d. Edmonton Oilers 2. How many times did Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux lead the NHL in scoring? a. four b. five c. six d. seven 3. What Michigan town is Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma from? a. Grand Haven b. Holland c. Grand Rapids d. Muskegon 4. Which of these teams did Scotty Bowman not coach for? a. Pittsburgh Penguins b. St. Louis Blues c. Buffalo Sabres d. Edmonton Oilers 5. University of Michigan coach Red Berenson scored six goals in one game as a member of what NHL team? a. Montreal Canadiens b. Detroit Red Wings c. St. Louis Blues d. New York Rangers 6. Who holds the Edmonton Oilers’ franchise record for career playoff goals? a. Wayne Gretzky b. Jari Kurri c. Mark Messier d. Glenn Anderson 7. How many times have the Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup? a. Three b. Four c. Five d. Six 8. Who did the Columbus Blue Jackets lose to in their first NHL game? a. Chicago Blackhawks b. Detroit Red Wings c. Nashville Predators d. St. Louis Blues 9. Which player did the Blue Jackets take with their first-ever draft choice? a. Steve Mason b. Rick Nash c. Pascal Leclaire d. Rostislav Klesla 10. Who holds the Nashville Predators’ single-season goal-scoring record? a. Paul Kariya b. Jason Arnott c. David Legwand d. Martin Erat ANSWERS: 1 (B) Buffalo in 1999; 2 (C) Six; 3 (A) Grand Haven; 4 (D) Edmonton Oilers; 5 (C) St. Louis in 1968; 6 (B) Jari Kurri collected 92 assists in 146 games; 7 (C) Five; 8 (A) Chicago; 9 (D) Klesla was the fourth overall pick in 2000; 10 (B) Arnott scored 33 goals in 2008-09.
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DETROIT RED WINGS JUSTIN ABDELKADER Born: February 25, 1987 Muskegon, MI
Born: February 2, 1975 Sudbury, ON, Canada
Pos: LW Shoots: Left
Pos: RW Shoots: Left
Ht: 6'1"
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 215 lbs.
Wt: 225 lbs.
DAN CLEARY
PAVEL DATSYUK
Born: December 18, 1978 Carbonear, NL, Canada
Born: July 20, 1978 Sverdlovsk, Russia
Pos: RW Shoots: Left
Pos: C Shoots: Left
Ht: 6'0"
Ht: 5'11"
Wt: 205 lbs.
Wt: 194 lbs.
KRIS DRAPER
PATRICK EAVES
Born: May 24, 1971 Toronto, ON, Canada
Born: May 1, 1984 Calgary, AB, Canada
Pos: C Shoots: Left
Pos: RW Shoots: Right
Ht: 5'10"
Ht: 5'11"
Wt: 188 lbs.
Wt: 191lbs.
JONATHAN ERICSSON
TODD BERTUZZI
VALTTERI FILPPULA
Born: March 2, 1984 Karlskrona, Sweden
Born: March 20, 1984 Vantaa, Finland
Pos: D Shoots: Left
Pos: C Shoots: Left
Ht: 6'4"
Ht: 6'0"
Wt: 220 lbs.
Wt: 193 lbs.
RED WINGS TODAY
39
T:4.875”
TOWN & COUNTRY
WRANGLER
LIBERTY
T:7.8864”
300C
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YOuR 2009-10
DETROIT RED WINGS JOHAN FRANZEN Born: December 23, 1979 Vetlanda, Sweden
Born: January 21, 1987 Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Pos: RW Shoots: Left
Pos: C Shoots: Left
Ht: 6'3"
Ht: 5'11"
Wt: 222 lbs.
Wt: 195 lbs.
TOMAS HOLMSTROM
JIMMY HOWARD
Born: January 23, 1973 Pitea, Sweden
Born: March 26, 1984 Syracuse, NY
Pos: LW Shoots: Left
Pos: G Catches: Left
Ht: 6'0"
Ht: 6'0"
Wt: 198 lbs.
Wt: 210lbs.
DOUG JANIK
JAKUB KINDL
Born: March 26, 1980 Agawam, MA
Born: February 10, 1987 Sumperk, Czech Republic
Pos: D Shoots: Left
Pos: D Shoots: Left
Ht: 6'2"
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 210lbs.
Wt: 199 lbs.
NIKLAS KRONWALL
DARREN HELM
BRETT LEBDA
Born: January 12, 1981 Stockholm, Sweden
Born: January 15, 1982 Buffalo Grove, IL
Pos: D Shoots: Left
Pos: D Shoots: Left
Ht: 6'0"
Ht: 5'9"
Wt: 192 lbs.
Wt: 195 lbs.
RED WINGS TODAY
41
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YOuR 2009-10
DETROIT RED WINGS NICKLAS LIDSTROM Born: April 28, 1970 Vasteras, Sweden
Born: July 13, 1975 Helsingborg, Sweden
Pos: D Shoots: Left
Pos: D Shoots: Left
Ht: 6'1"
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 190 lbs.
Wt: 220 lbs.
KIRK MALTBY
DEREK MEECH
Born: December 22, 1972 Guelph, ON, Canada
Born: April 21, 1984 Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Pos: LW Shoots: Right
Pos: D Shoots: Left
Ht: 6'0"
Ht: 5'11"
Wt: 195 lbs.
Wt: 200 lbs.
DREW MILLER
CHRIS OSGOOD
Born: February 17, 1984 Dover, NJ
Born: November 26, 1972 Peace River, AB, Canada
Pos: LW Shoots: Left
Pos: G Catches: Left
Ht: 6'2"
Ht: 5'10"
Wt: 178 lbs.
Wt: 180 lbs.
BRIAN RAFALSKI
ANDREAS LILJA
MATTIAS RITOLA
Born: September 28, 1973 Dearborn, MI
Born: March 14, 1987 Borlange, Sweden
Pos: D Shoots: Right
Pos: C Shoots: Left
Ht: 5'10"
Ht: 6'0"
Wt: 194 lbs.
Wt: 192 lbs.
RED WINGS TODAY
43
YOuR 2009-10
DETROIT RED WINGS BRAD STUART Born: November 6, 1979 Rocky Mountain House, AB, Canada Pos: D Shoots: Left Ht: 6'2" Wt: 210 lbs.
HENRIK ZETTERBERG Born: October 9, 1980 Njurunda, Sweden Pos: LW Shoots: Left
JASON WILLIAMS Born: August 11, 1980 London, ON, Canada Pos: RW Shoots: Right Ht: 5'11" Wt: 192 lbs.
MIKE BABCOCK HEAD COACH In his fifth year as Wings head coach.
Ht: 5'11" Wt: 195 lbs.
PAUL MacLEAN
BRAD McCRIMMON
ASSISTANT COACH In his fifth year as Wings assistant coach.
ASSISTANT COACH In his second year as Wings assistant coach.
JIM BEDARD
KEITH McKITTRICK
GOALTENDING COACH In his 13th year as Wings goaltending coach.
VIDEO COACH In his second year as Wings video coach.
RED WINGS TODAY
45
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dining & Beverage Location Guide DINING OPTIONS HOT DOGS Hot Dog.................................104,106,108,112 ............................................119,120,122,126 All Beef Dog ...............................................112 Kielbasa . ..............................104,106,108,112 ............................................119,120,122,126 Smoked Sausage....................104,106,108,112 ............................................119,120,122,126 Chili Dog..............................................112,126 Philly Cheese Steak......................................112 East End Joe’s Subs......................116 Hockeytown Grill GRILL Chicken Club Sandwich, BBQ Chicken Sandwich & Cheese Burger........126
Little Caesars Pizza...............114,128 Little Caesars Super Slice.................................106,125 Buffalo Wild Wings Traditional Wings, Boneless Wings, Tenders & Buffalo Chips................................126
with location
Sides & Salads Chili with Toppings.......................................112 Nacho.............................105,108,112,119,122 Specialty Salad............................................116 Soup...........................................................116 Little Caesars crazy crust/ cheese bread....................................110 Snacks Peanuts........................ Most Concession Stands Potato Chips................. Most Concession Stands Soft Pretzel............................108,112,119,120 .................................................................122 Popcorn.................................104,106,108,112 ............................................119,120,122,126 Caramel Corn................ Most Concession Stands Desserts Dippin Dot . .........................................108,112 Ice Cream Novelty.......... Most Concession Stands Large Candy.................. Most Concession Stands Cookies.......................................................116 Mike’s Inside Scoop Ice Cream, Sundaes, and Soft Serve..............112
beverage OPTIONS Non Alcoholic Beverages Frozen Coke.......................................... 114,128 Soft Drinks......................... All Concession Stands Bottled Water.................... All Concession Stands Vitamin Water.................... All Concession Stands Energy Drink.............. 104,105,112,116,119,126 Full Throttle.................................................. 119 Hot Beverages........... 104,106,108,112,119,120 ........................................................... 122,126 Cappuccino.................................................. 112
48
RED WINGS TODAY
with location
coffee Tim Hortons.......................................... 108,121 Alcoholic Beverages Wine............................... 104,105,112,116,126 Cocktails.......................... 104,105,112,116,126 ...................................... 121,123,124,125,126 Frozen Cocktails........................................... 126 Margaritas................ 104,105,112,116,119,126
No En rth tr w an est ce
BLUETOOTH ZONE delivered BY
corona extra
107
108
109 110
111
120
121
122
123 124 125
So En uthe tr an ast ce
118 119
GRILL
East end Joe’s Subs
11 7
6 12
115 116
127 128
113 114
mike’s hard lemonade
2 11
101 102 1 03
104 105 106
Mike’s inside scoop
BLUETOOTH ZONE delivered BY
draft beer
brand / concourse location
104,112,118, 119,124,126
104,112,118, 119,124,126
106,108,110, 112,113,115, 117,126
102,103,104
bottle & Can beer brand / concourse location
106,108,110, 112,115,126
108,110,112, 124
109,112,114, 126,127
107,108,109, 110,111,124
106,108,110, 112,113,115, 117,126
102,103,107, 108,109,110, 111
corona extra
mike’s hard lemonade
109,110,111, 112
104,105,112, 116,119,126
104,114,115, 116
104,105,112, 116,119,126
RED WINGS TODAY
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2008 North Coast Merlot
2008 Central Coast Chardonnay
This fruit-forward Merlot is
This lighter styled Chardonnay
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offers fruit-forward apple and
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coffee
lemon zest and vanilla.
and cocoa frame the mid-
Lush fruit flavors are
palate, while a supporting
joined by creaminess on
spiciness balances out the
the palate, followed by a
soft-velvety finish.
lingering, crisp finish.
Red Wings Wines Coming Soon
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54
RED WINGS TODAY
Smartphone interactive Scan here
B
Former Michigan State standout adds energy & depth to Wings’ lineup B y M i c h e l l e C r ec h i o l o
A
s a kid, Drew Miller’s family did its share of moving around. He was born in New Jersey, moving to both California and Massachusetts before settling in Michigan, where his family built a storied hockey history. His NHL career has mimicked his early life. From Michigan State, he signed with the Anaheim Ducks, played with them and a pair of its AHL affiliates in Oregon and Iowa before being traded to Tampa Bay last August. But after 14 games, Miller, who was a minus-3 with zero points, fell from grace in Florida and was placed on waivers in November. Meanwhile, a slew of early-season injuries were
forcing the Red Wings to deal with their own roster problems, and Miller could fill a need in Detroit. The 25-year-old forward wasted no time fitting in with his hometown team. Soon after his arrival, Wings coach Mike Babcock said in order for Miller to have success in Detroit, “he’s going to have to be real good without the puck, he has to be physical on the forecheck, really skate and be a good penalty-killer.” Miller did all of that in his first four months with the Wings, rising to Babcock’s expectations and being a youthful fixture on a veteran squad. Even with a constant flow of teammates returning from long-term injuries, Miller has earned and kept a spot on RED WINGS TODAY
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miller time
“It’s tough when you’re put on waivers, and you’re not contributing to a team. So you want to come here and the first thing you want to do is try to contribute any way you can.”
the roster, playing on a variety of different line combinations and being used in all situations. In 41 games since joining the Wings, he has achieved single-season highs with seven goals, three game-winning goals and seven assists, with a plus-7 rating. “Coming from Tampa with no points, it’s frustrating,” said Miller, a member of the Ducks’ 2007 Stanley Cup championship. “It’s tough when you’re put on waivers, and you’re not contributing to a team. So you want to come
here and the first thing you want to do is try to contribute any way you can.” Perhaps returning to Michigan was just what Miller needed to give his career a boost. He and his family have created a hockey legacy, especially in East Lansing. Miller was the 10th in his family to play hockey at MSU, joining his brother Ryan – the Buffalo Sabres’ veteran goalie – to don the Spartans’ green and white. “He’s a light player and it’s taken him some time in the league,” Babcock said RED WINGS TODAY
57
miller time
of Drew Miller. “You know, there’s lots of players in this league that bounce from place-to-place-to-place till they find a home. Ideally for Millsy, he’s found a home for himself.” Miller vowed to capitalize on his opportunity and make a mark on the team he had grown up cheering for. “It’s been great,” he said. “Coming back to a situation where your family and your friends are right here, and then coming to a team like Detroit, it’s a great feeling. Everyone welcomed me to the team, and the coaching staff was great from the start.” Justin Abdelkader, who played with 58
RED WINGS TODAY
Miller at MSU and who also grew up in Michigan, was excited for Miller’s opportunity to succeed in his home state. “He’s got a great opportunity here playing on the second line and a little power play and penalty kill,” Abdelkader said. “Hopefully he can reinvent himself here in Detroit like I know a lot of players have, and continue his career on from there.” Whether it be another winning shootout goal like the one he scored at Minnesota on Jan. 21 or fundamentals like blocking shots on the penalty kill, Miller just wants to do whatever he can to stay in Detroit for a long time.
RED WINGS TODAY
59
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64
RED WINGS TODAY
Sponsored by
Little Caesars has sponsored youth hockey for nearly as long as it’s sold pizzas. But in January, Little Caesars was a proud sponsor of the 2010 Outdoor Classic, which was billed as “High School Hockey in the D”. The soldout outdoor game played at Detroit’s Clark Park, marked the 75th anniversary of a rivalry between Detroit Catholic Central and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood. (Photo by Bill Roose)
RED WINGS TODAY
65
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