Month: April 2018

Red Wings waive Coreau to send him to Grand Rapids

No surprise here: the Red Wings have placed Jared Coreau on waivers with the intent to send Coreau to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday:

 

Wings alums go to the dogs (and cats)

The Romulus News-Herald’s Jackie Harrison-Martin reports that the Red Wings Alumni Association will be taking to the ice for a four-legged cause on April 14th:

They won’t be fighting like cats and dogs, but they will be fighting for them.

Members of the Romulus Police Department plan to square off against alumni from the Detroit Red Wings in a feisty, yet friendly, game of hockey that will benefit the city’s animal shelter.

The puck will drop at 4 p.m. April 14 at the Taylor Sportsplex, 13333 Telegraph Road.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Children ages 5 and under can enter free of charge.

They are available at the Romulus Police Department, 11165 Olive Street, and can be purchased online at Facebook.com/RomulusPD (click on “events,” and then “get tickets”).

Continued

 

HSJ Tweet: Larkin probable to head to World Championship

According to the Free Press’s Helene St. James, Dylan Larkin may very well play for Team USA at the World Championship despite his status as a restricted free agent-to-be:

 

Wallner: Will Tyler Bertuzzi be assigned to Grand Rapids?

The Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner examines the sticky wicket that is the Red Wings’ decision as to whether Tyler Bertuzzi would be better served by taking a break and spending a full summer training for his 2018-19 campaign, or whether it might better serve Bertuzzi to reprise his role as the Grand Rapids Griffins’ resident playoff performer:

The 23-year-old Bertuzzi, who has been with the Red Wings since December, was put on the Griffins roster on the Feb. 26 trade deadline in a procedural move that made him and Coreau eligible for the AHL postseason.

At the time, [Red Wings assistant GM Ryan] Martin said, Bertuzzi was excited about the idea. But that was before Tomas Tatar was traded and before Bertuzzi took off. He has seven goals, five in the past seven games playing with Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist. He has usually averaged between 15 and nearly 20 minutes per game since mid-March.

“The amount of ice time he’s gotten and how many games he’s played certainly plays a role in it,” Martin said. “Say he plays into June. He has to take some time off prior to his training (and) all of a sudden he may only get into the gym in July and August. That’s probably not enough for a player who needs to increase his body strength and work on his quickness. Those are the things we have to assess.”

Bertuzzi has thrived the past three postseasons for the Griffins. Last year, his nine goals and 19 points earned him postseason MVP as the Griffins won the Calder Cup. That 19-game run also went into June and left him with a short offseason as he also healed from a hand injury.

Continued, and Wallner confirms that Jared Coreau will be waived and sent to Grand Rapids…

 

Red Wings-Islanders morning skate Tweets and articles: Coreau to start in regular-season finale

Updated 3x at 11:37 AM: The Detroit Red Wings face the New York Islanders this evening (7:00 PM EDT on FSD/MSG +2/97.1 FM), concluding both teams’ 2017-18 campaigns.

The Red Wings took to the ice first at Little Caesars Arena, per MLive’s Ansar Khan…

Coreau first goalie off the ice, so he’s starting for second game in row for #RedWings

The Free Press’s Helene St. James…

Luke Glendening partaking in morning skate. Had been ruled out with upper-body symptoms, but maybe not.

And the Red Wings:

The Islanders website’s Cory Wright also penned a game preview:

Continue reading Red Wings-Islanders morning skate Tweets and articles: Coreau to start in regular-season finale

What can you say about the bus crash in Saskatchewan?

This isn’t Red Wings-related, but it’s a topic that’s generating a lot of discussion, and sadly so. I don’t know how one faces this, other than acknowledging its presence and offering what one can in the awfully inadequate “thoughts and prayers” department. Per the Canadian Press:

RCMP say 14 people are dead and 14 people were injured Friday after a truck collided with a bus carrying a junior hockey team to a playoff game in northeastern Saskatchewan.

Police say there were 28 people including the driver on board the Humboldt Broncos bus when the crash occurred at around 5 p.m. on Highway 35 north of Tisdale.

“We can now confirm fourteen people have died as a result of this collision,” RCMP said in a release early Saturday.

“The other fourteen people were sent to hospital with a variety of injuries; three of these people have injuries that are critical in nature.”

No names were released and police would not say whether the dead include players or coaches. There was no mention of the truck driver.

The team president said parents from across Western Canada were rushing to the scene as they struggle to cope with the tragedy.

“It’s one of the hardest days of my life,” said Kevin Garinger. “There have been multiple fatalities — our whole community is in shock, we are grieving and we will continue to grieve throughout this ordeal as we try to work toward supporting each other.”

I’ll try to update the charitable endeavors surrounding this horrible tragedy.

Update: Here’s a link to the GoFundMe account:

Prospect, “Where Are We Now?” Checking in on the Griffins, Walleye, SHL, USHL, OHL and WHL

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to update the statuses of the Red Wings’ prospects and their developmental teams, so here’s a summary as to where things stand as of April 7th:

In the AHL, the Grand Rapids Griffins dropped a 3-0 decision to the Tuscon Roadrunners on Friday night, snapping a 7-game point streak, and the teams will play again in Arizona this evening.

The Griffins need to earn 3 more points to clinch a playoff spot in the AHL’s Central Division, and Grand Rapids has 4 more games on its schedule. The AHL’s playoff format is a little weird in that it involves win percentage over points as its playoff determinant.

In recent Griffins happenings: Continue reading Prospect, “Where Are We Now?” Checking in on the Griffins, Walleye, SHL, USHL, OHL and WHL

Monroe: A.J. Jenks earns ‘My Favorite Walleye’ honor

According to the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe, Toledo Walleye forward A.J. Jenks won the “My Favorite Walleye” fan poll:

Many Toledo Walleye fans admire veteran forward A.J. Jenks for his toughness and willingness to stick up for his teammates, while others appreciate his charisma and leadership abilities.

Many others think the laid-back Jenks is one cool dude.

With his combination of physicality and personality, Jenks won The Blade’s My Favorite Walleye poll for 2017-18.

Jenks earned 17.0 percent of the votes in the sixth edition of the exclusive online poll.

The native of Wolverine Lake, Mich., is in his fourth season with the team and is a skilled center who doesn’t mind the physical side. The 27-year-old has played in 181 games and has produced 141 points (70 goals, 71 assists) in a Toledo uniform.

Jenks was presented with the honor Friday before the Walleye’s final regular-season home game against Fort Wayne at the Huntington Center.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” Jenks said. “We have so many high-end players on this team. With our fan base, we have such a loyal following, it’s pretty special.”

Continued

Saturday’s Wings-Islanders game will be “Fan Appreciation Night” at LCA

Another FYI from the Red Wings:

RED WINGS HOST FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT ON SATURDAY
… Fans in Attendance Have Chance to Meet Red Wings Players Post-Game and Receive Replica Jersey and Stick; Additional Great Prizes and Experiences Awarded to Fans Throughout the Night …

… Up to 50 Percent Discount on Select Merchandise at Team Stores; Discounted Concessions and Much More to Thank the Fans of Hockeytown During Final Game of the Red Wings Inaugural Season at Little Caesars Arena in The District Detroit …  

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings will thank the fans of Hockeytown by hosting Fan Appreciation Night during the team’s final regular-season game on Saturday, April 7 when the Red Wings take on the New York Islanders at 7:00 p.m. (FOX Sports Detroit / 97.1 The Ticket).

Along with numerous giveaways throughout the night, 20 lucky fans in attendance will be selected at random to go on the ice following the game and meet a Red Wings player to receive a replica jersey and stick. Red Wings alumni will also be on hand throughout the night to award prizes and thank fans during in-game elements.

Lucky seat and row giveaways will be announced throughout the game, featuring a wide-array of prizes: Gift cards to Little Caesars Arena restaurants Kid Rock’s Made in Detroit, Sports & Social Detroit and Mike’s Pizza Bar; Detroit Tigers tickets and autographed merchandise; 313 Presents concert and show tickets; and Red Wings bobblehead bundles. Mike’s Pizza Bar will also be awarding one lucky fan “Pizza for a Year,” while Sports & Social Detroit will be offering one fan in attendance “Nachos for a Year.”

Additionally, fans in attendance for Saturday’s game will have an opportunity to win numerous VIP experiences, including an opportunity to visit the FOX Sports Detroit and 97.1 The Ticket broadcast booths, watch pre-game warm-ups from the penalty box, give the Red Wings players high-fives as they take the ice, and Zamboni rides at intermissions.

The Red Wings will also award prizes to fans in attendance through the team’s social media channels and have special social media filters to encourage fans to post and celebrate the final game of the Red Wings Inaugural Season at Little Caesars Arena in The District Detroit.

Fans can take advantage of a 50 percent discount on select merchandise, including Red Wings jerseys, in the team stores within Little Caesars Arena. Fans in attendance can also enjoy discounted concession prices with popcorn and peanuts on sale for $2.25 each.

The Red Wings will issue a free, limited-edition Little Caesars Arena lapel pin to thank the fans of Hockeytown who have downloaded The District Detroit App. To secure the free pin, fans can download The District Detroit App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and select the Hockeytown Thanks tile. Complete the form and take your phone to The District Detroit App table located outside the Team Store on the street level Via concourse near the Meijer Entrance to receive the lapel pin during Saturday’s game.

The Red Wings will also offer a special rate on tickets for the Detroit Red Wings Foundation 50/50 Raffle, presented by Michigan First Credit Union, on Saturday. Fans can purchase 100 tickets for $40, compared to the regular price of 80 tickets for $40. Saturday’s 50/50 Raffle will benefit the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League and Make-A-Wish Michigan.

Following the game, Sports & Social Detroit will host a Social Hour from 9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., with 25 percent off appetizers (except wings) and discounted drinks. UFC 223 will be shown on the restaurant’s televisions beginning at 10:00 p.m. Kid Rock’s Made in Detroit restaurant will also host a post-game happy hour with the band, Autumn Kings, performing from 9:30 – 11:30 p.m., a late night food menu and drink specials.

Slightly belated: Wings invite fans to “Paint the Ice” at LCA on April 26

FYI, a little late:

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR FANS TO PAINT THE ICE AT LITTLE CAESARS ARENA ON THURSDAY, APRIL 26
… Fans Can Register to Paint a Personalized Message on a Portion of the Ice at Little Caesars Arena by Making a Donation to the Detroit Red Wings Foundation …

DETROIT – Building on the success of the first-ever Paint the Ice event at Joe Louis Arena last season, the Red Wings today announced details for the return of the widely-popular event set to take place for the first time at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, April 26. By making a donation to benefit the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, fans can now register online to reserve a time slot to paint a personal message on a section of the ice at the state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena.

Participants can paint their personalized message on the ice surface by registering for a 30-minute time slot on Thursday, April 26 starting at 3:00 p.m. and concluding at 8:00 p.m. The Red Wings will provide paint and paintbrushes for all attendees, and complimentary parking in the Little Caesars Arena Garage is included with the donation. Participants are encouraged to take personal photos of their messages and designs with cameras and cell phones following each session.

“The Detroit Red Wings Foundation is excited to conclude the Inaugural Season at Little Caesars Arena with an event the entire family can enjoy,” said Kevin Brown, Director of Community Relations & Detroit Red Wings Foundation. “The Paint the Ice event provides a unique, family-friendly opportunity for fans of all ages to visit Little Caesars Arena, step out on the same ice surface as their favorite Red Wings players, and leave behind a painted message – all while supporting a great cause.”

The minimum donation for adults and children ages 11 and older is $23 per person. Participants under 11-years-old are $10 each, while children under 2-years-old are free.

An extremely limited number of spots are available for the Paint the Ice event. Each 30-minute time slot is limited to 150 participants. Specific areas of the ice cannot be guaranteed and painting locations will be on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the event. All participants are encouraged to wear clothing and shoes suitable for the event.

For more information and to register to Paint the Ice, visit www.DetroitRedWings.com/PaintTheIce.

About the Detroit Red Wings Foundation:
The Detroit Red Wings Foundation is an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Foundation 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. Signature initiatives such as the Detroit Red Wings School Assembly Program have introduced nearly 50,000 students annually to the sport of hockey, importance of education, and benefits of living a healthy, active lifestyle. For more information, please visit DetroitRedWings.com/Foundation.