Hey, hey hockeytown!
After a short stint in the postseason and a long offseason, the Detroit Red Wings are finally going to be back on the ice at the Joe Louis Arena tonight at 7:30 p.m. against the Boston Bruins.
The Red Wings will seek vengeance in front of their home crowd. Last spring, Detroit made its 23rd straight postseason run only to be defeated in the first round by the Bruins.
“Obviously we’re excited and it’s nice that we get the first crack at the Bruins, especially since they were the ones that kicked us out of the postseason last year,” Red Wings center Luke Glendening said.
Luke is the older brother of Joe Glendening ‘13, Hillsdale’s All-American running back who started for the Chargers as a true freshman in 2009 and became the program’s all-time leading rusher by 2012.
Glendening signed with the Red Wings in July 2013. In his rookie season the 25-year-old scored one goal and had 6 assists.
In terms of personal goals, Glendening said he wants to improve from last year and keep fulfilling his role on the team.
Detroit finished the preseason with a 4-4 mark, but the players are looking forward to finally playing meaningful hockey again.
“Everyone wants to make it to the postseason, but we’ve got to take it day by day to make it there,” Luke Glendening said.
The Detroit Red Wings franchise is known for having one of the largest and craziest fan bases. In 2011, the 25 millionth fan walked into Joe Louis Arena. This year, the Red Wings fans were ranked 6th on Bleacher Report’s list of the top ten fan bases in American sports.
Some Hillsdale students are members of the team’s die-hard fan base.
“I have been a Red Wings fan since the day I was born,” junior Mary Clare Smith said. “One of my earliest memories is of watching a Red Wings game on television with my family. My dad would yell at the TV and I always wondered if he knew they couldn’t hear him.”
Smith said her favorite place in downtown Detroit is “the Joe.”
“The game atmosphere is indescribable and I definitely recommend those who have never been to an NHL hockey game to attend one at the Joe,” Smith said.
To gear up for the NHL season opener junior Drew Stafford has worn a hockey jersey each day this week, saving his Zetterberg jersey for today.
Stafford, who has played hockey since he was five years old, said his family has a long history of supporting the Red Wings. His grandfather worked as the Joe Louis parking garage manager for over 25 years, and he and his two younger brothers have attended games since they were born.
“One of my first memories was going to the 1997 Championship parade in Detroit,” Stafford said.
Stafford said he and his brothers make it to at least one game every year.
“Last year I went to the Winter Classic outside at Ann Arbor’s Big House. It wiped out my bank account but it was worth it,” Stafford said.
Something Stafford has in common with Luke Glendening: Both grew up watching the Red Wings in the “Stevie Y.” era.
“Yzerman was the man,” Stafford said of the recently retired No. 19 who led the Red Wings for 22 years.
“When I was a kid The Captain- Steve Yzerman- was the best,” Luke Glendening said.
Something about being a Michigan native makes people passionate Red Wings fans.
“I think it’s because the Detroit Red Wings are one of the NHL’s original six teams. Having a part in such a tradition makes being a fan all the more exciting and enjoyable,” Smith said.
Luke Glendening shared in this tradition.
“Being from Grand Rapids, the Red Wings were always my favorite team growing up,” Glendening said. “Playing with guys that I looked up to for so many years, it’s a dream come true.”
Detroit fans will see the potential for their postseason dreams to come true starting tonight.
