RED WINGS ALUMNI TO PARTICIPATE IN TIM HORTONS CAMP DAY TOMORROW

In Play on Facebook

…  Eddie Mio, John Ogrodnick and Jason Woolley to Appear at

Detroit-Area Tim Hortons Restaurants on Wednesday Morning …

Detroit, MI… Members of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association will be lending their support to Tim Hortons’ annual Camp Day on Wednesday, June 1, signing autographs at three of the popular restaurant chain’s southeastern Michigan locations throughout the morning. The times/locations of the former Red Wings’ appearances can be found below:

• John Ogrodnick (Right Wing, 1979-87 & 1992-93)
Appearing in Lincoln Park (1360 Southfield Rd.) from 6:00-7:00 a.m.
 

• Eddie Mio (Goaltender, 1983-86)
 Appearing in Sterling Heights (37121 Mound Rd.) from 8:00-9:00 a.m.
 

• Jason Woolley (Defenseman, 2002-06)
Appearing in Troy (3331 Rochester Rd.) from 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Camp Day is the one day each year when every penny from coffee sales at Tim Hortons Restaurants across Canada and the United States will be donated to the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation.

On Camp Day, when guests buy a coffee and participate in various fundraising activities, they will help send more than 14,000 kids on the camping adventure of a lifetime.

Campers aged nine to 12 attend a ten-day summer camp session, or a seven-day winter camp session at one of the Foundation’s six camps.

All children who attend camp are selected by Tim Hortons Restaurant owners, who work closely with local youth organizations and schools to identify kids who would most benefit from an experience at camp.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

RED WINGS SIGN 2009 DRAFT PICK ADAM ALMQVIST TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT

In Play on Facebook

…  Defenseman Has Played with the No. 1 Team in the 

Swedish Elite League for the Past Two Seasons …

Detroit, MI… The Detroit Red Wings today announced that defenseman Adam Almqvist has been signed to a three-year entry-level contact. As per club policy, no further details regarding this deal will be disclosed.  

A native of Jönköping, Sweden, Almqvist was originally selected by Detroit in the seventh round (210^th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old blue-liner has spent the past two seasons in the Swedish Elite League where he has recorded 24 points (2G-22A) in addition to a +31 rating and 42 penalty minutes in 80 games played for HV71, a talent-laden club that has won back-to-back regular season championships.

Almqvist led all junior-aged SEL players in scoring during the 2010 Le Mat Playoffs, contributing 11 points (1G-10A) in 16 appearances during HV71’s successful run to a league title. He also finished the 2010-11 campaign with the best plus/minus mark (+20) in his league. The 5’11”, 174-lb. rearguard has represented his country at several international competitions, including the 2008 U-18 Junior World Cup at which Sweden captured a Bronze Medal.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

RED WINGS DEFENSEMAN BRIAN RAFALSKI RETIRES AFTER 11 NHL SEASONS

In Play on Facebook

...Veteran Rearguard a Three-Time Stanley Cup Champion

with New Jersey and Detroit…



Brian Rafalski retires
Photo by David Anton / in Play! Magazine



Brian Rafalski -- Defense

Detroit, MI... Brian Rafalski, a three-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman with the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings, announced today that he will retire from the National Hockey League after 11 seasons.  Rafalski appeared in 833 regular season games, 154 postseason contests and made five trips to the Stanley Cup Final during his career.

The 37-year-old Rafalski played his first NHL game in 1999 after signing as an undrafted free agent with New Jersey.  He spent three seasons in Finland and one in Sweden prior to joining the Devils and was touted at the time by The Hockey News as “the best defenseman not playing in the National Hockey League.”  During his rookie campaign, Rafalski ranked second among first year blue-liners with 32 points (5 goals-27 assists—32 points).  He was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team and won his first Stanley Cup championship that year, appearing in all 23 playoff games for the Devils.

Rafalski played a total of seven seasons in New Jersey from 1999-00 through 2006-07.  During that time, he appeared in 541 regular season games (44-267—311) and 102 postseason contests (17-43—60).  He was selected to represent New Jersey at three NHL All-Star Games (2002, 2004, 2007), but appeared in just two, as he was unable to participate in 2002 due to injury.  He added a second Stanley Cup title to his resume in 2003. 

On July 1, 2007, Rafalski signed a five-year contract with his hometown Detroit Red Wings.  The Dearborn, MI, native made an immediate impact, scoring a career-high 13 goals and tying his previous high with 55 points.  He teamed with partner Nicklas Lidstrom to form the highest scoring blue-line duo in the NHL (125 total points).  His stellar play continued into the playoffs as Rafalski played in all 22 postseason contests for the Red Wings, registering 14 points (4-10—14).  He helped the Red Wings capture the 2008 Stanley Cup, the third of his career.  Rafalski would don the winged wheel for 292 regular season games from 2007-08 through 2010-11, while posting 204 points (35-169—204).  He also appeared in 63 postseason games for Detroit, registering 40 points (12-28—40).   

Rafalski also found success at the international level.  He represented the United States at numerous IIHF competitions throughout his playing career including the World Junior Championships (1992 and 1993), the World Championships (1995 and 1998), the World Cup (2004) and the Olympic Winter Games (2002, 2006 and 2010).  Highlights of his international career include two Olympic sliver medals with Team USA (2002 in Salt Lake City and 2010 in Vancouver).  He was also named the tournament’s most outstanding defenseman at last year’s Olympics.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Born Sep 28 1973  -- Dearborn, MI 

Height 5.10 -- Weight 200 -- Shoots R

RED WINGS ASSISTANT COACH BRAD MCCRIMMON DEPARTS

In Play on Facebook

Detroit, MI... The Detroit Red Wings today announced that Assistant Coach Brad McCrimmon will not return to the club for next season. McCrimmon’s contract expired at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season and the former Red Wing player and long-time NHL assistant has decided to pursue other career opportunities.

“I’d like to thank Brad for his dedication and tremendous work in serving as an assistant coach for the Red Wings,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Ken Holland. “We wish Brad and his family all the best in their future endeavors.”

McCrimmon recently completed his third season as a member of the Wings’ coaching staff. He has more than 29 years of NHL experience as a player and coach, including 18 as an NHL defenseman for six different teams. He played three seasons in a Detroit uniform from 1990-1993 and finished his playing career with 1,222 games. McCrimmon also served as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Thrashers (2003-2007), Calgary Flames (2000-2003) and NY Islanders (1997-98).

Read In Play! Magazine Here

GAME 6 AT THE JOE TOMORROW NIGHT 8:00 P.M

In Play on Facebook

GAME 6 OF RED WINGS-SHARKS PLAYOFF SERIES GOES

TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. AT JOE LOUIS ARENA

… Doors will Open 90 Minutes Prior to Puck Drop; San Jose Leads Series 3-2 …

Detroit, MI… The Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks will meet for Game 6 of their Western Conference Semifinal showdown on Tuesday, May 10 at Joe Louis Arena. Puck drop for the sixth match of this second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series is set for 8:00 p.m., with arena doors set to open at 6:30 p.m.

 

Read In Play! Magazine Here