STEVE YZERMAN COMMITS TO 2013 ALUMNI GAME

STEVE YZERMAN COMMITS TO 2013 MAPLE LEAFS VS. RED WINGS ALUMNI SHOWDOWN™
… ‘The Captain’ to Reunite with Former Teammates at Comerica Park on Dec. 31 …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today announced that former captain Steve Yzerman has committed to the team’s alumni roster for the 2013 Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings Alumni Showdown™ on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Comerica Park as part of the 2013 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival™.
“Steve is one of the greatest Red Wings players ever,” said Red Wings general manager Ken Holland. “His presence at the Alumni Showdown makes a great day even better.”

The longest-serving captain in NHL history, Yzerman first donned his iconic ‘C’ on Oct. 7, 1986, making him the youngest captain in franchise history. Originally drafted with the fourth choice of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, Yzerman jumped immediately to the NHL the following season and led the Red Wings in scoring as a rookie, becoming the first 18-year-old in NHL history to make the All-Star Game. His early career was defined by his offensive ability, when he posted six straight 100-point seasons from 1987-93, including a career-high 155 points (65-90-155) in 80 games in 1988-89.

After helping Detroit to deep playoff runs on several occasions, Yzerman first raised the Stanley Cup in 1997 and ended a 42-year championship drought for the Red Wings – a feat he would repeat with the team in 1998. While still pacing the team offensively, Yzerman continued to develop as a leader and a two-way player, capturing the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward in 2000. The Cranbrook, British Columbia, native would lead Detroit to a third Stanley Cup in 2002 and the team’s fifth President’s Trophy under his captaincy as the NHL’s top regular-season club in 2005-06, his final season in the NHL.


Yzerman retired as the sixth all-time leading scorer in NHL history and still ranks among the Red Wings’ all-time greats with 1,514 games played (4th), 692 goals (2nd), 1,063 assists (1st) and 1,755 points (2nd). A 10-time NHL All-Star, Yzerman was also honored with the Lester B. Pearson Award (1989), Conn Smythe Trophy (1998), Selke Trophy (2000), NHL First Team All-Star (2000), Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (2003) and the Lester Patrick Trophy (2006). His No. 19 jersey was retired by Detroit on Jan. 2, 2007, and he was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.

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2014 WINTER CLASSIC FESTIVITIES REVEALED

COKE ZERO™ FAN ZONE ADDED TO THE EXCITING LINE-UP
OF HOCKEY EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE 2014 NHL WINTER CLASSIC

The five-day, 122,000-square-foot hockey fan event in conjunction with the
SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival and the NHL Winter Classic will together
create the most expansive celebration the sport of hockey has ever seen

DETROIT – Olympia Entertainment revealed today plans for the Coke Zero Fan Zone, a five-day, 122,000-square-foot hockey fan event, that will take place outside of Comerica Park December 27-31, 2013. The hockey and winter-themed event for all ages will take place in conjunction with the SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival inside Comerica Park leading up to the highly anticipated 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium New Year’s Day.
       
“The Coke Zero Fan Zone makes one of the biggest celebrations of hockey ever, even bigger,” said Tom Wilson, President & CEO of Olympia Entertainment. “With the Hockeytown Winter Festival events taking place inside Comerica Park in Detroit, the New Year’s Day NHL Winter Classic game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor and, now, the wide array of activities and entertainment at the Coke Zero Fan Zone, the Detroit Red Wings have created the most expansive celebration the sport of hockey has ever seen, spanning multiple facilities over the course of 15 days.”

The Coke Zero Fan Zone will be free to fans holding tickets to that day’s hockey games at the Hockeytown Winter Festival. Admission for non-ticketholders is $5 each day with tickets available for purchase at the entrance. The event will span three heated tents with hockey-themed exhibits, interactive games and activities, autograph and photo opportunities and local music and food offerings:

Hockey-themed Exhibits, Games & Activities:
·        Premier artifact exhibit hosted by the Hockey Hall of Fame
·        Full-size street hockey rink for ages five and older
·        Open skate on a full-size synthetic ice rink (hockey skates only please)
·        Hardest shot radar cage game
·        Top shot electronic hockey net game
·        Mini-sticks game
·        Bubble hockey game
·        Video game challenges

Autograph & Photo Opportunities
·        Stanley Cup display with photo opportunities
·        Q&A sessions with Red Wings and Maple Leafs alumni
·        Alumni autograph booths
·        Locker room displays and photo opportunities in the stall of a favorite Wings or Maple Leafs player

Food & Entertainment
·        SnowZilla simulated toboggan slide
·        Bounce house
·        Local musical acts
·        Popular food truck vendors
·        Detroit restaurants
·        Hot cocoa and s’mores stations
·        Fire pit warming stations

The Coke Zero Fan Zone hours complement the Hockeytown Winter Festival inside Comerica Park:

·        Friday, December 27 from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Great Lakes Invitational games MSU vs. MTU – 3:30 and WMU vs. U-M – 7 p.m.)
·        Saturday, December 28 from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. (GLI Consolation Game – 3:30 and GLI Championship Game – 7 p.m.)
·        Sunday, December 29 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (OHL games London vs. Saginaw – 1:30 and Windsor vs. Plymouth – 5 p.m.)
·        Monday, December 30 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. (AHL game Toronto Marlies vs. Grand Rapids Griffins – 5 p.m.)
·        Tuesday, December 31 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs Alumni Showdown games – 1 and 3:30 p.m.)


“The activities at the Coke Zero Fan Zone and the great line-up of games inside Comerica Park will bring fans from throughout the State of Michigan and Canada to experience downtown Detroit during the 15 days of the Hockeytown Winter Festival,” continued Wilson. “Local businesses will benefit from the thousands of fans who will eat, drink, shop and sleep in downtown establishments. In addition, the Coke Zero Fan Zone will create exposure and revenue for the local vendors and Detroit restaurants at the event and new fans for the local entertainers being showcased on its stages.”

The Coke Zero Fan Zone is sponsored by Bridgestone, Molson Canadian, Coke Zero, Comerica Bank, Kroger, Southwest Ontario Tourism, McDonald’s, Verizon and American Rentals.

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TICKET REFUND INFO FOR CANCELED WINTER CLASSIC

TICKET INFORMATION FOR CANCELED 2013 BRIDGESTONE NHL WINTER CLASSIC AND 2012 SIRIUSXM HOCKEYTOWN WINTER FESTIVAL

…Great Lakes Invitational, American Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League Games Rescheduled…

Detroit, MI... The National Hockey League today announced the cancellation of the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and 2012 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival. The NHL has confirmed that the next Winter Classic will be played at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor featuring the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs and will include the Hockeytown Winter Festival at Comerica Park in Detroit.

The Red Wings will communicate with each of their original ticket purchasers via email by Tuesday, November 6 and provide the option of a.) receiving a full refund on tickets and associated fees or b.) maintaining their tickets for future Winter Classic and Winter Festival events.

The cancellation was necessary because, given the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players’ Association and the NHL, the League was not in a position to do all that is necessary to adequately stage events of this magnitude. This year’s Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and the companion SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival called for the construction of major outdoor rink facilities at both Comerica Park and 'The Big House'. Multiple games involving teams from the NHL, NCAA, American Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, high school and local minor hockey leagues were scheduled, requiring travel and hotel commitments. Beyond the construction of two major outdoor rink facilities, the combined events were preparing to welcome nearly 400,000 guests to Detroit and Ann Arbor over the holiday period.

While all of this year’s Winter Festival events at Comerica Park have been canceled, individual games for the 48th Annual Great Lakes Invitational, the American Hockey League matchup between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toronto Marlies and the Ontario Hockey League double-header originally slated for Comerica Park have been rescheduled and are on sale as follows:

The 48th Annual Great Lakes Invitational featuring the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University and Western Michigan University will be played at Joe Louis Arena on December 29 and 30. Tickets are currently available at the Joe Louis Arena Box Office (313-396-7575), all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000) and online at www.OlympiaEntertainment.com

The American Hockey League contest between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toronto Marlies will be played at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on December 29 at 7:00 p.m. For ticket information, visit WWW.GriffinsHockey.com or call the Griffins at (616) 774-4585.

The Ontario Hockey League double-header becomes two single games at the home teams’ venues on December 29. The London Knights will travel to the Plymouth Whalers at 7:00 p.m. and the Windsor Spitfires will play at the Saginaw Spirit at 7:00 p.m. For ticket information, contact the Whalers at 734-453-8400 or www.PlymouthWhalers.com and the Spirit at 989-497-7747 or www.SaginawSpirit.com

All high school teams scheduled to play at Comerica Park are being contacted in effort to reschedule their games at Joe Louis Arena.

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THREE MEMBERS OF RED WINGS’ RECORD-SETTING 1995-96 SQUAD ADDED TO ROSTER FOR ALUMNI SHOWDOWN WITH MAPLE LEAFS

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… Paul Coffey, Mathieu Dandenault and Martin Lapointe to don the Winged Wheel Once Again; Toronto Adds Bryan McCabe, Gary Roberts and Lanny McDonald …

Detroit, MI… The Detroit Red Wings® and Toronto Maple Leafs® today announced the addition of six total players who will participate in the festivities surrounding the 2012 Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings Alumni Showdown™ on December 31 at Comerica Park™ as part of the 2012 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival™. Detroit has added defensemen Paul Coffey and Mathieu Dandenault as well as forward Martin Lapointe; all three players were members of the Red Wings during the team’s record-setting campaign of 1995-96 during which Detroit won a total of 62 games – still the highest single-season total in NHL history. Toronto, meanwhile, has announced the addition of former star wingers Gary Roberts and Lanny McDonald as well as defenseman Bryan McCabe. Between the three of them, McDonald, Roberts and McCabe recorded 2,443 points (1083G-1360A) in 4,470 combined career NHL games.

Detroit’s top choice (first round, 10th overall) at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, Lapointe spent ten years with the Red Wings franchise, winning two Stanley Cups (1997 and 1998) and appearing in 552 games for the club (108G-122A-230P). He is currently tied for 25th place on the team’s all-time playoff scoring list with 39 points (17G-22A) in 86 games. The speedy two-way winger was also a member of Team Canada at the 1991, 1992 and 1993 IIHF World Junior Championships, capturing Gold in his first and final appearances at the tournament. Lapointe also represented his country at the 2001 IIHF World Championships in Germany. In addition to the Red Wings, Lapointe also played for the Bruins, Blackhawks and Senators in his 991-game career, retiring in 2008 with 381 points on 181 goals and 200 assists.

Arguably one of the best pure skaters in league history, Coffey put up truly astounding numbers during his esteemed NHL career. The Weston, Ontario, native tallied 1409GP-396G-1135A-1531P over the course of 20 seasons with Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Detroit, Hartford, Chicago, Carolina and Boston, winning three Norris Trophies as the league’s top blue-liner as well as four Stanley Cup championships en route to earning a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame (inducted in 2004). The 48 goals Coffey scored for the Oilers in 1985-86 remains an NHL record for defensemen as does his 28-game point streak from the same season.

Selected by Detroit in the second round (49th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Dandenault spent nine seasons in Hockeytown between 1995 and 2004 and was a part of three Stanley Cup championships with the club (1997, 1998 & 2002). The 6’1”, 200-lb. rearguard registered 48G-101A-149P in 616 career games with the Red Wings. In 2003, Dandenault helped Team Canada capture Gold at the IIHF World Championships in Finland, tallying 9GP-2G-3A-5P in the tournament.

Updated alumni rosters for Toronto and Detroit can be found below. Further roster for both teams will be announced in the coming weeks.

DETROIT RED WINGS ALUMNI:

Dino Ciccarelli
Chris Chelios
Chris Osgood
Alex Delvecchio
Paul Coffey
Mike Vernon
Kris Draper
Mathieu Dandenault
Sergei Fedorov
Viacheslav Fetisov
Joe Kocur
Mark Howe
Martin Lapointe
Vladimir Konstantinov
Igor Larionov
Larry Murphy
Ted Lindsay
Kirk Maltby
Darren McCarty
John Ogrodnick
Mickey Redmond
Luc Robitaille

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ALUMNI:
Dave Andreychuk
Dave Ellett
Johnny Bower
Wendel Clark
Jim McKenny
Curtis Joseph
Russ Courtnall
Bryan McCabe
Mike Palmateer
Vincent Damphousse
Bob McGill
Felix Potvin
Bill Derlago
Ron Ellis
Doug Gilmour
Gary Leeman
Kevin Maguire
Lanny McDonald
Gary Roberts
Darryl Sittler
Darcy Tucker
Rick Vaive

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ADDITIONS TO MAPLE LEAFS AND RED WINGS ALUMNI SQUADS ANNOUNCED

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… Four Members of ‘The Russian Five’ Join Wings Alumni; Maple Leafs Add Six Including All-Stars Leeman and Damphousse …

Detroit, MI… The Detroit Red Wings® and Toronto Maple Leafs® today announced the addition of nine total players that will participate in the festivities surrounding the 2012 Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings Alumni Showdown™ on December 31 at Comerica Park™, part of the 2012 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival™. The Wings confirmed four members of Detroit’s famed ‘Russian Five’ with Viacheslav Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Konstantinov and Sergei Fedorov. Toronto added 50-goal scorer Gary Leeman, Russ Courtnall, Bill Derlago, Bob McGill and all-stars Vincent Damphousse and Dave Ellett.

Comprised of a quintet of Soviet-born players, Detroit’s ‘Russian Five’ played a major role in the Red Wings’ late-1990s success. Assembled by legendary coach Scotty Bowman to play as a five-man unit, the unit proved to be a formidable force during their brief time together (1995-98). Confounding opposing teams by appropriating the fast, control-based style of play that had made the USSR an international powerhouse for several decades, the ‘Russian Five’ helped Detroit end a 42-year Stanley Cup draught in 1997 and repeated the feat in ’98 following the loss of Konstantinov in a tragic car accident that prematurely ended his career. Both Fetisov (2001) and Larionov (2008) were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The six Maple Leafs boast a total NHL experience of 5,463 games played, led by Damphousse with 1,378; and 5,276 penalty minutes, including McGill’s 1,766 PIMs. The six former Leafs also combined for 1,287 goals and 3,471 points in their NHL careers.

Players thus far announced for Detroit’s roster include 50-goal scorers Mickey Redmond and John Ogrodnick; Hall of Famers Luc Robitaille, Dino Ciccarelli, Chris Chelios, Larry Murphy and Mark Howe; all four members of ‘The Grind Line’ – Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Darren McCarty and Joe Kocur; Stanley Cup-winning goaltenders Chris Osgood and Mike Vernon; Red Wings legends Ted Lindsay and Alex Delvecchio; and Russian Five members Viacheslav Fetisov, Igor Larionov and Vladimir Konstantinov.

Members of the Toronto Maple Leafs® alumni currently scheduled to participate on New Year’s Eve at Comerica Park™ include: Hockey Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler; 50-goal scorers Rick Vaive and Gary Leeman; fan favorites Darcy Tucker, Felix Potvin, Mike Palmateer, Kevin Maguire, Vincent Damphousse, Russ Courtnall, Dave Ellett, Bill Derlago and Bob McGill; Stanley Cup champions Dave Andreychuk and Doug Gilmour; rough-and-tumble winger Wendel Clark; 454-win goaltender Curtis Joseph; and Maple Leafs® legends Johnny Bower, Ron Ellis and Jim McKenny.

Further alumni will be announced in the coming weeks.

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COACHES FOR MAPLE LEAFS AND RED WINGS ALUMNI SQUADS ANNOUNCED

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… Bowman and Smith, Kelly and Quinn to Reunite Behind the Bench on New Year’s Eve at Comerica Park™ …

Detroit, MI… The Detroit Red Wings® and Toronto Maple Leafs® today announced that former Detroit coaches Scotty Bowman and Barry Smith will be behind the bench against former Toronto coaches Red Kelly and Pat Quinn at the 2012 Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings Alumni Showdown™ on December 31 at Comerica Park™, part of the 2012 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival™.

The winningest bench boss in NHL history with 1,244 career victories, Bowman has been a part of 12 Stanley Cup-winning teams, including a league-record nine as a head coach. Bowman helped direct the Red Wings to three Cup titles (1997, 1998 & 2002) and retired from coaching while skating with the Cup following Detroit’s 10th Stanley Cup in 2002. Smith was with the Red Wings from 1994-2005 and was part of three Stanley Cup championship teams with Detroit following two titles as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Red Kelly, the eight-time Stanley Cup winner and first James Norris Memorial Trophy recipient, coached Toronto to four consecutive playoff appearances from 1973 to 1977. He will join forces with the NHL’s fourth winningest coach and two-time Jack Adams Award winner Pat Quinn, who also led Team Canada to back-to-back world titles with a gold medal in the 2002 Olympics followed by the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Player thus far announced for Detroit’s roster include 50-goal scorers Mickey Redmond and John Ogrodnick; Hall of Famers Luc Robitaille, Dino Ciccarelli, Chris Chelios, Larry Murphy and Mark Howe; all four members of ‘The Grind Line’ – Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Darren McCarty and Joe Kocur; Stanley Cup-winning goaltenders Chris Osgood and Mike Vernon; and Red Wings legends Ted Lindsay and Alex Delvecchio.

Members of the Toronto Maple Leafs® alumni currently scheduled to participate on New Year’s Eve at Comerica Park™ include: Hockey Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler; 50-goal scorer Rick Vaive; fan favorites Darcy Tucker, Felix Potvin, Mike Palmateer and Kevin Maguire; Stanley Cup champions Dave Andreychuk and Doug Gilmour; rough-and-tumble winger Wendel Clark; 454-win goaltender Curtis Joseph; and Maple Leafs® legends Johnny Bower, Ron Ellis and Jim McKenny.

Further alumni will be announced in the coming weeks.

A limited number of 2012 Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings Alumni Showdown™ tickets will be made available in mid-August via ticket lottery. 2012 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival™ GLI, AHL and OHL tickets will go on sale in late August.

2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® tickets are currently available for Red Wings® and Maple Leafs® season ticket holders as part of a pre-sale process. Additional ticket information will be released at a later date.

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PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER’S HOCKEYTOWN WINTER FESTIVAL™ ANNOUNCED

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… Two Weeks of Hockey Excitement Will Descend Upon Detroit in December …

Detroit, MI… Olympia Entertainment has unveiled a preliminary schedule for the 2012 Hockeytown Winter Festival™, set to take place at downtown Detroit’s Comerica Park™ during the final two weeks of December. Kicking off mid-month and wrapping up on New Year’s Eve, this multi-faceted celebration of the sport of hockey will feature a wide variety of fun-filled activities and exhibitions for fans of all ages. A full listing of dates and events comprising the Hockeytown Winter Festival™ can be found below:

DECEMBER 15-26
Celebration of Hockey featuring amateur games, corporate outings and open skates. Information on booking ice time can be obtained by visiting DetroitRedWings.com/icetime.

DECEMBER 27-31
Outdoor Festival featuring interactive games, autograph signings, face painting and ice sculpture exhibits as well as musical performances and entertainment.

DECEMBER 27-28
Great Lakes Invitational featuring the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Western Michigan Broncos and Michigan Tech Huskies all competing for the 2012 MacInnes Cup.

DECEMBER 29
Ontario Hockey League Doubleheader featuring the Windsor Spitfires taking on the Saginaw Spirit and the Plymouth Whalers battling the J. Ross Robertson Cup champion London Knights.

DECEMBER 30
American Hockey League Game featuring the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toronto Marlies, AHL affiliates of the Red Wings® and Maple Leafs®.

DECEMBER 31
Red Wings-Maple Leafs Alumni Showdown featuring legendary players from two of the National Hockey League’s most storied franchises going head-to-head.

Ticketing information for these events as well as the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® (Detroit vs. Toronto – January 1 at Michigan Stadium) is being distributed to members of the Red Wings® Season Ticket Holder Family this week. Information on purchasing 2012-13 Red Wings® Season Tickets and thereby gaining exclusive access to 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® and 2012 Hockeytown Winter Festival™ seats can be obtained by calling (313) 396-7575. Information regarding public on sales for all 2013 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic® and 2012 Hockeytown Winter Festival™ events will be available later this summer.

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