NHL Prospect Camp & Detroit Red Wings Camp

[Dimaline312000 51]

Just thought I'd start this for all of you that went to the Detroit Red Wings Training Camp and the NHL Prospect Camp earlier this September. I just wanted to say I had a great time and both events and really learned alot; especially at the Prospects Tournament which seems to be a growing event and that just thrills me. Being able to watch the NHL Prospects practice in the morning and play the games later in the afternoon/evening was tremendous. I thought our Detroit Red Wings Prospects did fairly well. They finished in 7th place and I know that doesn't sound that great but considering seeing the other teams prospects Wings could have finished last in the Tourney. Our young guys have a lot of growing and developing to do but it was great to see where they stood this season. It really puts my mind at ease for the coming seasons as we are in a sense seeing a change in the gaurd as far as players that have been here for years and helped the Wings win it's past 4 Cups start to retire and seeing the prospects and thinking about if they continue to develope well I'm very comfortable that we as fans will still have a team that can contend for a Cup. Brendan Smith was the Captain of the Prospects team and to see him now he really looks good. I'm not sure whether the Wings will bring him up this season or not but if they did I think he'd be pretty good and even better in the coming years as long as he gets plenty of chance to play. Tomas Jurco the Wings first 2nd Round Draft Pick of this past draft is a great Puck Handeler and I'd expect to see him in the AHL next season if not sooner. As for the rest of the guys Ferraro seems to be developing very well and our other Draft Picks from the 11 Draft seem to be pretty good. As for the Detroit Red Wings Camp I'm excited to see what the new guys can provide for us and hope that our returning players can get back to business early and provide a great team on the ice. The Camp was fantastic!! Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City is such a beautiful Arena IMO. I'm sorry I didn't see any of you on here nor did I really get a chance to meet anyone and I apologize for that, I did indeed look but with everyone there it was tough to determine who was who on here and who was just another Wings fan. On a side note I did get a chance to exchange Hi, How Are You's with Kris Draper as we were both coming down-stairs at the same time after a day of Prospects Tournament. I got a Practice Puck that Landon Ferraro flung over the glass and I just happened to be the closest one to it and picked it up. Finally on the last day of camp my family and I went to Mables to have breakfast Tuseday morning becaue I remember some of you on here saying it was a place a lot of Wings fans go to meet up and have a meal together. Anyway as we were finishing up Tomas Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk came in and we even got a Hi How Are You from Holmsy. So it was a great Hockey trip. For me it's always hard to leave because I love Traverse City so much and really could live there and be very happy but had to come home but at least Hockey is back and that helps ease the pain of having to leave such a fun trip. Ok everyone that went you take it away from here please share your experience, feelings, thoughts and anything else you care to share about the Camp(s) this year.

[Echolalia 2,961]

That sounds like a blast. I hope others come forward with their experiences and opinions of the prospects, etc

[Motown4013 350]

Dimaline et all!

I also had an awesome training camp. We were in Traverse City from late Saturday night until Thursday (stayed an extra 2 days to see the sights, do the dunes ect)I did not meet up with anyone from LGW- I thought I saw a few of you but I wasn't certain. I was hoping to meet up with people from the board but perhaps we can organize something for next year!

I completely agree with Smith, Jurco and Ferraro...each impressed me, as well as Brunnstrom and Nyquist. I felt that unfortunately, Emmerton did not have a strong camp and I don't think he will be around this year. The cuts will be hard because a lot of guys played very well and will have to go back to GR or go elsewhere.

I also had a chance to run into a "slew" of the guys out and about which was a very cool experience. On Monday night, my friend and I went shopping and went for a late dinner downtown. We thought about maybe having a beer so we walked down Front street about 9:15 and passed the restaurant "Red Ginger". I happened to look up and I saw Franzen's big red melon. I passed the window and told my friend that I saw Franzen and Clearly sitting in the window front so we decided to have a beer and went in. I tried not to stare when we passed the bar and noted that not only were Franzen and Clears there, but Zetty, Ian White, Pavs, Flip, Homer, Bert, Jimmy, Lids and Stuart. WOW!!!

Everyone has a different viewpoint on this, but I believe that even famous people get to have dinner and not be bothered (even though they choose to sit in the bar to watch the Giants game!) I didnt go up or ask them to autograph anything. We stayed for 1 beer and 2 different guys came up to get autographs but we sat about 8 feet away from them and just let them hang out. It was cool to just watch them be "normal guys"- Zetterberg would not get off his phone, Bert looked bored to tears, Ian White was chatting away to Pavel and pretty deep into the red wine. Mule and Flip left first, right after the food came (and I overheard someone say enjoy dinner so maybe Flip and Mule dont like Sushi??) Anyway, it was a very unique experience and when we were leaving, Lids nodded and smiled at us. Supercool!!!

Anyway, I am hoping that others will share their stories of the camp, the guys and Traverse City!

Cheers

Jen

[Dimaline312000 51]

Dimaline et all!

I also had an awesome training camp. We were in Traverse City from late Saturday night until Thursday (stayed an extra 2 days to see the sights, do the dunes ect)I did not meet up with anyone from LGW- I thought I saw a few of you but I wasn't certain. I was hoping to meet up with people from the board but perhaps we can organize something for next year!

I completely agree with Smith, Jurco and Ferraro...each impressed me, as well as Brunnstrom and Nyquist. I felt that unfortunately, Emmerton did not have a strong camp and I don't think he will be around this year. The cuts will be hard because a lot of guys played very well and will have to go back to GR or go elsewhere.

I also had a chance to run into a "slew" of the guys out and about which was a very cool experience. On Monday night, my friend and I went shopping and went for a late dinner downtown. We thought about maybe having a beer so we walked down Front street about 9:15 and passed the restaurant "Red Ginger". I happened to look up and I saw Franzen's big red melon. I passed the window and told my friend that I saw Franzen and Clearly sitting in the window front so we decided to have a beer and went in. I tried not to stare when we passed the bar and noted that not only were Franzen and Clears there, but Zetty, Ian White, Pavs, Flip, Homer, Bert, Jimmy, Lids and Stuart. WOW!!!

Everyone has a different viewpoint on this, but I believe that even famous people get to have dinner and not be bothered (even though they choose to sit in the bar to watch the Giants game!) I didnt go up or ask them to autograph anything. We stayed for 1 beer and 2 different guys came up to get autographs but we sat about 8 feet away from them and just let them hang out. It was cool to just watch them be "normal guys"- Zetterberg would not get off his phone, Bert looked bored to tears, Ian White was chatting away to Pavel and pretty deep into the red wine. Mule and Flip left first, right after the food came (and I overheard someone say enjoy dinner so maybe Flip and Mule dont like Sushi??) Anyway, it was a very unique experience and when we were leaving, Lids nodded and smiled at us. Supercool!!!

Anyway, I am hoping that others will share their stories of the camp, the guys and Traverse City!

Cheers

Jen

I'm so glad you came forward with your experince of camp. That's great that you got to see all those guys and yes I agree with you that when the players are out and about we as fans should let them be and not go hound them for autographs. That's how I felt with Holmstrom and Datsyuk came into Mables my family and I didn't interfere with them and I hope no one did as well. I wish I could argue with you about Emmerton but I can't I to think he didn't have a great camp which is unfotunate becasue I would have loved to been able to see what he could do for the Wings this season. Perhaps the Wings saw or will see something that we as fans missed. I hate to see our young guys play all those years in GR and in Juniors and not get a chance to play for the Wings but if they aren't the right fit they just aren't. I would have loved to go into one of the bars on Front Street later in the evening to have a beer and if I was with my friends we probably would have but since I was with my family and they aren't into the whole bar scene. I also wanted to let people on here know that if you go to youtube and type in NHL Prospect Tournament, and Detroit Red Wings Training Camp there are a few video's that people have posted from this years camps. Hope we hear from more people.

[Kira 451]

My hubby Terry and I were at camp from Saturday to Thursday. Saturday morning, we were sitting by the ice, in the Handicapped section, saying hi to the guys that walked through, the coaches and the staff as well. That's our natural routine. As we were siting there, Pasha came up, and we said good morning. He came over, put his hand on Terry's shoulder and said, "How are you doing?" Then he turned and gave me a hug! I almost had a heart attack!

I also got a chance to talk to Drew Miller for a couple minutes Saturday morning, and I asked him to put a red carnation on Brad's casket for me. Both the Free Press and Dave Guralnick of the News shot a pic of me talking to Drew and put it in their online galleries. I didn't see it til later in the day. The lady from the Free Press asked me who I was, asked about Loki (our service dog), and then asked me how old I was. I said, "Let's put it this way - I slide under the door for the senior menu at IHOP." She laughed and said, "I never heard it put that way, but that's damned good."

I got a chance to talk to Aaron Downey Sunday, and he was incredibly nice and sweet. I also have to give kudos to Patrick Eaves, Pasha and Ty Conklin for going out in the rain to sign autographs. I would have given my raincoat to Pasha to wear, but they brought out an umbrella for him. Bless your hearts, guys...you really were troopers.

I got to see Mark Howe, and gave him a hug, told him congrats for making the Hall of Fame - it was about damned time. He's looking more and more like his dad every day. Saw Darren McCarty at the Red and White game and got a hug from him too.

Wednesday morning, Henrik came out and signed a picture for my friends Jeanie (aka Winged Horse) and Dale of their Yellow Lab puppy Hank (no guesses who he's named for). Thank you, Aaron, for setting that up for me.

The last two days, there was hardly no one at the rink watching the guys. We had the section to ourselves, and the guys were nice to us when they walked by - we'd say hi, and sometimes they would stop to talk. Jim Nill stopped and talked to us for a good 5-10 minutes on Thursday morning, Mike Babcock thanked us for showing up every year and supporting the team. Ozzie was a blast to talk to ("Are you used to being called Coach yet?" "NO!" Will you ever get used to it? "I doubt it."), and Kris Draper was incredibly kind and generous with his time.

All in all, it was great. I got to meet Miss Wing Queen (Marianne) and OzzieFan30 (Michelle and her hubby Bryan). I hope we go back again next year for #8.

[Guest Heaten]

I bought tickets for tomorrows red and white game in Grand Rapids. Last week they emailed me and said I can't have my seats because they oversold the tickets and wanted to move me back to some sucky upper bowl seats. I paid $135 for my good seats. Why would I pay $135 for crappy seats? They were going to throw in a free Griffins game for my incontinence.WTF???

I've been fighting with them for the last week. I finally told them to just refund me. So I am not going to the Red and White game tomorrow which really pisses me off.

[hillbillywingsfan 792]

I bought tickets for tomorrows red and white game in Grand Rapids. Last week they emailed me and said I can't have my seats because they oversold the tickets and wanted to move me back to some sucky upper bowl seats. I paid $135 for my good seats. Why would I pay $135 for crappy seats? They were going to throw in a free Griffins game for my incontinence.WTF???

I've been fighting with them for the last week. I finally told them to just refund me. So I am not going to the Red and White game tomorrow which really pisses me off.

Wow...that does suck. You would think they would at least give you a game to the wings and not just the griffs. That's messed up. A griffs game wouldn't even cover the cost you would lose.

[55fan 5,133]

I bought tickets for tomorrows red and white game in Grand Rapids. Last week they emailed me and said I can't have my seats because they oversold the tickets and wanted to move me back to some sucky upper bowl seats. I paid $135 for my good seats. Why would I pay $135 for crappy seats? They were going to throw in a free Griffins game for my incontinence.WTF???

I've been fighting with them for the last week. I finally told them to just refund me. So I am not going to the Red and White game tomorrow which really pisses me off.

I'm surprised that they oversold. You'd think with computers and all that they'd be able to keep better track. I'd be pissed off too.

Good luck with the incontinence.

[Kira 451]

Heaten, that is terrible. I'm sorry to hear that. I knew it was a sellout, but to oversell it is ridiculous. I hope you get your money back.

[Red Wings Addict 787]

Glad to hear that you guys had good experiences and that the players were nice.

[Dimaline312000 51]

Kira: Thank you so much for coming forward with your experience of Camp it sounded like you had a great time. It's nice to know that so many of the players and staff can be very personable and talk to the fans. As I said I did look for people from on here but never got a chance to meet anyone, hopefully one day I will. I really wanted to stay for Wednesday and Thursday's Camps/Practices but it was just time to come home. So glad to hear you had a great time I too am planning on going to Camp again next year if everything works out.

Heaten: I'm terribly sorry to hear about you ticket situation. Years ago when they first started doing the Red and White Games at Van Andel Arena I attempted to get tickets the first two years and never could because I was always told by someone with the Griffins that they were including the Red and White Game into the Griffins Season Ticket Holders Season Ticket Plans and they were going to get first choice on the rest of the tickets which didn't make me to happy either your problem is a little different but I understand your frustration and don't blame you for wanting a refund. Seems like the Griffins would definetly keep better track of ticket sales and they could have been more gracious about the problem and gave you a discount or something more than just a Griffins game for your $135.

[Guest Heaten]

Thanks guys. I hope who all is going to todays red and white have a blast. wish it was televised!