Red Wings’ public practice
The Detroit Red Wings held their first annual public practice. Yes, they did hold a public practice last year. However, I have been led to believe that the public practice will be held annually on Hockey Day in Michigan starting this year.
George Malik of Snapshots covered the public practice with details about what the team did during the practice that lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes.
My dad was able to take photographs of the public practice with his really nice lenses and you can view some of his photographs here.
What were my thoughts about the practice? Well, I definitely enjoyed the practice and it’s always great to get a chance to watch the Red Wings up close whether it’s at a game or practice.
At the start of practice, Johan Franzen shot a puck right at my dad’s head (he was sitting behind the glass), but Franzen mouthed, “I’m so sorry” and then at the end, Jason Williams purposefully shot a puck at my dad. All the fans had to sit on one side of the rink. My dad and I were all by ourselves on the opposite side so I guess we kind of stuck out to some of the players.
I have attended four practices. My first one was a private practice that only members of the media attended and then my friend and I covered the practice for my high school paper courtesy of Denise Ilitch (alternate governor of the team at the time). The second practice I attended was for High School Journalist Day and we didn’t get to actually watch the practice that much. Last year, I attended the public practice.
This year’s practice was not my favorite. The actual practice itself was great, but it seemed that the team did not reach out to the fans like they had done last year. For example, Kris Draper and a couple other players tossed over 25 pucks they had used in the practice to fans after practice. This year, no pucks were given out. Last year, a couple players signed a few autographs and goaltender Manny Legace spent over 30 minutes signing jerseys, pucks, etc. for fans. This year? I didn’t see any from my vantage point although Jiri Hudler might have signed a puck or two from the team bench.
It may have been because the team had lost their last game and the team had to focus on their practice more so than they had to last year, but I was a little bummed for the fans in attendance. However, it seemed that the fans in attendance really enjoyed the practice. Some of the little kids who came had participated in the Hockey is Fun clinic held right before the Wings’ practice. After talking to some of the young boys, they couldn’t wait to go home and join an ice hockey team and become an NHL player so the practice (and the clinic held before it) certainly helped the growth of the game for some southeast Michigan kids.
Hopefully, the Detroit Red Wings will continue this annual public practice and possibly do some more over the next few years.
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7 Responses to “Red Wings’ public practice”
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February 12th, 2007 at 12:12 am
Nice write up Christy and tell your dad some great pics too.
February 12th, 2007 at 10:33 am
[…] George Malik and Christy Hammond have recaps of the Wings’ open practice on Saturday. Be sure to check them out. […]
February 12th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Great pics, but the goalie your have there is not Joey MacDonald, that is goaltender coach Jim Bedard.
February 12th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Really? I knew that he had to be a goalie during practice b/c of Hasek and Osgood’s injuries, but I guess I figured Joey would wear the Griffins stuff and not Jim. My bad…
February 12th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
They only have 1 practice open to the public a year? That should set off warning bells to anyone trying to promote the team and the sport in Michigan.
February 16th, 2007 at 9:32 am
PJ- Yeah, it pretty much sucks that they only have one open to the public each year. I think they believe that since they are still popular, they don’t need to make the effort to hold more public practices.
February 16th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
[…] Behind the Jersey visits a Red Wings public practice […]