Yes, I have done this before. Yes, I am doing it again. Sorry people, but I am in full playoff mode here!
--The team was founded in 1926.
--Before they were the Red Wings, the team was known as the Cougars and as the Falcons.
--The Wings play at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
--Mike Ilitch, the owner of Little Caesar's Pizza, owns the Red Wings.
--The team roster consists of four Americans, seven Canadians, eight Swedes, one Czech, two Slovaks, one Russian, and two Finns.
--The oldest player in the NHL (age 47), Chris Chelios, plays for the Wings.
--The Wings are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Montreal Canadiens, the Toronto Maple Leafs, The Boston Bruins, The Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers. The NHL doubled in size in 1967 when 6 more teams were added. (There now are 30 teams.)
--Detroit is nicknamed 'Hockeytown' because of the Wings.
--The Wings have won 11 Stanley Cups--the most of any US team. They are third behind the Canadiens and Maple Leafs.
--Gordie Howe (Mr. Hockey), is one of the greatest to ever play hockey. He was a Wing.
--From 1967-83, the Wings went into a funk. This was the period of time when they were known as the 'Dead Wings.'
--The Stanley Cup win in 1997 was the first time the Wings won in 42 years.
--Fans of the Red Wings have a tradition of throwing octopi on the ice after goals are scored--especially during home play-off games. This is for good luck.
--The Wings have retired 6 numbers that former players wore. One other number has been retired league-wide: Number 99, which Gretzky wore.
--As a team and individually, the Red Wings have won more honors, trophies, and awards than can be mentioned here.
--Steve Yzerman was captain of the Wings from 1983 to 2006. This was the longest tenure of a captain in NHL history.
--There are 54 members of the Red Wing organization in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
--The Wings' minor league team is the Grand Rapids Griffins.
--The colors of the Red Wings are red and white.
--During the 2008-2009 season, the Wings became only the third team in history to have four consecutive 50-win seasons.
--Babcock led the team to 200 wins faster than any coach in franchise history.
--Again, in 2008-2009, the Wings broke records for consecutive years in the playoffs and consecutive years winning their division.
Red Wing Trivia
