The Motor City Monarchs had a problem.

After sweeping the Michigan Ice Dogs in round one of the Midwest Junior Hockey League playoffs in Fraser, the rink notified them that because of the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association State midget playoffs at Fraser Hockeyland, there was no Friday ice available for Game 1 of round two.  

So Monarchs’ head coach Jason McCrimmon had an idea - why not play in his hometown at the rink he hosts his Ice Dreams’ non-profit? As a result, for the first time in more than 10 years, Detroit and Jack Adams Ice Arena will host a junior hockey game as the Monarchs take on the Detroit Fighting Irish on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m.

“I brought the idea to the Detroit Recreation Department and they loved the idea,” said McCrimmon, a Detroit native whose Ice Dreams non-profit teaches inner-city kids hockey and life skills at the rink every Saturday morning. “Sometimes when unexpected barriers come about, it results in some good things. I’m proud to be hosting the Irish in my hometown. I’m thankful to the city for allowing this to happen on such short notice.”

Members of the Ice Dreams group will compete in a shootout between periods of the game which will pit the No. 2-seeded Monarchs against the Irish, which finished the season as the No. 4 seed.  The Irish swept its round one series against the Alpena Flyers, respectively. 

Games 2 and 3 (if needed) will be back at Fraser Hockeyland on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. 

Photo/Kenneth Demmers