On January 31st the Komoka Kings players, staff and supporters traveled to Detroit for a tour of the Red Wings facility and evening game against the San Jose Sharks.   

Arriving mid-morning the Kings entourage was treated to a tour of the Detroit Red Wings private practice pad and to watch the Wings during their game-day practice and preparation on the main rink.  A few of the Sharks took some time for practice as they had a game in Pittsburgh the previous night.  After the Red Wings practice the Kings were given a tour of the Wings dressing room and their fitness, medical and storage facilities including the stick room.  The stick room consists of cubicles each holding nearly a dozen of each type of stick used by the Wings’ players.  One Kings goalie was in awe when seeing about 10 cubicles of just goalie sticks.  The dressing room neatly laid out with the game day jerseys for the players, and also several additional stalls reserved for Wings greats like Gordie Howe, Alex Delvechio, Ted Lindsey.

Another highlight was a tour of the video and technology room and all the equipment to monitor the game and to develop counter plays and identify opposition weaknesses.  In the video replay theatre the Kings were introduced to pre-game analysis of the night’s opposition and video from the Sharks’ previous night’s game in Pittsburgh, and how they develop specific plays depending on game situation.  Modern technology in action!

Little Caesar Arena staff led the group through a spectator tour of the newest state of the art facility, and how they have incorporated past Detroit and Red Wings tradition and history.  Afterwards the Kings were treated to a tasty Little Caesars Pizza lunch.

Game time was the Red Wings versus the San Jose Sharks.  Among all the glitter and sound of modern professional sports action, the Wings and Sharks played a very tight game.  After regulation, and 5-minute 3 on 3, the game was still tied 1 - 1.  The game’s promotion feature was a give-a-way of a Tomas Tatar bobble head.  In the 6th round of the shootout, as fate would have it, Tomas scored to extend the shootout.  In the 7th round Justin Abdelkaker scored to give the Red Wings a 2 -1 victory. 

The trip to Hockeytown  and the tour of the new Little Caesar Arena facility was arranged by Kings Assistant Coach Jason Williams, a Red Wings alumni, and Kings owner/GM Roop Chanderdat.

Great memories and fun time for the Kings players and those involved with Kings game day action.