Mention the Detroit Red Wings to a hockey fan and you can be assured of a reaction. Nowadays, they have taken on the nature of the New York Yankees of baseball - people either love them or hate them. This is really not too surprising. The Wings, like history's greatest baseball team, have become a model of success. Consider that the Red Wings have won more championships than any other U. S. Based team. Moreover, they are third among all teams for most number of Cups. With this as a backdrop, let us take a look at a little bit of their rich history.
The team became a part of the National Hockey League in 1926. They actually played their games in Windsor, Canada during their first year. Their nickname then was the Cougars. They did move to Michigan for their second season, playing at the Detroit Olympia. Neither of these years was particularly kind to them. Their debut season ended with them in last place and the second season they finished fourth.
Wing fans didn't have to wait long for success. By 1929 the Cougars made the Stanley Cup playoffs. They were defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 1932 the team was renamed the Red Wings. It was to be a good omen for the team. From 1933 to 1966, they missed the playoffs only four times.
1934 saw Detroit make it to the Cup finals for the first time. They faced-off against the Chicago Black Hawks. In the best of five series the Hawks prevailed 3-1. Two years later would see a different result. Again the club was in the Cup finals, but this time versus the Maple Leafs. The franchise went on to win their first Cup in four games. For an encore, they knocked off the New York Rangers the next year for the championship.
In 1946, the sport saw the arrival of one of its best ever players. In from Saskatchewan skated Gordie Howe, a Hall of Fame legend. People call him "Mr. Hockey" and for very good reason. For one thing, he is the only player to play over the course of five different decades: the 40s-80s.
Adding to the credence of the Mr. Hockey moniker is Howe's innumerable accomplishments on the ice. He has been a member of four Stanley Cup winning teams. He has been the league's MVP six times and led the league in scoring six times. At age eighty he was the first to be awarded the NHL's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mr. Hockey's teams were not always successful. Red Wing teams had a horrible stretch of time from 1967 to 1983. Fans were repeatedly frustrated year after year as they saw their team only reach the playoffs twice and win one series.
Today, the franchise is just plain good. There is never any argument about that. After those dreadful 60s and 80s teams, they have played solid hockey since 1990. Every year has seen them in playoff games. This is the longest playoff streak in not only hockey, but in all sports.
Author Resource:
Mayhar Manninghansburger is a fitness trainer She likes SportsFanTreasures.com and recommends you check out their info on Pittsburgh Penguins Watch and Vancover Canuks Watch
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