09/21/2006

Wrap for the Wings

Detroit planning its return to Centre ICE

BY JEFF PEEK

jpeek@record-eagle.com

Record-Eagle/
Tyler Sipe
Fans get a close up look of Red Wings players (from top) Pavel Datsyuk, Kirk Maltby, Jason Williams and Dan Cleary Wednesday at Centre ICE.

For more photos, see our Red Wings Training Camp photo gallery, updated today

TRAVERSE CITY — The Red Wings are gone.

But they'll be back.

Peter Correia, director of the NHL team's annual training camp at Centre ICE, said Red Wings general manager Ken Holland confirmed Wednesday what he already suspected — the team will return to Traverse City for camp next September.

"I talked to Ken (before Wednesday's Red-White game), and he absolutely loves the camp. No complaints," Correia said. "We'll meet in about a month and talk about any concerns he has, but I don't think there will be much to talk about.

"It's a done deal. We'll keep doing it as long as they'll keep coming."

Holland said there's no reason to change venues.

"How can you not like it here? It's unbelievable," Holland said before the Wings broke camp and left for Detroit on Wednesday afternoon. "You've got two ice surfaces (at Centre ICE), so you can practice on one and play on the other. The hotels ... Anything you can think of is done for us."

Holland said the Red Wings found the right fit when they decided in 1997 to move training camp away from Joe Louis Arena.

"The reason you come up here is the atmosphere," Holland said. "You practice in the Joe, a 25,000-seat building with just 25 scouts there, and there's no atmosphere.

"You come here, the rink is full. Players leave the rink and all the fans are waiting outside.

"It's a chance for us to take our players to another part of Michigan. And the fans of northern Michigan, this is their opportunity to get really close to the players."

Detroit forward Kirk Maltby said the Wings enjoy their time in Traverse City, both on and off the ice.

"When we're at the rink we work hard, and people expect that," he said. "But it's nice to get away and play golf or go fishing or hang out.

"The atmosphere is great, with the rink filled for every practice. There's a real good mix (of work and relaxation)."

This is the ninth time the Red Wings have trained in Traverse City since moving their camp here in 1997. The 2004 season was canceled due to an NHL labor dispute.

The NHL Prospects camp, which started in 1998, has also been held nine times. This year was the biggest, with eight teams sending their top prospects.

Correia said the eight-team prospects format will return next year.

He credited his staff of volunteers for making the camps successful.

"Every year we continue to improve the little things," Correia said. "I think we have this thing dialed in pretty good."

Correia said 270 volunteers worked the camp this year, trimmed from 600 at earlier camps.

"We didn't know what we were doing in the beginning, so we just threw bodies at it," Correia said with a laugh. "The staff we have now, they know what they're here for. They're not here just to be close to the Wings. They're here to do a job and do it well, and they do.

"We couldn't host this camp without them."

Correia said early ticket sales for next year's camp will held in April, 2007. This year, tickets went on sale three months later than that, on July 19.

The earlier time (held during the NHL playoffs) seemed to work better, Correia said. Still, fans had little trouble finding their way to the rink — even for the Red-White game, which was near sell-out despite beginning at noon on Wednesday.

Jason Williams and Brendan Brooks scored two goals each in the Red's 7-2 romp over the White.

Matt Hussey and Brooks scored on Dominik Hasek early in the first period and the Red team never trailed, despite being outshot 32-26.

Also scoring for the Red were Tomas Holmstrom and Darryl Bootland.

Robert Lang and Boyd Devereaux each had two assists.

Josh Langfeld, who split time between San Jose and Boston last season, scored the White team's first goal. Kris Draper added another in the third period. Mathieu Schneider assisted on both goals.