A Story of Friends

The friendship between McCarty and Draper is special. The friendship is forever forged by having their names linked on four Stanley Cup championships in Detroit, but this year, it took on a deeper significance yet.

After the championship in 2002, Darren played in Calgary for two seasons and suffered a number of personal setbacks. To start the 2007-08 season, he didn't even have a team, and was out of hockey until December 2007. McCarty and Draper met over lunch and talked about their lives, and Darren expressed interest in returning to hockey. When Kris asked him how serious he was about returning, McCarty vowed to make every effort possible to rejoin the Red Wings.

Draper insisted that McCarty get back in shape, and set him up at CORE, a sports fitness facility he co-owns. Kris then agreed to arrange for a minor league contract with the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League, a team in which he has a financial stake.

McCarty worked hard both on and off the ice, and in March, he was summoned to join the Red Wings. "To get him back on the team was exciting, not only for me as a friend, but for him as well, considering everything he's been through," explained Draper. "When we won the Cup, he jumped onto the ice and skated up to me and said, 'Thanks!' To me, that really meant a lot." Kris added, "You have to remember that in November, he wasn't even playing hockey, and by June, he's a Stanley Cup champion again. That's just great."

Why So Important

As we have just completed the Hockey Season with the Red Wings wining it all and are the current Stanley Cup Champions I’m sure some of you are wondering what the big deal is. It is more than a game, it is more than a sport and if you have never lived where hockey is truly respected for the amount of skill involved you just wouldn’t understand.

Ice hockey is played on a large flat area of ice, using a three inch (76.2 mm) diameter vulcanized rubber disc called a puck. This puck is often frozen before high-level games to decrease the amount of bouncing and friction on the ice. The game is contested between two teams of skaters. The game is played all over North America, Europe and in many other countries around the world to varying extent.

The game of hockey is more like a tradition. I know for myself some of the earliest memories of my step dad are when I was about 10 and we sat in front of a TV in our living room and we watched the Red Wings Play on Hockey Night In Canada. Even though the picture was small grainy and black and white, it was the best time ever. Hockey is about the working stiff, the blue collar guy. Professional Hockey players are not in the news much even though they are very skilled and most of them are family men and take pride in that.

Today was the parade in the city of Detroit celebrating the team and their accomplishment this year and for spectator Corinne Gordon, the parade was bridge building. The Red Wings' six-game series win over the Penguins gave fans the chance to temporarily put aside the economic doldrums and the mayoral saga that have dominated the news for months. "There's been so much doom and gloom and separation between the city and suburbs because of what the mayor has done," Gordon said. "This brings people together."

Hockey is about family, tradition and hope for if only three 20 minutes periods.

The Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup, notably the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America, was donated in 1892 by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston and son of the Earl of Derby. He purchased the trophy for 10 Guineas ($50.00 at that time) to be presented to "the championship hockey club of the Dominion of Canada." The first team ever awarded the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Amature Athletic Association in 1893.

Since 1910, when the National Hockey Association took possession of the Stanley Cup, the trophy has been symbolic of professional hockey supremacy. Beginning in 1926, only NHL teams have competed for this prized trophy.

Detroit vs. Pittsburgh

Game 1 — Saturday, May 24: Penguins at Red Wings, 8 p.m.

Game 2 — Monday, May 26: Penguins at Red Wings, 8 p.m.

Game 3 — Wednesday, May 28: Red Wings at Penguins, 8 p.m.

Game 4 — Saturday, May 31: Red Wings at Penguins, 8 p.m.

Game 5 — Monday, June 2: Penguins at Red Wings, 8 p.m., if necessary

Game 6 — Wednesday, June 4: Red Wings at Penguins, 8 p.m., if necessary

Game 7 — Saturday, June 7: Penguins at Red Wings, 8 p.m., if necessary

Western Conference Semi-Finals

Detroit vs. Colorado

Thursday, April 24: Colorado at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 26: Colorado at Detroit, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 29: Detroit at Colorado, 10 p.m.
Thursday, May 1: Detroit at Colorado, 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 3: Colorado at Detroit, 1 p.m., if necessary
Monday, May 5: Detroit at Colorado, 10 p.m., if necessary
Wednesday, May 7: Colorado at Detroit, TBD, if necessary

Playoff Time

Detroit vs. Nashville

Thursday, April 10: Nashville at Detroit. 7 p.m., VERSUS

Saturday, April 12: Nashville at Detroit, 2 p.m., NBC

Monday, April 14: Detroit at Nashville, TBD, VERSUS

Wednesday, April 16: Detroit at Nashville, TBD, VERSUS

Friday, April 18: Nashville at Detroit, 7:30 p.m., VERSUS, if necessary

Sunday, April 20: Detroit at Nashville, 3 p.m., NBC, if necessary

Tuesday, April 22: Nashville at Detroit, TBD, if necessary