THE NHL GOES TO JAIL

The DETROIT RED WINGS faced off against Marquette Branch Prison’s hockey team 70 years ago in the NHL’s first-ever outdoor game

BY CLAYTON TRUTOR

LONG BEFORE THE FIRST Winter Classic between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins in front of more than 70,000 fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008, or the trendsetting Canadiens-Oilers Heritage Classic in 2003, an NHL team tried its hand at an outdoor game. On Feb. 2, 1954, the Detroit Red Wings travelled to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for an exhibition game at a maximum-security prison. The likes of Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Terry Sawchuk played in lightly falling snow against the Marquette Branch Prison team for a crowd of roughly 600 felons. “We were all Canadian kids, so we all played a lot outdoors as youngsters,” recalled Detroit left winger Marty Pavelich. “It was delightful. We had stocking caps on. It wasn’t a real cold day, and the ice was…

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The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, Rookie Issue 2024

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