Jeremy Laura: How do you share the game? Building tomorrow’s Red Wing fans

My hockey experience took off in 1968 with playing box lacrosse at the Olympia Stadium in the summer and hockey in the winter (elsewhere). My neighborhood consisted of 6 others that did the same. Our lacrosse aspirations only lasted that 1 summer as the Pro team in Detroit only lasted about as long.

https://crossecheck.com/2...acrosse-association-1968/

Ah......the memories.

We hosted a kid from Swden for Silver Sticks in Port Huron. We also had a close relationship with a player for the Port Huron Flags of the IHL. That enabled me to go to games at McMorran Place arena to watch games....and watch DRW training camps. Then, WPHM, "The voice of the Flags" brought in this dude with a wild voice and almost Frost-like analogies to call games: Doc Emric. I had an AM radio that I would hide under my pillow so mom didn't know I stayed up listening to games. Always the voice of Doc. I could see the glare of light on the ice, feel the pounding roar of the fans, sense the crushing hit,r
revel in the goals. The French Collection ("Menard, from Sauve and Suke!!!!"), Dan O'Halleran played there, Mike McDougal.....I. was. Hooked.

HockeyTown, The Dead Winvs, Lord Gordie, The Captain. The Perfect Human, The Magic Man.......EVERY broadcasted Eings game is on my TV, my daughters LOVE Wings hockey. Took them and my son to a DRW vs 'Canes game in Raleigh....Wings won in OT. In. Credible.

Hockey is one of the most physically and mentally demanding games ever....right up there with rugby. Convince me otherwise. I love the game. Sublime skaters, magic hands, blinding speed, crushing blows. Magical.Those who don't like hockey come to my house and get a lesson on this sublime game, the beauty, the history, the memories. And it all started with a hosted kid from Sweden and a hidden AM radiowith a tin-cup voice of a true legend.

Took some time off to deal with medical stuff, but kept up with your posts, Jeremy. Amazing as always!!!!

My hockey experience took off in 1968 with playing box lacrosse at the Olympia Stadium in the summer and hockey in the winter (elsewhere). My neighborhood consisted of 6 others that did the same. Our lacrosse aspirations only lasted that 1 summer as the Pro team in Detroit only lasted about as long.

https://crossecheck.com/2...acrosse-association-1968/
- HenryHockey

wow, you were ahead of your time. There was a “bump” of hockey kids playing lacrosse a few years back. I got into watching the PLL one summer (Warrior was a major sponsor) and there was a “Rambo” in the league. Was a lot of fun to watch, haven’t checked on them in a while.

Ah......the memories.

We hosted a kid from Swden for Silver Sticks in Port Huron. We also had a close relationship with a player for the Port Huron Flags of the IHL. That enabled me to go to games at McMorran Place arena to watch games....and watch DRW training camps. Then, WPHM, "The voice of the Flags" brought in this dude with a wild voice and almost Frost-like analogies to call games: Doc Emric. I had an AM radio that I would hide under my pillow so mom didn't know I stayed up listening to games. Always the voice of Doc. I could see the glare of light on the ice, feel the pounding roar of the fans, sense the crushing hit,r
revel in the goals. The French Collection ("Menard, from Sauve and Suke!!!!"), Dan O'Halleran played there, Mike McDougal.....I. was. Hooked.

HockeyTown, The Dead Winvs, Lord Gordie, The Captain. The Perfect Human, The Magic Man.......EVERY broadcasted Eings game is on my TV, my daughters LOVE Wings hockey. Took them and my son to a DRW vs 'Canes game in Raleigh....Wings won in OT. In. Credible.

Hockey is one of the most physically and mentally demanding games ever....right up there with rugby. Convince me otherwise. I love the game. Sublime skaters, magic hands, blinding speed, crushing blows. Magical.Those who don't like hockey come to my house and get a lesson on this sublime game, the beauty, the history, the memories. And it all started with a hosted kid from Sweden and a hidden AM radiowith a tin-cup voice of a true legend.

Took some time off to deal with medical stuff, but kept up with your posts, Jeremy. Amazing as always!!!!
- mcmastermike1968

That’s awesome! I miss Doc E. He really loves the game. A friend of mind said he hangs around the Highland/Waterford area at times (near where the summer softball games have been played). Did your kids stay awake for the whole Carolina game?!!! There was a company in Novi featured for supplying their brand of pedialyte to the team. I guess they were going through that and bananas like crazy as the game stretched on! Heal up, good to see you!

That’s awesome! I miss Doc E. He really loves the game. A friend of mind said he hangs around the Highland/Waterford area at times (near where the summer softball games have been played). Did your kids stay awake for the whole Carolina game?!!! There was a company in Novi featured for supplying their brand of pedialyte to the team. I guess they were going through that and bananas like crazy as the game stretched on! Heal up, good to see you!
- Jeremy Laura

Typo in my original, Rick Suek...not Suke :/

We couldn't have slept in that game if we took 50mg of melatonin, it was so loud the area received complaints from neighboring grave yards! Our bodies literally shook with each goal. I've been to game at The Olympia and JLA....those were LOUD, but I dare say it was louder in Raleigh. Those are rabid. Was, and is, one of my top 2 games ever. Big population of Michiganders down here so we were just about as loud as the Caniacs.

I try to make the DRW v 'Canes game in Raleigh every year, but it's been hard these past several. Think they ran out of almost everything that night. My youngest daughter wore our (she stole it, we now "share" it...) #16 jersey, and she tells anyone who asks about Vladdy. We both tear up every time we see him at games, dude. He was an epic player who, I think,paved the way for the development of the offensive defenseman.... not THE guy, but he sure put it on the map. One of my very few, true idols.

My hockey experience took off in 1968 with playing box lacrosse at the Olympia Stadium in the summer and hockey in the winter (elsewhere). My neighborhood consisted of 6 others that did the same. Our lacrosse aspirations only lasted that 1 summer as the Pro team in Detroit only lasted about as long.

https://crossecheck.com/2...acrosse-association-1968/
- HenryHockey

Lacross is a mean game, H. Those guys are massively in shape.

Typo in my original, Rick Suek...not Suke :/

We couldn't have slept in that game if we took 50mg of melatonin, it was so loud the area received complaints from neighboring grave yards! Our bodies literally shook with each goal. I've been to game at The Olympia and JLA....those were LOUD, but I dare say it was louder in Raleigh. Those are rabid. Was, and is, one of my top 2 games ever. Big population of Michiganders down here so we were just about as loud as the Caniacs.

I try to make the DRW v 'Canes game in Raleigh every year, but it's been hard these past several. Think they ran out of almost everything that night. My youngest daughter wore our (she stole it, we now "share" it...) #16 jersey, and she tells anyone who asks about Vladdy. We both tear up every time we see him at games, dude. He was an epic player who, I think,paved the way for the development of the offensive defenseman.... not THE guy, but he sure put it on the map. One of my very few, true idols.
- mcmastermike1968

I forget how strong Vladdy was. I rewatched some ‘97 highlights. He was like a snow plow out there. Losing him and later Jiri F. Both hurt. Those guys could go. I’m pretty sure Vladdy is the guy that rode out of his hometown in the way back portion of a car

Lacross is a mean game, H. Those guys are massively in shape.
- mcmastermike1968

Amen. Those centermen are aerobic machines. Strikers can kind of chill a bit. But if you ever see a goalie go for a coast to coast it’s a fantastic or terrible moment! Not much room for an in between scenario there

A bit disappointed. Couldn’t find the PLL on Peacock, but they do have six nations rugby. You have to scroll a while. The one sport where they perform surgery on the field until the clock stops and they can get a replacement. Beast mode

Amen. Those centermen are aerobic machines. Strikers can kind of chill a bit. But if you ever see a goalie go for a coast to coast it’s a fantastic or terrible moment! Not much room for an in between scenario there
- Jeremy Laura

The son of a friend of our plays for Alabama....kid's turned into a machine. We were talking about his training regimn; full-on psycho strength and asrobic training. There's VERY little that intimidates me; Lacross, forwards in rugby, Vladdy and Gordie top the list🤣🤣

A bit disappointed. Couldn’t find the PLL on Peacock, but they do have six nations rugby. You have to scroll a while. The one sport where they perform surgery on the field until the clock stops and they can get a replacement. Beast mode
- Jeremy Laura

Northern hemisphere rugby is a lot different than southern. Northern guys (6 Nation, etc...) are much more physical whilst the southern guys run like the wind....hit like trucks. I watched a video of the New Zealand All Blacks training camp.....Just. Wow. They're insane. Training for us was evolving when I played: early on was play rugby for an hour then drink like a fish 🤣🤣 Guys in all sports now are massively in shape. It's amazing to watch.

Northern hemisphere rugby is a lot different than southern. Northern guys (6 Nation, etc...) are much more physical whilst the southern guys run like the wind....hit like trucks. I watched a video of the New Zealand All Blacks training camp.....Just. Wow. They're insane. Training for us was evolving when I played: early on was play rugby for an hour then drink like a fish 🤣🤣 Guys in all sports now are massively in shape. It's amazing to watch.
- mcmastermike1968

I’ve watched New Zealand play. I think the game had both teams do traditional tribal greetings before the match. I think a lot of NFL guys would drop trying to do this. The game almost never stops, basically no pads (except those padded hair nets now) and just brutal. The kickers put a better spiral on the ball than some quarterbacks. It’s terrifying how fast and strong these players are. I watched a player grab the ball, punt it about 10 yards and catch his own punt! Went all the way in for a try. (No pats on the back, won’t even call it a goal). At college when the Rugby club walked into the dining hall you could feel it. Just beast mode

I’ve watched New Zealand play. I think the game had both teams do traditional tribal greetings before the match. I think a lot of NFL guys would drop trying to do this. The game almost never stops, basically no pads (except those padded hair nets now) and just brutal. The kickers put a better spiral on the ball than some quarterbacks. It’s terrifying how fast and strong these players are. I watched a player grab the ball, punt it about 10 yards and catch his own punt! Went all the way in for a try. (No pats on the back, won’t even call it a goal). At college when the Rugby club walked into the dining hall you could feel it. Just beast mode
- Jeremy Laura

The AB's are the best.

The "dance" before they play is called "Haka". It harkens back to the Maori war tribes inviting the enemy to battle. Maori are very expressionistic, so the facial expressions and movements all have meaning. The AB's have 2 Haka: Ka mate which is the more traditional; Kapa O Pango which is an AB-specific dance. Fiji and Samoa also do versions of Haka but have different names. Was in Chicago in '14 when they played the UA Eagles; Haka sent chills through the entire 64,000 fans.

The ABs had a guy Named Jonah Lomu who really brought rugby to the mainstream. He was 6'6", weighed 260 and ran a 4.8 40 yard dash. The Dallas Cowboys sent him a $1m check just to try out for the team but he turned it down,said American foot ball was too boring and we took too many breaks!

The Port Huron Flags had a guy on the team from NZ; Bill MacNaught....dude hit like a sunami. Used his rugby skills to take better angles of attack and find gaps in defensive coverage.

Vladdy could do the same thing, watching that guy play was a lesson in controlled savagry. If the accident never happened, I wonder how big of a name he would've been. That guy's a true warrior.

The AB's are the best.

The "dance" before they play is called "Haka". It harkens back to the Maori war tribes inviting the enemy to battle. Maori are very expressionistic, so the facial expressions and movements all have meaning. The AB's have 2 Haka: Ka mate which is the more traditional; Kapa O Pango which is an AB-specific dance. Fiji and Samoa also do versions of Haka but have different names. Was in Chicago in '14 when they played the UA Eagles; Haka sent chills through the entire 64,000 fans.

The ABs had a guy Named Jonah Lomu who really brought rugby to the mainstream. He was 6'6", weighed 260 and ran a 4.8 40 yard dash. The Dallas Cowboys sent him a $1m check just to try out for the team but he turned it down,said American foot ball was too boring and we took too many breaks!

The Port Huron Flags had a guy on the team from NZ; Bill MacNaught....dude hit like a sunami. Used his rugby skills to take better angles of attack and find gaps in defensive coverage.

Vladdy could do the same thing, watching that guy play was a lesson in controlled savagry. If the accident never happened, I wonder how big of a name he would've been. That guy's a true warrior.
- mcmastermike1968

What I loved about seeing the warrior ceremony was that the expressions harkened to some of the native art/masks and the psychological role intimidation plays. It is non stop action and they literally don’t leave the field of play until it’s allowed. Players being taped up, splinted (check youtube for “rugby player resets his own knee. It’s a tough watch but he puts his knee back in place by punching it and rejoins the play)

Vladdy, man. I had a good friend wonder what his career would have done for him and the team. My wife and I were left tix at the old Joe Louis player parking lot. As I was walking in, I always hold the door just in case. Vladdy came in behind us using his walker. He was fighting but he was determined. He nodded as I held the door and headed off. My wife and I both got a bit emotional seeing someone fight so hard to be able to have some amount of autonomy who had been a giant. But that spirit says a lot about the man.

Jeremy Laura: How do you share the game? Building tomorrow’s Red Wing fans
- Jeremy Laura

Hopefully it’s not like how you people treat new Red Wings fans. Definitely don’t recommend anyone being hated for supporting their team. Hopefully you guys figure out A) how to support your own team, and B ) how to allow other people to follow the team you guys hate