At the price of $100,000, Detroit received its first franchise with the 1926-27 NHL expansion. Detroit received the franchise on May 15, 1926, and purchased the Victoria Cougars on September 25, 1926. Without a home track, the The newly founded Cougars were forced to play their home games across the river at the Border Cities Arena in Windsor, Ontario. November 22, 1927- The Cougars open the season at the Detroit Olympia. 1930-31, unsuccessful with the Cougars name, ownership changed to the Falcons. 1932, James Norris and Arthur Wirtz bought the Falcons and changed the name. The partnership purchased the Detroit Olympia for $250,000. The Falcons agreed to the deal for $100,000. Named after Montreal’s AAA team, “Red Wings” was the name chosen by Norris. October 5, 1932 – Detroit hockey fans were introduced to the new Red Wing name, red uniforms, and the legendary “Winged Crest.”
RED WINGS FOUNDATION – GORDIE HOWE: The first jersey number Gordie wore when he joined the Red Wings was, soon to be forgotten, number 17 for the 1946-47 season. NHL tradition…only veterans of the team were given lower jersey numbers. Rookies scored the highest numbers along with the top berths on road train rides. Being the largest physical member of the Wings roster, Gordie moved to a lower-train position for the 1947-48 season. To make it “official” with the team’s veterans, Howe was also given the number 9. Howe started his NHL career on a very positive note. The Red Wing rookie scored his first NHL goal in his first game. Gordie beat Toronto Maple Leafs goalkeeper Turk Broda at 13:38 of the second period. November 27, 1960 – “Mr. Hockey” became the first player in the National Hockey League to score 1,000 points.
TED LINDSAY: Ted was the first Red Wings player to score 200 goals in franchise history. Lindsay scored the historic goal in a 5–2 victory over the Rangers on December 21, 1952. He became the NHL’s all-time highest scoring left winger during the 1955–56 season. Ted scored Detroit’s only goal in a 2-1 loss at the Montreal Forum on Oct. 29, 1955. His 271st career score surpassed Aurel Joliat’s lifetime total of 270. Lindsay won four Stanley Cups with nine first-place teams. “Terrible” Ted is the oldest regular-season penalty shootout leader. 1958 – 59, Lindsay led the NHL in PiM with 184 minutes in the penalty box. “Terrible” all the way… Ted was the oldest penalty shootout leader at 33.
TERRY SAWCHUK: Terry is the only player to win 3 rookie of the year awards in three professional hockey leagues… winning all 3 awards in 4 years. The rookie hat-trick began in 1947-48 with the USHL Omaha Knights. Moving up through the farm system, Sawchuk repeated in the AHL with the 1948-1949 Indianapolis Chiefs. Refining his skills another year in Indianapolis, “Ukey” was rewarded with a promotion to the Red Wings. Terry captured the Calder Trophy 1950 – 51. Terry Sawchuk was the first goalkeeper to win 250 games in a Red Wing uniform. March 15, 1959: Sawchuk reached that total with a 4-1 victory over Chicago.
REALITY OR FICTION? Early in the 1927-28 season, NHL president Frank Calder suspended Duke Keats. In anger, Duke waved his baton in the direction of some jeering Black Hawks fans…nearly hitting actress Irene Castle. Irene turned out to be the wife of the Hawks’ owner, Major Frederic McLaughlin. The suspension was finally lifted the same day Keats was traded. Keats officially became a Chicago Black Hawk on December 16, 1927. The “bargain basement” contract figures for Gordie Howe’s rookie season with the Red Wings were $2,600. “Mr. Hockey” broke into the NHL, at age 18, with the Red Wings from 1946-47. Rumor has it that Gordie got even more excited about getting into the Red Wing lineup when Jolly Jack sweetened the deal by giving Howe a Red Wings jacket.