Lancers greats to take on red wings alumni
Queen’s Cup-winning Lancers team to take on Red Wings old-timers before induction
University of Windsor Lancers men’s hockey head coach Kevin Hamlin wanted to mark the occasion in a special way.
The Lancers’ 1997-98 hockey team, which won the school’s first Queen’s Cup title, will be honoured with the Team Achievement Award when the school inducts its 2018 Alumni Sports Hall of Fame class on Sept. 30.
“The Hall of Fame is nice, but we thought this could be a memorable moment,” Hamlin said. Hamlin and Lancers general manager Greg Prymack came up with the idea that the 1997-98 team play the Detroit Red Wings alumni team. The game is set for Sept. 29 at South Windsor Arena at 4 p.m. with the current Lancers team playing an exhibition game with the Guelph Gryphons afterward.
“I thought it would be a nice way to celebrate a team that meant so much to the school and to the area,” Hamlin said.
A call to Windsor native and former Red Wings goalie Eddie Mio got the ball rolling.
“I was pretty excited when Kevin Hamlin asked,” Mio said. The 64-year-old Mio spent three seasons with the Red Wings before ending his career after the 1985-86 season and he’s excited to be back on the ice.
“I’ll start the game and it depends on how the hip is,” Mio said of how long he will play. “I got a new hip. I used to only be able to play 10-20 minutes of the first half, but last year, after the new hip, it felt pretty good.” Former Red Wings Nick Libett, John Ogrodnick, Brent Fedyk and Kevin Miller have already committed to the game along with former NHLer and Windsor Spitfires centre Kyle Wellwood. “We’re trying to get hold of a few local guys to play with us to have a good Windsor flair,” Mio said. “It’s a chance for all of us to get together and tell each other how good it used to be, but the main thing is we get to help out the community.
“Since it started in the ’50s, (the alumni association) has given a lot back and that’s because it’s given us so much. It’s a satisfying feeling and it gives us a chance to compete. It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about, hopefully, the fans see the game hasn’t changed. It’s about having fun with the other team.” Hamlin said the response from the 1997-98 team has been good with 15 players already committed and another two or three still possible.
“It’s nice for our guys to get to play against the Red Wing old-timers,” said Rick Cranker, who coached that championship team. “I think some of the kids coming back are excited. It was a pretty significant year in our history.”
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under and can be purchased at Nantais Athletics, Peroni’s Hockey World, at the St. Denis Centre or online at www.goLancers.ca/tickets.