A sure sign of fall: Red Wings announce training camp dates

Never mind football. The Detroit Red Wings announced their dates for training camp, a sure sign of fall.

The Wings will again be embedded in Traverse City in their first formal get-together of the 2023-24 season, keeping up with a tradition begun by then-coach Scotty Bowman in the fall of 1997, when he brought the defending Stanley Cup champions to the scenic city beside Grand Traverse Bay.

The on-ice activities for the whole team commence Sept. 21 and run daily through Sept. 25, highlighted by the annual Red and White scrimmage on Sept. 24. It is a time when the coaching staff experiments with line combinations and defense pairings. A full camp roster and complete training camp schedule will be announced later.

Newcomers this year include forwards Alex DeBrincat, J.T. Compher, Daniel Sprong and Christian Fischer; defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Justin Holl, and goaltender James Reimer.

Before the veterans hit the ice, the Wings will partake in the Prospects Tournament from Sept. 14-17. The four-team field also features the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs for four straight days of round-robin action, with each team playing three games.

Advance tickets for all September events in Traverse City will be available at www.centreice.org/drwtickets, starting Aug. 15 at 10 a.m., and will also be sold first-come, firstserved at the arena entrance on the day of each event. Ticket prices are as follows:

NHL Prospect Tournament (Sept. 14-17): h

$15 per day (general admission).

Training Camp Practice (Thursday, Sept. h

21): $20 per day (general admission).

Training Camp Practice (Friday, Sept. 22): h

$20 per day (general admission).

Training Camp Practice (Saturday, Sept. h

23): $20 standing-room, $30 reserved seating or mezzanine.

Red and White Game (Sunday, Sept. 24): h

$25 standing-room, $40 reserved seating or mezzanine.

Training Camp Practice (Monday, Sept. h

25): $10 general admission.

The annual golf tournament will be Sept. 20 at the Traverse City Country Club. Participants will enjoy a pre-round lunch before teaming up with a member of the Wings roster, coaching staff or management team for a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. The round will be immediately followed by a post-golf VIP reception in which attendees can mingle with players and personnel, and have the opportunity to bid on silent and live auction packages, including sports memorabilia.