Detroit Red Wings Clips February 4, 2015

Transcription

1 Detroit Red Wings Clips February 4, 2015 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Gordie Howe to travel to Saskatoon for dementia fundraiser PAGE 3 Jimmy Howard hopes to return next week for Red Wings PAGE 5 Dads 'pumped' about Wings' annual father-son road trip PAGE 7 Wings' Howard hopes to return vs. Penguins PAGE 9 Detroit Red Wings' annual Fathers Trip eagerly anticipated by veterans and first-timers alike PAGE 11 Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard practices with team, hopes to return to action Feb. 11 in Pittsburgh PAGE 13 Jimmy Howard has target date for his return from groin injury

2 Gordie Howe to travel to Saskatoon for dementia fundraiser By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 8:42 p.m. EST February 3, 2015 Gordie Howe has made such a dramatic recovery after having stem cell therapy in December in Tijuana, Mexico that he's heading to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan this weekend for a dementia fundraiser involving Wayne Gretzky. The Kinsmen Arena there will be renamed the Gordie Howe Kinsman Arena. Murray Howe raced from Toledo, Ohio to Lubbock, Texas in late October, unsure whether his father, who had suffered a massive stroke, would still be alive when he got there. The Detroit Red Wings hockey legend was being cared for by his daughter, Cathy, and family members were advised to get there quickly if they wanted to see him again. Murray Howe told the Free Press in a telephone interview Tuesday he was heading back to Lubbock on Wednesday to help accompany his father, along with other family members, to Saskatoon for the public appearance at a Friday night dinner. Gordie Howe's younger brother, Vic, who played for the New York Rangers, died Saturday at age 85 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Murray Howe said Gordie would not be able to attend his brother's funeral, but would be with two sisters, Helen and Vi, while in Saskatoon and the family would gather there for a memorial service for their brother. Although the event in Saskatoon had been planned for more than a year, the Howe family told organizers in August that Gordie probably wouldn't be able to attend because of declining health. They definitely didn't think he'd be able to attend following a series of strokes that he had in the months that followed. But Howe has made a drastic recovery, to the point that family members told the organizers "if there's an extra chair for him, he thinks he can make it." Murray Howe said he was very skeptical when representatives from Stemedica reached out a following the news of Gordie Howe's massive stroke. "Stem cells weren't even on my radar," Murray Howe said, who did a bunch of research before his father agreed to pursue the therapy. Stemedica has a stem cell trial in the U.S., but patients have to wait six months following their stroke before they can begin to the therapy. The stem cell trial by Novastem at Clinica Santa Clarita in Mexico did not require a six-month wait. "The studies abroad suggested the quicker you get the stem cells (following a stroke), the better your response is going to be," Murray Howe said. Murray Howe was there with his father to see the therapy firsthand. "I was able to be there for the two-part procedure," Murray said. "The leap of faith was, was it going to do anything?" Murray said. "Even looking at the data and seeing some of the amazing results they have, I was still so skeptical because 2

3 I had never seen any kind of response from somebody after a stroke to any kind of treatment. To me the proof was going to be in the pudding. We hoped, but we had zero expectations." "Our dad was the kind of guy, he'll go the extra mile if it thinks it will help somebody. We wanted to go that extra mile for him and give him that chance. "Of course, we were so thrilled when he did get the response that he did." Murray Howe said his father now walks on his own. "He feeds himself, he can help out folding laundry," Murray Howe said. "He can walk about a half mile. He'll probably have to sit down every 100 yards or so to take a short rest. Some times are better than others. Sometimes he's a little bit wobbly on his feet. He calls himself Wobbly Wilbur. But he'll shake it off and get a little dance in his step and he'll be fine." Murray Howe said if his father continues to see increased improvement over the next few months, there's a chance they may go back for a second treatment. "At this point, we're planning to do that," Murray said. "There's a good chance in June, God willing, if my dad is still alive and is willing, we would take him again for a second treatment." But this weekend, Gordie Howe will travel a few extra miles to Saskatoon to help raise money for others. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

4 Jimmy Howard hopes to return next week for Red Wings By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 7:04 p.m. EST February 3, 2015 Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard, who hasn't played since suffering a slight torn groin Jan. 10 against the Washington Capitals, was a participant for part of the team practice today at Joe Louis Arena and is shooting to return next Wednesday, when the Red Wings visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. "I think we're right on schedule," said Howard, adding that he doesn't want to be out longer than necessary, but also doesn't want to rush to return too soon. Petr Mrazek, who will start for the Wings in net on the road Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, has won six of the eight games he's played in since Howard was injured. Howard was contemplating a possible return this Saturday, when the Red Wings visit the Arizona Coyotes. The extra time off will benefit him, he said. He plans to push himself in practice so "the legs and lungs are ready to go." DAD TRIP: The fathers of Luke Glendening and Stephen Weiss will be among those traveling for the first time on the Red Wings' annual fathers trip, which starts Thursday in Colorado. Weiss said the other NHL teams he played on did not have a trip for fathers, so this is a special opportunity for his dad, Karl, who lives in Toronto. "Always wanted to be part of something like that and really looking forward to it," Stephen said of his father. "We don't see each other that much anymore, especially during the season. To be able to spend a few days together, especially on the road, and for him to see what it's like on a road trip will be pretty special. Not too many people get a chance to see that. He's really looking forward to it and so am." Glendening said he's looking forward to bringing his father for the first time. "I was in the middle of being up or down and got sent down right in the middle of last year's father's trip," Glendening said. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said he likes getting to know the fathers. He also thinks it helps motivate the players. "It's a great opportunity to perform in front of your dad and be around your dad and give your dad thanks," Babcock said. "To me, all these opportunities are because your parents helped you out along the way or else you'd never be here. Babcock knows a little bit about what the fathers are feeling too. "I get goosebumps when I watch my kids play sports," he said. "I can't imagine it being any different for them." 4

5 NOTEBOOK: Henrik Zetterberg didn't practice today, but Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said it was just a maintenance day for the team captain. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

6 Dads 'pumped' about Wings' annual father-son road trip Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 5:27 p.m. EST February 3, 2015 Detroit No dad probably anticipated this season's father-son trip more than Karl Weiss. Stephen Weiss' father would have gone last season but Stephen had groin surgery shortly before the trip began and wasn't able to travel, forcing Karl to sit out, too. The Weisses are ready to go on this trip, which began Tuesday night when the Red Wings left town this week for Denver and Glendale, Arizona. "For two years he's had it circled," Stephen Weiss said. "He's pumped." Weiss said his previous team, the Florida Panthers, never had a similar trip. So his father is looking forward to seeing every aspect of what goes on during an NHL road trip. The fathers room with their sons, they attend the morning skates and sit in on team meetings, and bus and fly with the team. "Seeing the plane and how it is on the road, he's looking forward to it," Weiss said. "When he comes to visit, he kind of sees my home routine but it's a little different on the road. "But it'll be good to just spend some time together. We don't get to see each other much, especially during the season." Jimmy Howard's father James Howard II is one of the veterans among the dads on the trip. "He's had a few under his best and he always looks forward to it," Howard said. "He's looking forward to come back and see all the dads he's met on the previous trips and reunite the friendships he's made." Coach Mike Babcock believes this is one of the fun weeks of the year and breaks up the monotony of a long regular season. "It's a great trip for the guys, and the dads love it," Babcock said. "It's a great opportunity to perform in front of your dad and give him thanks." Babcock has gotten to know many of the dads over the years and "they're good guys and they have fun. The most important thing is to have beers with the coach after we get off the bus so I can get all the gossip." Detroit News LOADED:

7 Wings' Howard hopes to return vs. Penguins Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 5:09 p.m. EST February 3, 2015 Detroit Jimmy Howard has a date on the calendar circled. Howard, recovering from a slight groin tear, is pointing to Feb. 11 game in Pittsburgh as his return to the lineup. Howard has been out since injuring himself in the first period of the Jan. 10 game in Washington. "That's what we're shooting for," said Howard, who took part in about half of Tuesday's practice. "At first we were shooting for Phoenix (Saturday), but that would probably be rushing it too much. "This way I have a couple more practices to push it." Howard took part in the goaltending drills at Tuesday's practice and continues to be enthusiastic about his recovery. "Today was the first time I skated with the team, and even though it was just spot duty, it felt great to be out there," Howard said. "I was out there on my own with Jimmy (goaltending coach Jimmy Bedard) and then came back and did all the goatlending drills, stayed out there for about 30 minutes. It was good. I didn't feel anything, so I'm just going to continue to push it here." Howard feels he's right on target in terms of his rehabilitation. "Right on schedule," Howard said. "We don't want to push it too soon, but we also don't want to be out longer than I have to be. We're doing everything at the right pace." One thing seems apparent to anyone who saw Howard prone in serious pain near the crease in Washington the veteran goalie appears to have escaped a serious injury and a lengthier stay on the injured list. "When it happened, I was really nervous," Howard said. "I wasn't able to put any pressure on the leg and was basically walking around on crutches for 24 to 48 hours. "But it responded well after a couple days off of it, and it's progressed every single day. We haven't had any setbacks, knock on wood." Ice chips Henrik Zetterberg didn't practice Tuesday, both general manager Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock calling it a "maintenance day" and saying Zetterberg will be in the lineup Thursday in Colorado. Babcock said Petr Mrazek will get the start against the Avalanche, Mrazek's ninth consecutive start since Howard was injured. Jonas Gustavsson is scheduled to rejoin the Red Wings on Thursday after playing his second conditioning game Wednesday in Grand Rapids. 7

8 The flight to Denver on Tuesday night will be a full one. This week's trip is the annual fathers' trip, with players free to bring along their father, brother or any mentor. Detroit News LOADED:

9 Detroit Red Wings' annual Fathers Trip eagerly anticipated by veterans and firsttimers alike Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on February 03, 2015 at 9:49 PM, updated February 03, 2015 at 9:50 PM DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings' annual Fathers/Mentors trip never gets old for those who've experienced it many times, like Jimmy Howard's dad, James II. Others who will be experiencing it for the first time, like Luke Glendening and Riley Sheahan's fathers, are eager to spend time with their sons and see what happens behind the scenes on road trips. It's a good time for all involved. It can also be a little nerve-wracking, apparently. "The most important thing is have a few beers with the coach once you get off the bus and get all the gossip on all the guys," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I'll never forget it, the first time we had a dad's trip (in ) and Stevie Yzerman's dad is standing next to me and (Yzerman) is standing over there watching and he just looked worried what his dad would be telling me. They're a little nervous when their dads are hanging out with the coach. It's fun." The dads/mentors/friends will be flying with the team to Denver Wednesday morning for practices and games at Colorado (Thursday, 9 p.m.) and Arizona (Saturday, 8 p.m.). "It's a great trip for the guys. The dad's love it," Babcock said. "It's great to be able to perform in front of your dad and give your dad thanks. To me all these opportunities in life are because your parents helped you out along the way or else you'd never be here." Babcock isn't bringing anyone on the trip because his father isn't healthy enough to travel. But he'll have a friend he played hockey with attending the dad's dinner in Phoenix on Friday. "You want to do well when your dad is here," Babcock said. "You want your dad to be proud of you and you're proud of your dad. I always prayed I would have the same kind of relationship with my son as I do with my dad. I do now. It's a fantastic thing. I get goose bumps when I go and watch my kids play sports. I can't imagine it being any different for them." The Florida Panthers didn't have such a trip during Stephen Weiss' 10 seasons there. Weiss didn't make the trip last season with the Red Wings, having undergone surgery for a sports hernia less than a week before. "I always heard about teams doing it and I remember once playing against Detroit in Florida and they had their Fathers Trip at that time and seeing them all down there at the game," Weiss said. "I always wanted to be a part of something like that and I'm really looking forward to it." So is his dad, Karl, who lives in Toronto. 9

10 "We don't get to see each other that much anymore, especially during the season, so to be able to spend a few days together, especially on the road, and for him to see what it's like for us on a road trip, see the plane and stuff like that, will be pretty special," Weiss said. "He's really looking forward to it and so am I." Because Glendening was shuttling back and forth from Grand Rapids to Detroit the first half of last season he wasn't able to bring his father, Tom, on the dads' trip to Florida and Nashville Dec "I don't know if I've had an experience like that, but I'm really looking forward to it," Glendening said. "He's excited. I'm excited that he'll be with me and we'll get to spend some time together." Sheahan was playing for the Griffins during last season's fathers' trip. He said his dad, Mike, who lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, has been his biggest supporter. "He's definitely pumped and I'm excited to have him come," Sheahan said. "When you can share the experience with someone who means so much to you it means a lot. For him to get to see some of the behind the scenes stuff and different experiences we have it's definitely cool." Joakim Andersson's father, Jan-Ove, traveled from Sweden to take part in his first such trip. "He's going to have a blast," Andersson said. Howard's father is quite familiar with the routine. "He's got quite a few (trips) under his belt and he always looks forward to it," Howard said. "He always likes coming back and seeing the dads again, the ones he's met on previous trips and reuniting that friendship." He won't get to see his son play, however, as Howard is out at least two more games with a groin injury. Michigan Live LOADED:

11 Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard practices with team, hopes to return to action Feb. 11 in Pittsburgh Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on February 03, 2015 at 2:24 PM, updated February 03, 2015 at 2:30 PM DETROIT - Jimmy Howard's recovery from a groin injury is right on schedule. The Detroit Red Wings goaltender practiced Tuesday for about 30 minutes, what he called "spot duty." It's the first time he has skated with the club since getting injured on Jan. 10 in Washington. Howard is targeting Feb. 11 in Pittsburgh for his return. "I think we're right on schedule of where we want to be," Howard said. "We don't want to push it too soon but we also don't want to be out longer than I have to be, so we're doing everything I think at the right pace. "Hopefully in Pittsburgh be back out there. That's what we're shooting for. At first we had Phoenix (on Saturday) circled, but we thought that would probably be just rushing it a little too much and (the Pittsburgh game) will allow me a couple more practices to push it." Howard will gradually increase the intensity in practice during the trip to Colorado and Arizona. "Basically bag myself out there so legs and lungs are ready to go," Howard said. He feels fortunate to escape with only a slight tear in his groin when he extended his leg trying to make a save less than two minutes into the game against the Capitals, heard something pop and had to be carried off on a stretcher. "When it happened I was really nervous, not being able to put any pressure on the leg or basically walk," Howard said. "I was on crutches for hours. It responded well after a couple of days of being off of it. You know it's progressed every single day, so it's good. We haven't had any setbacks, knock on wood. Hopefully we can just keep pushing it." Howard enjoyed a terrific first half, getting selected for the All-Star Game after going , with a 2.11 goals-against average and.920 save percentage. The club has done remarkably well in his absence, going behind Petr Mrazek (Tom McCollum won a game in relief during that stretch). Coach Mike Babcock said Mrazek will start Thursday in Colorado. Jonas Gustavsson will complete his two-game conditioning stint with the Grand Rapids Griffins Wednesday in Toronto and then join the team in Denver. Henrik Zetterberg didn't practice Tuesday, taking a "maintenance day." Babcock said he will play on Thursday. Here are the lines and defense pairs they skated with: 11

12 Daniel Cleary (for Zetterberg)-Justin Abdelkader-Gustav Nyquist Darren Helm-Pavel Datsyuk-Tomas Tatar Stephen Weiss-Riley Sheahan-Luke Glendening Tomas Jurco-Joakim Andersson-Drew Miller On defense: Jonathan Ericsson-Niklas Kronwall Kyle Quincey-Danny DeKeyser Brendan Smith-Alexey Marchenko Jakub Kind In goal: Petr Mrazek (starting Thursday) Tom McCollum Jimmy Howard Michigan Live LOADED:

13 Jimmy Howard has target date for his return from groin injury By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily Posted: 02/03/15, 6:56 PM EST Updated: 14 secs ago DETROIT >> As far as recovering from an injury goes, everything is right on track for Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. Howard took part in his first practice with the team Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena, albeit splitting time with Tom McCollum, since injuring his groin in the first period Jan. 10 in Washington. Even though it was just spot duty it felt great to be back out there, Howard said. I was out there before on my own with (goalie coach) Jimmy (Bedard) and then came out and did all the goalie drills at the beginning and stayed out for about 30 minutes in practice. It was good, didn t really feel anything, so we re just going to continue to push it. The best news is he has a target date to return, a week from Wednesday on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins. I think we re right on schedule of where we want to be, Howard said. We don t want to push it too soon, but we also don t want to be out longer than I have to be, so we re doing everything I think at the right pace. Hopefully against Pittsburgh I ll be back out there, Howard continued. That s what we re shooting for. At first we had Phoenix circled, but we thought that would probably be just rushing it a little too much and Pitt will allow me a couple more practices to push it. Howard will gradually increase the intensity at practices during the Wings trip to Colorado and Arizona. Basically I bag myself out there so the legs and lungs are ready to go, Howard said. Howard was injured after he gave the puck away behind the net and then lunged his left leg backwards to try and reach the post before Washington s Troy Brouwer scored just 1:53 into the first period. He was carted off on a stretcher. I think I definitely escaped series injury, Howard said. When it happened I was really nervous, not being able to put any pressure on the leg or basically walk. I was on crutches for hours. It responded well after a couple of days of being off of it. Howard is in the midst of having one of his best seasons in Detroit, posting a record, with a 2.11 goals-against average and.920 save percentage. He was also the Wings lone All-Star choice, but could not participate at the event because of the injury. Despite his absence Detroit has gone with Petr Mrazek getting the bulk of the workload. 13

14 It s progressed every single day, so it s good, Howard said. We haven t had any setbacks, knock on wood. Hopefully we can just keep pushing it. Henrik Zetterberg was absent at practice, but will play Thursday according to Wings general manager Ken Holland. Mrazek will start in Colorado. Jonas Gustavsson will complete his two-game conditioning stint with Grand Rapids Wednesday in Toronto and then join the team in Denver. There has still been no sign of Johan Franzen in the Wings locker room since he was injured on Jan. 6. I don t think he s doing great, but I don t really know, Holland said. He doesn t come here. Until he gets to the point where they re telling me he s starting to work out, he s starting to train, we run the team like they re not on the team. Macomb Daily LOADED: