WTFchris
05-31-2008, 03:39 PM
Red Wings spend off day in lap of luxury
by Ansar Khan Saturday May 31, 2008, 1:15 AM
PITTSBURGH -- Chris Osgood and Kris Draper teamed up to win the miniature golf tournament. Niklas Kronwall tackled an obstacle course 40 feet in the air. Henrik Zetterberg reeled in a 16-inch trout. Chris Chelios tried fly-fishing for the first time -- and the last time. With a two-day break during the middle of the Stanley Cup finals, the Detroit Red Wings got away from it all, getting recharged with a day of rest and relaxation Thursday at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, 70 miles outside of Pittsburgh.
"Got some sun, got rejuvenated," Brett Lebda said after practice Friday. "It was nice to get away from everything. You don't want to be sitting in downtown Pittsburgh on a day off when it's that nice."
Coach Mike Babcock said the team originally intended to fly home after Game 3 Wednesday, but he's glad they didn't.
"It was great, absolutely fantastic," Babcock said. "Totally get away from hockey and do something different, which I think is important."
Kirk Maltby called it a good change of pace, something he said the team wasn't able to have during his three trips to the finals in 1997, '98 and 2002. And it would have been better if not for one bad hole by his partner in mini-golf.
"I had Dan Cleary and we had a chance to win it until the halfway point, and then he had a 14 on a hole, took us out of the running," Maltby said.
"It was a lot easier than we thought. Key was a couple of holes-in-one," Draper said. "Ozzie once again elevated his game. I was riding Ozzie's coattails like I have for the last couple of months."
Tomas Holmstrom rested his sore hamstring by hanging out at the pool and driving around one of the three golf courses in a cart.
"Beautiful day in the sun," Holmstrom said. "They had animals, some bears and tigers."
The day wasn't quite as relaxing for Chelios.
"I got frustrated. I never fly-fished before," he said. "I didn't like it. I'll never do it again. Too much work. You've got to have a little touch to do this, a little technique. Fishing should be more relaxing."
More outdoor fun
The Red Wings' two Chicago natives, Chelios and Lebda, like the idea of an outdoor game in their hometown next season. The NHL has approached the Red Wings about playing the Blackhawks at Wrigley Field or Soldier Field, but general manager Ken Holland said it's not a done deal.
"If it happened, I couldn't think of a better setting," Chelios said. "Wrigley might be a little bit warmer, being off the lake, but if you're selling the game for more people, Soldier Field would be an ideal place. Either place would be a great, historic building."
Said Lebda: "It's kind of cool when you hear it. I grew up going to Wrigley and watching the Cubs, and the Cubs are still my favorite baseball team. Just the history there and being able to be part of an outdoor game would be great."
It would be the third outdoor game in league history, the second in the U.S., following this past season's Winter Classic in Buffalo between the Sabres and Penguins.
"I bet it would be a hot ticket, something probably everyone would want to go to," Lebda said.
Chelios, whose future with the team is uncertain, said, "If I'm playing, I'll make an announcement in the press, 'No tickets.'"
by Ansar Khan Saturday May 31, 2008, 1:15 AM
PITTSBURGH -- Chris Osgood and Kris Draper teamed up to win the miniature golf tournament. Niklas Kronwall tackled an obstacle course 40 feet in the air. Henrik Zetterberg reeled in a 16-inch trout. Chris Chelios tried fly-fishing for the first time -- and the last time. With a two-day break during the middle of the Stanley Cup finals, the Detroit Red Wings got away from it all, getting recharged with a day of rest and relaxation Thursday at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, 70 miles outside of Pittsburgh.
"Got some sun, got rejuvenated," Brett Lebda said after practice Friday. "It was nice to get away from everything. You don't want to be sitting in downtown Pittsburgh on a day off when it's that nice."
Coach Mike Babcock said the team originally intended to fly home after Game 3 Wednesday, but he's glad they didn't.
"It was great, absolutely fantastic," Babcock said. "Totally get away from hockey and do something different, which I think is important."
Kirk Maltby called it a good change of pace, something he said the team wasn't able to have during his three trips to the finals in 1997, '98 and 2002. And it would have been better if not for one bad hole by his partner in mini-golf.
"I had Dan Cleary and we had a chance to win it until the halfway point, and then he had a 14 on a hole, took us out of the running," Maltby said.
"It was a lot easier than we thought. Key was a couple of holes-in-one," Draper said. "Ozzie once again elevated his game. I was riding Ozzie's coattails like I have for the last couple of months."
Tomas Holmstrom rested his sore hamstring by hanging out at the pool and driving around one of the three golf courses in a cart.
"Beautiful day in the sun," Holmstrom said. "They had animals, some bears and tigers."
The day wasn't quite as relaxing for Chelios.
"I got frustrated. I never fly-fished before," he said. "I didn't like it. I'll never do it again. Too much work. You've got to have a little touch to do this, a little technique. Fishing should be more relaxing."
More outdoor fun
The Red Wings' two Chicago natives, Chelios and Lebda, like the idea of an outdoor game in their hometown next season. The NHL has approached the Red Wings about playing the Blackhawks at Wrigley Field or Soldier Field, but general manager Ken Holland said it's not a done deal.
"If it happened, I couldn't think of a better setting," Chelios said. "Wrigley might be a little bit warmer, being off the lake, but if you're selling the game for more people, Soldier Field would be an ideal place. Either place would be a great, historic building."
Said Lebda: "It's kind of cool when you hear it. I grew up going to Wrigley and watching the Cubs, and the Cubs are still my favorite baseball team. Just the history there and being able to be part of an outdoor game would be great."
It would be the third outdoor game in league history, the second in the U.S., following this past season's Winter Classic in Buffalo between the Sabres and Penguins.
"I bet it would be a hot ticket, something probably everyone would want to go to," Lebda said.
Chelios, whose future with the team is uncertain, said, "If I'm playing, I'll make an announcement in the press, 'No tickets.'"