Otters visit Hockeytown on their day off

Days off on the road are few and far between in the Ontario Hockey League with most trips of the three-in-three or one-and-done variety.

The Erie Otters received a rare off day away from home in Windsor Thursday afternoon, and made the most of it.

The team crossed over the Ambassador Bridge and stopped over at Joe Louis Arena, home of the 11-time Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. Thanks to Red Wings goaltending coach Jim Bedard, who served as an assistant coach with the Otters in their first season in the OHL, the Otters received an exclusive tour of the Red Wings locker room.

As players snapped pictures of their favorite Red Wings’ stalls and other memorabilia encompassing the locker room, Bedard and Red Wings equipment manager Paul Boyer (who worked with Otters head coach Robbie Ftorek in the mid-1990’s at the New Jersey Devils) took questions about the Red Wings.

Players also walked onto the Red Wings bench to see “The Joe” in all of its glory. The 20,000-seat structure has hosted six Stanley Cup Finals, an All-Star Game and many more events in its 31-year history. The banners of Hall of Famers such as Gordie Howe, Terry Sawchuk and Steve Yzerman along with the various championship banners make up one of the most crowded rafters in all of professional sports. Naturally, these banners were popular for photo-taking as well.

After the locker room tour, the team then ate lunch at the famous Hockeytown Café, located steps away from Comerica Park and Ford Field. The hockey-themed restaurant is renowned for its décor (filled with Red Wings artifacts and various motorcycles) and appetizing food.

By the time the Otters returned to Windsor at 4:00 p.m., their day was already made. No worries about practice, a game or anything else. A tour of the Red Wings locker room and a great lunch with their companions took their minds off the game for one day and provided many memories to last a lifetime.