• Winger Leads All QMJHL Skaters With 45 Goals in 58 Games

The Detroit Red Wings today signed right wing Alexandre Doucet to a three-year entry-level contract.

Doucet, 21, has skated in 58 games between the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Val d’Or Foreurs and Halifax Mooseheads this season, ranking among the league leaders with 45 goals (1st), 44 assists (T11th), 89 points (4th), 11 power play goals (T6th), eight shorthanded goals (1st) and a 26.9 shooting percentage (1st). The 6-foot, 187-pound forward has recorded 36 points (18-18-36), a plus-21 rating, 12 penalty minutes, four power play goals, one shorthanded goal and a 25.7 shooting percentage in 24 games since being acquired by Halifax from Val d’Or on Dec. 21. He established a career-high 14-game point streak from Dec. 11-Jan. 21, racking up 27 points (10-17-27) in that span. In total, Doucet has accumulated 221 points (95-126-221), a plus-35 rating, 78 penalty minutes and a 20.4 shooting percentage in 228 games with Val D’Or and Halifax since 2018-19. The Sherbrooke, Quebec, native has also registered 11 points (4-7-11), a plus-nine rating and 20 penalty minutes in 19 postseason contests with Val d’Or, helping the club reach the 2021 President Cup Final.

Prior to his major junior career, Doucet tallied 56 points (29-27-56), a plus-44 rating and 20 penalty minutes in 39 games with the Magog Cantonniers of the Quebec Midget AAA League from 2017-19, along with 27 points (24-3-27) in 27 postseason appearances. He led Magog to the QMAAA championship in 2019 after posting 23 points (21-2-23) in 15 playoff games. Doucet also collected 39 points (19-20-39) in 31 games at the under-17 level with the Triolet Harfangs Midget Esploir team from 2016-18. He logged 24 points (10-14-24) in 29 games with the Triolet Harfangs Bantam AAA team in 2016-17, and 49 points (27-22-49) in 31 games with the Triolet Harfangs Bantam AA squad during the 2015-16 campaign.

• Chris Ilitch Accepts Role as Senior Corporate Chair
• 68^th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner to take Place June 25

Continuing a 34-year legacy of supporting the Detroit Branch NAACP, Chris Ilitch, CEO,  Ilitch Companies, accepted the role of Senior Corporate Chair of the 68^th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner at the Passing of the Gavel an event held earlier this week at The Roostertail.

The Freedom Fund Dinner, the largest sit-down dinner in the world, will take place on June 25 at Huntington Place, culminating a weekend-long commemoration of the 60^th Anniversary of the Freedom Walk, led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King on Woodward Avenue in 1963.  

“I’m honored that my chairmanship occurs during the anniversary year of the Walk to Freedom. While much has been accomplished since 1963, we still have much more to do to fulfill the promise of equal opportunity for all,” said Ilitch. “I am excited about working together now – because this is our time to make progress and impact the lives of this generation and others to come.”

At the Passing of the Gavel event, Ilitch accepted the corporate chair’s gavel from outgoing Senior Corporate Chair, Gary Torgow, chairman of Huntington National Bank. Additionally, Charity Dean, president and CEO of the Metro Black Business Association, accepted the Senior Community Chair gavel from Ray Curry, president of the UAW.,

“We are excited to have Chris serve as Senior Corporate Chair,” said Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit Branch NAACP. “Remembering the words of Mike Ilitch, ‘One person can have a tremendous effect on a team.’  As a leader in our community Chris will bring a high level of determination to ensure our team success for the Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.”

Mike Ilitch, who, along with his wife Marian Ilitch, founded Little Caesars, held the Detroit Branch NAACP Senior Corporate Chair position in 1989, and the following year Little Caesar Enterprises was named a lifetime member of the NAACP.

Guests at the Passing of the Gavel event this week included NAACP board members, dinner committee members, elected officials and others. To underscore Ilitch Companies’ small business legacy, each attendee received a gift box featuring curated items from Detroit-based Black-owned businesses, including some of those who have partnered with the Ilitch organization to pop up at Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena over the past year.

Tickets for the 68^th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner will be available for purchase at https://www.detroitnaacp.org.

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• Defenseman Has Recorded 10 Points and a Plus-17 Rating in 40 Games

The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman Jake Walman to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.4 million.

Walman, 27, has skated in 40 games with the Red Wings this season, recording 10 points (5-5-10), a plus-17 rating and 29 penalty minutes in 18:55 average time on ice. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenseman scored his first career overtime goal on Dec. 28 at Pittsburgh and netted three goals in a four-game span from Jan. 7-14. Walman split the 2021-22 campaign between the St. Louis Blues and Red Wings, collecting 10 points (3-7-10) and 10 penalty minutes in 51 contests. He was acquired by Detroit from St. Louis on March 21, 2022 with center Oskar Sundqvist and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for defensemen Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski. Originally selected by St. Louis in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Walman has logged 22 points (9-13-22), a plus-eight rating and 47 penalty minutes in 116 career NHL games since 2019-20. Walman made his Stanley Cup playoff debut with the Blues in Game 4 of the 2021 Western Conference First Round against Colorado, tallying one shot in 15:24 time on ice. The Toronto, Ont., native has also played in 169 American Hockey League games between the Chicago Wolves, Binghamton Devils and San Antonio Rampage, totaling 63 points (17-46-63) and 106 penalty minutes.

Prior to turning professional, Walman played three seasons at Providence College, registering 69 points (21-48-69), a plus-28 rating and 106 penalty minutes in 107 games from 2014-17. During his freshman season, Walman helped the Friars win the program’s first-ever NCAA National Championship and was named to the NCAA All-East Regional Team. He led all NCAA defensemen in goals (13), points per game (1.04), power-play goals (8) and game-winning goals (4) during his sophomore campaign and was named to the CCM All-American First Team. Walman was also a First Team Hockey East All-Star during his sophomore and junior seasons, in addition to being named a Hobey Baker Nominee following his junior year. Before joining Providence, Walman had a decorated season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, contributing 33 points (7-26-33) in 43 games en route to being named the league’s Rookie of the Year.

An overhead look at the Detroit Tigers media day at spring training!

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• Global pizza chain takes a bite out of the Big Apple with plans to open hundreds of restaurants in the New York metropolitan area over the next several years

Little Caesars, the global family-owned pizza chain with stores in each of the 50 U.S. states and across 27 countries and territories, announced today the signing of a 10-store restaurant agreement to expand its presence in New York City. Veteran multi-brand franchisees Suhel Ahmed and Saurabh Desai signed the deal and will develop 10 Little Caesars restaurants in the Bronx and upper Manhattan by 2026. The first opening is scheduled for late 2023.

“New York City is an iconic pizza market, and we’re eager to bring more of our high-quality, great-value products and fast, convenient ordering options to the city,” said Jeremy Vitaro, Little Caesars chief development officer. “Convenience is key in a fast-paced city like New York, and our brand’s digital-first offerings—like our Pizza Portal® pickup, the first heated, self-serve mobile order pick-up station in the quick service restaurant industry—are ideal for residents there. We’re excited to work with Suhel and Saurabh, who have extensive experience developing restaurants in New York City, to help grow our presence in the market.”

Ahmed and Desai—both New York City natives—have more than 40 years of combined restaurant experience. They also own and operate dozens of franchise locations by other global quick service restaurant chains throughout New York City.

“We know how to own and operate a multi-unit franchise business, and we know what brands work in New York City,” said Ahmed. “We chose to franchise with Little Caesars because it has decades of experience as a global pizza chain and because of its recognized value, quality and convenience that revolutionized the pizza industry.”

In addition to its planned New York City expansion, Little Caesars is looking to grow across the Tri-State area. Little Caesars is seeking accomplished multi-unit franchisees with extensive QSR experience to help grow the brand. There are several multi-unit opportunities available with a three-store minimum agreement throughout Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, Connecticut and the five boroughs. Little Caesars franchising investments range from $378,700 to $1,695,500 million, with incentive programs available for veterans and first responders. Interested prospects should visit franchise.littlecaesars.com.  

• Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Has Recorded 17 Points in 49 games with an average annual value of $3 million.

The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3 million.

Maatta, 28, has skated in 49 games with the Red Wings this season, recording 17 points (5-12-17), a plus-five rating and 10 penalty minutes in 18:11 average time on ice. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound defenseman was signed by Detroit as a free agent on July 14, 2022 after spending the previous two seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, where he notched 12 points (1-11-12), a plus-nine rating and 16 penalty minutes in 107 appearances from 2020-22. Maatta helped the Kings clinch their first Stanley Cup playoff berth in four seasons in 2022, finishing with six shots, eight blocks and 12 hits in 16:55 average time on ice across seven postseason contests. In total, Maatta has played 10 seasons between the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Kings and Red Wings since 2013-14, compiling 153 points (35-118-153), a plus-75 rating and 144 penalty minutes in 534 games, in addition to 27 points (5-22-27), a plus-28 rating and 24 penalty minutes in 85 postseason games. Originally selected by the Penguins in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Maatta won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the organization in 2016 and 2017. He placed fifth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy as a 19-year-old after picking up 29 points (9-20-29), a plus-eight rating and 14 penalty minutes in 78 games during the 2013-14 campaign.

Prior to turning professional, Maatta spent two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights from 2011-13, helping the team earn two-consecutive OHL titles. During his major junior career, Maatta logged 70 points (13-57-70), a plus-34 rating and 55 penalty minutes in 115 regular-season games, in addition to 37 points (10-27-37), a plus-21 rating and 10 penalty minutes in 40 postseason appearances. A native of Jyvaskyla, Finland, Maatta won a silver medal representing his country at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, recording a pair of assists in 10 games. He also made three appearances at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and captured a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where he posted five points (3-2-5) in six games. Maatta skated in three-straight IIHF World Junior Championships from 2011-13 and served as an alternate captain at the 2011 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, collecting four points (1-3-4) in six games.

Mario Milosevic, a veteran branding and creative design professional, has been named the Vice President of Creative for Ilitch Sports + Entertainment (IS+E).

In his new role, Milosevic will direct all creative services and design elements for the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, in addition to The District Detroit and 313 Presents. He and his team will closely collaborate with IS+E’s marketing, communications, ticket sales & service, corporate partnerships and entertainment services departments.

Milosevic has spent the past 18 seasons in the creative department for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. He served as the team’s Art Director from 2015-21, and was promoted to Creative Director in 2021, where he led creative direction and design for all aspects of the organization’s company-wide print, digital, broadcasting and retail platforms.

“I had the pleasure of working with Mario for nine years with the Portland Trail Blazers, and have always been impressed by his strategic creative vision,” said Chris McGowan, President & CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “He will do a tremendous job leading our talented creative team. We welcome him to the Ilitch Sports and Entertainment family.”  

Milosevic led many major design projects during his tenure with the Trail Blazers, including the team’s identity rebrand, new team uniforms and court designs. He also launched the brand identity for Portland’s NBA 2K League team, Blazer5 Gaming, and the Phil Knight Invitation Basketball Tournament (PK80) in partnership with Nike.

“I’m thrilled and honored about the opportunity to join Ilitch Sports and Entertainment. I look forward to getting started and helping elevate visual identity for the iconic Red Wings and Tigers brands, as well as IS+E’s other properties,” Milosevic said. “The city of Detroit is known for its strong sports and art culture, and I’m excited to be part of the community.”

Milosevic graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design. Personally, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his family and friends. His favorite show is “Shark Tank,” and is always brainstorming new business and innovation ideas.

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As the nation celebrates Black History Month and recognizes the ongoing contributions of Black Americans to society, culture and the country, the Ilitch companies are supporting a number of activities for the community and its colleagues in the Detroit-area.

Supporting Local Black-Owned Restaurants. Continuing an ongoing initiative to partner with local black-owned business at its venues, guests of Little Caesars Arena can support local Black-owned restaurants throughout the year, including The Lobster Food Truck, Shell Shock’d Tacos, Bert’s Marketplace, Breadless and Yum Village during the 2023 Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons seasons.

Ilitch Companies colleagues will also have the opportunity this month to experience local African American and African cuisine during a Black History Month food fair taking place at the Little Caesars World Headquarters. Featured restaurants include Fork in Nigeria; Urban Soul; Ronnie Love’s Catering; and Carrot Cake with a Twist.

Exploring and Celebrating Black Life, History and Culture at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. As an extension of the organization’s support and relationship with the museum, llitch Companies colleagues receive free admission to this national treasure all year long. For more information about the museum’s mission, vision, exhibits, location and hours, please visit www.TheWright.org.

Recognizing Black Community Members Making an Impact through the Black History Month Game Changers Program. The Detroit Red Wings, Tigers and Comerica Bank are proud to continue the “Game Changers” program as they will be recognizing Black community members making a positive impact on the lives of young Detroiters. Each honoree will receive a $1,000 grant dedicated to the charity of their choice. All of the month’s honorees will be celebrated during the. Hockey is for Everyone: Celebrating Black History game at Little Caesars Arena on Feb. 23.

Chairing the Detroit Branch NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.  Christopher Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Companies, is this year’s Senior Corporate Chair of the Detroit Branch NAACP’s 68th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, one of the premier events nationwide that has long served as a beacon for equity and justice. While this formal role officially kicks off later this month, it builds on a long history of support for and partnership with the NAACP by the Ilitch family and organization.

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The Detroit Red Wings today recalled left wing Jakub Vrana from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins and placed right wing Lucas Raymond on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 10.

Vrana, 26, has appeared in two games with the Red Wings this season, tallying a goal and an assist on Oct. 15 at New Jersey. The 6-foot, 190-pound forward has also recorded 11 points (6-5-11) and four penalty minutes in 17 games with the Griffins. He was on a six-game point streak with Grand Rapids prior to being recalled, logging eight points (4-4–8) from Jan. 29-Feb. 11. Vrana was limited to 26 games with Detroit during the 2021-22 campaign but still ranked among the team leaders with 13 goals (T8th), five power play goals (T4th), six power play points (8th) and a 20.0 shooting percentage (2nd). He has notched 32 points (22-10-32), 18 penalty minutes and a 21.6 shooting percentage in 39 games since being acquired by the Red Wings in a trade with the Washington Capitals on April 12, 2021. In total, Vrana has skated in 323 career games between Washington and Detroit, compiling 189 points (98-91-189), a plus-30 rating and 85 penalty minutes. In his first full NHL season in 2017-18, Vrana helped the Capitals win a Stanley Cup championship, posting 27 points (13-14-27) in 73 regular-season games along with eight points (3-5-8) in 23 postseason contests. Vrana was originally drafted by Washington in the first round (13th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft – two picks prior to Detroit’s selection of Dylan Larkin at 15th overall.

A native of Prague, Czech Republic, Vrana has registered 86 points (41-45-86), a plus-19 rating and 52 penalty minutes in 105 AHL games with the Hershey Bears and Griffins since 2014-15, in addition to 20 points (10-10-20) and eight penalty minutes in 38 postseason appearances. Vrana spent the previous four seasons developing in Sweden, where he debuted professionally with Linkoping in the Swedish Hockey League in 2012-13 and logged 27 points (14-13-27) and 14 penalty minutes in 73 games until 2014-15. He also racked up 58 points (35-23-58), a plus-11 rating and 77 penalty minutes in 59 games in Sweden’s top junior league. Vrana has represented his country at the last three IIHF World Championships, where he was teammates with fellow Red Wings Filip Hronek (2019, 2021 and 2022), Dominik Kubalik (2019 and 2021) and Filip Zadina (2021), combining for 10 points (7-3-10) in 26 games between the three tournaments. Additionally, Vrana recorded six points (3-3-6) in 16 games at three-straight IIHF World Junior Championships (2013-15) and 20 points (14-6-20) in 18 games at three-consecutive IIHF World Under-18 Championships (2012-14).

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