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Detroit Red Wings’ Daniella Bruce Makes History and Inspires the Next Generation of Female Broadcasters
March 20, 2022
Earlier this year, Daniella Bruce made history when she became the first female announcer on a Detroit Red Wings radio broadcast. She did analysis during a game at Los Angeles with long-time play-by-play announcer Ken Kal.
Daniella, a Michigan State University graduate, has worked as a digital reporter for the Red Wings for nearly five seasons.
Hear more from Daniella about her career and what inspires her in this video.
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Celebrates Women’s History this March through Game Changers Program, Hockey is for Everyone: Women’s History Night and More
March 14, 2022
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment will proudly commemorate Women’s History Month all month, with initiatives to recognize the incredible achievements of past and present women across the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan.
On March 8, International Women’s Day was celebrated throughout Little Caesars Arena with activities all evening, including honoring Women’s History Month Game Changers in a pregame ceremony, a Women’s History Concourse Exhibit, the sale of a limited-edition Women’s History Month T-shirt, in-game video profiles, and features of incredible women in Detroit and much more.
The ongoing Detroit Red Wings, Tigers and Comerica Bank’s Game Changers program highlights individuals who provide access, opportunity and year-round support to young people in the Detroit community through education, wellness and/or sport programming. Before the Red Wings game on March 8, four amazing local Women’s History Month Game Changers were honored with a $1,000 donation to their charity of choice, as well as a commemorative plaque and Game Changer jersey.
Watch a video recap of the special event below:
To learn more about the individual Hockey Is For Everyone: Women’s History Month Game Changers Honorees, click on the links below.
Little Caesars AAA Hockey Provides Life Lessons and Opportunity to Girls Both On and Off the Ice
March 13, 2022
Manon Rhéaume, Little Caesars AAA Hockey girls program director, believes that playing youth hockey can instill amazing life lessons and give girls the chance to dream of playing professional hockey.
“It’s so important for young girls to participate in team sports. A lot of successful women played sports when they were younger because you learn so much, like leadership and confidence,” Rhéaume said in an interview when she was named a “Game Changer” by the Detroit Red Wings.
Rhéaume, “The First Woman of Hockey,” knows firsthand the impact that hockey can have on one’s life. In 1992 at the age of 20, Rhéaume made history when she played goalie in an exhibition game for the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the first woman to ever play in the NHL and the first woman to compete in any major North American professional sports league. Today, her story continues to inspire girls to not only play the sport but see a future for themselves in it.
Recently, players from the Little Caesars AAA Hockey girls 19U team gathered at their practice facility, the state-of-the-art BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena, for a ceremony to mark their individual commitment to play college hockey at the school of their choice. Hear from the players themselves about what playing hockey has taught them both on and off the ice.
Through hard work, skill and tenacity, the Little Caesars AAA Hockey girls teams succeeded on the ice as well. Just last week, the 12U, 14U, and 19U girls teams took home state championship titles. The 14U and 19U teams are both headed to play in the USA Hockey National Championship Tournament March 31 – April 4 in Pittsburgh, PA.
More information on Little Caesars Hockey can be found here.
Tigers Announce 2022 Spring Training Broadcast Schedule
March 10, 2022
The Tigers announced their broadcast schedule for 2022 Spring Training, which for the first time includes two games live streamed on Tigers.com as well as games being broadcast by our partners at Bally Sports Detroit and WXYT Radio.
For the first time, Tigers fans will be able to watch non-televised home games as part of a live stream on Tigers.com. The games on Wednesday, March 23 vs. Pittsburgh and Saturday, March 26 vs. Philadelphia will be live streamed. Dan Dickerson and Matt Shepard will call the action against the Pirates, while Dickerson and Jim Price will announce the game against the Phillies.
Bally Sports Detroit will televise five Grapefruit League games, beginning with the opener on Friday against Philadelphia. Matt Shepard will serve as the play-by-play voice for all games while Dan Petry, Craig Monroe, Jack Morris and Kirk Gibson will rotate as analysts. The veteran radio team of Dan Dickerson and Jim Price will call all 11 games that are being aired on WXYT.
The 2022 spring season marks the club’s 86th at the TigerTown complex in Lakeland, FL, extending the longest-standing relationship between a Major League team and current Spring Training host city. This spring also marks the franchise’s 57th consecutive season of exhibition play at the state-of-the-art Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Season tickets, flex plans and individual game tickets are on sale now for fans who want to enjoy Grapefruit League action at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. For more information or to purchase season tickets, call at (863) 686-8075 or by visiting tigers.com.
DETROIT TIGERS SPRING TRAINING BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Day Date Opponent Site Time Radio TV/Streaming
Fri. Mar. 18 Philadelphia Lakeland 1:05 1270 AM BSDET
Sat. Mar. 19 Pittsburgh Bradenton 1:05
Sun. Mar. 20 New York Yankees Tampa 1:05 97.1 FM
Mon. Mar. 21 Toronto Lakeland 1:05 1270 AM BSDET
Tue. Mar. 22 Philadelphia Clearwater 1:05
Wed. Mar. 23 Pittsburgh Lakeland 1:05 Tigers.com
Thu. Mar. 24 New York Yankees Lakeland 1:05 1270 AM BSDET
Fri. Mar. 25 Toronto Dunedin 1:07 1270 AM
Sat. Mar. 26 Philadelphia Lakeland 1:05 1270 AM Tigers.com
Sun. Mar. 27 Baltimore Sarasota 1:05 97.1 FM
Mon. Mar. 28 New York Yankees Lakeland 1:05 1270 AM BSDET
Tue. Mar. 29 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – O P E N D A T E – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Wed. Mar. 30 Philadelphia Clearwater 1:05
Thu. Mar. 31 Toronto Dunedin 1:07
Fri. Apr. 1 New York Yankees Lakeland 1:05 1270 AM
Sat. Apr. 2 Baltimore Lakeland 1:05 97.1 FM or 1270 AM
Sun. Apr. 3 Philadelphia Clearwater 1:05
Mon. Apr. 4 Toronto Lakeland 1:05 1270 AM BSDET
Tue. Apr. 5 New York Yankees Tampa 1:05
Wed. Apr. 6 Baltimore Lakeland 1:05
Radio:
97.1 FM – WXYT
1270 AM – WXYT
TV:
Bally Sports Detroit
The Detroit Red Wings Foundation and The Children’s Foundation Unveiled an Esports Lounge for Youth Members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) at the Lloyd H. Diehl Club
March 8, 2022
The Detroit Red Wings Foundation and The Children’s Foundation unveiled an Esports Lounge for youth members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) at the Lloyd H. Diehl Club on Wednesday, March 9 as part of a $300,000 investment between the Red Wings Foundation and Children’s Foundation to strengthen the career and entrepreneur pipeline for youth in the sports and Esports industries. Kids were joined by Red Wings players Alex Nedeljkovic, Givani Smith, Troy Stecher and Vladislav Namestnikov.
The Detroit Red Wings Foundation and The Children’s Foundation to Unveil Esports Lounge, Youth Workforce and Entrepreneur Development Program in Partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan
March 7, 2022
The Detroit Red Wings Foundation and The Children’s Foundation will unveil an Esports Lounge for youth members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) at the Lloyd H. Diehl Club on Wednesday, March 9. Completion of the lounge is part of a $300,000 investment between the Red Wings Foundation and Children’s Foundation to strengthen the career and entrepreneur pipeline for youth in the sports and Esports industries, and is a core component of the Red Wings’ groundbreaking Learn, Play, Score platform.
Building upon the success of an Esports Lounge previously installed by the Detroit Red Wings Foundation at the Dick & Sandy Dauch Club, the Esports Lounge at the Lloyd H. Diehl Club is the first of three additional lounges the Red Wings Foundation and The Children’s Foundation have committed to build at BGCSM locations to benefit the youth of metro Detroit. Featuring the latest technology, a total of five Esports Lounges will come online this year at BGCSM locations through support from the Red Wings Foundation, The Children’s Foundation, and other donors.
Esports + Hockey lounges and programming will be offered at the following BGCSM locations across metro Detroit:
In addition to year-round programming for BGCSM members, the facilities will provide paid workforce development and industry experience for nearly 200 youth from Detroit each year through the BGCSM Industry Club. BGCSM is the first Boys & Girls Clubs location in the nation to provide the Industry Club model to pay youth to learn about careers in Esports, sports, entertainment, as well as fashion and merchandising, tech, data science, and risk management. Applications are currently open to youth for all Industry Clubs at www.bgcsm.org/industry-club.
The Diehl location will be a hub for upcoming Esports tournaments and leagues that also take place across the BGCSM Esports + Hockey network. The space will also be available for neighborhood gatherings, corporate events and more.
“The partnership with the Detroit Red Wings and The Children’s Foundation brings so many resources to the youth in our BGCSM ecosystem,” said Shawn H. Wilson, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan. “Beyond the amazing Egaming league play, within the new facility youth will have the opportunity to receive paid workforce and tech entrepreneurship experience, which ensures they leave our Clubs career and start up ready!”
The Red Wings and BGCSM will also introduce Street Hockey in The D: Club Sessions this Wednesday at the Diehl location as part of the Esports + Hockey program. Youth members will begin learning and playing floor hockey in the gyms at Diehl and across the BGCSM Esports + Hockey network. Once the game has been mastered, Club locations will compete against each other for a seasonal title.
Through support from The Children’s Foundation, BGCSM will provide youth programming geared toward social and emotional support at Clubs within the Esports + Hockey network. These unique programs will focus on supporting the mental wellness of Club members through special guest speakers and interactive experiences.
“This collaboration establishes another unique approach to improving the health and wellness of children and families,” said Lawrence J. Burns, President & CEO, The Children’s Foundation. “It particularly targets two of our main focus areas of mental health and youth development and is representative of what we do by bringing together a variety of community partners. We look forward to seeing the impact of this innovative, collaborative, and one-of-a-kind programming.”
Both the Esports + Hockey and Street Hockey in The D programs are key extensions of Learn, Play, Score. The Red Wings and their partners have introduced a variety of deeply rooted interactive programs and experiences for Detroit youth in the past two years, including Street Hockey in The D: At School with Detroit Public Schools Community District, Street Hockey in The D: At Home and Street Hockey in The D: Summer Series with Detroit Parks and Recreation, and Community Open Skates at Little Caesars Arena for all Learn, Play, Score participants and families.
The grand opening of the Diehl Esports Lounge, and the upcoming implementation of the Esports + Hockey program at Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan locations, are the next steps in the evolution of the Detroit Red Wings Learn, Play, Score platform.
Established during the 2019-20 season as part of a $1 million commitment from the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Red Wings Foundation, and NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, the Learn, Play, Score platform is breaking down systemic barriers by introducing equitable access to hockey in various forms for thousands of children across the city of Detroit. In partnership with respected local organizations and revered Detroiters, children of all ages and abilities are now experiencing the social, emotional, and educational benefits of hockey – many of them for the first time.
“Serving kids in our community is at the foundation of the Learn, Play, Score platform, and we are excited that youth members at Boys & Girls Clubs across our region will be engaged in both the Esports + Hockey and street hockey components of the program,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “We’re looking forward to partnering with The Children’s Foundation to provide long-lasting opportunities and memories for these kids, and we can’t wait to see them at a Red Wings game soon.”
The Learn, Play, Score Esports + Hockey program will deliver necessary tools and experiences for hundreds of BGCSM youth members to discover the exciting cross-section of Esports, gaming and professional sports as they realize ways to unlock their own potential. Interacting with the latest technology, experiencing hands-on workforce opportunities, and learning the powerful principles in hockey, Esports + Hockey aims to serve as a catalyst for kids in metro Detroit to achieve their dreams.
The third Esports Lounge will open in the coming months at BGCSM’s Fauver-Martin Club in Highland Park.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Michigan Industry Club Initiative aligns with the organization’s efforts to address poverty through economic mobility, and to continually have a positive community impact and advancement for youth and their families.
Meet Hunter Phelps, Former Cass Tech Intern Turned Successful Entrepreneu
March 6, 2022
For many students, participating in an internship program plays a pivotal role in shaping their future career. That was certainly the case for 22-year-old Detroit native Hunter Phelps. In 2015 while a junior at Cass Tech High School, Hunter worked as a summer intern with Detroit Tigers in the Accounting department. She thrived in the role and was invited back for a second internship the following summer as part of the Olympia Development Communications team.
Hunter credits her experience as an intern with sparking her passion for entrepreneurship.
“I wasn’t interested in entrepreneurship until I entered the Ilitch Companies, as I wasn’t sure what being an entrepreneur meant,” she said. “To see how much they’ve grown their companies over so many years inspired me to go after my dreams and find my passion.”
Following graduation from Cass Tech, Hunter went on to the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business where she majored in business administration and minored in entrepreneurship.
Today, Hunter embodies entrepreneurship as the founder and owner of three businesses. In 2018, before graduating college, Hunter founded Terry Lu Naturals, a natural hair and skin care company that creates dual-use products for men and women. More recently, Hunter added to her business portfolio by founding Phelps Room Designs, a new and upcoming romantic room decorating service.
Hear more about Hunter’s experience in this video:
Additionally, Hunter works full-time as a merchandising and marketing analyst for Walgreens, while still leading her companies. In her spare time, she loves to paint and sells her paintings through her third business, Hunter’s Palette. Hunter’s career goal is to obtain a leadership position in brand management and marketing, while developing her ventures into multimillion-dollar businesses.
The Ilitch companies have proudly partnered with Cass Tech High School and other Detroit Public Schools on internship programs for years, with the program expected to continue. The organization has also participated innovative, hands-on educational programs such as Project Destined, which offered a real estate internship for underserved youth in the city of Detroit.
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Celebrates Black History Month With Hockey is for Everyone: Black History Night at Little Caesars Arena, Featuring February’s “Game Changers”
February 28, 2022
The Detroit Red Wings, Tigers and Comerica Bank are proud to continue the “Game Changers” program, highlighting people making profound difference in youth education, youth wellness or hockey and baseball/softball participation in the community. Recently, February’s Black History Month Game Changers were recognized during the Hockey is For Everyone: Black History Night at Little Caesars Arena.
“As we continue our Hockey is for Everyone game series, we’re proud to host Black History Night and honor four local Game Changers making an impact on the next generation of metro Detroit youth,” said Ilitch Sports + Entertainment director of community impact Kevin Brown. “The Hockey is for Everyone vision is more than a phrase. It’s a year-round commitment to ensure that on the ice, in the stands and across metro Detroit, we’re leveraging the platform and position of the Red Wings to move our game and our community forward.”
During a special reception in Little Caesars Arena’s Heritage Hall alongside 100 guests from their respective organizations, the Game Changers were presented with a donation to their charity of choice, as well as a commemorative plaque and Game Changer jersey. Following the reception, the Game Changers and their guests enjoyed the Red Wings game compliments of the team.
2022 Black History MonthGame Changers honorees:
Also in attendance were a number of 2021 Black History Month Game Changers: Portia Roberson, CEO, Focus: HOPE; Kenyatta Stephens, CEO, Black Family Development Corporation (BFDI); and Khali Sweeney, Founder & CEO, Downtown Boxing Gym.
In addition, more than 400 complimentary game tickets were distributed to deserving organizations across metro Detroit, including the Black Family Development Corporation, FOCUS: Hope, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, the YMCA and the Downtown Boxing Gym.
Throughout Little Caesars Arena, guests had the opportunity to engage in Black History Month themed activities: displays in celebration of the legacy of Black players in the Red Wings organization throughout arena, the Red Wings’ official Black History Month T-shirt – designed by young entrepreneurs from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan Fashion & Merchandising Industry Club – were for sale on the concourse, and the Detroit Red Wings Foundation’s 50/50 Raffle, led by volunteers from the Detroit Branch NAACP, provided a portion of the proceeds going to the organization. The Youth Hockey Player of the Game, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, was 12-year-old Detroit native Javion Harris Jr., who is a defenseman in the Detroit Ice Dreams Hockey Association. Detroit Ice Dreams, which was featured in our first Black History Month Game Changers story, is dedicated to promoting and subsidizing hockey for underrepresented youth in the community.
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Welcomes Ryan Gustafson as Senior Vice President, Business Operations Strategy
February 10, 2022
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment announced that Ryan Gustafson has been named Senior Vice President of Business Operations Strategy. With a wealth of experience and a strong record of accomplishment, Gustafson will focus on project management, operational support and business development strategy to drive future growth. He begins on February 15, 2022, reporting to Chris McGowan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment.
Ryan’s experience, inventive thinking and integrity, along with his highly collaborative style, will be a great asset to the entire Ilitch Sports + Entertainment organization in this wide-reaching and highly visible role.
“We are excited that Ryan is joining our senior leadership group in Detroit, said McGowan. “His vast experience across multiple leagues and teams will be a valuable addition to Ilitch Sports + Entertainment as we continue to look for innovative ways to serve our fans.”
Gustafson brings nearly 15 years of strategic planning and revenue generation experience. Most recently, he served as strategy consultant at Elevate Sports Ventures and Pegula Sports & Entertainment. Gustafson previously held the position of Team President at the Seattle Dragons (XFL) where he led all business operations. Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Strategy & Development at the Seattle Sounders, where he oversaw all revenue-generating areas for the Club, and Vice President, Strategy & Innovation at the San Diego Padres.
Gustafson has overseen the development and implementation of short and long-term strategic plans, led innovative revenue generating initiatives, and headed up special projects surrounding data and analytics.
“I’m thrilled to join Ilitch Sports + Entertainment at such an exciting time for the Red Wings, Tigers, and in The District Detroit. I want to thank Christopher Ilitch and Chris McGowan for the incredible opportunity to join the team,” said Gustafson. “I look forward to getting started and helping create memories for the great people of Detroit and beyond.”
Gustafson earned his undergrad degree at the University of Puget Sound in economics and his MBA from Harvard Business School. He will relocate to the Detroit area from Seattle.