Elyssa Biederman, a 16-year-old forward from Franklin, Mich., and in her fourth year with Little Caesars AAA hockey program, recently scored a goal which has spread across social media and made it to the No. 2 spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Day.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/527457034

Elyssa says that she did not expect footage of her recent goal, which was shot by her mother in the stands, to spread like it did.

After previously playing in boy’s hockey programs, Elyssa joined Little Caesars AAA, which is one of just four Tier 1 girls’ hockey programs in Michigan.  “AAA hockey, especially with Little Caesars, has very good resources,” Elyssa said. “They provide a lot for us — the rink downtown, great coaches. It’s all-around a great organization.”

In addition to scoring goals, Elyssa helps others in need.  She recently participated in a Little Caesars Pizza Kit virtual fundraiser to help cover the cost of equipment for players whose families might otherwise be struggling.

Elyssa plans to attend Colgate University, one of six on her team to commit to a college so far. With state and national tournaments on the horizon, Elyssa says she’s focused on enjoying her time with her teammates, who’ve decided to stick together for 19U. “We have such a good group of girls,” she said. “They’re my best friends forever.”

Learn more about the premier Little Caesars AAA girls’ hockey program and how it supports young athletes at LittleCaesarsHockey.com.

‍

The Detroit Tigers have partnered with Kroger to donate over 41,000 meals to Forgotten Harvest’s Detroit Summer Lunch Program, a program which provides nourishment for at-risk kids who’ve lost access to school meals during the summer.

Formed in 1990, Forgotten Harvest helps metro Detroit families who struggle with the cost of basic life necessities. By rescuing food surpluses from grocery stores, markets, restaurants, caterers and more, Forgotten Harvest helps bridge the income gap for thousands of families in need.

On Opening Day, the Detroit Tigers and Kroger are donating to the Summer League Program 41,083 nutritious lunches, one lunch for every seat at Comerica Park. The meals will support more than 1,000 children throughout metro Detroit.

Last year, the Ilitch companies donated to Forgotten Harvest 6,500 lbs. of food from Little Caesars Arena and 23 pallets of food from MotorCity Hotel, all to support Detroiters in need impacted by the pandemic.

To learn more about Forgotten Harvest and how you can help, visit ForgottenHarvest.org.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Detroit Tigers connected with local female photographers to highlight their work through #WallpaperWednesday. Fans can view and download images from these posts to use as digital wallpaper. Learn more about these inspiring women below.

Courtney Welch

Courtney has been capturing moments as a social media and communications manager for FOX Sports Detroit since 2012. Her photography is a blend of production shoots with professional Detroit athletes, special events, game coverage and behind-the-scenes moments, including fans and broadcasters. She loves the creative process and the way photos connect us. Courtney’s passion for photography goes beyond the sports world into nature, where her photos freeze a moment in time to tell a story and invoke a feeling.

Allison Farrand

Allison, a photojournalist and photographer based in Detroit, got her start in sports photography at The Michigan Daily, the University of Michigan’s student newspaper. She came to love the challenge and adrenaline of covering live sports, and first came to baseball photography as an intern for Cleveland in 2017. Allison considers herself lucky to spend springs in Lakeland, Fla. and summer nights at Comerica Park.  

Monica Bradburn

Monica is a live content creator for Major League Baseball. A native Michigander, she’s ecstatic to work for her home team and call Comerica Park her office. She graduated from Central Michigan University, majoring in photojournalism. She loves to photograph the action, special achievements and personalities of the athletes. “Intensity, hard work, drive and passion are words I would use to describe sports,” she says. “I’d also use those same words to describe my journey as a sports photographer.” Her advice to young women who choose creative careers: set goals, push limits and follow your dreams. “The dream may be challenging, but it’ll always be worthwhile.”

‍

This Women’s History Month, the Detroit Red Wings, in partnership with Comerica Bank, recognized and celebrated women in our community making a positive impact on the lives of young Detroiters in the areas of youth sports, education, and wellness.

Each honoree will be celebrated at Little Caesars Arena during the March 27 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets as well as having received a $1,000 grant dedicated to the charity of their choice from the Red Wings.

Manon Rhéaume — Little Caesars AAA Girls Program Coordinator

Manon is the Girls Program Coordinator for the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club and an ambassador for growing the game and inspiring female athletes across the world.

In 1992, and as goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Manon made history as the first and only female to play in one of the four major North American sports. She was also the first female to sign a contract to play professional hockey and had a six-year professional career in the minor leagues.

As a member of Team Canada, Manon also helped lead her team to two gold medals at the World Championship and a Silver Medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano – the first year women’s hockey was an official Olympics sport.

Courtney Smith — Founder and CEO, Detroit Phoenix Center

Courtney is the founder & CEO of the Detroit Phoenix Center, a high-impact nonprofit organization that provides critical resources, support, and a safe, nurturing environment for street connected children and youth. She was recently recognized by the Biden Administration for being a drum major for service and  has been dubbed a “modern-day history maker” by Essence Magazine.

An award-winning, social entrepreneur, Courtney has over a decade of experience as a social impact leader. Throughout her career in the nonprofit sector, she has served in numerous capacities, with a special emphasis on youth development. Courtney is a sought-after speaker who has traveled overseas to advocate for children’s and women’s rights. She is also a member of the Women’s Advisory Committee for Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence of Michigan’s 14th Congressional District, a board member for Hero Nation, was recently appointed to the Belle Isle Conservancy Community Engagement Committee and the THAW Power Forward Council.

Pamela Good — Co-Founder and CEO, Beyond Basics

Pamela is cofounder and CEO of Beyond Basics, a nonprofit dedicated to one-on-one reading intervention and holistic literacy enrichment programs for students and families in Metropolitan Detroit.

Beyond Basics is currently providing services to students attending 23 different school locations in Detroit, Taylor and Pontiac with the goal to bring the students they serve to grade level, proficient literacy.

Thus far, the organization has touched the lives of 90,000 children, published 75,000 student-written books, and was able to pivot to a virtual platform immediately after the on-set of COVID in March 2020.  

Amy Good — CEO, Alternatives For Girls

Amy has served as Alternatives For Girls’ CEO since 1988. Under her leadership, AFG has grown from a volunteer-led project to a full-service agency serving homeless and high-risk girls and young women, along with their families, through street outreach, emergency shelter, transition to independent living, and prevention services.

Because of her over 38 years in managing and directing human services programs for Detroit children and families, Amy has received numerous awards, including Oprah Winfrey’s “Use Your Life” award (accompanied by $100,000 for AFG’s capital campaign); the United Way Community Services “Executive Director of the Year” award; Leadership Detroit’s “Leadership Challenge” award; the National Council of Jewish Women Josephine S. Weiner Award for Community Service; and the University of Michigan School of Social Work Distinguished Alumni award in 2014.  In 2017, Alternatives For Girls was recognized by Crain’s as the “Best Managed Non-Profit.”

‍

MotorCity Casino Hotel has promoted John Policicchio, previously senior vice president of marketing, to general manager. In his new role, Policicchio will oversee casino and hotel operations, including gaming, hospitality, marketing, workforce management, human resources and information technology. He will also oversee the exploration of new growth opportunities.

Policicchio has held numerous marketing positions at MotorCity for more than a decade. He played a significant role in developing and implementing programs to enhance guest experience, including the popular Club Metro player loyalty program, the MYMotorCity app and the recent opening of the FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino. He’s also overseen all marketing strategy and brand development, and has been integral in the execution of business development projects and partnerships.

“John has helped create unique and exciting offers and experiences for our MotorCity Casino guests,” Bruce Dall, president of MotorCity Casino Hotel, said. “With John’s background, talent and enthusiasm, and with his ability to develop strong business strategies, we will continue to innovate and provide our guests with the very best in high-energy gaming, dining and hospitality.”

A metro Detroit area native, Policicchio is a graduate of University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics.

“This is an exciting time in the casino industry,” said Policicchio. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our world-class employees, we have a very bright future at MotorCity Casino Hotel. I am grateful to have been a part of this team for the past 11 years and look forward to continuing to deliver best in class experiences to our guests.”

MotorCity Casino Hotel recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary with more than 400 original employees still part of the team. Today, more than half of the casino’s employees are Detroit residents. It remains the city’s only locally owned and operated casino, home to world-class luxury hotel accommodations, spa facilities, fine dining, live performance venues, and high-energy gaming.

‍

Little Caesars, the global, family-owned pizza chain, has continued to grow over the past year by doing what it always has: providing wholesome, quality, affordable meals for families. And with new options for customers, like its delivery partnership with DoorDash or contactless pick-up, Little Caesars has hired tens of thousands of people nationwide to meet its growing demand. Now, Little Caesars is looking to grow its footprint in two major metropolitan areas: Tampa Bay, Fla. and New York.

The chain’s goals for the Tampa Bay market include 10 new restaurants by the close of this year, then continuing that growth momentum to reach 30 new Little Caesars locations in the area and its surrounding communities by 2024. Outside of Tampa, Little Caesars has big plans for growth across the entire state of Florida. Key markets being targeted for continued development in the state currently include Naples, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Lake City.

“Bringing more franchise ownership opportunities to the Tampa Bay area has been a goal of ours for some time,” said Craig Sherwood, Vice President of U.S Development at Little Caesars. “Now that we’re the official pizza of the championship-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Raymond James Stadium, we can’t imagine a better time to double down on our commitment to bringing our proven pizza business model to aspiring entrepreneurs in this area.”

Little Caesars aims to also grow its New York metro presence with a goal set to sign on at least a dozen new franchise units in the market in 2021, including Long Island, Westchester, northern New Jersey and the five boroughs.

“New Yorkers know their pizza, making the metro area arguably one of the top pizza capitals of the world,” said Craig Sherwood, Vice President of U.S Development at Little Caesars. “Our great product, unique delivery system and small footprint model present numerous benefits to prospective franchise owners and their potential customers in this area, making this a key market for us to grow our presence in.”

The brand’s accessibility, quality products and affordability really set Little Caesars apart in the last year as one of the leading pizza franchises amidst the ongoing pandemic. The brand’s signature Pizza Portal® Pickup — the first heated, self-service mobile order pickup station in the restaurant industry — and its delivery service promise relevance and value at a cost-effective investment level for entrepreneurs.

Little Caesars franchising investments start at around $360,000, with additional incentive programs for both veterans and first responders. Interested prospects should visit Franchise.LittleCaesars.com for inquiries about opening a franchise.

‍

As the director, performance science for the Detroit Tigers, Dr. Georgia Giblin plays a key role in the use of technology and data in connection with player development.

The Tigers hired Georgia in 2019 as the franchise’s first director of performance science. An Australian expat, Georgia’s love of sports and science led her from her native Brisbane, where she earned her Ph.D. in biomechanics and skill acquisition from Victoria University, to her post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan. While at the University of Michigan, Georgia first worked with the Tigers to apply her research in maximizing performance and health.

“I want to see people reach their full potential,” Georgia said. “These young players who come into our organization, they have dreams of playing in the major leagues. The Detroit Tigers have been really good in investing in the technology that enables me to do my job. I want to, in turn, repay the players, and help them to do their job to the best of their ability.”

Georgia further states that she doesn’t see being a female as a barrier in her role. She cites the rise of prominent women in baseball, such as Kim Ng, the first female and Asian American general manager in the MLB, as proof that hard work can make your goals a reality. “I’ve always believed that, if I work hard enough and I’m smart enough, I can do it,” she said. “And here, with the Tigers, I’ve felt nothing but support.”

Learn more about Georgia and her role helping Detroit Tigers athletes succeed in the video below.

‍

The Detroit Tigers are thrilled to welcome back the best fans in baseball to Comerica Park for what will be an unforgettable Home Opener against the Central-Division rival Cleveland Indians on Thursday, April 1, at 1:10 p.m.

The latest epidemic order announced today by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services allows for select outdoor entertainment and recreational facilities, which operate under enhanced safety protocols, to operate at up to 20 percent capacity, or approximately 8,200 ticketed guests at Comerica Park. The Tigers have coordinated with public health and medical experts, government officials and Major League Baseball to develop a comprehensive plan that will allow fans to safely and confidently return.

Limited individual game tickets will available for purchase on Tigers.com beginning Thursday, March 25. Fans are encouraged to follow @Tigers social media channels for the most current information. Again, tickets will be limited, so fans should act early to reserve their seat for what will truly be a historic season. As an extended safety measure, all tickets will be mobile-only. Members of 1901 Society – the Tigers’ loyal season ticket membership group – will receive the first opportunity to attend games at Comerica Park.

“Tigers baseball is back, and we couldn’t be more excited to begin welcoming our great fans to Comerica Park again,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports & Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “Safety is our top priority, and we have developed and invested in a plan that allows us to confidently provide fans a safe and entertaining experience. We’ve missed our fans greatly and can’t wait to celebrate the start of the season with them, when the first pitch is thrown on Opening Day in Detroit.”

A comprehensive series of health and safety measures have been incorporated or enhanced at Comerica Park, including the following:

• All attendees will be required to complete a Gameday Wellness survey no more than 24 hours prior to entering Comerica Park.
• Facemasks will be mandatory at all times except when actively eating or drinking at a fan’s assigned seating location. Neck gaiters, bandanas and masks with valves are not permitted.
• All points of sale will require cashless payment methods. Reverse ATM’s will be installed at Comerica Park ahead of the Home Opener, and contactless parking can be reserved in advance through The District Detroit mobile app.
• Fans will be seated in pods with at least six feet of physical distance between other groups.
• Select concession locations will be open, and food & beverage items can be ordered via mobile phone for express pick-up.
• Physical distance signage and concourse decals have been installed to decrease contact near higher-traffic areas.
• Touchless hand sanitizer dispensers with CDC-recommended products are located through the Comerica Park concourse.
• Significant enhancements to cleanliness, disinfecting the venue to CDC standards including the use of UV-light technology.
• All bags, purses and clutches are now prohibited, with medical or diaper bags being the exceptions.

If capacity guidelines are expanded at any point during the 2021 season, the Tigers will be prepared to host additional fans, and increased single-game tickets will be made available.

‍

Willie O’Ree changed hockey forever on Jan. 18, 1958 when made his debut for the Boston Bruins as the first Black player in the NHL. In celebration of Black History Month and O’Ree’s impact on the sport, “Willie,” a documentary on the Hall-of-Fame player, was made available to more than 15,000 schools and youth sports organizations in the U.S. and Canada.

O’Ree, a descendant of escaped slaves, played 45 games in the NHL before spending 22 years in the minor league. He was 60 years old when he was asked to become the NHL’s diversity ambassador in 1994 — a position he holds to this day. A must-see film, “Willie” tells his journey and pursuit of opportunity. Historic in both its sweep and scope, it’s as relevant today as ever.

The film was accompanied by a turnkey educator’s guide and additional programming, all hosted on LessonsFromWillie.com, which can be used to spur meaningful conversations.

“Willie” will be available beyond the classroom, syndicated across 75 percent of the U.S., in partnership with Gray Television. It’ll also air nationally across Canada on TSN. The film will be available for streaming on NBC’s Peacock streaming service — free tier — and on Crackle in the U.S. and Crave in Canada.

This year, from Martin Luther King Jr. Day through February, all NHL players wore a custom helmet decal paying tribute to both Willie and Dr. King and the idea of celebrating equality.

‍