Spirit to Welcome Red Wing Greats for Home Opening Celebration!

Press Release

The Saginaw Spirit are proud to start off their ninth season with a Home Opening Weekend Celebration like none other! The Spirit and your local Meijer Stores will host the celebration for the team’s first two home games – Thursday, September 30 and Saturday, October 2. Tickets remain for both games, which take place at The Dow Event Center of Saginaw at 7:11 PM.

The Spirit will be premiering their new Hall of Fame series during the Home Opening Weekend Celebration, which will feature appearances from hockey legends throughout the season. Stanley Cup Champions Ted Lindsay and Jim Devellano will be appearing Thursday night and Stanley Cup Champion Igor Larionov will be at Saturday’s game.

Thursday, September 30 – 7:11 PM

The Spirit welcome the Sudbury Wolves at their home opener on Thursday, September 30. Detroit Red Wings greats Ted Lindsay and Jim Devellano will be appearing at the game, participating in a ceremonial puck drop and signing autographs for fans in the Bud Light Blue Line Club.

Lindsay, a four time Stanley Cup Champion and an original member of the famed Detroit Red Wings Production Line, scored over 850 points in his storied Hockey Hall of Fame career with the Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks. He was introduced into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966 and on November 10, 1991 the Red Wings honored his contribution to the team by retiring his jersey, the number 7.

Devellano was recently elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a result of a storied career that currently sees him serving as the Senior Vice President of the Detroit Red Wings. He won two Stanley Cups as a scout with the New York Islanders in 1980 and 1981 and one as the Assistant General Manager and Director of Scouting in 1982. He was hired by the Red Wings as General Manager and eventually Senior Vice President, becoming one of the architects responsible for the Red Wings Stanley Cup champion teams of 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008.

Fans can get autographs from the two hockey legends during the game in the Bud Light Blue Line Club, which is open to all ticket holders for the evening starting at 6:00 PM. There are two packages available for purchase, with a $34.00 package netting fans a signed copy of Jim Devellano’s new book, The Road to Hockeytown, an autographed photo of Devellano, an autographed photo of Ted Lindsay and an autographed Detroit Red Wings puck. There is also a $20.00 package available, which includes an autographed photo from both Devellano and Lindsay as well as an autographed Red Wings puck. Fans can get one additional personal item signed with each package purchased.

Thursday’s home game also features $1.00 domestic draft beers pre-game until 8:00 PM and a magnet schedule giveaway courtesy Four Points by Sheraton and Coors Light.

Saturday, October 2 – 7:11 PM

The Spirit square off against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Saturday, October 2 for their home opening encore! Red Wings great Igor Larionov will be signing autographs for fans pre-game and during intermissions and will participate in a ceremonial puck drop.

Three time Stanley Cup Champion Igor Larionov notched over 600 points in his eleven year NHL career, eight of which saw him play for the Detroit Red Wings. Larionov was instrumental in helping to break down the barrier that prevented Russian players from joining the National Hockey League during the 1980’s. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008.

Larionov will be signing autographs pre-game in the Bud Light Blue Line Club with the VIP room open to all Spirit ticket holders that night starting at 6:00 PM. Fans are able to purchase a special package that includes an autographed picture of Igor Larionov and an autographed Red Wings puck for only $15.00! Fans can get one additional personal item signed with each package purchased.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)