HOCKEY JANUA W RY 11, 2 E 012 E V K ol. 38 L , Issu Y e 9 $2.00 Hw w w . h o c k We y w e e k l y . c o m RUGGIERO RETIRES FROM U.S. TEAM - P. 3 YOUR #1 AMATEUR HOCKEY CONNECTION LLAASSTT MMAANN SSTTAANNDDIINNGG Remembering Johnny Wilson – the Red Wings’ Iron Man and Every Man Hockey Weekly editor Paul Harris knew Wilson as a player, historian and friend. He shares some of his anecdotes on Page 3. Hockey Weekly Action Photo by John Castine Above, Squirt AA HoneyBaked’s Jake Cooper bangs at the puck in a championship game at the Compuware Holiday Classic Dec. 28, but Rockford Rams goalie Davis Ziesmer keeps it out as players fall all around him. Below, Livonia Bulldog Connor Charron (in black) is pursued by Livonia Wolverine Carson Kleven in the Gordon Butler Mite Christmas Tournament final Dec. 30 at Eddie Edgar Arena. See who won both games on Page 17. Hockey Weekly photo by John Castine foLLoW THE BounCinG PuCK : Plymouth's Stefan noesen (11) and London Knights' defense - man Colin Martin both try to get a hold of an airborne puck in front of London goalie Michael Houser on Dec. 28 at Compuware Arena. The Whalers won 6-1. Peter Krupsky's Whalers' column is on Page 6. Hockey Weekly Action Photo by Jacek Zdziarski NNOOVVII LLOOOOKKIINNGG FFOORR CCOOAACCHHEESS,, GGIIRRLLSS DDIIRREECCTTOORR -- PPAAGGEE 1122 PAGE 2 HOCKEY WEEKLY JANUARY 11, 2012 JANUARY 11, 2012 HOCKEY WEEKLY PAGE 3 Wilson was former NHL iron man and every man Johnny Wilson was the quintessential ex-Red Wing. league-record of 580 consecutive games off in the offensive zone. Wilson was play - Not only did he play on all four of Detroit’s Stanley Cup from 1951-52 to 1959-60. ing center and took the face-off in the left winners in their legendary six-season dominance from The closest he came to missing a game wing circle. I was the left winger on the 1949-50 to 1954-55, but he also coached the team for a during the streak came in 1954 when a line and Wilson had me set up in shooting short span during its lean years (145 deflected puck hit him in the eye during a position for a shot right off the face-off. games from 1971-1973). He also Monday practice. “Get ready. It’s coming right to you,” he coached three other NHL teams and three “There was a question if I’d be able to told me before the face-off. Sure enough, teams in the old World Hockey see, or whatever. And I went to the hospi - the puck came right to my stick off the Association. tal,” Wilson said in the late 90’s. “The doc - draw. I was so shocked that I hesitated But what made Wilson truly special tor said, ‘Johnny, you’re hemorrhaging before getting off a wrist shot that the was a persona that was a combination of there. But we can’t do much for three or four goalie easily stopped. being down to earth and simply “cool,” days. We’ll put a patch on you and go home Wilson skated over and I was about to which allowed him to be comfortable and rest.’ Fortunately, we didn’t play all give some lame excuse for hesitating. But engaging anyone in conversation and to that week until Saturday afternoon in he simply said, “You shot it! You shot it!” IN MY put anyone he was speaking to at ease Boston. Had we played on Thursday night, I played in one or two more of those immediately. as we usually did at the Olympia, I would’ve types of games with Wilson and saw him OPINION Wilson died on Dec. 27, at the age of had to miss the game. Because Friday often around Joe Louis Arena in the next By Paul 82 after a long bout with pulmonary night, my eye started opening up and I few years. fibrosis. could see. I went to the doctor. He said What made Johnny Wilson truly We always enjoyed a few words and Harris As a player, his Red Wing teammates ‘You’d be all right to play Saturday,’ which special was a persona that was laughs whenever we met. And when he was included such legends as Gordie Howe, was the next day. He looked at the eye and a combination of being down to interviewed, his comments were always Ted Lindsay, Terry Sawchuk, Sid Abel, Alex Delvecchio and nothing was damaged.” earth and simply “cool.” honest, to the point and well-worded. Red Kelly. During Wilson’s time behind the team’s bench, Wilson caught the next train to Boston Wilson’s nephew is Ron Wilson, who he coached Delvecchio, current Red Wings’ television and was able to continue the streak, which now coaches the Toronto Maple Leafs. But Wilson was color analyst Mickey Redmond, Hall of Famer Marcel ended when he held out in a contract dispute with the Maple coaching the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 1997, when the Dionne and long-time Michigan coach Red Berenson. Leafs and missed their 1960-61 season opener. He signed Red Wings played them in the second round of the Stanley A left winger, he played with Detroit from 1949-50 to right after that, played three games for Toronto, then was Cup Playoffs and the Washington Capitals in 1998, when 1954-55 and 1957-58 and 1958-59, a total of 379 games, traded to the Rangers. Detroit swept them in the Stanley Cup Finals. during a 13-season NHL career in which he also played with He had no regrets about how the streak ended. Wilson was asked about his dilemma of allegiances the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and New “I would do it again,” he told The Windsor Star 40 years before each series. Before one of those series, he respond - York Rangers. later. “We’d played Montreal in the finals the season before ed: “I’ve been a diehard Red Wing over the years. But blood He was once the NHL’s reigning iron man with a then and learned they were paid a lot more than we were.” is thicker than water. I have to deflect temporarily and Wilson had career totals of 161 goals and 332 cheer him on.” points in 688 games. Of those totals 79 goals I also have to thank Wilson for his contributions to the and 100 assists came with Detroit. book “Heroes of Hockeytown,” in which I profiled the leg - In addition to coaching the Red Wings to a 67- ends of the history of the Red Wings. Anyone who read 56-22 mark, he coached the Los Angeles Kings, each of the more than 50 profiles, probably noticed that Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche in Wilson was the most quoted person. Not only did he pro - the NHL and the Cleveland Crusaders, Michigan vide quotes and information for his own story but also for Stags and Baltimore Blades of the WHA. He also those on the Red Wing greats he played with and those he coached in the minor leagues and in College coached. Hockey at Princeton. I am forever in Wilson’s debt for his help on that project. I consider myself fortunate to have gotten to A native of Kincardine, Ontario, Wilson lived in West know Wilson pretty well over the years. Bloomfield Township. After his coaching career, he worked I first met him when he and I played on the for Rite-On Industries in Redford for many years. same team in a benefit hockey game at the Wilson died in Livonia in hospice. He is survived by his Lakeland Arena in the early 1990s. Believe it or wife, Pat; his son, Kelly; his daughter, Tracy Wilson- Johnny Wilson was once the nHL’s reigning iron man with a then not, we were linemates for a few shifts. One of Gibson; a sister, Margaret Hammer; and six grandchildren. league-record of 580 consecutive games from 1951-52 to 1959-60. my most vivid memories of that came on a face- Larry Wilson died in 1979. SILVER STICK Port Huron Silver Stick TOURNAMENT Ruggiero retires from tournament turns 50 SCHEDULE U.S. Women’s program JAN. 12-15 IN PORT HURON By Steve Kamidoi amazes me is the Bantam AAA By Paul Harris Hockey Weekly Special Writer love and dedication and Pee Wee AAA Hockey Weekly Editor Port Huron will reach a 50-year milestone of host - the hundreds of vol - JAN. 20-22 IN SARNIA Four-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero, one of the greatest Women’s ing the oldest youth hockey tournament in North unteers put toward players in the history of the sport, announced her retirement from the U.S. America starting on Jan. 14 as the International making it a memo - Atom and Midget B, A, AA, AAA Women’s National Team Program recently. Silver Stick tournament gets under way. rable experience for She competed 16 years for the United States and her 256 games in a Team A total of 64 AAA teams (40 Bantam and 24 Pee the teams. I’ve JAN. 26-29 IN PORT HURON USA uniform is more than any other hockey player in the country’s history. Wee) from across the United States and Canada will never had a true Bantam A and AA, The defenseman’s Team USA totals are 67 goals and pack the local hotels to compete in a four-day, 142- count but there is Pee Wee A and AA 141 assists for 208 points.