It has now been thirty years and three months since the Red Wings last played at Olympia Stadium — “the old Red Barn” that once stood at the corner of Grand River and McGraw.
And for anyone who had the pleasure of watching the Wings at that fabled venue, a favorite memory was standing in the concourse near the home and visitors locker rooms when the players would have to walk from the bench and across the concourse before the game, between periods, and after the battle. In every arena today, fans can’t get nearly as close to the players.
You could stand right up to the railing as the sweaty players walked right by holding their sticks, sometimes gasping for air as fans either yelled encouragement to the Wings or made catcalls to the visitors. Fellow Detroit Athletic Co. blogger Tom DeLisle remembers seeing the Hawk’s perennial fighter Reggie Fleming flipping the bird to the Red Wing fans as he walked into the visitor’s dressing room.
I fondly recall as a 14-year old standing at the railing as the Wings, one right after the other walked right by me, seemingly 10 feet tall in their skates wearing those beautiful red durene uniforms, covered in sweat: Gary Bergman, Nick Libett, Roy Edwards, Alex Delvecchio, Frank Mahovlich and then the last player, my hero, number 9, Gordie Howe.
Standing next to me as Howe walked towards us was a father holding his young son in his arms.
As Howe walked by, he saw the kid, and lifting his stick, he slid it in his gloves, and ran the butt end of it half an inch from the kid’s nose as Gordie gave him a wink and a toothless grin.
It was priceless.
Gordie Howe and coach Sid Abel walk by fans and into the locker room at Olympia Stadium on March 6, 1970.
