Within the tariff of $100,000 Detroit received their first franchise using the NHL expansion of 1926 - 27. Detroit was awarded the franchise May 15, 1926 and purchased the Victoria Cougars September 25, 1926. Without having a home rink, the newly founded Cougars were instructed to play the house games across the river for the Border Cities Arena in Windsor, Ontario. November 22nd, 1927- the Cougars began 4 seasons while in the Detroit Olympia. 1930- 31, unsuccessful when using the Cougars name, ownership changed on the Falcons. 1932, James Norris and Arthur Wirtz bought the Falcons and changed the name. The partnership purchased the Detroit Olympia for $250,000. The Falcons were included to the sale for $100,000. Named following a Montreal AAA team, "Red Wings" was the name chosen by Norris. October 5, 1932 - Detroit hockey fans were brought to the revolutionary Red Wing name, red uniforms as well as the fabled "Winged Crest".RED WINGS FOUNDATION - GORDIE HOWE: The first jersey number Gordie wore when he joined the Red Wings was, the potential forgotten, number 17 with the 1946 - 47 season. NHL tradition...just the team veterans received lower jersey numbers. Rookies got our prime numbers and the upper berths traveling trip train rides. Being the most important physical roster an affiliate the Wings, Gordie moved down to the lowest train berth for those 1947 - 48 season. To regain it "official" with team vets, Howe also received number 9. Howe started his NHL career with a very positive note. The rookie Red Wing scored his first NHL goal with his first game. Gordie beat Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Turk Broda at 13:38 of the second period. November 27, 1960 - "Mr. Hockey" had become the first National Hockey League player to get 1000 points.TED LINDSAY: Ted was the pioneer Red Wings player to score 200 goals in franchise history. Lindsay tallied the milestone goal having a 5 - 2 victory within the Rangers December 21, 1952. He was crowned NHL's all-time leading scoring left winger while in the 1955 - 56 season. Ted scored Detroit's only goal at a 2 - 1 loss on the Montreal Forum - October 29, 1955. His 271st career marker surpassed Aurel Joliat's 270 lifetime total. Lindsay won four Stanley Cups with nine first-place teams."Terrible" Ted will be oldest regular season penalty leader. 1958 - 59, Lindsay led the NHL in PiM with 184 minutes in your penalty box. "Terrible" into the end...Ted was the oldest penalty leader when he was 33.TERRY SAWCHUK: Terry may be the only player to capture 3 rookie-of-the-year awards in three pro hockey leagues...winning the 3 awards in 4 years. The rookie "hat trick" began in 1947 - 48 along with the USHL Omaha Knights. Upgrading the farm system Sawchuk repeated from the AHL with the 1948 - 49 Indianapolis Chiefs. Refining his skills another year in Indianapolis, "Ukey" was rewarded by having a promotion towards Red Wings. Terry captured the 1950 - 51 Calder Trophy. Terry Sawchuk was the primary netminder to win 250 games within a Red Wing uniform. March 15, 1959 - Sawchuk reached that total having a 4 - 1 conquer Chicago.FACT OR FICTION? Early in the 1927 - 28 season, Duke Keats was suspended by NHL President Frank Calder. In anger, Duke swung his stick in direction of the some jeering Black Hawks fans...nearly striking actress Irene Castle. Irene just were the wife from the Hawks owner Major Frederic McLaughlin. The suspension was eventually lifted within 24 hours that Keats was traded. Keats officially became a Chicago Black Hawk December 16, 1927. The "bargain basement" contract figures for Gordie Howe's rookie season with all the Red Wings was $2,600. "Mr. Hockey" broke into your NHL, 18 yrs . old, when using the 1946-47 Red Wings. Rumor has it, Gordie has even more excited at breaking into the Red Wing lineup when Jolly Jack sweetened the contract by giving Howe a Red Wings jacket.
