Music was thumping.
“Who’s feeling good today?” D.J. Chachi said into a microphone, standing in the corner of the gym at Chrysler Elementary on Detroit’s eastside on Wednesday.
About 25 fifth graders started screaming — high-pitched, ear-shattering screams that echoed off the small gymnasium walls.
“Thanks for letting us into your school,” Chachi said. “I got some really good friends of mine who wanted to come by and say hi to you guys.”
Nets were set up and dozens of hockey sticks were stacked together as the kids waited for three Detroit Red Wings to arrive.
“Who knows some of the players on the team?” Chachi asked.
SHAWN WINDSOR:Red Wings’ tussle with the Oilers was a reminder of how far they still have to go
The screams died down. Most of the kids went silent, and that, in one small moment, is a reflection of the problem. That’s what the Red Wings are trying to change. They have started a program to address a glaring lack of hockey fans among Detroit children, trying to introduce this sport to them.
About 34,000 children in Detroit Public Schools have been playing street hockey in their physical education classes this week thanks to the Red Wings, who gave the schools equipment and training.
It’s all part of the Red Wings’ Learn, Play, Score program — a $1 million program funded by the team, the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund.
It actually started in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed it down.
It hit full force this week.
“Just to put it in perspective, prior to Learn, Play, Score launching in 2020, there were right around 100 children registered to play hockey in the entire city of Detroit,” said Kevin Brown, the Ilitch Sports + Entertainment director of community impact. “Now, years later, we are able to launch programs like this, where we’re reaching 34,000-plus kids across the city, sticks in hands, learning the game in the most equitable fashion, which is street hockey.”
Kids are getting a chance to experience hockey, and the Wings are doing their darndest to expand the sport and create the next generation of fans.
“This is amazing,” said Kennedy Phenezy, 11, of Detroit. “An amazing opportunity. I don’t think anybody else will have the opportunity to get to do something like this. We are so lucky.”
The event was cool on so many levels.
For one thing, the idea seems smart: Getting kids involved in hockey without having to deal with ice time.
But there was something else: It was just a joy watching captain Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider interact with the kids.
I’m not sure who was smiling more — the players or the kids.
SILENCING THE NOISE:Why Tyler Bertuzzi’s avoiding social media is part of resurgence
Larkin walked around, giving high-fives to the kids, before working at the shooting station.
“You wanna slap it as hard as you can,” he said. “You won’t hurt the ball.”
He fired one toward the net, and it clanked off the wall.
Some kids screamed.
“We’ll give everybody two shots.”
He pulled out a ball and demonstrated. “Sweep right at it. Like a broomstick.”
Lailah Byrd, 10, slapped a perfect shot and Larkin gave her a high-five.
On the other side of the gym, two lines of children were doing stick-handling drills with Seider.
“It’s just crazy when you see all the excitement, all the joy in their eyes; you just bring a stick and a ball and you let them score some goals and they will never forget that,” Seider said.
A girl moved between the cones.
“Nice!” Seider said. “That was good. Real good.”
Raymond was working with eight kids, doing passing drills.
“Good!” Raymond said. “Stop it with your foot if you have to.”
They plan to continue the program into the summer with street ball events at Detroit rec centers.
“We want to inspire kids to dream big,” Brown said. “The way that you do that is by providing access and giving the opportunity to children. The sport of hockey provides kids with skills that will help them their entire life, whether that’s teamwork or perseverance. It’s about gaining those lifelong skills at this impressionable age.”
When it was done, there was a group photo by some balloons.
Larkin stood next to Chrysler principal Wendy Shirley.
“I am hoping this will spark an interest for our children,” she said.
Right before a group photo, Larkin took over.
The captain being the Captain.
“Can you say ‘Red Wings?’ ” Larkin said, loudly.
MORE FROM SEIDEL:NIL has changed college sports. But what about no-so-big names? Horizon League has answer
The photographer set it up: “One! Two! Three!”
“RED WINGS!” the kids screamed.
Which is how the Wings created a whole bunch of new fans. Introducing this sport to thousands.
So smart. On so many levels.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @seideljeff.
To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.