Memory Lane: Mechanics

 

     The Motor City Mechanics are a dormant professional hockey team that existed for only two seasons (2004-2006) in the UHL (United Hockey League).  The Mechanics were aided by the cancellation of the 2004-2005 NHL (National Hockey League) season because of a lockout.  The Mechanics roster featured four NHL players including Sean Avery, Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher, and Brian Smolinski.

     Chris Chelios, and Derian Hatcher would've played for the Detroit Red Wings in a normal NHL season.  The Mechanics also signed Kris Draper, but the Red Wings Center never played in a single game for the Mechanics because of visa problems.  The Motor City Mechanics failed to reach the United Hockey League Playoffs during the 2004-2005 season.  The Motor City Mechanics played their home games in Fraser, Michigan.  Their home ice arena was nicknamed "The Garage". 

     Leave a comment, or email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on past months to see all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Check out Game Notes.

                                                                                               Game Notes  

-  The United Hockey League is dormant.

-  The Kalamazoo Wings competed in the United Hockey League.  The Wings currently compete in the ECHL. 

-  The Fort Wayne Komets competed in the United Hockey League.  The Komets currently compete in the ECHL. 

-  The Flint Generals competed in the United Hockey League.  The Generals are now dormant. 

-  The Kalamazoo Wings swept the Motor City Mechanics (four games to none) in the 1st round of the 2005-2006 United Hockey League Playoffs.  

-  The Detroit Mechanix are a professional ultimate disc team that competes in the AUDL (American Ultimate Disc League). 

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Spartans Have Another Gibby!

#30 Cam Gibson's father is Kirk Gibson!

     The Michigan State Spartans have become familiar in acquiring talent directly related to athletes that played in our local area.  Dean, and Jake Chelios both skated for the Spartans hockey team this past season, and both of them probably received plenty of hockey pointers from their father Chris Chelios.  The Spartans baseball team is featuring another son of a former pro, but sophomore sensation #30 Cam Gibson may be better known as just a really good baseball player, by the time his college career is over.
     #30 Cam Gibson is the staring left fielder for the Spartans baseball team this year, and Gibson has started all twenty games so far this season.  Gibson has 78 at bats, and is averaging .282, with 1 HR (home run), and 6 RBI's (runs batted in).  Gibson leads the Spartans in hits with 22, in walks with 11, and in triples with 3. As a freshman last season, Gibson started 40 games, and compiled an impressive batting average of .325.  Gibson was named to the Big 10 Conference All Freshman team last season, and has already been named as a Big 10 Conference Player to Watch in 2014.
     Kirk Gibson is the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and is Cam Gibson's father.  The Diamondbacks drafted Cam Gibson in the 38th round (#1173 overall) of the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, but Gibson decided to attend Michigan State University.  Kirk Gibson was a star baseball, and football player during his time at Michigan State, and Cam Gibson is certainly on the path to a long, and successful Major League Baseball career.
     The Michigan State University baseball team currently has an overall record of 10-10, and a Big Ten Conference record of 1-2.  The Spartans are scheduled to play their home opener on April 2nd, (3:05) against Oakland University.  The Spartans will travel across town the following day for an exhibition game against the Lansing Lugnuts.  The Lugnuts are a professional baseball team, and are the single "A" affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.  This season, the Michigan State baseball team will host Big 10 Conference rivals such as Purdue University, Northwestern University, and Nebraska University.
     Kirk Gibson played for the Detroit Tigers from 1983-1987, and was a television analyst for the Tigers from 1998-1992.  Gibson served on the Detroit Tigers coaching staff as both a bench coach, and a hitting coach from 2003-2005.   Kirk Gibson currently manages the Arizona Diamondbacks, and in 2011 was named National League Manager of the Year.
     Click on the links below for more information about Michigan State University athletics, or NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division 1 baseball.  You can always leave a comment, and you can email the Mitten State Sports Report directly at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on past months to check out all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material!






For more information about Michigan State University athletics click on  http://www.msuspartans.com



For more information about NCAA Division 1 baseball click on  http://www.ncaa.com/sports/baseball/d1



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Hockey Night In Westland

Proceeds fcrom the game benefit the Mike Modano Ice Arena in Westland.

     The Detroit Red Wings Alumni will invade the Mike Modano Ice Arena tonight to battle the Westland Wild Wings in a charity game beginning at 7:00 p.m.  The goal is to raise money for improvements to the Mike Modano Ice Arena.  The Westland Wild Wings roster consists of local officials lead by the Mayor of Westland William R.Wild.
     The Detroit Red Wings Alumni includes recently retired players such as Chris Chelios, Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper, Darren McCarty, Chris Osgood, Igor Larionov, and Dino Ciccarelli.  The roster also includes an earlier generation of players such as Joey Kocur, Petr Klima, Jimmy Carson, and Shawn Burr.  The team even has greats from before my time like Gordy Howe, Ted Lindsey, and Alex Delveccio.  Tickets are still available, ($10 for adults, $5 for kids, free for children 3 and under) but it is expected to sell out.  The two teams met last year and the Red Wings Alumni defeated the Westland Wild Wings 8-1.
     If you can't make it out to Westland tonight you can still watch the Detroit Red Wings Alumni play all over the state of Michigan.  Last month they were in Cheboygan, and later this month they'll be in Brighton, Hartland, Hazel Park, and Dearborn.  Click on the link below for more information about the Detroit Red Wings Alumni.










For more info about the Detroit Red Wings Alumni click on  redwings.nhl.com/alumni 



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