It seemed fitting that the final college hockey game held at Joe Louis Arena would finish in double overtime. The hockey gods just were not quite ready to see the old barn go.
But with Liam Folkes’ goal at 6:43 of the second overtime propelling the Penn State Nittany Lions to their first-ever Big Ten tournament victory, college hockey would never return to “The Joe.”
Less than one hour after Penn State’s captains lifted the tournament’s trophy, the ice had already been scraped and the Big Ten logo had disappeared from the center faceoff circle.
Gone forever, was college hockey at Joe Louis Arena, the place which has seen so much history between 38 Great Lakes Invitationals, 34 conference tournaments and three Frozen Fours.
Attendance was a major damper for this year’s tournament, though that can likely be attributed to a multitude of causes. With both local programs amidst a down year, fan support was not going to be huge. In addition, the event coincided with St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
But not even the low attendance numbers could take away from the charm the old building had. And while things like not having any railings on the steps leading to the seats, outdated restrooms and very few digital video boards set up doesn’t make for the best pure experience that a fan can have at the stadium, the classic “barn” feel is still there and reminds you of the history of the arena.
Gone so Fast for the Spartans
Back in the late ’90s and early ’00s, Michigan State was one of the national powers in college hockey, making two Frozen Fours in 1999 and 2001. Every year the road to the NCAA tournament ran through Detroit, with the Joe hosting both the Great Lakes Invitational and the CCHA championship. In between, the Spartans had their instate rivalry game versus Michigan at the region’s premier venue.
As a 2003 MSU graduate, current Spartans director of hockey operations Brad Fast was a part of some of those runs. At the JLA, he experienced victories at the 1999 and 2000 GLI, plus the 2000 and 2001 CCHA finals.
“It had a distinct feel, when playing there,” Fast recalled in a one-on-one chat with Pucks and Recreation. “You know there’s so much history at the stadium, and the atmosphere was always great whether it was the GLI, the CCHA tournament or just a regular game.”
With so many memories from the 38-year-old arena, it will be tough for the 37-year-old Fast to see it go.
“(There was) sadness at first, looking back at the memories I had there, wondering what they would do with it,” said Fast, who was born less than five months after the building opened. “I had hoped that they’d keep it open, but the new stadium looks fantastic. It should be great for college and professional hockey.”
Over the years, many people have said that they believed that the atmosphere of a college game was better than that of an NHL game at “The Joe.” While Fast wouldn’t go as far as saying it was better, he certainly felt that there was a difference.
“It’s so unique,” said Fast. “It’s just a different dynamic with the split crowd, the bands battling back and forth, the crowds chanting back and forth. Whether it was ‘Go Green,’ Go White’ or another one, it was always just so loud.”
MSU coach Tom Anastos, who resigned five days after the Spartans were eliminated, won each of the first four CCHA tournaments (1982-85) held at Joe Louis Arena as a player. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
While this year’s tournament didn’t draw the crowds as previous events, and while his team was eliminated in the first game, it was a positive experience for Fast to return to one final time.
“It was really cool,” he remarked. “I got to get back out on the ice there again, wish I could have been out there another couple of times. We really appreciate the opportunity, but once again, I wish that we could have been able to stick around longer.”
As Fast alluded to, the 2016-17 Spartans did not have the greatest of tournaments. They were dispatched 6-3 by the Ohio State Buckeyes on Thursday afternoon. After a sluggish start surrendering two quick goals, the Spartans reeled off three straight before OSU pulled a 3-3 draw late in the second period. The Buckeyes would go on to score three goals in the first four minutes of the third to put away the Spartans.
Prior to the tournament, head coach Tom Anastos spoke on a teleconference about some of his favorite memories of Joe Louis Arena, from both a player’s and spectator’s point of view.
“My first experience there was going to watch the (1980) NHL All Star Game,” Anastos recalled. “I’ll never forget when (former Red Wing and by then Hartford Whaler) Gordie Howe was announced and the place just erupted. That’s back when it was a new building. And that was my introduction to the building
Barely a year later, Anastos was a forward at MSU, where he took part in multiple Great Lakes Invitationals.
“One of my most memorable experiences was playing in the GLI championship, at the time in front of the largest crowd to ever watch a game in North America,” he stated.
Symmetry in Red
Being only 45 minutes away from Detroit, going to see games there is not a problem for their fan base, travel-wise. Having the JLA as a center for hockey in Michigan has been huge for the local hockey scene, as longtime Wolverines head coach Red Berenson spoke to in the pre-tournament teleconference.
“I think Joe Louis Arena has been a real boost to the credibility of college hockey,” remarked Berenson. “When kids that played hockey in the CCHA, for example, or at schools like Michigan and Michigan State, they get a chance to play in the Great Lakes Invitational every Christmas, and then the CCHA playoffs and championship, the NCAA has had their championship there, and regionals as well.”
Just like the Spartans, the other local team in the 2017 Big Ten tournament had a down year, as the Wolverines finished with a record of 13-19-3. And just like MSU, they faltered in Thursday’s first round, losing a 4-1 decision to college hockey newcomer Penn State.
Will the end of the Joe Louis Arena era coincide with the end of the Red Berenson era? That remains to be seen. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
Much like what is happening with Joe Louis Arena giving way to Little Caesars Arena, there was a changing of the guard with such a historic program falling to a team that did not even exist at this time in 2012.
“I think Joe Louis has been a tremendous venue for college hockey, and the exposure for college hockey and the credibility for college hockey,” said Berenson, who has been at the helm in Ann Arbor since 1984. He added “the slogan was ‘the Road to the Joe’ and don’t think all those players that have played in Joe Louis Arena weren’t thrilled to play here, so I think it’s been great for college hockey.”
Even when the result was not in doubt, most fans stuck around until the end of the game, both for their last experience of “College Hockey at the Joe, and because this may have been the last game that Berenson coaches. He was a coach for the visiting St. Louis Blues in the first season at Joe Louis Arena, and now has coached in the final-ever college hockey tournament held there.
Bucky and the Buckeyes
Michigan’s border rivals, Ohio State, entered the tournament needing at least one win to make the NCAA tournament. OSU got it against Michigan State before falling to Wisconsin in the semifinal, leaving itself at the No. 15 spot in the PairWise. The Buckeyes would ultimately get in through Wisconsin’s loss in the final.
Buckeyes head coach Steve Rohlik captained Wisconsin to an NCAA title at Joe Louis Arena in 1990. He spoke before the tournament on what it was like to win the championship there.
“There’s no question, I mean, that memory will be there forever,” he remarked. “To have a chance to go there with the teammates I had, and going there to win a national championship, and being able to raise that trophy in that arena was certainly pretty special in 1990.”
In addition, Rohlik finished his brief career in the NHL at Joe Louis Arena. The Pittsburgh Penguins draftee saw action in a preseason game against the Red Wings, but his regular-season credits were limited to six appearances with the ECHL’s Knoxville Cherokees in 1991-92.
“It was one of those ‘one of these things just doesn’t belong here’ and that thing just happened to be me that night. My linemates were Brian Trottier and Joey Mullen. Obviously, you know where those two are, and you know where I went,” joked Rohlik.
He wished that his players would understand just how special the opportunity to play there was. Forward Mason Jobst spoke after their first game about what the experience was like.
“It’s certainly special,” said Jobst. “This is my first time at ‘the Joe,’ the farewell tour. It’s a pretty cool experience for all of us for sure.”
Steve Rohlik won his final game in a Wisconsin Badger uniform in the 1990 NCAA championship at the JLA, then lost his final appearance in the building as a coach to his alma mater. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Gratified Granato
The team that defeated OSU, the Badgers, needed the automatic bid that came with winning the Big Ten tournament in order to qualify for the NCAAs. They would face the Nittany Lions, who beat the Minnesota Gophers in double overtime of the other Friday semifinal.
Before taking on the role of head coach of the Badgers this season, Tony Granato was an assistant coach for the Red Wings, meaning that he was in Detroit, and at “the Joe,” for the previous two years. He spoke briefly after the semifinal victory over the Buckeyes about the atmosphere inside the JLA.
“Well, I would like to have seen a few more people in the seats, but I loved being back in the building. This is a historic building,” stated Granato. “I enjoyed my two years here more than I could even tell you.”
Wings’ nest becomes Lions’ den
A crowd of 5,601 enjoyed another two periods of overtime when Granato’s Badgers met the Nittany Lions on Saturday. Most of the lower bowl was full to watch freshman goaltenders Peyton Jones and Jack Berry have a goaltending duel for most of the game.
Having gone to double-overtime game the night before, Penn State was visibly gassed. As such, the Badgers were able to tie the game in the third period while enjoying much of the puck possession.
Just over six and a-half minutes into the second overtime, freshman Liam Folkes beat Berry five-hole on a breakaway to give Penn State its first Big Ten tournament title, and a berth in the NCAA tournament in only the school’s fifth year as a Division I program.
Penn State overtime hero Liam Folkes poses with the trophy he secured while also closing the books on the “College Hockey at the Joe” era. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
As the team got together to have their picture taken with the trophy, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., native Trevor Hamilton sat right next to the trophy in an arena where he made so many memories growing up. Pucks and Rec caught up to him before the Nittany Lions’ semifinal victory over Minnesota to talk about playing at the Joe.
Ironically, his favorite memory from the building was a different multi-overtime game.
“I think it was maybe Game 5 of the (2008) Stanley Cup playoffs, when they went to triple-overtime against the Penguins,” recalled Hamilton. “They lost in triple-overtime, but I mean, it was still cool, I was here until 12 o’clock- one o’clock in the morning watching them play.”
Growing up in the Detroit area made Hamilton a big Red Wings fan. Because of that, he was constantly in attendance at their games.
“I actually came here a lot,” he said. “The Red Wings are still my favorite team today. Whenever I was home for breaks, I would try to find time to come to a game. Growing up, I would say I was here at least twice a month. It’s awesome to see all of the history they have had.”
Hamilton echoed the thoughts of many others from Detroit on the closing of the building, and his memories there. But he was cautiously optimistic about the future building.
“There’s so much history in this building and I grew up watching the Red Wings play here, and it sucks to see it go, but I’m glad to see the new rink being built and the Pistons coming down to downtown Detroit, and it’s awesome for the fan base. It’s disappointing to see the Wings heading out of this building but, I mean, it’s for the best.”
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