Sports

UPDATE: Red Wings Grind Line Hits Ice in Troy for Youth Hockey

Former Red Wings Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty are back on the ice together this week at the Troy Sports Center for a four-day hockey camp for kids.

The Red Wings' Grind Line was back in action again Monday, this time to host a four-day youth hockey camp at the .

Former Detroit players Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty returned to the ice to teach youngsters about skating, passing, puck handling and shooting in the first Grind Line Hockey Camp hosted by which is co-owned by Draper. About 135 kids ranging in age from 6-13 attended the camp, which runs through Thursday.

Deb Cagigal, who heads up marketing for CORE Sports, said they aren't accepting additional registrations for the camp, but she expects the Grind Line camp to be offered again in the future. "This is Kris' fourth camp, but the first for the Grind Line," she said.

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Draper said he and Maltby were golfing when they began talking about the Grind Line camp.

"He said he (Maltby) wanted to do it, and then we wanted to include Mac as well, sent him a text and he was on board right away," Draper said in a written release. "We talked about how much fun the three of us have had playing for the Red Wings and the friendship we've created, and thought it'd be pretty neat to put a hockey school together."

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The Grind Line refers to a former forward line for the Detroit Red Wings. Former Red Wings Coach Scotty Bowman modeled it after the Crash Line of the 1995 Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils. The line was effective at "grinding" and wearing against the oppositions top scoring line by providing an enforcing presence, helping the team win three Stanley Cups.

Cagigal said the camp is focused on the youths. Autograph or meet and greet sessions to the general public won't be offered.

While the youngsters are excited to play with the former NHL players, Cagigal said members of the Grind Line and other trainers at the camp take the training very seriously. 

"They push them hard," she said. "They really make them work."


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