Outdoor games have become relatively frequent in today’s NHL, with some complaining that it’s becoming a little too much. There is no doubt an appeal to the style of hockey, but there is something also to be said for the novelty wearing off.
Saying that, fans will likely be interested to hear about this one particular event from 1954.
This match was supposedly the first time an NHL team has taken the ice for an outdoor game, although they weren’t playing against the another NHL team. In fact, Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Terry Sawchuk and the Wigns were taking on a bunch of prisoners.
As told and reenacted by SB Nation, here is the story of the Detroit Red Wings vs. the Marquette Prison Pirates:
Strange to think of Mr. Hockey rubbing elbows with a guy that self-admittedly stabbed someone five times, but back in the day Gordie was pretty tough himself. The interesting caveat here is that the prisoners actually enjoyed meeting Ted Lindsay the most – they were a fan of his penalty minutes. Go figure.
(H/T SB Nation)
