For those of you that like movies Escape To Victory, or The Longest Yard, this is a story for you. Fifty-eight years ago the Detroit Redwings played convicts from a Michigan prison. Even though the Wings blew out the convicts, it's a very entertaining story written by Bill Roose, managing editor of www.detroitredwings.com.

Ted Lindsay holds the hockey bucket that the Red Wings received for defeating the Marquette Prison Pirates on Feb. 2, 1954.

The morning began with Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow in Pennsylvania.

The rodent scurried back to his hole, and as legend has it, his hasty retreat meant six more weeks of winter, but to the hearty residents of Marquette, on the southern shores of Lake Superior that wasn’t much of a threat since Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has always been accustomed to harsh winters.

What Yoopers weren’t used to seeing in 1954 were the famous faces that they only read about in newspapers or heard on radio. But this Groundhog Day – though meteorically like any other wintry Marquette day: 22 degrees, overcast and windless – was completely different when the Detroit Red Wings came to town.

There was nothing ‘usual’ about the Wings’ visit. They were invited by a warden to play an outdoor game – the first in franchise history – inside the razor wire-topped stone walls and armed watchtowers of the state’s most notorious maximum-security prison.

Clearly, the game 58 years ago had a far different ambience then the last time the Wings played outdoors in the 2009 Winter Classic at Chicago’s Wrigley Field or will when the Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs play at Michigan Stadium on New Year’s Day.

“I was never concerns because I figured that I could take care of myself,” said Wings legend Ted Lindsay, of playing against murderers, arsonists, bank robbers and assorted other degenerates. “But I felt very strongly from having been close to them in the summertime and mingling with them that there was no reason to be worried.”

Months earlier, Lindsay and general manager Jack Adams visited Marquette Branch Prison during a promotional barnstorming trip through the U.P., which was sponsored by Stroh’s Brewery. The two men put on short presentation in the prison’s auditorium, then answered some questions from the prisoners.

“It was a Stroh’s promotion. They paid us though it wasn’t much,” Lindsay recalled. “We did it mostly in the Lower Peninsula, probably three or four teams of twosomes went to different lunches, breakfasts and dinners to clubs and all.”

In the last two weeks of June, Lindsay and Adams went to the U.P., starting in St. Ignace and on the Soo and Marquette where they ended up at the prison. Lindsay remembers it not being as bad inside as it had been made out to be. But he still inquired with the guards about personal safety. “Oh no, if anybody thought of doing anything they would be dead before he took two steps,” Lindsay was told.

But playing maximum-security prisoners, who were locked up for 23 hours a day, would be an altogether different risk for the Red Wings. And that’s where Lindsay believes the Wings’ GM was somehow bamboozled by the warden.

“Our summer visit went well and then the warden caught Jack Adams by surprise when he said, ‘Jack, would you bring your team up here and play in the prison yard?” Lindsay said. “Jack almost swallowed his tongue not knowing what the heck to say. But after doing some visiting and talking back and forth – probably giving Jack some time to think – he told the warden, ‘I’ll tell you what, I’ll bring my team up if you can pay for the plane, pay for the hotel rooms, pay for the meals and I’ll bring my team up.’ ”

The Red Wings enter the ice in the prison yard at Marquette Branch Prison. They were invited by the warden to play the convicts in 1954.

Emery Jacques, the prison’s last politically appointed warden, called Adams’ bluff and a few months later extended a formal invitation to the NHL’s best pros to play the cons at the “Alcatraz of the North”.

Marquette's inmate population comprised the worst of the worst, and their hockey skills weren’t much better, so some tried to build up the game by emphasizing the convicts' crimes and the possibility of a real brawl when the Marquette Prison Pirates lineup against the Wings.

But Lindsay wasn’t the least bit concerned about a prison yard fracas, saying, “I was viewed as a hero because I was leading the league in penalties, so I fit right in with the boys.”

The playing conditions in Marquette that day were perfect, prompting Gordie Howe to say that the ice was “the best he had ever played on.”

Lindsay agreed, saying, “Anytime you get nature doing the freezing you’ve got the best ice possible.”

But someone had to build the rink of dreams, and that was Oakie Brumm. The prison’s director of physical activity and a former University of Michigan hockey player, Brumm was tasked with creating a rink in the prison yard without the convicts using the materials as tools for escaping.

Brumm would later write about his experiences in the prison in a book entitled “We Only Played Home Games” where he recounted his memories, including the only time an NHL club played inside a penitentiary.

“The inmates and I saw all of this as a future hockey rink,” wrote Brumm, who died in 2006. “Most of the custodial staff considered this serious escape equipment, at least until it was nailed down.”

The game on prison ice was the greatest thrill most of the inmates and staff had ever experienced. Wings coach Tommy Ivan put his team through a series of big league drills and skills competitions, and then the Wings defeated the Pirates soundly by displaying some of the dazzling stick work that made them league champions for seven consecutive seasons.

“They were more curious because they had heard us on the radio and seen us on the television,” said Lindsay, of the inmates. “Now they were looking at the real person.”

To make things interesting, the Wings swapped a few players, trading goalie Terry Sawchuk, among others, and exchanged one set of defensemen, said Lindsay, who skated on the opposite wing as Howe with an inmate as their centerman.

Howe then skated the second half of the game with the prison's wear a No. 16 Pirates' jersey.

After 10 minutes, the Wings had a 10-0 advantage, and by the end of the first period they had an 18-0 lead. It could easily have been 50-0.

“The only time I touched the puck,” bemoaned Brumm, who installed himself on defense, “was when I pulled it out of the back of the net.”

The Red Wings ran away with the game and the warden presented Adams with a honey bucket as a makeshift trophy. Lindsay doesn’t remember the final score, which he calls insignificant.

“It was an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. I would say that they were all perfect gentlemen,” Lindsay said. “The emotions that you have at the time are what you should be able to feel. The emotions of what you felt with them and the emotions that you felt for them and how you felt being on the ice with them. All of that stuff you forget.”

In 2010-11 season, Dallas finished with a record of 42-29-11 for a point total of 95 (and ended up out of the post-season on the final day of the regular season, as we all know). Those eleven loser points helped get them close to that number 8 seed. Unfortunately the Stars are on pace to only have 5 or 6 loser points at most by this season's end. So why haven't they been able to collect more than 2 loser points over 53 games so far this year?

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So I've been thinking about this for the last few days, and I, like many of you, have been wondering why Fistric always seems to be the odd man out. Putting aside dum dum Crawford's handling of him, I'm starting to think that Mark Fistric may just be a super sub. Think about it for a second, it makes total sense. He may just be in the perfect role right now, so while i would like him to get more playing time, is he simply more effective when he doesn't play all 82?

Let's take a look at this guy shall we? Big, strong, mean, physical. Those are good qualities to have in any player, but especially good on defense. Fistric can put the fear of god into any opposing teams forwards taking the puck into the zone and around the net. We've all seen time and time again the way this guy can change a game with one hit.

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I feel like people are really flipping out about this loss to the coyotes, so I'm going to try to be the voice of reason here.

Yes, you have every right to be frustrated with the stars. I can only name about 5 players right now that I think are playing well, and that's not good. I know that if my team loses I'm never happy, but let's all just take a deep breath here.

We have Joe and finally Tom, things are going to be alright, I promise. Joe knows what he's doing and Tom has finally given the team some money to play with. This teams just does not have the talent be badasses we've gotten used to seeing all these years. You can thank the former owner for that, I know I know, I won't mention his name. But this whole thing is all his fault, but don't worry he's gone now and he's never coming back.

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So, probably one of the best things about the Super Bowl yesterday was the M&M's commercial "Just My Shell." The outcome was not going to please me either way. For those of you who did not see it live, here it is:

M&M'S "Just My Shell" Super Bowl Commercial (via mmschocolate)

I advise not watching this during work, because it will make you laugh hard.

Now that that's all been said, try and figure this out.

Snaps is the name of the game. The name of the game is snaps.

• Gee, I wish I knew how to play this game...
• Snap snap snap snap
• So, you still don't understand how this works?
• Try to think for a second, you'll get it.
• Snap
• Ready now?
• Still don't get it? Oh well...the game's done.

Whoever figures this out first gets a cookie...from somewhere.

This is an experiment I'm doing with these OT Threads. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work.

I'm sure somebody will figure this out in an instant, too.

If you don't want to play the game, how about some other topics?

Alberto Contador no longer has a Tour de France title.

Um...apparently some artist feels people are on their cellphones too much.

So, the Terminator does exist?!

What Super Bowl commercial did you like yesterday?

Okay folks, that's all I've got. Enjoy!

Ultimately I think this is what Joe and the Stars are aiming to do - make a team capable of pushing for a division title for an extended period of time and be legitimate contenders (ex. Hawks, Bruins, Pens, etc.).

I don't really put any stock in to these ideas but at the same time they can provoke some thought and dialogue.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/03/stars-owner-i-think-we-will-be-active-in-the-trade-deadline/

The article outlines the talk where Gaglardi cites the need for another top-6 forward. The writer presents the idea, purely on speculation, where the Stars would look to acquire Chris Stewart from the Blues; a struggling 24 year old RFA power-forward with hands. Going the other way? Suggests Michael Ryder or Souray and obviously other pieces. But I think he fits the mold of a player that would interest the Stars: young, controllable, and talented.

What would you guys trade for Stewart? What other players who meet the criteria of: young, controllable, and talented (assume top 6 forward or top pairing d-man if you wish to go that route) would you like to acquire? I don't have a very good grasp of the value our prospects hold and would be interested to see what some of you conjure up. Thanks.

Came across this on HFboards. I really like them, with a few tweaks. I prefer the more gold colored gold as opposed to yellow(although some here seem to like the yellow). As well as the alternate logo on the home and away shoulders. Also green instead of yellow for the white jersey numbers. Figured I'd post this here instead of on the last jersey post since it's buried so far back. Opinions?

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We've had seats for 5 years and never had a problem until this year. After our original ticket agent, we've gone through 4 different ones because they keep leaving. Our current agent is making it difficult for us to even want to be a season ticket holder anymore. I started night classes and can no longer go to any of the Tues or Thurs games. Our new agent says their has always been a 5 game limit on turn ins even though none of the other agents went by it. I was wondering if any of the season ticket holders out there have had a harder time exchanging tickets this year. It used to be great when we were able to turn in for credit or exchange games we werent able to make it to. Its just been all hassle this year. We did not get the actual hard ticket book this year, can somebody please scan and link the exchange policy printed in as I cannot find it on the Dallas Stars site? Also, if it is listed in there, can you scan the season ticket holder prices diagram? I used to have it but can not longer find it. They are also giving us hassle about the upgrade charge for moving to another section. They charged us one prices earlier this year and are now trying to charge us more than double that.

Another week. Another Off-Topic Thread.

The Super Bowl is coming up this Sunday!...eh. I dislike the match-up. I guess I'm hoping for a good game...and good commercials...which leads me to this:

What is your favorite commercial from this year thus far?

What is your all-time favorite Super Bowl commercial? Old Spice's "I'm on a Horse" is my favorite. I don't use Old Spice, but that commercial is a classic.

Don't you hate it when the commercials are louder than the program you're watching?

Do you have a Super Bowl Sunday tradition? I just realized I have a film shoot on Super Bowl Sunday...hopefully I can get that fixed.

Did you know that the continents can be rearranged to form a fire-breathing T-Rex?

This will serve as the Super Bowl Game Day Thread. However, if you keep to your traditions, you will be watching with friends and not commenting on blogs about the Super Bowl. But, if you want, use this.

Question for all our European friends on here: Do you have any sports-related holiday that is "Super Bowl Sunday-esque?" El Clasico?

Have a good rest of the week everybody!

This is a piece on possible goaltenders that could be drafted by the Dallas Stars. Unlike the previous posts this one is focused on a broader spectrum beyond first round goalies. Each player’s name is linked to their Elite Prospects page. It should be noted that goalies are incredibly hard to predict when they will be drafted.

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