Red Wings and fans enjoy 20th anniversary of Toast of Hockeytown

DETROIT -- The Red Wings' Toast of Hockeytown is always one of the best events of the season but for the 20th anniversary, the team took it to a whole new level at Little Caesars Arena.
For the first time, there was a Roaring '20s theme in celebration of the anniversary and executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman, also known as The Captain, was there to kick off the celebration.

Some of the fans who took part in the VIP pre-party also got a chance to spent a little extra time with Yzerman.

"He gave us so much of his time," Robert Palmer Sr. said. "He wasn't rushed about anything and he talked about so many different things. It was just amazing. But he definitely stressed on the fact that it's not going to be a fast turnaround, it's going to take time. We all know that.
"We're willing to give him all the time he needs. We know he's smart as can be after the job he did in Tampa. He stressed the fact that you just gotta get lucky. When you're in the second and third-round picks, he said we got lucky and that's how it panned out for them there. Hopefully we have that kind of luck here."
Palmer's son, Robert Palmer Jr., and his other children had surprised Palmer with tickets to Toast of Hockeytown for his birthday, which this year is the day after the event, Feb. 20.
"Kids all chipped in on it. Sent me down here. That was awesome," Palmer said. "Overwhelming, it was just amazing. Everything is unparalleled, everybody is so personable, so welcoming. It was really good. It was a great present. This is a great time. And it's great what they do, giving everything to help young kids play hockey. It's really a great thing."

During last year's Toast of Hockeytown, Palmer Jr. won the special live auction prize, which was a trip to a road game, including flying with the team on their plane, Red Bird III.
Palmer and his wife went on the Jan. 14 trip to Long Island to see the Wings play the Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
"I saw the players a month ago but it was still nice seeing them again," Palmer Jr. said.
The Wings are about to embark on another trip to Long Island for a game Friday, again at Nassau Coliseum.
Detroit native and longtime Wings fan Joseph Chudy will be on that trip with the Wings.
"We're spoiled as Detroit fans," Chudy said. "I graduated high school in 2001. I remember everything. My favorite moment is when Steve Yzerman hit that overtime winner against St. Louis. I love my children, I love my wife, there will never be anything that compares to hearing the puck hit off the iron when he hit that shot. Everybody in our neighborhood was going insane. We were just happy, we were hanging out, having fun just watching the game. It's something you'll never forget."
Chudy said he was born the year Yzerman was drafted and Chudy's son, Joseph II, was born the year Dylan Larkin was drafted.
"The Red Wings are going through something," said Chudy, who has been to many games as a season ticket holder. "But I believe in the Wings and the Ilitch family.
"I was very comfortable with Ken Holland and the direction he was taking this team. Now that Yzerman's home, I don't have concerns. I'm really, really excited for this direction the team's heading in. I can't wait to see where Coach, Yzerman, Larkin, (Luke) Glendening, all these leaders take this team. It's very exciting."
While Chudy said he was enjoying the 20th anniversary Toast of Hockeytown even more than he did last year's event, for Megrah Pfeifer, it was her first time.

"I thought it was fun," Pfeifer said. "It was cool getting to meet the players and take pictures with them. It was fun to get to walk around and try different foods and drinks from the area restaurants and stuff. I've always wanted to come. I just turned 21 so I'm finally able to."
Pfeifer, a Detroit native who said she had taken a tour of Little Caesars Arena before but hadn't visited the dressing room, finally got her chance at Toast of Hockeytown.
"It's really cool. It's really nice in there," Pfeifer said. " I took a selfie with Larkin's locker."
The players also enjoy the event, which allows them to spend a little extra time chatting with fans as the tickets are limited.
"I think it's fantastic so far," defenseman Alex Biega said. "Obviously you get to see this, it's a great theme, people are excited, people come in great moods. Obviously to give back in any way that we can, it's certainly always fun to see. It's electric in here - the band, lights. We're lucky enough to play here every game but at the same time, being in here in a different environment other than a hockey game, it's really good to see how beautiful this arena is. For the average person to see what it's like to be on the ice and do a cool event like this, I think is pretty special, especially if you're giving back to the community."
The proceeds for the event benefit the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, which provides funds and resources to causes that help grow the sport of hockey.
In addition to a trip on Red Bird III for a road game during the 2020-21 season, there were some other amazing items available, including a trip to the NHL Entry Draft in Montreal and a private meeting with Yzerman and Kris Draper, the director of amateur scouting; a team-signed iconic piece of winged wheel wall art; and an opportunity to watch the morning skate and then skate with Larkin for a half hour.
The players also selected some of their favorite items for special baskets that fans could bid on during the event.
"It's my first time," said forward Filip Zadina, who attended despite being on injured reserve. "It's special, even for us, for the community here. It's nice, we do like it. It's for a great cause so we like it."
The players were spread out all over the arena.
Jonathan Ericsson, Darren Helm and Valtteri Filppula met fans in the Players Club.
"I like it. It's fun," Helm said. "I like to be able to be part of more of eating of the food and having a few more glasses of wine. I tasted one. I might taste another later."
Goaltenders Jonathan Bernier and Jimmy Howard had a nice secluded spot near the entrance where they could enjoy chatting with each other and with the fans.
There was a nice line for forward Andreas Athanasiou, rookie defenseman Gustav Lindstrom and Larkin.
At the opposite end of the ice were Biega, forward Adam Erne and defenseman Danny DeKeyser, on injured reserve recovering from back surgery.

Biega, who came to Detroit on Oct. 6 in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks, was impressed with everything about Toast of Hockeytown, from the event itself to all the fans who attended.
"They're all pumped we got a win last night," Biega said. "At the end of the day, it's been a difficult, challenging year record-wise but you don't see that. All the interactions we've had with fans, the die-hard fans, they genuinely love being here. The majority of the people that came here, they come to the majority of our games, they're season ticket holders and lifelong Wings fans.
"It's pretty cool to see and as a new guy, it's always refreshing to see. It is really Hockeytown. People love hockey here. They don't give up on their team, no matter what the rebuild or how long it's going to take or what the situation is, so it's really cool to see."