1997 Detroit Red Wings

The 1997 Detroit Red Wings: A Proud Franchise Gets The Monkey Off Its Back

Dan Flaherty Sports History Articles, Stanley Cup History 1997 Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Red Wings articles, Detroit Red Wings history, Detroit Red Wings history articles, sports history articles

The Detroit Red Wings were a frustrated organization in 1997. They’d played the best hockey in the Western Conference for three straight years. For their troubles, they’d been upset in the first round by San Jose in 1994, lost the Cup Finals to New Jersey in 1995 been ousted by Colorado in a conference finals showdown that left bad blood brewing carrying all the way into the new season, as the 1997 Detroit Red Wings looked to get the monkey off their back.

1997 Sports: A Year Of Redemption

Dan Flaherty Sports History Articles 1997 Arizona Wildcats, 1997 Chicago Buills, 1997 college football season, 1997 Denver Broncos, 1997 Detroit Red Wings, 1997 Final Four, 1997 Florida Marlins, 1997 Michigan Wolverines, 1997 NBA FInals, 1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers, 1997 sports, 1997 Stanley Cup Finals, 1997 Super Bowl, 1997 World Series, sports history articles

The year in 1997 sports was one of long-sought redemption, be it an individual, a college program or a professional organization. Teams and players that had gone through frustrating searches for championships began breaking through.

Magic In Motown: The 1997 Detroit Red Wings & Michigan Wolverines

Dan Flaherty Sports History Articles 1997 Detroit Lions, 1997 Detroit Pistons, 1997 Detroit Red Wings, 1997 Michigan Wolverines, Barry Sanders MVP, Brendan Shanahan Red Wings, Brian Griese Michigan, Charles Woodson Heisman, Grant Hill Pistons, Michigan football history, Red Wings Stanley Cup

Detroit might be a suffering city in a lot of ways, particularly with regards to the auto industry. But in 1997 it was on top of the world. It wasn’t a bailout that got them there, but a run of championships by teams that had been waiting a long time. The Red Wings won their first Stanley Cup since 1955. The Michigan Wolverines football team took home their first national title since 1947-48. And there were solid supporting actors working behind the stars. The Lions made the NFL playoffs, and the Pistons did the same in the NBA. TheSportsNotebook looks back on how this magnificent year unfolded.