--Longtime Wings TV analyst Mickey Redmond will receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions as a broadcaster. Redmond, 63, has been entertaining and enlightening hockey fans for more than three decades with his enthusiastic style and colorful phrases, termed "Mickeyisms." Redmond started his broadcasting career in 1979 with the Red Wings. He will receive the award at a luncheon on Nov. 14 as part of this year's Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in Toronto.

--Wings executives are disappointed that the NHL is not moving the club to the Eastern Conference next season following Atlanta's relocation to Winnipeg (that franchise will remain in the Southeast Division for 2011-12). But the Wings remain hopeful that they will be shifted to the Eastern Conference next season. Their travel would be reduced, they would have more favorable starting times for most of their road games and they would have more games against longtime rivals Toronto and Montreal.

--Former Wings assistant coach Brad McCrimmon was hired as the head coach for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We're an attractive place (for free agents) because of the history and tradition and some of the pieces we've got in place, because of the commitment of our ownership, because of the fan base. As an athlete, you want to go to where you have a chance to win, where the game is important." -- Wings general manager Ken Holland.

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.