The Detroit Red Wings may have missed the National Hockey League playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, but that doesn’t mean metropolitan Detroit will be without playoff hockey this spring.
In their inaugural season the Motor City Rockers hockey team, based at Big Boy Arena in Fraser, have qualified for the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) playoffs with a three seed in the Continental Division.
The Rockers capped off their regular season with a pair of wins over the Mississippi Sea Wolves over the weekend. Friday night, April 14 was Macomb County Employee Night, which saw the ceremonial puck drop delivered by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.
"We are thrilled to welcome the Rockers to Macomb County's sports community -- a pro hockey team that promises to be a thrilling and family friendly experience for fans of all ages," Hackel said. "The team's dedication to delivering a fun and exciting game-day atmosphere is truly inspiring, and we look forward to supporting their continued success on and off the ice. Let's go, Rockers!"
The Rockers will face the Columbus (Georgia) River Dragons in the first round of the playoffs. The first game of the three-game series was set for Wednesday, April 19 at Big Boy Arena. Tickets are available for $10 at.mcrockershockey.com/tickets.
The action is fast-paced, with quality play and occasional fisticuffs, surrounded by a loud, excitable fan base. It’s a great, family friendly event with a kids zone and other community engagement.
The FPHL is a Class A professional hockey league, with most of its 10 teams located in seven states along the East Coast and Southeast parts of the country. The Rockers are one of two teams from Michigan, the other being the Port Huron Prowlers, who joined the league in 2015.
In the United States, there are three classes of professional minor league hockey, consisting of A, AA and AAA, with AAA being the top minor league. The American Hockey League (AHL) is the AAA class in the U.S., with most teams having affiliations with National Hockey League teams. The Grand Rapids Griffins play in the AHL and are the top minor league affiliate for the Red Wings.
The East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) is a Class AA league with NHL and AHL affiliations. And the two Class A leagues are the FPHL and the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Some of these teams are affiliated with ECHL teams.
Thirteen of the 22 players on the Rockers roster are from Michigan, with three from Macomb County. They include forward Connor Inger from Macomb Township, defenseman Nick Papandrea from Chesterfield Township, and defenseman Danite Suffredini from Shelby Township.
The players range in age from 38 to 23, with designations ranging from “Veteran,” to “Pro,” to “Rooke.”
Rockers General Manager Nick Field said the league has specific rules about how many players from each designation can dress per game, which helps to control competitive balance. A rookie has played less than 56 professional games (less than a full season). A Pro has played between 56 and 500 games, and a veteran has played more than 500 pro games. A team cannot dress more than five “veterans” per game.
Field said the average player age is mid-20s, and they come from a variety of hockey backgrounds, including major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Division I through Division III college hockey programs as well as college club league players.
“Being Single A, this is a developmental league for our players,” Field said. “And players can get the opportunity to get called up and climb the ladder to the ECHL or as far as they can make it.”
Players' average pay is between $125 to $400 per week and the league has a salary cap. Field said the team is responsible for player housing. Some players have full-time jobs, and some don’t and choose to work during the summer/off season.
“Most of the guys are playing to fulfill their passion for the game and the opportunity to play at a higher level and chase their dream,” Field said. “And we have those guys who are still passionate about the game and simply want to play at a competitive level.”
The Rockers are the third incarnation of minor league hockey trying to gain a foothold at the Fraser hockey facility now known as Big Boy Arena. The Michigan/Detroit Falcons played in the Colonial Hockey League from 1991 to 1996, and the Motor City Mechanics played from 2004-2006 in the United Hockey League.
Field thinks the Rockers are locating in Fraser at the right time, and they have the business model to succeed. And the fact that Big Boy Arena now has a full-service beverage license, which includes alcohol, will also help.
“The Mechanics business model was two to three times our cost, in terms of player pay, equipment, etc. The Falcons were something similar,” Field said. “The Mechanics were playing right before the internet took off. There was really no social media. Now we have all of those things to promote the team and connect with fans. The cost to come to the game is there. It’s a combination of everything.
“Look at the success of Jimmy Johns (the United Shore Professional Baseball League that plays at Jimmy Johns Field in Utica and was founded in 2016). That shows there is a market for these types of activities. Plus, we got our franchise late (April 2022), and now we will have the whole off-season to promote the team for next year,” Field added.
Fortunately, Rockers attendance has been growing. After a slow start, the team is averaging about 1,500 fans for the last six weeks as the team made its playoff push. Attendance for the season has been about 800 per game. Field said the goal is to average at least 1,500 fans per game next season.
The Rockers also offer multiple corporate partnership opportunities, including ticket and hospitality, signage, broadcast, website, social media, print, in-game advertising, event sponsorship and charitable events. Benefits include official designation, co-branding opportunities, database access, concourse tabling, appearances by players, Rocker Girls and/or mascot, charitable initiatives, web listings and links. There are charitable group fundraising events, community engagement with schools and other activities.
“We have a variety of opportunities. It’s really just a matter of what they want to get out of it,” Field said.
Tickets for the first-round playoff game are just $10, a step down from most regular season ticket price points.
Field said that is to show appreciation to the fan base and get Big Boy Arena packed for the battle with Columbus.
“This doesn’t work without community support,” Field said. “I think we have as good of a chance as anybody. We’ve beaten the top teams in the league. Hopefully, we can win the whole thing.”
Don Gardner is a communications specialist for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
