The Detroit Whalers were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League for two seasons from 1995 to 1997. The Whalers were based in Auburn Hills, Michigan .
25-734: The creation of the Detroit Whalers resulted after a failed takeover bid by Peter Karmanos to buy the National Hockey League 's Detroit Red Wings from Mike Ilitch . The Junior Red Wings severed all ties with the NHL Red Wings when the relationship soured after the 1994–95 season ended. When the Detroit Junior Red Wings were evicted from Joe Louis Arena in 1995, the franchise changed names and home arenas again. Karmanos renamed his franchise
50-605: A Major Indoor Soccer League / XSL team, as well as the Compuware Ambassadors minor hockey program. Previously, the arena hosted the now defunct Detroit Rockers of the National Professional Soccer League during its last season in 2000-2001. On October 22, 2006, TNA hosted its Bound for Glory 2006 pay-per-view at the arena. The arena also hosts the annual MHSAA high school state championships for boys ice hockey, and hosts
75-561: A consultant role within the company. Compuware terminated his post-retirement consulting agreement, effective October 1, 2013. He has since opened a new computer firm, Mad Dog Technology. Karmanos co-founded the Detroit Compuware Hockey organization in the late 1970s with Thewes. The organization has included all levels of hockey from recreational to youth AAA and junior A . The Ontario Hockey League awarded an expansion franchise on December 11, 1989, to be known as
100-691: Is a multi-purpose arena in Plymouth Township, Michigan , opened in 1996. Originally known as the Compuware Sports Arena , its name was shortened to Compuware Arena on September 11, 2007, to better market the venue for non-sporting events it hosted. It was renamed again to USA Hockey Arena in 2015 when the USA Hockey Foundation purchased the arena. Peter Karmanos , the President of Compuware and owner of
125-775: Is an American businessman who was most recently the minority owner and alternate governor of the Carolina Hurricanes franchise until June 30, 2021. He served as their principal owner from 1994 (when the Hurricanes were the Hartford Whalers ) to 2018. He also owned the Plymouth Whalers junior ice hockey club from its establishment in 1990 until 2015, and was the majority owner of the Florida Everblades from 1998 to 2019. Karmanos Jr.
150-737: The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors . The team later became the Detroit Junior Red Wings , Detroit Whalers and then Plymouth Whalers following a relocation to nearby Plymouth . In 2015, Karmanos sold the Whalers to the owners of Flint's Perani Arena and Event Center , and the franchise was renamed Flint Firebirds . He also sold the Plymouth arena to USA Hockey . Karmanos, his Compuware partner Thewes, and former player Jim Rutherford purchased
175-527: The Detroit Whalers , arranged to build the Whalers a new home as soon as the 1995–96 season ended after playing that season at Oak Park Ice Arena and The Palace of Auburn Hills . The Compuware Sports Arena was constructed in six months' time, ready for the 1996–97 season. The team remained the Detroit Whalers after moving to Plymouth Township and then were renamed the Plymouth Whalers in 1997–98. The complex features two arenas. The main arena, where
200-549: The Hartford Whalers in 1994, for $ 47.5 million. At the time, they had committed to keeping the team in Hartford for at least four years. Connecticut's then-governor Lowell P. Weicker announced that Karmanos would be critical for the team to stay in Hartford. Weicker later became a member of the Compuware Board of Directors. Hartford sold less than 11,000 season tickets for the 1995–96 NHL season and Karmanos announced
225-779: The Ontario Hockey League , and was inducted to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013. He was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder Category in 2015. Karmanos also sponsors youth hockey programs in Michigan. On January 11, 2018, it was announced that he had sold controlling interest in the Hurricanes to Thomas Dundon , while retaining a minority interest. On June 30, 2021, Karmanos sold his remaining shares in
250-625: The Stanley Cup in 2006 , with Karmanos eagerly donning his skates, hoisting the Cup, and skating around with it briefly after the game seven win. For his day with the Cup, he brought it to Compuware headquarters in Detroit and allowed employees to get their photo taken individually with the Cup. Karmanos' Gale Force Holdings has a subsidiary dedicated to the NHL, Hurricanes Holdings, LLC, which includes
275-419: The "Junior Red Wings" name also lowered the team's profile. Peter DeBoer set about rebuilding a new image and fan base for the franchise. DeBoer's task for his team on the ice was to prepare to play on two completely opposite home ice surfaces. The tiny Oak Park Arena favored a hard checking team while the spacious Palace (25 miles away) was an NHL size ice surface. In spite of the difference between Oak Park and
SECTION 10
#1732791971715300-895: The Carolina Hurricanes to Dundon, making him the sole owner of the Carolina Hurricanes. He sold the Florida Everblades in August 2019. Karmanos donated money to the Michigan Cancer Foundation, which was renamed the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in 1995 in memory of his first wife, Barbara Ann Karmanos, who died of breast cancer in 1989. In addition to three children with Barbara, Karmanos has four others with current wife Danialle , and nine grandchildren. Compuware Arena The USA Hockey Arena
325-572: The Detroit Whalers, in association through common ownership with the NHL's Hartford Whalers team which Karmanos bought, instead of the Detroit Red Wings . The Whalers found temporary home ice at its training base, the Oak Park Ice Arena , along with The Palace of Auburn Hills . The next year, the team had a permanent facility in Plymouth Township, Michigan . The team played for two seasons before renaming themselves again to
350-540: The Hurricanes and their stadium, PNC Arena . The holdings also included the Hurricanes's former ECHL affiliate Florida Everblades , along with stadium Hertz Arena until 2019 when they both were sold to Naples businessman David Hoffmann. ,. Karmanos received the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey after the 1997–98 season , the Bill Long Award in 2010 for services to
375-566: The Palace, the Whalers had the OHL's best home-ice record in 1995–96 (25-6-2), and won their second consecutive Western Division title and the Bumbacco Trophy . The 1996 playoffs started with a cross-border matchup of Detroit vs. Windsor that fans had wanted since 1990. Detroit finished 38 points ahead of Windsor during the regular season, but the series took seven games to decide. Detroit won
400-714: The Plymouth Whalers. Shortly after the Jr. Red Wings were finished playing in the Memorial Cup , general manager & head coach Paul Maurice was promoted to the Hartford Whalers. He would be replaced by the assistant coach Peter DeBoer , as new general manager & head coach. DeBoer would remain with the Whalers organization until 2001. The Whalers attendance suffered in their first season after losing much of its fan base in downtown Detroit. The loss of
425-421: The Whalers played their home games, has a standard NHL-size rink and has seating for roughly 4,000 people. The second features an Olympic-size ice surface, and 800 seats on only one side of the ice. The two arenas share concession stands, both of which have openings for both arenas simultaneously, allowing one set of staff to serve both arenas simultaneously. The arena was home to the now defunct Detroit Ignition ,
450-567: The Whalers' rookies gained valuable experience for the next season. Bryan Berard won his second consecutive Max Kaminsky Trophy in 1995–96 as the most outstanding defenceman in the OHL. The same season he was the Canadian Hockey League Defenceman of the Year. Regular season Playoffs During the 1995–96 season, the Detroit Whalers played 21 regular season home games at The Palace of Auburn Hills, and
475-573: The commencement ceremonies for Adlai E. Stevenson High School , Northville High School , as well as for other high schools. In November 2014, it was reported that USA Hockey had reached an agreement to eventually take over Compuware Arena by mid-2015, with an intent to relocate the National Team Development Program from Ann Arbor to Plymouth, and use the facility to "host and showcase other USA Hockey programs and international events". The Plymouth Whalers were to remain
500-643: The first three games of the series, but Windsor won the next three games. Detroit clinched the series with a 9-2 victory in game seven. The Whalers moved on to defeat the Kitchener 4 games to 1 in the second round. The Whalers were eliminated in the semi-finals, losing to the Peterborough Petes in five games. On March 1, 1996, Whalers owner Peter Karmanos finalized plans to build a 4,000 seat arena in Plymouth Township for his team. The arena
525-464: The playoffs despite finish with a losing record of 26-34-6. Detroit met their old foe, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the playoffs. After losing the first three games, the Whalers came from three goals behind in the fourth game to prolong the series, winning 4-3 in double overtime. The game was the longest in the franchise's history (90 minutes, 2 seconds). The Greyhounds won the next game 8-3, but
SECTION 20
#1732791971715550-445: The remaining 12 regular season home games and playoff home games at the Oak Park Ice Arena . Karmanos arranged to build the Whalers a new home in Plymouth Township as soon as the 1995–96 season ended. The new arena was constructed in 6 months, in time for the 1996–97 season. The Detroit Whalers played all games of their second season at the Compuware Sports Arena . Peter Karmanos Peter Karmanos Jr. (born March 11, 1943)
575-658: The team would leave Hartford if the Whalers were unable to sell 11,000 season tickets for the 1996–97 season. Even though they surpassed 11,000 season tickets, the team was moved to Raleigh, North Carolina , and renamed the Carolina Hurricanes following the 1996–97 season. As a result, Karmanos is still reviled by many people in Connecticut . The Hurricanes reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002 , but lost to fellow Detroit businessman Mike Ilitch ’s Detroit Red Wings in five games. The Hurricanes went on to win
600-555: Was born in Detroit , the oldest of three children of a Greek immigrant family who owned a small restaurant in Detroit. Karmanos attended Henry Ford High School and graduated from Wayne State University in 1973. Soon after leaving college he founded software company Compuware with two partners, Thomas Thewes and Allen Cutting. Karmanos served as Compuware's CEO until June 20, 2011, when he became executive chairman. Karmanos retired from Compuware on March 31, 2013, but maintained
625-498: Was to be ready for the 1996–97 season. The Whalers had arrived in Plymouth in 1996–97, and began to build a new fan base, and rebuild the team on the ice. DeBoer and newly appointed assistant coach Steve Spott chose a team full of rookies, and a handful of veterans. The Whalers revamped their roster with a hard-working scouting staff. First round pick Harold Druken scored 27 goals with 31 assists in his first season. The Whalers made
#714285