Yzerman Explains Why Red Wings Left Traverse City
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USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectUSA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectThe Detroit Red Wings brought to a halt a nearly three-decade tradition this week. The club made the announcement that the team would not be holding its training camp in the Northern Michigan resort area of Traverse City.
“We have been going up to Traverse City, I think, since 97, and every year everyone looks forward to going up,” Detroit GM Steve Yzerman said. “And so we have mixed emotions about not going.”
So why the change, then? Circumstances changed, Yzerman explained.
Training camp will be just four days in length, from September 17-20. The NHL preseason is shortening from eight games to four this fall.
Traverse City just lost one of its best late-summer cash machines. After nearly 30 years, Red Wings camp is leaving, taking the hotel rooms, packed restaurants and worker tips that followed every August. pic.twitter.com/4FvYqv64zm
— Prism Grand Traverse Michigan (@PrismTraverseMI) June 23, 2026
“Training camp is just shorter,” Yzerman said. “With things so shortened, a compressed camp, a compressed preseason, it’s just that we want to try something different. We think this will be the best, more efficient use of our time to just remain here in Detroit at LCA.”
Both the training camp and the traditional Red Wings NHL rookie tournament are being relocated to Little Caesars Arena and the adjacent BELFOR Training Center. The rookie tourney will be held from September 12-15. Joining the Red Wings in this event will be rookie teams from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
A Different Type of Camp For Red Wings
Not only are the Red Wings relocating the club’s training camp, but it will be taking on a much different look. The players who have no shot of making the NHL roster will not be getting an invitation to the NHL camp.
“It’ll be a little bit smaller training camp, probably with fewer bodies at camp and fewer days,” Yzerman said. “We just thought it made sense and was more practical to do it at home this year.”
Traverse City Could Return in The Future
Yzerman isn’t ruling out the possibility of going back to Traverse City at some point.
“It’s something we’d revisit in the future, because obviously going up to Traverse City was very attractive,” Yzerman said. “And everyone – players, the staff – we all looked forward to it for a lot of reasons.
“The facilities were great, the camaraderie was great. A tremendous experience I will explore in the future.”
The post Yzerman Explains Why Red Wings Left Traverse City appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.