For almost 40 years, the Detroit Red Wings called Joe Louis Arena home. After opening its doors in the winter of 1979, "The Joe" quickly became one of the most iconic venues in all of hockey.
The Red Wings said goodbye to Joe Louis Arena in 2017, but its legacy lives forever in the hearts of Red Wings fans. One game in particular stands out from the rest.
Red Wings win historic final game at The Joe
The final game at Joe Louis Arena was played on April 9, 2017 when the Red Wings hosted the New Jersey Devils. The Red Wings were victorious, winning by a score of 4-1. The game was historic for many reasons, and signaled the end of an era in Hockeytown.
Riley Sheahan scored two goals on the night, which served as his only goals of the 2016-17 season. His second goal of the game became the final goal to be scored at the iconic arena.
The final game at Joe Louis Arena also served as the 1,000th career game for Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg. To make the night even sweeter, Zetterberg scored a goal of his own in the victory.
Zetterberg was named captain of the Red Wings on January 15, 2013, following the retirement of Nicklas Lidström. The Njurunda, Sweden native served as an alternate captain for Lidström and was also an alternate captain under Steve Yzerman beginning in the 2005-06 season.
Zetterberg became the seventh player in Red Wings history to play 1,000 games for the Original Six franchise. He joined elite company, which includes Gordie Howe (1,687), Nicklas Lidström (1,564), Alex Delvecchio (1,550), Steve Yzerman (1,514), Kris Draper (1,137), and Tomas Holmstrom (1,526).
Zetterberg would retire following the 2017-18 season after accumulating 960 points on 337 goals and 623 assists over 1,082 games with the Red Wings. Originally drafted 210th overall in the 1999 NHL Draft, Zetterberg orchestrated one of the most impressive careers in Red Wings franchise history, and remains a fan favorite to this day.
Red Wings fans still yearning for playoff hockey at Little Caesars Arena
The Red Wings played at Olympia Stadium starting in 1927 and moved to Joe Louis Arena in 1979. The arena hosted its first NHL game on December 27, 1979 when the Red Wings fell to the visiting St. Louis Blues by a score of 3-2. After closing down Joe Louis Arena in 2017, the team moved to the state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena for the 2017-18 season.
Little Caesars Arena is a spectacular venue to watch a hockey game. However, Red Wings fans miss the history, charm, and winning of the old barn.
Joe Louis Arena saw the Red Wings appear in six Stanley Cup Finals (1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008, and 2009), winning four (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008). The arena also saw Detroit put together a magnificent run of 25 straight postseason appearances from 1991 to 2016.
The Red Wings have yet to make the playoffs since moving to Little Caesars Arena. As the 2025-26 season draws nearer, Red Wings fans are hungry for playoff hockey to return to Hockeytown.
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