They were still six years away from becoming the Red Wings when Detroit’s NHL franchise played its first game. It was 99 years ago today. And they were still a year from calling Detroit their home.
The Detroit Cougars faced off against the Boston Bruins on November 18, 1926. The game was played in Canada, at Windsor’s Border Cities Arena. That’s because the construction of Olympia Stadium, the home rink for the club from 1927 to 1979, fell months behind schedule. With no other suitable facility available in Detroit, Windsor’s new arena, which opened in 1925, became the temporary home for the Cougars during the 1926-27 NHL season.
The Boston Bruins would be Detroit’s opening-night opponent. Next year, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of this game is taking place at Little Caesars Arena. Boston will be Detroit’s opponent on November 18, 2026.
99 years ago today ON THIS DAY in hockey history (October 16, 1926):
With 3 new teams (Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Cougars and New York Rangers), the NHL splits into two 5-team divisions ahead of the 1926/27 season (three new teams joining Boston/Pittsburgh) pic.twitter.com/a5wNBj2E9s
— Vintage Hockey Showcase (@hockey_vintage) October 16, 2025
Detroit was one of three new NHL franchises that season, the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks being the other additions, making the NHL a 10-team loop. The expansion was created when the NHL purchased the rival Western Hockey League, using its players to help stock the new clubs. The nucleus of Detroit’s team came from the roster of the WHL Victoria Cougars, and the team decided to keep the nickname.
Red Wings Forerunners Had Rough Opening Night
Eight future Hockey Hall of Famers took the ice the night of the opener, including referee Cooper Smeaton. Boston suited up defensemen Sprague Cleghorn and Eddie Shore, and forwards Harry Oliver and Gordon (Duke) Keats. Detroit countered with forwards Frank Fredrickson, Jack Walker, and Frank Foyston. A ninth eventual Hall of Famer, Detroit goalie Harry (Hap) Holmes, was felled by illness on game day and replaced by backup Herb Stuart.
#ThreesCompany for Herb Stuart.
Sold to the Detroit Cougars by the Edmonton Eskimos (WHL) in 1926, Stuart played all three of his #NHL games with the Cougars.
Nov 18, 1926 vs Boston (2-0L)
Feb 16, 1927 vs Toronto (5-1W)
Feb 17, 1927 vs Ottawa (2-1L)
He passed away in 1981. pic.twitter.com/mU9eoEKTpD
— Heroes of the Crease Ltd. (@HeroesofCrease) August 21, 2023
Stuart showed some jitters at the start, and Boston capitalized. Keats converted a pass from Oliver to give the Bruins the lead just 1:45 after the opening faceoff. Less than a minute later, Keats fed Archie Briden, who gave the Bruins a 2-0 advantage.
That was all they would need. Slipping into a defensive shell, Boston completely stymied the Detroit attack. Bruins goaltender Charles (Doc) Stewart – a dentist in the offseason – blocked every shot he faced, and the game finished 2-0.
Detroit and the Philadelphia Quakers (1930) are the only NHL teams suffering shutout loss in their first game. Oddly enough, both Boston goal scorers – Keats and Briden – would move to Detroit in a January 1927 trade.
Besides not seeing the hometown team score a goal, local fans also found the price of the tickets to be discouraging. The cost of opening-night tickets ranged from $1.65 to a top price of $3.75.