Detroit News staff and wires
Anna Segedi and Mellissa Channell-Watkins on PWHL game at LCA
Anna Segedi, left, and Mellissa Channell-Watkins will play for Vancouver in Saturday’s PWHL game at LCA.
The Toledo Walleye will be back to work on New Year’s Eve after a brief work stoppage.
The Professional Hockey Players’ Association voted on Tuesday to authorize a new collective bargaining agreement with the ECHL, which officially ended a two-day strike by the union members.
The PHPA said its membership had ratified a new, five-year collective bargaining agreement with the ECHL following a strike that forced the postponement of 41 games since last week.
The Walleye, a minor-league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, had three games postponed, including a home game against Wheeling and road games at Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.
Toledo will play on Wednesday at Kalamazoo at 6 p.m. They’ll be in Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday before returning home to host Bloomington on Sunday at the Huntington Center.
There’s been no official announcement about when the postponed games will be made up.
“This agreement reflects the unity, resolve, professionalism and discipline of our members throughout this process,” PHPA executive director Brian Ramsay said.
“Meaningful progress was made in several key areas identified as priorities by our members, and this outcome would not have been possible without their engagement and support.”
ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin said the new deal “significantly increases player compensation, improves health and safety and delivers on new initiatives that are responsive to our players’ needs.”
He also said it would allow the league to grow and enable to continue providing “accessible” hockey for its fans and communities.
Leonard returned to Griffins
The Detroit Red Wings reassigned left wing John Leonard to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday.
Leonard had four points (2-2—4) in seven games with the Red Wings, making his Detroit debut on Dec. 16 against the New York Islanders.
Leonard has 19 goals in 20 games with the Griffins this season to go along with two penalty minutes, seven game-winners and a plus-14 rating.
His career-high, six-game goal streak from Oct. 11-Nov. 2 tied with teammate Austin Watson, Jiri Hudler, Kip Miller and Pavol Demitra for the third-longest run in franchise history.
Tuesday NHL
Montreal 3, (at) Florida 2 (OT): Nick Suzuki got a power-play goal 3:24 into overtime, and the Canadiens rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final five minutes of regulation to stun the Panthers.
Suzuki also scored late in regulation to tie the game for the Canadiens, who improved to 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. Cole Caufield also scored for Montreal.
Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart scored for Florida, but Marchand was called for roughing 1:27 into overtime – giving Montreal a 4-on-3 advantage.
(At) Toronto 4, New Jersey 0: Joseph Woll made 33 saves for his first shutout of the season and Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy, Calle Jarnkrok and Matthew Knies scored as Toronto beat New Jersey.
The Maple Leafs were without William Nylander (lower-body injury) for a second straight game, Auston Matthews (lower body), Chris Tanev (lower body) and Dearborn’s Dakota Joshua, who remained in Detroit after sustaining a kidney injury against the Red Wings on Sunday.
McMann scored on the power play late in the first period, and Roy added a redirect goal just as another man-advantage situation expired.
(At) Pittsburgh 5, Carolina 1: Former Red Wing Anthony Mantha scored twice and Pittsburgh beat Carolina.
Mantha, who scored in his third straight game, had a power-play goal in the first period and added another goal in the second as Pittsburgh jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Justin Brazeau set a career high with his 12th goal and added an assist and Sidney Crosby scored his 21st of the season.
Mark Jankowski scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost four of six. Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots and is 0-6-2 in his last eight starts and hasn’t won since Nov. 6 against Minnesota.
N.Y. Islanders 3, (at) Chicago 2 (SO): Bo Horvat scored in regulation and the shootout, helping New York beat Chicago.
Calum Ritchie also scored for New York in regulation. David Rittich made 17 saves before denying Teuvo Teravainen and Ryan Donato in the shootout.
Teravainen and Nick Lardis scored for Chicago, and Spencer Knight stopped 19 shots through overtime. The Blackhawks dropped to 3-9-2 in their last 14 games.
Panthers pay tribute to Marchand
Sunrise, Fla. – Brad Marchand’s first NHL point came just 26 seconds into the second period of his first game with the Boston Bruins. It seemed very easy, so easy that he was certain he’d be all over the scoresheets on a regular basis.
Oops. Nearly a full year passed before his second NHL point.
“After the first, I’m like, ‘Oh, this, it’s not too hard,’” Marchand said. “But I had a pretty rude awakening after that. You just see how hard it is every night to play in this league.”
He has never forgotten the lessons that came after that first point, what it was like to go scoreless in 21 consecutive games, how it felt to get sent down from Boston to the team’s minor league affiliate in nearby Providence. And they were still in mind Tuesday night, when the Florida Panthers – who acquired him in a trade last season – paid tribute to Marchand joining the NHL’s 1,000-point club in a pregame ceremony before playing host to the Montreal Canadiens.
Marchand hit the milestone more than a month ago; the Panthers let him and his family choose when they wanted to have the ceremony, and this game was the pick. Flowers were presented to Marchand’s wife and mother, gold mini-sticks were presented to his three children. The NHL sent a Tiffany crystal to present to Marchand, and he got a commemorative gold stick and plaque from Panthers hockey operations president and general manager Bill Zito as well.
Several NHL coaches and players sent video tributes as well, including many of his former Bruins teammates as well as Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby. “Super proud of you,” former Bruins teammate Zdeno Chara said.
Marchand watched the ceremony from a corner of the ice, surrounded by family.
“I have all my family in town,” Marchand said. “These are moments throughout your career that don’t happen often. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate things that I definitely never thought would ever become possible. … It’s a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy a very special thing.”
Getting to 1,000 points is a testament to plenty of things, his longevity included. Marchand had 100 points in a season exactly once; he’s basically been just about a point-a-game guy for the entirety of his 17-year career.
“It’s just such a large milestone to hit,” Marchand said. “Your dream is to play a game in the NHL. I never really thought about what it takes to get to this point. You hope to play and then stay. That’s all you’re really worried about is just trying to stay and hold onto it for as long as you can. Even when I was 10 years in I didn’t think that this was possible.”
Panthers coach Paul Maurice often tells a story of last season’s playoffs, a first-round game at Tampa Bay where Florida was down 5-1 late in Game 3 of that series. Everyone was ready for Game 4, except Marchand, who was shouting encouragement to teammates and trying to get a comeback try started.
No rally happened, but what Marchand did that night still resonates with his coach.
“He’s not 25 anymore,” Maurice said of the 37-year-old Marchand. “What he’s been able to do, the consistency of his game, has been incredibly impressive. I think you’ll find, older players, when they get into the playoffs, can find another level, but October through Christmas, sometimes they may not. The juice is hard to find. But not for him.”
It was fitting that the ceremony came with Montreal in town; the Canadiens were a huge rival for Marchand for all those years he spent with the Boston Bruins, and coach Martin St. Louis – another pesky, diminutive forward who just knew how to put pucks in nets, just like Marchand – is one of the Panthers’ star’s idols.
“It’s always a special team to play,” Marchand said. “And it’s pretty cool to have Marty on the bench, being my favorite player growing up.”
Marchand got the first 976 points of his career with the Bruins. He joined Florida in a trade that shocked many – especially given how the Bruins and Panthers had developed a playoff rivalry in recent years – late last season. The Panthers went on to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup, which was the second Cup of Marchand’s career as well.
And Tuesday was the Panthers’ final game before the calendar flips to 2026. By any measure, 2025 – with the trade, a Cup and a milestone point – was a year for Marchand to remember.
“It was a hell of a year,” Marchand said. “Lot of ups and downs, but if I could categorize it, I’m just very grateful for all of it.”
Switzerland, Latvia advance at worlds
St. Paul, Minn. – Kimi Koerbler scored two goals and Switzerland beat Germany 4-0 on Tuesday in Grand Casino Arena at the world junior championship.
Switzerland (1-0-0-2) clinches a spot in the quarterfinals by eliminating Germany, which was outscored 22-5 in losing all four matches in Group A.
The Swiss play Slovakia on Wednesday to close out the preliminary round. The Germans will play winless Denmark in the relegation round.
Also Tuesday, Latvia beat Denmark, 6-3, to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals. Latvia (1-0-1-1) closes out Group B play against Czechia on Wednesday.
NTDP 3, Utica Pioneers 2
Goalie Luke Carrithers stopped 24 shots for the NTDP U18 team in a 3-2 victory over the Utica Pioneers at USA Hockey Arena on Tuesday in Plymouth.
The U18s return to the ice Saturday against the University of Michigan at Yost Ice Arena at 7 p.m., and they’ll face Michigan State University on Sunday at 4 p.m.
Local schedules
Tuesday
▶ NTDP U18 3, Utica University 2
World Junior Championship
▶ Switzerland 4, Germany 0
▶ Latvia 6, Denmark 3
Wednesday
▶ Winnipeg at Red Wings, 6:30
▶ Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 6
World Junior Championship
▶ Switzerland vs. Slovakia, 1
▶ Czechia vs. Latvia, 3:30
▶ United States vs. Sweden, 6
▶ Canada vs. Finland, 8:30
January
Thursday, Jan. 1
▶ Red Wings at Pittsburgh, 7
Friday, Jan. 2
▶ Chicago at Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Western Michigan at Notre Dame, 7
▶ Michigan Tech vs. Air Force in Tempe, 5
▶ Sioux City at NTDP U17, 7
Saturday, Jan. 3
▶ Pittsburgh at Red Wings, noon
▶ Grand Rapids at Chicago, 8
▶ NTDP U18 at Michigan, 7
▶ Notre Dame at Western Michigan, 6
▶ Michigan Tech vs. Alaska Anchorage or Arizona State in Tempe, TBA
▶ Northern Michigan at Lake Superior State, 6:07
▶ Sioux City at NTDP 17, 7
Sunday, Jan. 4
▶ NTDP 18 at Michigan State
▶ Northern Michigan at Lake Superior State, 6:07
Monday, Jan. 5
▶ Red Wings at Ottawa, 7:30
Wednesday, Jan. 7
▶ Texas at Grand Rapids, 7
Thursday, Jan. 8
▶ Vancouver at Red Wings, 7
Friday, Jan. 9
▶ Texas at Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Notre Dame at Michigan, 7
▶ Michigan State at Ohio State, 6:30
▶ Western Michigan at Denver, 9
▶ Michigan Tech at Bemidji State, 8:07
▶ Augustana at Northern Michigan, 7:07
▶ Adrian College at NTDP U18, 7
▶ NTDP U17 at Dubuque, 8:05
Saturday, Jan. 10
▶ Red Wings at Montreal, 7
▶ Notre Dame at Michigan, 7
▶ Michigan State at Ohio State, 5
▶ Western Michigan at Denver, 8
▶ Michigan Tech at Bemidji State, 7:07
▶ Augustana at Northern Michigan, 6:07
▶ Trine University at NTDP U18, 7
▶ NTDP U17 at Dubuque, 8:05
Monday, Jan. 12
▶ Carolina at Red Wings, 7
Tuesday, Jan. 13
▶ Red Wings at Boston, 7:30
▶ Grand Rapids at Milwaukee, 8
Wednesday, Jan. 14
▶ NTDP 17 at Youngstown, 7:05
Thursday, Jan. 15
▶ Michigan State at Wisconsin, 9
Friday, Jan. 16
▶ San Jose at Red Wings, 7
▶ Rockford at Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Michigan at Minnesota, 8
▶ Michigan State at Wisconsin, 8
▶ Minnesota State at Michigan Tech, 7:07
Saturday, Jan. 17
▶ Ottawa at Red Wings, 5
▶ Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Michigan at Minnesota, 7
▶ Minnesota State at Michigan Tech, 6:07
▶ Green Bay at NTDP U17, 7
Sunday, Jan. 18
▶ Green Bay at NTDP U18, 4
Wednesday, Jan. 21
▶ Red Wings at Toronto, 7
▶ Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 7
Thursday, Jan. 22
▶ Red Wings at Minnesota, 9:30
Friday, Jan. 23
▶ Grand Rapids at Manitoba, 8
▶ Minnesota at Michigan State, 7
▶ Western Michigan at Minnesota Duluth, 8
▶ Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan, 7:07
▶ NTDP U17 at Youngstown, 7:05
▶ NTDP U18 at Cedar Rapids, 8:05
Saturday, Jan. 24
▶ Red Wings at Winnipeg, 7
▶ Minnesota at Michigan State, 6
▶ Western Michigan at Minnesota Duluth, 7
▶ Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech, 6:07
▶ NTDP U17 at Youngstown, 6:05
▶ NTDP U18 at Cedar Rapids, 8:05
Sunday, Jan. 25
▶ Grand Rapids at Manitoba, 3
Tuesday, Jan. 27
▶ L.A. Kings at Red Wings, 7
Wednesday, Jan. 28
▶ Cleveland at Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Youngstown at NTDP U18, 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 29
▶ Washington at Red Wings, 7:30
Friday, Jan. 30
▶ Michigan at Ohio State, 6:30
▶ Michigan State at Penn State, 6
▶ Nebraska at Omaha at Western Michigan, 7
▶ Michigan Tech at St. Thomas, 8:07
▶ Bemidgi State at Northern Michigan, 6:07
▶ Muskegon at NTDP U18, 7
Saturday, Jan. 31
▶ Colorado at Red Wings, 1
▶ Michigan at Ohio State, 5
▶ Michigan State at Penn State, 1
▶ Nebraska at Omaha at Western Michigan, 6
▶ Michigan Tech at St. Thomas, 7:07
▶ Bemidgi State at Northern Michigan, 6:07
Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.