The following is an excerpt from "The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings," written by Free Press sports writer Helene St. James and published by Triumph Books.
On June 7, 1997, sitting in his owner’s box at Joe Louis Arena, Mike Ilitch watched as his kids popped the cork on the bottle of 1982 Moet champagne he had bought when he purchased the Red Wings. Three floors below, everyone in the dressing room was soaked from champagne showers.
The Wings had smashed a 42-year drought and uncorked a fantastic party. They had silenced doubters and enthralled fans.