Grand Rapids — When work stops in a professional sports league, the athletes depend on themselves to maintain their sport, without coaches and the support franchises provide.
During the NHL owner’s lockout from September 2012 to January 2013 at a rink in Troy, Daniel Cleary ran things.
As the Red Wings gathered, practiced and met with the media each day in preparation for a season, and with some of the leadership of the team still in Europe, Cleary was coach, captain and public relations staff.
He organized and ran practices and served as spokesman at a challenging time, when actions, words and public perceptions were critical.