ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It started with a summer text message to University of Michigan ice hockey assistant coach Brian Wiseman. The sender was St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong, a familiar name to Wiseman. In 2002, Armstrong, then-general manager of the Dallas Stars, hired Wiseman away from Michigan to be the team's video coach. The two have remained in touch over the years, and Michigan has remained on the top of Armstrong's mind -- his son is enrolled as an undergraduate.
Therefore, when the club's annual team bonding trip at the end of training camp was being discussed, a consensus was reached -- it would be a trip to Ann Arbor for stress-free practices at Yost Ice Arena.