Remembering the Detroit Vipers

[Indrid Cold]

Named after the Dodge Viper, Satan in Detroit, Gordie Howe's shift, Samsanov and Sykora. I miss those days. What were your favorite memories?

 

[JediOrderPizza]

They should use it again if Detroit ever gets in the PWHL(Women's League).

 

[JohanFranzenstein]

Last I heard, some vintage clothing shop downtown bought the rights to produce new Vipers merchandise, then he fell off the face of the earth. What a waste.

 

[Ricelund]

Speaking of Bondra... he has to be one of the most underrated 500 goal scorers out there, no?

 

[DatsDeking]

Went to a few games with my family as a kid always loved how they’d come out of the viper head before warmups.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

I have one of their mini-sticks (made of wood), though all the decals and such have worn off by now.

Miss that team.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Sergei Samsonov was electric for the Vipers.

 

[jkutswings]

It was great to have affordable hockey very close to us in the northern suburbs. I had hoped the Wings would use The Palace while LCA was being built, but that never came to pass.

 

[jaster]

Inaugural season had Petr Sykora and Jason Woolley, baby!

 

[Preposterone]

They used to give out stacks of free vipers and later shock tickets at my elementary school office front desk. Good memories

 

[jkutswings]

They used to give out stacks of free vipers

My brain did a double take at this point, until I reread the remainder of your post.

 

[Retire91]

My most memorable thing about a vipers game was the zambonie used too much water and when they shot it around the boards the puck would stick behind the goalie. It was at the palace of auburn hills if I remember right.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

They used to give out stacks of free vipers and later shock tickets at my elementary school office front desk. Good memories

Never got those, always had to pay.

Now I used to get free Detroit jr. Red Wings free from school.

My dad would always upgrade to the good seats though....$1 per ticket.

 

[Gniwder]

My most memorable thing about a vipers game was the zambonie used too much water and when they shot it around the boards the puck would stick behind the goalie. It was at the palace of auburn hills if I remember right.

If you look at the pattern that the zamboni travels, you'll notice that the area behind the net gets multiple passes. It's more of a problem with ice temperature than the zamboni using too much water. McNichols (Avs original arena) had the same problem during the playoffs because it wasn't designed for a full capacity crowd in June weather.

If you watch some of the playoff games between the Wings and Avs, you should be able to see it, because I could see it from the cheap seats.

 

[GoBoltz56]

Maltby's brother!

Last I heard, some vintage clothing shop downtown bought the rights to produce new Vipers merchandise, then he fell off the face of the earth. What a waste.

Streaker sports has(or had) vipers t-shirts on their site. They sell alot of old teams and minor league shirts

 

[Indrid Cold]

It seemed like they played that The Breeders song Cannonball during every time out. I loved it.

 

[Bondurant]

IHL was a fun time. Purchased a Vipers puck at a K-Wings game.

 

[JMath]

Never forget Vipers legend Dieter Kochan

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

I can only ever think of this scene.

Vipers had better branding than several expansion teams.