Image at Centre ICE honors Drake

By JAMES COOK
jcook@record-eagle.com

August 20, 2008 12:00 am

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TRAVERSE CITY -- Dallas Drake isn't a small guy.

But at 6-foot, 192 pounds, the former Detroit Red Wings forward is dwarfed by his new likeness.

Centre ICE is now adorned by a huge photo of Drake holding up the Stanley Cup that fills all the windows above the main entrance.

It's part of a beautification effort by the arena's various user groups to spruce up the facility.

"It was a little intimidating when I pulled up to see my big mug up there," Drake said. "But it's quite an honor having your face up there."

He may not think it's quite so cool when Red Wings training camp rolls around Sept. 19.

"I'm going to take some serious abuse for that," Drake said. "It's nice that they drive around (the side) and don't come around (the front) that much, but I'll take some heat for that."

The effort also includes hanging banners from the parking lot light posts of Red Wings and Traverse City North Stars players, as well as the other front windows of the arena.

Red Wings stars Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Osgood and former North Stars Eric Elmblad and Steven Oleksy will be featured in the windows next to the main entrance.

"When you pull up to the first flagpoles up there you see all the flags," Drake said. "In Detroit, all around Joe Louis (Arena) they have things like this. It's great."

The parking lot banners display Red Wings forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk and current North Stars players Kyle Bonis, Chris Heineman, Brandon Stephenson and Nate Urbaniak.

"We've got this asset here and we want to market Hockeytown North," said North Stars director of business affair Rick Deneweth. "We want to make it more than a building -- make it a destination."

The redecorating is a combined effort by the Red Wings Training Camp/Golf Classic, NHL Prospects Tournament, TC North Stars, TC Central, TC West, Bay Reps and the Grand Traverse Hockey Association.

In the future, high school and youth hockey photos could be added to the collection.

Drake will be bringing the Stanley Cup to Traverse City in non-cling form on Sept. 1 from noon to 5 p.m., with proceeds to benefit the GTHA.

"It's going to be very hectic down there, but it's for a great cause," Drake said. "It's going to be a long day, but it'll be worth it."

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