Detroit Red Wings build prospects’ chemistry with curling

I've said it for a long time, now.

Want a better hockey team? Teach 'em to curl.

At their 2014 development camp, wrapping up today in Traverse City, Michigan, the Detroit Red Wings swapped out skates and sticks for sliders and brooms, in an effort to bring the young lads together in a bonding exercise.

As you can see the young men found out what most do when they attempt the roaring game for the first time: It's a lot harder than it looks.

Have to hand it to them, though. Even if you have the proper footwear, curling is difficult to get the hang of on your maiden voyage (some of us are still trying to get the hang of it 18 years later). That these guys were able to catch on a bit (and not suffer any injuries due to catastrophic falls) while wearing flip flops, for Gawd's sake, is a testament to their exceptional talents in balancing on ice.

"Most guys actually haven't played. It was kind of shocking," said camp invitee Michael Babcock. Two things on that: 1) Yes, he is one of THE Babcocks, coach Mike's son. 2) It's not actually shocking that most of these young fellas haven't played before. If you're hotshot hockey player, most all of your waking hours are spent on shinny, with precious little room left for anything else. As well, while it seems curling is gaining a wider and wider acceptance among elite athletes in other sports (San Francisco 49er's star Vernon Davis is a notable example) there's still a sense among many that it isn't at all difficult.

Nothing could be further from the truth, of course, and the young Red Wings found that out as they twisted, turned, and wobbled their way through a tutorial and an end.

That the Wings would use curling as an exercise should be no surprise.

Coach Babcock is a big fan of the sport, taking in Olympic Games action when he could in both 2010 and 2014. He even met with Sochi gold medal champs, Team Brad Jacobs, offering some motivational advice during The Games.