Ellie Finally Cheers on the Red Wings at the Arena She and Her Late Husband Watched Take Shape

4 hours ago

2 min read

EAST LANSING, Mich. — November 13, 2026 — StoryPoint East Lansing resident Ellie wasn’t always a Detroit Red Wings fan. In the early years of her marriage, she and her husband, John, had one television — and during hockey season, John usually had a game on. Ellie decided that if she couldn’t beat him, she would join him!John taught her the game, and hockey became something they loved together.

The pair spent evenings watching the Red Wings, attended games at Joe Louis Arena, and eventually dedicated an entire room in their home to their team. When Little Caesars Arena was under construction, Ellie and John watched it take shape and dreamed of cheering on the Red Wings inside. But John’s passing, health challenges, and a move kept Ellie from experiencing the arena they had looked forward to visiting.

Recently, the StoryPoint East Lansing team helped fulfill that wish through StoryPoint Group’s Dream Big initiative, which helps turn residents’ dreams into reality.

Ellie invited her best friend and StoryPoint neighbor, Elaine, to join her as a thank-you for the love and support she had shown throughout Ellie’s cancer diagnosis. They started with burgers at Harry’s Bar, revisiting Ellie and John’s tradition of choosing a bar before walking to a game. Then, Ellie and Elaine headed to Little Caesars Arena, where they watched the game from the owner's box.

Ellie took in the arena’s size, the pregame projections on the ice, and the statues of Red Wings greats that prompted memories of watching games with John. She also chose a jersey featuring her favorite player, Alex DeBrincat, without knowing she would meet him after the game. When the team revealed the surprise, Ellie broke into a smile.

“I don’t get speechless often, but I’m speechless right now,” she said. “I don’t know what to say.” Ellie cried when she met DeBrincat. He sat with her, answered her questions, and listened as she shared memories of attending games with John. He also signed the jersey she had picked out earlier that evening.

For Ellie, the night fulfilled a dream she and John had shared for years. With help from the StoryPoint East Lansing team, she finally got to cheer on their beloved Red Wings in the arena they had watched take shape together.

To hear more about Ellie’s special evening and the people who helped make it possible, call StoryPoint East Lansing at 517-339-1532. For a look at Ellie’s experience, click here.