Detroit Penguins’ ‘Production Line’ recalls fond memories of playing against Detroit Police Department at Olympia Stadium
DETROIT — In 1973, Fr. Richard Cassidy, Fr. Jack Fabian, Msgr. Gerald McEnhill and the rest of the “Detroit Penguins” took the ice at the famed Olympia Stadium to take on the Detroit Police Department.
The famed hockey barn that saw the greats like Terry Sawchuk, Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe was now hosting the likes of Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Fr. Norman Thomas and Bishop Kenneth Untener.
Fr. Cassidy, Fr. Fabian and Msgr. McEnhill’s “Production Line” accounted for both goals for the priestly pucksters that day against the Detroit Police Department, in a hard-fought 4-2 loss.
Fifty-three years later, the “Production Line” reunited in Windsor to catch an up-close glimpse of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge and relive some of their hockey glory days.
“Father Gerry and I, when we get together, we always talk about how much we enjoyed playing on the Detroit priest hockey team, especially with Fr. Fabian, and what a wonderful time it was,” Fr. Cassidy told Detroit Catholic. “We all did these wonderful ministries in our priesthood, but we always made time on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday night, often playing against the Canadian priests of Windsor. It was our way to build fraternity.”
The three “Penguin” alumni gathered Nov. 1 in Windsor for lunch, stopping to admire the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, named for the famed Canadian-born Detroit Red Wings star whose heyday united the two nations in hockey fandom.
Msgr. McEnhill recalled when the three then-recently ordained priests squared off against the Detroit Police Department in 1973 in a charity game. The “packed house” was a reprieve from some rather dark years for the Red Wings.
“From the late 1960s until the early 1980s, a group of Detroit-area hockey-playing priests played hockey against a team of Windsor-area priests,” Msgr. McEnhill said. “We did it for fun and exercise, and everyone shared the joy of playing hockey. At the end of the season, we had our annual hockey banquet usually at one of the Windsor rectories or a restaurant. While it was not a golden age for Detroit Red Wings hockey, it certainly was for Detroit priest hockey. A very happy time with many fond memories.”
The famed 1973 showdown at the Olympia was referred to by none other than Ted “The Terrible” Lindsay himself in a game that raised money for charity.
The focus of the game was the Penguins’ better-known “Heritage Line” of Bishop Gumbleton, the future Bishop Untener and Fr. Thomas, but, as Fr. Cassidy tells it, it was the “Production Line” who lit the lamp.
“On our line, Fr. Fabian was on the left wing, I was the center, and Fr. Gerry was the right wing,” Fr. Cassidy said. “We called ourselves the ‘Production Line,’ because we scored the two goals in the games against the police.”
Msgr. McEnhill got on the scoresheet for the Penguins in the second period, when the police were already up 2-0, scoring on an assist from Fr. Cassidy.
The police department scored in the third to make it 3-1 — the three priests couldn’t recall who was on the ice when they conceded — but Fr. Cassidy made it 3-2 after “shooting that puck with every ounce of strength I had,” past the goalie’s right shoulder.
The late goal gave the Penguins a chance to go for the tie, but when it came time to pull the goalie, the Penguins' coaching staff elected to go to the more experienced Heritage Line.
Fifty-three years later, Fr. Cassidy understands the decision.
“The fans were going wild because there was a chance of victory,” Fr. Cassidy said with a smile. “However, those who were making the coaching decisions — there wasn't too much time left, but they put back in the Heritage Line, which was understandable because these were the great figures that Fr. Fabian and Fr. Jerry and I had grown up with. But we often said if the coaches had put us back on, we might have won that game.”
The famed game against the police department aside, the priestly players said playing hockey was a tremendous boost to their priesthood, building a fraternity on the ice and staying in shape.
Fr. Fabian, who now lives in the Upper Peninsula where his private association, the Companions of Christ the Lamb, operates a retreat center in Paradise, Mich., said regular games against the priests of Windsor were always a joy.
“They were back and forth contests; we would win, they would win; we were evenly matched,” Fr. Fabian said. “It kept me in good shape. I thought it was a good use of my time. Some guys play golf. I never played golf. I mean, not never, but rarely ever played golf. And this was my form of recreation.”
Fr. Fabian said it was a privilege to travel downstate to see the new bridge and to reunite with his former linemates.
“Coming down to see Richard and Gerry was just delightful, because we've all had different ministries, and I'm up here in the Upper Peninsula so I don't get down there to see the priests (very often),” Fr. Fabian said. “So for me it was good to reconnect with my Detroit brothers.”
The three men gathered on All Saints Day to view Detroit and Windsor’s latest monument to a hockey great and to reminisce about their time on the ice.
“It was a joy to get together,” Fr. Fabian said. “We're all three in our 80s. I'm 86 now. And so, it was kind of nostalgic. Father Richard remembered more about the game. It was a good game. The police won 4-2 in the end. I vaguely remember anything about it, but I took his word for how he described what unfolded on that day, and he scored a goal.”
The three men had lunch at Rock Bottom Bar and Grill, where they traded stories about the priesthood, hockey and life before making their way to the Gordie Howe Bridge to take a photo commemorating a unique moment in Detroit sporting history. In addition to the three, Fr. Cassidy also mentioned Fr. Ronald DeHondt, 80, the Penguins’ fearsome defenseman who couldn’t make the trip.
“From everything that's reported about him, Gordie Howe was truly a fine person, so my teammates and I rejoice that we are paying tribute to a truly fine person,” Fr. Cassidy said. “He was one of the outstanding hockey players of all time. So, it’ll be fine to remember our time together with the bridge in the background.”
