As if you needed more reasons to join “The Twitter,” it’s becoming a place where it’s safe to both be a Detroit Red Wing and be savvy with the social media. In the past, we’ve heard (and seen Wingspan features) with players and management outright bashing the medium and its forefathers like Facebook — guys like Chris Osgood were especially vocal in their disdain for such a thing (despite the fact that he might have been first in creating an account… which has been inactive for 27 months). Might the attitude have come from not totally understanding the power of the internet, or not totally appreciating the opportunity to interact with fans on a quasi-personal level? Was it not allowed by the organization?
Whatever the reason, guys are starting to come around. I think it’s safe to say that we all hope that the Wings don’t have a borderline outlandish guy like Paul Bissonnette representing the organization and the team we love, as he tweets photos of homeless people or strippers. But wouldn’t it be great to be able to have Q&A sessions with one of the guys… or send a note of good luck to a call-up… or just voice your support to a player that’s eager to hear it?
With the influx of young talent into the roster over the coming years, you’ll very well get your chance. Hell, if you’re on Twitter already, you’re very likely familiar with the newest Red Wing Mike Commodore who — every night — will interact with hockey fans and answer your questions if he has a few minutes.
Below you can all of the Twitter accounts of Red Wings personnel and a sample of their tweets. If you don’t have an account yet, it might be a good idea to hop over and create one — if only to follow these guys and get yourself a little bit closer to the action. Like all good things, there are fraudulent accounts popping up that you should stay away from… and hilarious parodies that are absolutely worth following. But the following list is all of the known accounts of past, current, and future Red Wings:
Defenseman Mike Commodore :: @commie22
Actually its time to move on to a nap. 2 hours of power skating and a 7 mile run puts me to bed. Getting old sucks. #iamnotlidstrom
Future defenseman Brendan Smith :: @bssmith7
Family euchre tournament and I’m going to say that I’m pretty sure my parents hustled other couples growing up after why I just witnessed
Future power forward and past TP:60 guest Riley Sheahan :: @rsheahan4
Miley Cyrus stating she wants to marry a hockey player. What are our chances?
Prospect Trevor Parkes :: @tparkes19
#poooched from a long day of hockey and training, Hittin the hay looking forward to an am coffbanger and right back at’r again #thegrind
Griffin Mitch Callahan :: @emcy2four
Toe nail officially came off. Don’t know when I’ll see you again. How’s yours holding up @DoubleCornDogs?
Red Wing Draft Pick and Winnipeg Jet sympathizer Brooks Macek :: @MaceALace
Tigers game from the owners suite!.. #notbad #LittleCeasers
2009 Draft Pick Gleason Fournier :: @GleasonFournier
Let’s’go wings !!!
Top Wings pick in 2011 Tomas Jurco :: @Jurky13
Done with hard workout with the wings prospects , now is the time for beach 🙂
2011 pick Ryan Sproul :: @Sproully93
Once again bored outta my mind, gotta get the hell back to hockey! #onemonth #bigyear
2011 pick Alan Quine :: @Quiner26
Ladies and beauts @Cecer_83 is now one of us. Jibbs are fixed, flow is flawless all the kid needs is a few follows #biggerribsbettersauce
Hockeytown Legend Darren McCarty :: @D_Mac25
I haven’t swore on the radio yet. Contract extension
Former Red Wing Kevin Miller :: @kbmiller23
Kocur charity softball today 11:30 in Highland!! Come laugh and have fun
Former Red Wing Aaron Ward :: @aaronward_nhl
Congrats Mark Howe on HHOF.Played my first NHL shift w/ him in ’93 w/ Red Wings.Best example of a TRUE PRO to those who ever played with him
Other accounts that are, in some way, associated with the Detroit Red Wings and worthy of a follow include:
Red Wings Feed, for all of your blog post needs :: @RedWingsFeed
:: They also have a list of players if you want to follow them all in one swoop :: http://twitter.com/#!/RedWingsFeed/drw-players-prospects
Official Twitter Account :: @DetroitRedWings
AHL Affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins :: @griffinshockey
ECHL Affiliate Toledo Walleye :: @ToledoWalleye
Director of Public Relations for the Detroit Red Wings, Richard Bowness :: @rykbonus
Once-Webmaster, Current Beat Reporter Bill Roose :: @RooseBill
Official Red Wings Photographer, Dave Reginek :: @redwingdgr
Ticket Executive and good friend of TPL, Ryan Michaels :: @rwmichaels
Social Media Manager for the Detroit Red Wings, Jake Duhaime :: @jakeduhaime
Director of Game Operations for the Grand Rapids Griffins, Rich Meyers :: @richmeyers
Anchor/Host for Fox Sports Detroit, John Keating :: @JohnKeatingFSD
Reporter for Fox Sports Detroit, Trevor Thompson :: @iamtrevort
Red Wings Beat Reporter for the Detroit News, Ted Kulfan :: @tkulfan
Photojournalist for the Detroit News, David Guralnick :: @DavidGuralnick
Writer for FoxSportsDetroit.com, Dana Wakiji :: @FSDwakiji
Columinist for The Windsor Star, Bob Duff :: @asktheduffer
Writer for The Grand Rapids Press, Michael Zuidema :: @michaelzuidema