Hockey Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman didn’t come back to coaching just to lose.
Even if it’s a high school game, 11 seasons after the fact, played by businessmen, postal workers and truck drivers. 
Scotty Bowman at Catholic Central practice Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Gatorade/Steve Boyle
The legendary coach will lead the Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.) Shamrocks against the Trenton (Mich.)Trojans in Gatorade’s coveted Replay Season 2 showdown May 9 at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.
The game pits players – now closing in on 30 years of age – who took part in the 1999 game that ended in a 4-4 tie that was ended short because of a near-fatal accident to Trenton player Kurt La Tarte, who had his jugular accidently slit by another player’s skate.
This is Gatorade’s second ultimate alumni game that hopes to match last year’s highly successful football clash between the 1993 graduates from Phillipsburg (N.J.) and Easton (Pa.) that was played before 15,000 sun-drenched fans at Lafayette College.
That cleanly-played contest was a replay of a 7-7 tie that was won by Phillipsburg 27-12 last May. Despite the 90-degree heat, there were no major injuries, heat exhaustion or broken bones reported. Gatorade pulled out all the stops, bringing in honorary coaches Peyton and Eli Manning, both of whom marveled at the game’s energy and strong play. (See story.)
Organizers hope for the same on the ice, this year bringing in Bowman to lead Catholic Central and future Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan to coach Trenton.
"I told them expectations were high," said Bowman by phone on Sunday. "I won my last game as a coach and I didn’t want to lose my very last game."
That last game was for the Detroit Red Wings, a 3-1 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes to win the 2002 Stanley Cup before 20,058 fans at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. More than a million fans attended a victory parade a few days later, a perfect sendoff for Bowman, who owns the league mark for regular-season wins (1,244), playoff wins (223) and Stanley Cups (nine), five with Montreal, one with Pittsburgh and three with Detroit.
He’s the only coach in the NHL, NBA, NFL or MLB who has won titles with three different teams.
Now 76, Bowman is the senior advisor for the Chicago Blackhawks, helping out his son Stan, the team’s general manager. Asked if he’s ready and anxious to get back into coaching, Bowman said: "I’m definitely well rested. It should be a lot of fun."
Bowman noted it’s more than just a fun little game of pickup for the players involved, especially those who competed in arguably the nation’s top hockey rivalry near Hockey Town USA.
From left to right, Catholic Central coach Tom Nugent, and players Shawn McGowan, Jim Spiewak, Matthew Modelski and Matt Van Heest prepare for big Replay 2 game.
Photo courtesy of Gatorade/Steve Boyle
Catholic Central went 29-1-1 that season – its only loss coming to Trenton – and the rematch that season was a doozy. Trenton came back from a 4-1 deficit, and its defenseman Andy Greene, now with the New Jersey Devils, checked a player whose skate went into the air and cut La Tarte’s throat.
There was blood all over the ice. Priests were called down to lead both teams in prayer in the far end zone. The game was stopped, La Tarte survived and 11 years later the game resumes.
"It was big news around here – I remember it well," Bowman said. "This is such an amazing hockey town and this is such a storied rivalry, it really rocked this area for the game to end like that. It’s fantastic the game and rivalry can continue.
"I told (Catholic Central on Sunday) that this is an amazing opportunity. It’s not often in life you get to replay the past. I wish I could have replayed a couple from my day."
Considering all his success, it’s hard to imagine Bowman needing many do-overs. He quickly thought of some of Detroit’s bitter battles with Colorado, losing to the Avalanche in the 1996 Western Conference finals after winning a record 62 games in the regular season.
Colorado also eliminated Bowman’s teams in the 1999 and 2000 Western semifinals, but he got sweet revenge in 2002, winning a seventh-and-deciding Western finals game 7-0 before taking his ninth Stanley Cup.
"Unfortunately, you remember many of those that you lost," he said. "We had a fantastic rivalry with Colorado. They took some. We took some. It often came down to one player, one play, one decision that decided everything. That was very intense."
He appreciates the tenacity of the current group, many of whom are scattered throughout the country but making sacrifices to represent their old school and team. Like the Easton-Phillipsburg football players, the Trenton and Catholic Central bunch have been set up with an eight-week nutrition and conditioning program designed by a Gatorade SportScience institute.
"Some guys have lost a lot of weight and are in very good shape," Bowman said. "It’s a real cross-section."
A few still play recreational hockey, but the game still runs deep in all of them, Bowman said. The Red Wings, one of the NHL’s original six who have won a record 12 Stanley Cups, have made the playoffs 19 consecutive years, the longest postseason streak in North American professional sports.
"I think that filters down to the entire community," Bowman said. "The high school and junior hockey here is terrific. Everyone here loves their hockey."
His only true connection with Catholic Central is player Brad Holland, the son of Detroit general manager Ken Holland. Brad still plays recreation hockey and runs a gym in Chicago.
"He’s definitely one of the fittest out here," Bowman said. "All of them can’t wait to get out and play again."
Catholic Central players enjoy fun exchange with Bowman on Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Gatorade/Steve Boyle
For more on the Replay series, go to replaytheseries.com. Look for more stories on the build-up to the game as well as game coverage on May 8.
