Red Wings rookie an outdoor game veteran

Rookie Luke Glendening, a 24-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Mich., is participating in his fifth serious outdoor game on New Year’s Day.(Gregory Shamus/Getty)

Ann Arbor, Mich. — As he skates in his third Wednesday, Toronto Maple Leafs wing James van Riemsdyk becomes the most experienced Winter Classic player.

But when it comes to outdoor games, a little-known Detroit Red Wing is catching up to JVR trumped.

Rookie Luke Glendening, a 24-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Mich., is participating in his fifth serious outdoor game on New Year’s Day.

Glendening was a surprise late addition to the Wings’ Classic roster, being called up from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins the day after he scored a pair of goals in the affiliate club’s outdoor shootout loss to the Toronto Marlies Monday night at Comerica Park.

Prior to Monday’s game, the centreman played in a trio of open-air contests for the NCAA’s Michigan Wolverines: one in Wisconsin, one in Cleveland, and 2010’s Big Chill at the Big House. The Big Chill’s record attendance of 104,173 is expected to be beat by Wednesday’s Classic.

“Luke is a tremendous kid, and he’s one of those kids that they bring him back up and down. He’s a role player, he knows his role, and he’s excited to be there. I’m excited for him,” said Glendening’s old Michigan coach, Red Wings legend Red Berenson.

Glendening, who replaces forward Tomas Jurco in Detroit’s lineup, has just one assist in 16 games with the big club, but no other Red Wing should be as comfortable as the 2013 Calder Cup winner handling a hard puck in flurries. The rookie told mlive.com he was planning on watching the game on television until he got the good news.

“Now that I have the opportunity to be a part of it, I’m excited,” he told the site. “The fact that I went [to Michigan] and played at the Big House before, all of that makes it extra special.”

Glendening’s road to the Classic is almost Rudy-esque.

He arrived at Michigan as a walk-on, with no guarantee he’d see one second of ice time. He was never drafted and hadn’t been highly recruited. His leadership, determination and strong play have now earned him a one-year, $575,000 deal with an Original Six club.

“He came here and made a mark every day in practice. He ended up being our captain his junior and senior years—never led our team in scoring, but he was our leader on and off the ice,” Berenson said. “Now he’s showing he can play pro hockey, and now he’s in the NHL. Who would have thought? He’s a good example for young kids who aren’t getting all the attention and maybe aren’t draftable but really want a chance. You work hard like Luke Glendening, and you’ll get a chance.”

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