Johnny Wilson
Reported by Erik Smith
Web produced by Rachel L. Miller

Johnny Wilson gives a few tips to his players.

When his days as a hockey player came to a close, Johnny Wilson turned in his jersey and traded it for a whistle, for a time when his beloved Wings were in the declining years of the once invincible franchise.

So it's not trite to say that hockey has been his life. And now even past his 70th birthday, Johnny Wilson is still coaching.

Not pros, not college prospects -- just kids. Inner-city kids, most of them probably know more about the theory of relativity than they do about the game of hockey. They're very interested and, of course, the commander is very strong in leadership.

Two players smile before practice.

The idea for this special hockey school came out of the 11th police precinct in Detroit. They wanted something to put something really different together for the kids on the streets of the 11th precinct. streets.

"Johnny Wilson has been a long-time friend, and he's always willing to help out with our youth programs, and really didn't take a lot of arm twisting at all," one of the 11th precinct officers says. "I said, 'What do you think of this idea?' He said, 'Great.'"

A young player gets ready to make his way on to the ice.

Teaching the fundamentals of the game is no simple task, of course. And the kids, after weeks of practice, drills and dedication, earn their own jerseys for they have now become a team by taking hockey to heart.

There's a lot of lip service these days about giving back, returning something to a town that's been good to you. Johnny Wilson has never forgotten the city and the fans who once crowded the old Olympia to watch him play.

So despite all the demands on his time, the aches that inevitably come with an aging athlete's body, despite the fact that even surgeons have held his own beating heart in their hands, old number 16 just keeps coming back for more.

Johnny Wilson prepares his team for practice.

"Talk about all-century team, Johnny Wilson cannot make that team, because he's been a league of his own as a human being and as someone who's successful in life, so he stands truly alone in my mind as someone who is just a wonderful human being, who gives to the community," the officer says. "Not gives back, but gives."

For the cops and the coach and the kids, it is a circle of fulfillment carved into borrowed ice, volunteered time and donated equipment.

Johnny Wilson says he never thought while playing for the Red Wings that he'd be coaching kids who had never played the game before.

"But, you know, to get out and work with these kids, they're the ones that need help," he says. "They're the future citizens and leaders of the country, and I think if we can stabilize them when they're young, it can spill over to their buddies and hopefully we have some outstanding citizens down the road."

Next year, a new set of kids will take to the ice of this arena.

The program will continue next year with different kids who don't know how to skate, different kids who will dare to try, different kids who will learn the rules of the game and a lot about life and two men who cared about them and their future.

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