Road to Stanleytown: Vladimir Konstantinov’s limo crash turns celebration into sadness A quarter century ago, in the spring of 1997, the Detroit Red Wings ended a 42-year Stanley Cup drought.
hit.
The Free Press commemorated this historic mission with a new book: “Stanleytown 25 Years Later: The Story Behind the Stanley Cup’s Return to the Motor City After His 41 Failing Seasons.
” Day 59: 13.
June 1997 Backstory: On Friday the 13th, 1:09 p.m.
, Birmingham Police reported a one-vehicle accident in Woodward He Avenue, about 400 yards south of Big He Beaver.
I received it.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, most Red Wings enjoyed one last party before disbanding to their off-season hangouts.
The program included small-ball shots at The Orchards Golf Club in Washington Township, some socializing in the clubhouse, and, just in case, a limousine ride home.
The guest of honor is, of course, the Stanley Cup.
But before the clock struck midnight, the greatest week in Michigan sports history suddenly became the most tragic.
Back to reality: That first night, in an ordeal that lasted months and still has reverberations, the details were unclear and rumors spread.
Fact: 4,444 Russian defenders Vladimir Konstantinov, 30, Slava Fetisov, 39, and team masseuse Sergei Mnatsakanov, 43, were killed on the way back from a golf trip in Birmingham.
He was seriously injured in a limousine accident.
Their white stretch sedan drove southbound from Woodward, drove into the grassy median of the divided road, and struck a tree, causing its front end to collapse.
The trio and the driver were taken to William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Owner Mike Ilitch, who heard about the team’s accident on television, arrived at the hospital around 10:44:44 p.m.
wearing a Wings windbreaker.
“I’m worried,” he said.
“We have to make sure our players are taken care of.
” Around 11:44 p.m.
, coach John Wharton rushed to the hospital, followed by captain Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan.
Other players followed.
Konstantinov, Fetisov and Mnatsakhanov left The Orchards about 90 minutes before the rest of the team were due to reconvene at Chris Osgood’s home in Birmingham.
When Yzerman’s cell phone rang with news of the accident, he gathered his team and relayed the gory details.
“It was the worst feeling ever,” said swinger Mathieu Dandenault.
Future: Why drafting Frank Nazar III at No.
8 could be the Wings’ best option at No.
8 listed head injuries that exposed him to danger, was found in critical condition, and caused great loss.
Fetisov suffered injuries to his chest and bruised lungs, but was in fairly good condition.
The limousine driver, Richard Gunida, was also in fairly good condition.
The rest of the story about the limousine crash and its aftermath was provided by Helen St.
James of the Free Press in her 2020 book, The Big 50: Detroit Red Wings, and also in Stanleytown 25 Years Later.
Published.
He forced himself out of the hospital bed, ignoring the pain in his ribs, and stumbled into the room next to him.
It was late at night, so there were only staff members there.
Slava Fetisov found Vladimir Konstantinov in another room, his body covered with tubes and bandages, connected to monitors, IV drips and a ventilator.
Fetisov had experienced something like this before.
Twelve years ago, in June 1985, Fetisov was involved in a car accident in which his younger brother Anatoly was killed.
Fetisov could not cope with further defeats.
“The nurse said that after I died, Slava came to Vladier’s room,” Vladimir’s wife, Irina Konstantinov, said in a 1998 interview.
