History

Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club

The Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club is one of the most recognized and respected organizations in amateur hockey and one of the cornerstones of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (formerly the Midwest Elite Hockey League.)

Mike and Marian Ilitch, owners of the Little Caesars Pizza chain, have been sponsoring amateur hockey teams since 1968 and are a major reason for the club's success.

The Little Caesars teams have an extraordinary tradition of winning, having captured numerous state championships and tournament titles over its more than 30 years history. While winning is always nice, it is only one facet of the hockey program. The major goal is to develop well-rounded individuals who are prepared for future careers on or off the ice. A mixture of instruction, discipline and positive feedback from outstanding coaches aids in that development and makes for a positive experience.

The Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club aligns itself very closely with the Detroit Red Wings, also owned by Mike and Marian Ilitch. Members of the back-to-back Stanley Cup winning team will occasionally drop by the youths' practice ice or locker room for motivation and instruction. Also, when ice is available at Joe Louis Arena, every effort is made to allow the amateur players to skate there.

Currently, 27 alumni of the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club are playing, or have played, in the National Hockey League. Hundreds of others have established careers in collegiate hockey or other hockey leagues.

The Ilitch Family is very committed to amateur sports, and the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey Club will continue to be a model of success among other hockey teams. Impressive youth hockey is just one more reason why Detroit is called Hockeytown.

[This Page Updated: 7/13/2010 - 1445]