Berkley High School hockey calls Joe Louis Arena home for a day

It's been quite the season for the Berkley Bears as they've been without a hockey rink to call home, but while they've been scrambling to find ice time for their games a shot in the dark question to a professional franchise ended up becoming a dream come true.

On Monday, the famed Joe Louis Arena was their home, at least for the day.

"This is their Arena today and this is their ice today."

In a bizarre set of circumstances, the Berkley Ice Rink was forced to close in October, leaving the high school hockey teams and others, without a place to play.

"Once we got the notification that our rink was closed, it took everybody by shock," Dan Radomski said.

"It was a bummer I mean that was the first rink I had ever played at, I grew up playing there," Berkeley captain Kevin Jurvis said.

But instead of canceling the season, Dan Radomski, head of the Berkley hockey association, got to work. He lined up five different rinks to host games for the Bears and over a dozen more for practices. While scouring metro Detroit for facilities, he took a chance on the Red Wings, and that shot in the dark was answered.

"This was a group effort by everybody here at the organization, were committed as a club to make sure that kids if they want to play hockey have the opportunity and it was the right thing to do," Red Wings director of community relations Kevin Brown said.

"When they offered us the opportunity to play a home game here, we were ecstatic. It's really a testament to Mr. Ilitch and what he instilled in this organization," Radomski added.

"Can't thank the Red Wings organization enough for giving us an opportunity to play here. It's a dream come true to play here, I've come here my whole life watching the Red Wings play and it's incredible and some of the guys have never gotten the opportunity to play here and I can't thank them enough for it," Jurvis said. 

They even have a concession stand open with ushers and all, a true home game feel for a team that has played thru all the turbulence of a season and certainly a well deserved treat for their patience. These guys embody the old saying, when life hands you lemons you, make lemonade. And then get rewarded with a game at a professional venue.