Red Wings unveil Esports Lounge at BGCSM Fauver-Martin Club

DETROIT -- While several of the Detroit Red Wings players and their families departed for the summer after the 2022-23 season ended, Ville Husso and his fiancé, Hayley, decided to plant their roots in metro Detroit year-round.

By staying close to downtown, Husso said he can frequently utilize Little Caesars Arena's BELFOR Training Center. But working out is not all that Husso has done this offseason, as the 28-year-old goalie is also immersing himself into the community which he now calls home.

On Friday morning, Husso visited the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan's (BGCSM) Fauver-Martin Club, in Highland Park, to help unveil a state-of-the-art Esports Lounge as part of the Detroit Red Wings Learn, Play, Score program, specifically the Esports + Hockey extension in partnership with The Children's Foundation. Husso then played floor hockey in the club's gymnasium and enjoyed a Little Caesars pizza party with the youth of metro Detroit.

"Playing in the NHL, you can give so much to other people," Husso told DetroitRedWings.com on Friday. "I really enjoy doing this stuff and seeing how happy little kids are, so helping other people is a nice thing to do. It is a lot of fun."

Completion of the Fauver-Martin Club's Esports Lounge is a continuation of the $300,000 investment between the Red Wings Foundation and the Children's Foundation that strengthens the career and entrepreneur pipeline for local children and is a key component of the Red Wings' groundbreaking Learn, Play, Score platform.

"We're really excited to give our kids an amazing experience and lounge," said Shon Dorsey, chief operations officer of BGCSM. "Super pumped that they get something brand-new that is just for them that will bring the gaming world to life."

In 2020, the inaugural Esports Lounge was unveiled at the BGCSM Dick & Sandy Dauch Club in Detroit. Two years later, the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and The Children's Foundation cut the ribbon on an additional lounge at the Lloyd H. Diehl Club, also in the city of Detroit. The Esports lounges are modeled after the Red Wings' dressing room at Little Caesars Arena.

In addition to year-round programming for BGCSM members, the facilities provide paid workforce development and industry experience for Detroit youth through the BGCSM Industry Club. BGCSM is the first Boys & Girls Clubs location in the nation to provide the Industry Club model to pay youth to learn about careers in Esports, sports, entertainment, as well as fashion and merchandising, tech, data science, and risk management.

"When we launched the Learn, Play, Score program in 2020, our goal was to continue expanding and find incredible partners that make a difference in the lives of kids across the city of and metro Detroit," said Ilitch Sports + Entertainment community director Kevin Brown. "Through Esports and Hockey, we were able to identity the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan and our partners at The Children's Foundation as key members of the community who are doing just that - making a difference in the lives of kids every day."

Jodi Wong, the vice president of operations and grants for The Children's Foundation, had a big smile on her face while watching the BGCSM kids laugh and compete against Husso in the NHL '23 video game.

"The partnership has been long-lasting over the years," Wong said. "Just seeing the work that the players do in the community brings joy to people and gives them hope. The great work they do, even when the cameras aren't on them, I have also seen."

While Husso doesn't consider himself an avid gamer, he said being part of Friday's unveiling event was special.

"It's a nice thing to do," Husso said. "I'm staying here in the summer, so doing little things to help the community are just fun to do. I'm enjoying it."

As an established NHL player, Husso said it is important for him to use his platform to make a positive impact - especially for the next generation.

"I hope I can give a little advice to them for life," Husso said. "Just the little things that they will maybe remember forever. When I was younger, it was always cool to see people that play in the NHL. I feel like those little things will come to you and help you in life."

Husso admitted that donning his Red Wings sweater on Friday made him even more anxious for the 2023-24 campaign to begin.

"In the summer, you get that time off and away from the rink a little bit," Husso said. "Then at some point, it comes back to you that you are ready and wanna go back to playing hockey now. I feel like I'm hitting that point now in early August. I wanna get things started."

In addition to staying active by playing golf and pickleball this summer, Husso said he is enjoying all that Detroit has to offer with his Red Wings teammates.

"We went to the Taylor Swift concert in early June when a couple of the guys were in town," Husso said. "We've gotten dinners. You see them at the rink and maybe you have lunch with those guys - just trying to enjoy the summer off the ice too. Hanging out with the team is always a good time."

Husso added it was fun taking in the sights and sounds when he watched the Detroit Lions' 2023 Training Camp at Allen Park on Sunday.

"That was really cool to see," Husso said. "I had no idea how many guys are there or all the staff, plus they were playing on two different fields. I was wondering how they know what to do when they jump on the field because there's a lot going on. It was cool though, and I was lucky to get a picture too with a couple of those guys."

As far as personal expectations for his second campaign in Detroit, Husso said he wants to showcase the all-around strides he made this offseason. Last year, Husso compiled a 26-22-7 record, a 3.11 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage in 56 games.

"Good workouts at the rink and I've been on the ice a little bit too, so it's been good," Husso said. "I feel like I've gone forward a lot. I feel good on the ice now and just gotta keep it there, then whenever the season starts, I gotta be ready physically and mentally."

Improving the mental side of his game, according to Husso, has been a significant part of his training.

"I'm doing little things to help myself," Husso said. "Basic breathing stuff, for example, which is something you can use on the ice, when bad goals might happen or even with recovery. It's kind of new stuff, but I've really enjoyed it."

And with this year's training camp on the horizon, Husso is locked in on doing what it takes to help be the best netminder he can be for the Red Wings.

"We have a good team and it's gonna be a big year for us this year," Husso said. "Just gotta be ready when the puck drops."

Single-game tickets for the Red Wings' 2023-24 season at Little Caesars Arena are officially on sale for fans

here

. The 2023-24 promotions and fan giveaway schedule, in addition to Theme Nights, will be announced in the coming weeks.