Red Wings captain Larkin, coach Lalonde address MSU shooting

Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings were witness to the best that college sports has to offer, the enthusiasm of the on-ice rivalry between the Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines.

Monday, they were left bewildered and dismayed by the worst part of American society. Michigan State was the latest site of a mass shooting.

Police were reporting that three people are dead and five others were wounded in the on-campus. The suspect was also dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Dylan Larkin & Coach Lalonde on tonight’s tragedy at Michigan State University. 💚 pic.twitter.com/4CDMfPlzP6

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 14, 2023

“This is a pretty sobering feeling right now with tonight, coming into the locker room and hearing the news,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was telling reporters following Monday’s 6-1 win at Vancouver. “We’re all pretty devastated by it.”

Larkin,who played college hockey at Michigan, also noted that the state had only recently dealt with a similar shooting at Oxford High School in November of 2021.

“We dealt with his last year with Oxford,” Larkin said. “It’s just hurts so hard for everyone involved. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, all the students, all the families. Very sad.

“I know we had tonight as a win, but it’s hard to talk about anything else. We’re all thinking about our home state right now.”

Spartans Played Wolverines Following Saturday’s Red Wings Game

Detroit’s Saturday game at Little Caesars Arena against Vancouver was moving up to a noon start to accommodate the festivities of a Michigan-Michigan State game that night. Today, that same Michigan State community is left dealing with the senseless loss of some of their own members.

“Sad, tragic,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “It just really puts it in perspective so many more things are vitally more important than sport, and that’s certainly one of them.

Praying for MSU. ❤️

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 14, 2023

“It is the Michigan State University, and we are Detroit. Michigan State just hosted the Duel at the D and the energy of that community … It’s gut-wrenching, it’s sad.

“My thoughts and prayers got out to the community, but especially the families. I have kids that are approaching college age and it’s just heartbreaking. So, our thoughts and prayers are out to the entire community.”