Kris Draper and two marines posed for photos during one of the Wings' stops on last year's Michigan tour.

DETROIT -- The Red Wings will be on an early breakaway to Training Camp as eight players will partake in a community relations tour this Thursday, Sept. 10. Four players each will head East and West through Michigan, making stops at two veterans hospitals and schools in Grand Rapids and Midland.

Players scheduled to attend include Niklas Kronwall, Jimmy Howard, Jonathan Ericsson, Johan Franzen, Brett Lebda, Valtteri Filppula, Ville Leino and Henrik Zetterberg. This marks the second straight year two groups of Red Wings have taken an early departure for camp in order to visit with fans. Last season, the Wings visited Selfridge Air National Guard Base, the state National Guard Headquarters, DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids and a school in Saginaw.

Media wishing to cover the events are asked to contact the Red Wings public relations representative for the corresponding tour listed below.

Detroit Red Wings Tour 2009
EAST TOUR – (Franzen, Lebda, Howard, Zetterberg)
10–11:30 a.m.
John D. Dingell VA Medical Center
4646 John R.
Detroit, MI 48201
Media must check-in in the main lobby with John D. Dingell VA Medical Center Public Affairs representative Ann Talbot. This visit is closed to the public.

1:30–3 p.m.
Central Middle School
305 East Reardon Street
Midland, MI 48640
Media must check-in in the front office upon arrival. This visit is closed to the public.

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WEST TOUR – (Kronwall, Ericsson, Filppula, Leino)
10–11:30 a.m.
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
2215 Fuller Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Media must check-in in the main with VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Public Affairs Representative Paul Ross. This visit is closed to the public.

1:30–3 p.m.
Northern Trails 5/6 School
3777 Leonard St., NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Media must check-in in the front office upon arrival. This visit is closed to the public.