During the 2026 United States Midterm Elections, something strange happened.

In a debate, candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers discussed the Detroit Red Wings. On a whim, I decided to reach out to both campaigns to see how they felt about the team and its current direction. I wanted to write a non-partisan piece on the Red Wings and how something as innocuous as a game of hockey can come up in a debate.

I didn't expect a response like this.