The Detroit Compuware Hockey organization was founded in the mid 1970s by Compuware owner/president Peter Karmanos and his partner Thomas Thewes. As far back as the mid-1970's, Compuware cofounder Peter Karmanos Jr. had supported youth hockey, labeling his organization 'Ambassadors' for his company.
The organization grew to include all age levels of hockey including Junior 'A'. The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors were a Junior A ice hockey team that played in the North American Hockey League.
Karmanos began expanding his footprint into the sport in the 1984 when he purchased the Windsor Spitfires, a junior team in the Ontario Hockey League. That same year, he founded a second junior team to take the place of the Detroit Jr. Wings, who had suspended play the year before.
The new club was named the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors and played in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, Michigan. The Junior 'A 'team competed in the North American Hockey League. Some of its alumni include Eric Lindros, Pat LaFontaine, Mike Modano, Al Iafrate, David Legwand, Derian Hatcher and Doug Weight.
With the success of the Ambassadors, Karmanos attempted to relocate the Spitfires to the Detroit area but faced resistance from the OHL. Karmanos had previous experience in the OHL, owning the Windsor Spitfires team during the 1980s that won the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 1988. Karmanos sold the Spitfires in 1989 after a failed attempt to relocate the team across the river.
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After also failing to purchase and relocate the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, he was allowed to sell the Spitfires and found an expansion franchise, which was also called the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors, in 1989.
Entry into the Ontario Hockey League
The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors were granted as an expansion franchise in the Ontario Hockey League on December 11, 1989. Detroit became the first American-based team in the league. The two identically-named clubs played at separate facilities so there were no scheduling conflicts, however, the region was becoming crowded with junior teams since the Jr. Wings had also returned in 1987.
Andy Weidenbach was named the team's first coach. Detroit lost its first seven games before posting its first victory, 7-3 over the Owen Sound Platers at Cobo Arena October 4, 1990. After a 3-game win streak, the Ambassadors would drop 11 straight games. For the 1990-91 season, the Ambassadors played home games at Cobo Arena.
Despite finishing last overall in the OHL their first season, the Ambassadors executives stuck to the same plan that help bring success to the Spitfires. Despite the losing, there were some bright lights. The Ambassadors earned the reputation as a physical team.
Detroit used its first overall draft pick in 1991 to select Todd Harvey. After dropping five in a row to start the season, Detroit won 7 of its next 9 games to enter November winning half their games.
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Although the Ambassadors were much improved, Rutherford decided to make a coaching change November 30 after a 7-5 loss in Niagara Falls. Coach Andy Weidenbach was let go. Detroit stood 11-16-0 at the time. Jim Rutherford moved behind the bench to coach the rest of the season.
Detroit finished with a record of 23-42-1. Pat Peake led the team in scoring again with 41 goals and 52 assists. Detroit made the last playoff spot in the Emms division finishing 7th place.
Detroit bussed to Niagara Falls to start their first-ever playoff series against the second place Thunder. The Ambassadors nearly pulled off a major upset, taking a three-games-to-one lead in the series after a 5-3 victory over Niagara Falls March 19.
Pat Peake was the first draft pick in the history of the Compuware Ambassadors franchise, and his #14 was retired by the Whalers organization. The Compuware Ambassadors colours were brown, orange & white. The home jerseys had a white background with brown & orange trim.
Later Years and Arena Change
The NAHL club continued as the top team in their league throughout the early 1990s and had some of the competitive pressure remove when the Jr. Wings folded and the affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings was transferred to the OHL Ambassadors in 1992. However, after Karmanos had failed to purchase the Detroit Red Wings in the mid-90s, he bought the Hartford Whalers in 1994.
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As a result, Detroit ended their affiliation with the Jr. The situation was hardly ideal for either club and Karmanos made plans to move both franchises to a new, larger arena.
In just six months, the Compuware Arena was built in Plymouth, Michigan and both teams were able to begin the 1996-97 season in the new facility. That same year, USA Hockey founded its USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP), a nationally-focused club for the purpose of developing players under the age of 18 for professional hockey.
The organization reached an agreement with Karmanos to use the Compuware Arena as their home venue, forcing the Ambassadors to share their home rink with two other clubs. The situation became somewhat awkward the following year when the USNTDP joined the NAHL, placing two league teams in same building.
Predictably, with so many junior games available, attendance for Ambassador games suffered. The poor attendance persisted for seven years with seemingly no end in sight.
The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors were an elite Midget Major ice hockey team playing in the Tier I Elite Hockey League. The Ambassadors previously had separate franchises that competed in the North American Hockey League and in the Ontario Hockey League for two seasons from 1990 to 1992.
Team achievements
- Won Quarterfinal series, 2-0 (Danville Wings)
- Won Semifinal series, 2-0 (Detroit Freeze)
- Lost Robertson Cup series, 1-2 (Springfield Jr.
- Won Quarterfinal series, 2-0 (Cleveland Jr. Barons)
- Won Semifinal series, 2-0 (Soo Indians)
- Lost Robertson Cup series, 1-2 (Springfield Jr.
- Won Quarterfinal series, 2-1 (St.
- Won Div. Semifinal series, 2-0 (Cleveland Jr. Barons)
- Won Robertson Cup Semifinal series, 2-0 (Danville Wings)
- Won Robertson Cup Championship series, 3-0 (St.
- Won Div.
- Lost Div. Semifinal series, 1-2 (Cleveland Jr.
- Won Div.