Detroit Compuware Ambassadors The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors are an elite Midget Major ice hockey team playing in the Tier I Elite Hockey League . The Ambassadors have previously had franchises that competed in North American Hockey League and in the Ontario Hockey League for two seasons from 1990 to 1992 . The Compuware Ambassadors were based in Detroit , Michigan . History . The Detroit Compuware Hockey organization was founded in the mid 1970s by Compuware owner / president Peter Karmanos and his partner Thomas Thewes . The organization grew to include all age levels of hockey including Junior ' A ' . The Junior ' A ' team competed in the North American Hockey League . Some of its alumni include Eric Lindros , Pat LaFontaine , David Legwand , Derian Hatcher and Doug Weight . The program was so successful that its owners endeavored to expand the Compuware Ambassador program to play at a higher level . 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 . Karmanos also failed in his bid to buy out and relocate the Sault Ste . Marie Greyhounds . Failing which , Karmanos chose the route of an expansion team . 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 . Andy Weidenbach was named the team ' s first coach . Following Karmanos to Detroit from the Windsor Compuware Spitfires would be team president Jim Rutherford and general manager Tony McDonald . First season . 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 . Despite the losing , there were some bright lights . First overall draft pick Pat Peake with 39 goals & 51 assists was the team ' s offensive leader , figuring in over 40 percent of the team ' s goals . 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 . The Ambassadors earned the reputation as a physical team . Six different players would amass over 100 penalty minutes , including captain Paul Mitton ( 152 mrnutes ) . Second season . Detroit used its first overall draft pick in 1991 to select Todd Harvey . He was a hard - nosed competitor who would do anything to win . In an exhibition game against Sault Ste . Marie at Oak Park Arena he collided with Greyhound goaltender Bob Harrison starting a full - scale brawl . The Ambassadors also selected Ryan Sittler ( 2nd round ) and Anson Carter ( 14th ) in the same draft , but both elected to play collegiate hockey . 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 . 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 . Rutherford played 13 seasons in the NHL as a goalie , spending most of his time with the Detroit Red Wings . 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 . But the Thunder came back to win the final three games of the series , including game seven in Niagara Falls , 7 - 2 . After their second season was completed , the Compuware Ambassadors were renamed Detroit Junior Red Wings . NHL alumni . Eight players from the Compuware Ambassadors OHL team went onto NHL careers . Mike Modano , Todd Harvey and Eric Cairns are all currently active NHL players . Pat Peake was the first draft pick in the history of the Compuware Ambassadors franchise , his # 14 was retired by the Whalers organization . Peake was also chosen 14th Overall in the 1st round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals . Yearly results . Regular season < br > Playoffs Uniforms and logos . The Compuware Ambassadors colours were brown , orange & white . The home jerseys had a white background with brown & orange trim . The road jerseys were an orange background with white & brown trim . The logo displays the silhouette of the Ambassador Bridge against the backdrop of downtown Detroit , surrounded by the words compuware in a circle , and the Ambassadors in front . Arenas . For the 1990 – 91 season , the Ambassadors played home games at Cobo Arena . During the summer of 1991 , Olympia Arenas Inc . decided maintaining ice surfaces at both Cobo Arena and Joe Louis Arena was too costly , so the plug was pulled on Cobo Arena . During the Ambassadors ' one season at Cobo , maintenance crews would shuttle zambonis between Cobo Arena and Joe Louis Arena by driving them along the riverfront down Atwater Street . For the 1991 – 92 season , the Ambassadors played home games at Joe Louis Arena , the same home arena as the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL .