Detroit Whalers The Detroit Whalers were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League for two seasons from 1995 to 1997 . The Whalers were based in the greater Detroit , Michigan area . History . The creation of the Detroit Whalers resulted after a failed takeover bid by Peter Karmanos to buy the National Hockey League ' s Detroit Red Wings from Mike Ilitch . The Junior Red Wings severed all ties with the NHL Red Wings when the relationship soured after the 1994 – 95 season ended . When the Detroit Junior Red Wings were evicted from Joe Louis Arena in 1995 , the franchise changed names and home arenas again . Karmanos renamed his franchise the Detroit Whalers , in association through common ownership with the NHL ' s Hartford Whalers team which Karmanos bought , instead of the Detroit Red Wings . The Whalers found temporary home ice at its training base , the Oak Park Ice Arena , along with the Palace of Auburn Hills . The next year , the team had a permanent facility in Plymouth Township , Michigan . The team played for two seasons before renaming themselves again to the Plymouth Whalers . Shortly after the Jr . Red Wings were finished playing in the Memorial Cup , general manager & head coach Paul Maurice was promoted to the Hartford Whalers . He would be replaced by the assistant coach Peter DeBoer , as new general manager & head coach . DeBoer would remain with the Whalers organization until 2001 . The Whalers attendance suffered in their first season after losing much of its fan base in downtown Detroit . The loss of the " Junior Red Wings " name also lowered the team ' s profile . Peter DeBoer set about rebuilding a new image and fan base for the franchise . DeBoer ' s task for his team on the ice was to prepare to play on two completely opposite home ice surfaces . The tiny Oak Park Arena favored a hard checking team while the spacious Palace ( 25 miles away ) was an NHL size ice surface . In spite of the difference between Oak Park and the Palace , the Whalers had the OHL ' s best home - ice record in 1995 – 96 ( 25 - 6 - 2 ) , and won their second consecutive Western Division title and the Bumbacco Trophy . The 1996 playoffs started with a cross - border matchup of Detroit vs . Windsor that fans had wanted since 1990 . Detroit finished 38 points ahead of Windsor during the regular season , but the series took seven games to decide . Detroit won the first three games of the series , but Windsor won the next three games . Detroit clinched the series with a 9 - 2 victory in game seven . The Whalers moved on to defeat the Kitchener 4 games to 1 in the second round . The Whalers were eliminated in the semi - finals , losing to the Peterborough Petes in five games . On March 1 , 1996 , Whalers owner Peter Karmanos finalized plans to build a 4 , 000 seat arena in Plymouth Township for his team . The arena was to be ready for the 1996 – 97 season . The Whalers had arrived in Plymouth in 1996 – 97 , and began to build a new fan base , and rebuild the team on the ice . DeBoer and newly appointed assistant coach Steve Spott chose a team full of rookies , and a handful of veterans . The Whalers revamped their roster with a hard - working scouting staff . First round pick Harold Druken scored 27 goals with 31 assists in his first season . The Whalers made the playoffs despite finish with a losing record of 26 - 34 - 6 . Detroit met their old foe , the Sault Ste . Marie Greyhounds in the playoffs . After losing the first three games , the Whalers came from three goals behind in the fourth game to prolong the series , winning 4 - 3 in double overtime . The game was the longest in the franchise ' s history ( 90 minutes , 2 seconds ) . The Greyhounds won the next game 8 - 3 , but the Whalers ' rookies gained valuable experience for the next season . Players . Bryan Berard won his second consecutive Max Kaminsky Trophy in 1995 – 96 as the most outstanding defenceman in the OHL . The same season he was the Canadian Hockey League Defenceman of the Year . NHL alumni < br > Yearly results . Regular season < br > Playoffs Arenas . During the 1995 – 96 season , the Detroit Whalers played 21 regular season home games at the Palace of Auburn Hills , and the remaining 12 regular season home games and playoff home games at the Oak Park Ice Arena . Karmanos arranged to build the Whalers a new home in Plymouth Township as soon as the 1995 – 96 season ended . The new arena was constructed in 6 months , in time for the 1996 – 97 season . The Detroit Whalers played all games of their second season at the Compuware Sports Arena . More information on arenas from " The OHL Arena & Travel Guide . "