Motor City Rockers bring professional hockey to Yack Arena in Wyandotte
Story by Ken Welsch
Professional hockey is coming to downtown Wyandotte! The Motor City Rockers are making Yack Arena their new home for the 2026–27 season, bringing affordable professional hockey, regional talent, and a renewed rivalry with Port Huron to the heart of Downriver. The Rockers make their home debut October 24.
This hockey season in downtown Wyandotte, there’s a new game in town.
The Motor City Rockers of the Single-A Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) are ramping up for their first season Downriver after relocating to the Yack Arena from their former home in Fraser.
The puck drops on the Rockers’ 2026-27 season when they travel to Minneapolis to take on the upstart Minnesota Northern Lights for a pair of games Oct. 16 and 17. They will make their Yack debut a week later when rival Port Huron visits Oct. 24.
“Wyandotte captured our imagination from the very beginning,” Andrews said during the team’s introductory event this summer. “You have a vibrant downtown, a waterfront business district, and a classic hockey building right in the heart of it all. More importantly, Wyandotte is one of the anchor points of the Downriver community, which has one of the strongest youth hockey footprints anywhere. We believe Yack Arena is an incredible location for Downriver’s own professional hockey team.”
With the Rockers’ move, professional hockey finds a home Downriver for the first time since the Stars of the All-American Hockey League played out of Trenton in the late 1980s. The FPHL is a 15-team minor professional hockey league with teams coast-to-coast, from New England to Southern California.
The Rockers return to the fray after leaving Big Boy Arena following the 2024-25 season. The team sat out the 2025-26 season as owner Ken Andrews sought-out a desirable new home in metro Detroit. He’s excited about landing in Wyandotte, and the feeling is mutual among Downriver sports and business communities.
“To have a professional hockey team at the Yack Arena in downtown Wyandotte is incredibly exciting,” said Joe Gruber, Wyandotte Downtown Development Authority director. “Our mission at the City of Wyandotte is to advocate for our heritage, promote economic development, and provide the finest quality of life. The Rockers will help achieve that mission – fostering a rich culture of ice hockey Downriver, driving local business, and supporting our residents, families, and schools through engagement and entertainment.”
Downriver and hockey: “a perfect marriage”
Since that introductory celebration, the Rockers have hurried to embrace their new home, inside the Yack, across downtown Wyandotte, and throughout Downriver.
New seating at the arena, which opened in 1969, will increase hockey game capacity from about 900 to about 1,400. Single-game tickets are available starting at $15, with new suites, premiere seating, and standing-room options available.
Off the ice, the team and Head Coach Todd Watson have focused on assembling a competitive roster that is comprised largely of regional talent.
And to bolster game day concession options, the Rockers have teamed with neighbor Third Street Tavern, as well as Chic-fil-A Taylor and Cottage Inn Pizza locations in Wyandotte, Lincoln Park, Allen Park and Brownstown Township. All three will serve limited-menu grub at Rockers’ home games.
“It’s a perfect marriage between the city of Wyandotte and the Rockers,” Wyandotte Mayor Robert DeSana said during the announcement celebration. “As you all know, Downriver hockey is pretty big. The city of Trenton has a huge following – Wyandotte, Southgate, Woodhaven, Allen Park, everybody. I think this is a good opportunity for families because it’s going to be affordable to bring a family and enjoy some good hockey.”
A rivalry renewed: “The Shore War”?
Led by Watson, a Southgate Aquinas High School graduate, the Rockers look to return to the FPHL playoffs for the first time since 2024. They also expect to renew their rivalry with the Port Huron Prowlers, whether squaring off at the Yack or at McMorran Arena. Both teams play in the FPHL’s Great Lakes Division with the Indiana Sentinels and Watertown (New York) Wolves, with the top two teams advancing to the postseason.
During Rockers road trips, fans can stay connected and watch all games courtesy of the Rockers Media Network, available on YouTube for free. The Rockers are partnering with area bars and restaurants for designated Rockers Watch Parties during road games. An updated calendar of Watch Party dates and locations is available at the Rockers website.