Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

The choice was tough, but his son’s game won out over the farewell to the Joe.

Notably absent from Sunday’s daylong celebration of Joe Louis Arena was Kris Draper, the former forward who topped 1,000 games in a Detroit Red Wings uniform and helped them win four Stanley Cups. Draper now serves in the front office. But he was missing as players past and present walked the red carpet hours before the final game at the Joe, and his No. 33 wasn’t called when alumni came onto the ice for the postgame ceremony.

“I was in Arizona with my son’s team for” USA Hockey Youth Nationals, Draper told the Free Press this morning. “It was very hard not to be there. I watched most of it on my iPad -- first-class celebration, as always.”

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Draper’s son, Kienan, plays for for Little Caesars U-14, which lost its semifinal, 3-2, to the New Jersey Colonials in Scottsdale.

Draper said he kept one eye on his son, another on his tablet.

“It brought back some unbelievable memories,” Draper said. “The Joe will always be a special place to me and my family. So many great memories; my kids grew up in there. Amazing tribute.”

Notebook: The Wings assigned forwards Tomas Nosek, Matt Lorito and Ben Street, along with defenseman Robbie Russo, to Grand Rapids. The Griffins wrap up their regular season Saturday and already have clinched a playoff spot.

Dani Probert, Bruce Martyn among those at Joe Louis Arena finale

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.