Photo - The Compuware 12-U's won the 2010 National Championship.  Photo by Steve Demeo, THS Photo.com.

Photo in the body of the story - From left, Peter Karmanos, Jr. with Pat Peake, a Compuware Youth alum who was the first player ever selected for the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors.  Photo by Mark Hicks.

Photo on the bottom - Compuware Pee Wees win the Quebec International Pee Wee Tournament in 2006.

While the Whalers are preparing for the 2012-13 season, from time to time we'll be looking at other aspects of the organization.  Here is a look at the Compuware Youth organization:

PLYMOUTH - Now a little over 30-years-old, the Compuware Hockey program has built a sustained track record of excellence.  No matter what level – Youth, Junior A, Ontario Hockey League or National Hockey League – Peter Karmanos Jr.’s teams have won titles at all levels of the game.

Locally, the Compuware Youth program has captured 32 state championships.  Nationally, the youth program has won 14 titles.  In addition, Compuware won the prestigious Quebec International Tournament in 2006 and 2010 while finishing second in 2005 and 2007.

On a larger scale, Karmanos’ Ontario Hockey League teams – the Windsor Compuware Spitfires and Plymouth Whalers – have won OHL Championships in 1988, 1995 and 2007.

Karmanos’ National Hockey League team – the Carolina Hurricanes – won the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Karmanos has been recognized locally and nationally for his contribution to hockey.

In 1998, Karmanos received the National Hockey League’s Lester Patrick Award, given annually to persons who are recognized for “outstanding service to hockey in the United States.”  In 2010, Karmanos won the Ontario Hockey League’s Bill Long Award for Distinguished Service. The award is presented in recognition of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the OHL.

Karmanos was also elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.     

Video: Mr. Karmanos speaks at the Michigan Hall of Fame induction.

“I cannot say enough about what Mr. Karmanos has meant for the growth of hockey at all levels,” OHL Commissioner David Branch said. “He’s brought in and developed so many great people and has had a great influence in our league and other leagues. He provided us for the very first time as a league a team in the United States, which has been so beneficial for us and helped us grow the Ontario Hockey League.”

After Karmanos bought the Windsor Spitfires in 1984 and revitalized a struggling franchise that won the OHL Championship in 1988, the OHL awarded an expansion franchise to Karmanos for Detroit – the first OHL franchise based in the United States.

Now known as the Plymouth Whalers, the team has made the OHL playoffs for 21 straight seasons – a current OHL record – and won championships in 1995 and 2007.                                                           

Karmanos’ teams have touched the lives of countless individuals over 30 years.  Compuware Youth players have moved through the ranks to earn college scholarships.  Nearly 150 members of the Whalers or the Compuware youth program have been drafted by the National Hockey League.

In addition, several managers and coaches received their start with the Compuware Program and have become a success at higher levels – up to and including the National Hockey League.

Clearly, the Compuware hockey program has stood the test of time as a model franchise.

Here's a list of championships won by the Compuware Youth Program:

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

TIER I – JUNIOR A: 2002, 1999, 1994 and 1985.
MIDGET: 1983.
BANTAM: 1997 and 1995.
TIER I 16-U: 2009.
TIER I 14-U: 2009, 1998, 1997 and 1995.
TIER I 12-U: 2010 and 1986.

TOTAL: 14 Championships

MICHIGAN AMATEUR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION STATE TITLES

2012: Bantam Major, Pee Wee Major, Pee Wee Minor.
2010: Midget Minor, Pee Wee AAA.
2009: Midget Minor, Bantam Major.
2008: Squirt AAA.
2007: Pee Wee AAA.
2006: Pee Wee AAA.
2005: Squirt AAA.
2004: Squirt AAA.
2003: Squirt AAA.
2001: Midget AAA.
1998: Bantam AAA.
1997: Bantam AAA.
1996: Pee Wee AAA, Squirt AAA.
1995: Pee Wee AAA.
1992: Bantam Minor.
1988: Pee Wee AA.
1986: Midget AAA, Bantam AAA.
1985: Squirt AAA.
1984: Midget AAA, Bantam AAA, Squirt AAA.
1983: Midget AAA, Bantam AAA, Squirt AAA
1982: Midget AAA.
1980: Pee Wee AAA.

TOTAL: 32 Championships

QUEBEC INTERNATIONAL PEE WEE TOURNAMENT - Compuware won championships in 2010 and 2006.