Motor City Rockers Return to the FPHL With New Home in Wyandotte
After a season away from the ice, the Motor City Rockers are ready to turn the page with a new home at Yack Arena and a fresh chapter of professional hockey in Downriver.
Professional hockey is returning to Downriver. The Motor City Rockers are preparing for their return to the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) for the 2026–27 season, bringing a new chapter of Rockers hockey to Wyandotte after a one-season hiatus.
The move to Yack Arena marks a significant step forward for the organization as it looks to reconnect with longtime fans, welcome new supporters and establish a lasting presence in the Downriver community.
The Rockers played their first three seasons from 2022 to 2025 at Big Boy Arena in Fraser, building a local following and developing a rivalry with the Port Huron Prowlers. Following the 2024–25 season, the organization elected to go dormant for a year while searching for a new long-term home that could support the franchise’s future.
That search led to Wyandotte, where an agreement approved by the city cleared the way for the team’s return to active play. The move places the Rockers at Yack Arena, a historic rink in the heart of downtown Wyandotte, surrounded by a community with deep hockey roots.
The new home also presents an opportunity to strengthen the connection between professional hockey and the surrounding community. The organization has outlined plans for arena improvements, including increased seating capacity, a professional locker room and other upgrades designed to enhance the experience for players and fans while preserving the building’s character.
For fans, the move means more than a change of address. The Rockers aim to make game nights a community experience, bringing families, local businesses and hockey supporters together around a team they can call their own. With downtown Wyandotte just steps away, home games offer an opportunity to pair a night at the rink with everything the local community has to offer.
On the ice, the return also brings renewed excitement around the team’s established rivalry with the Port Huron Prowlers. The two Michigan-based FPHL clubs compete in the Battle of I-94, a season-long rivalry that adds another layer of anticipation to the Rockers’ return. With Yack Arena now serving as their home, the rivalry will have a new setting as the teams compete for local bragging rights.
The Rockers have also begun building toward their return by bringing back familiar faces. In June, the organization announced that seven players from its 2024–25 roster had been recalled, including Doug Blaisdell, Cory Checco, Josh Colten, Ricardo Gonzalez, Nick Gullo, Nick Magill-Diaz and Mike Winn. The move gives the club a foundation of returning talent as it prepares for a new season and a new era in Wyandotte.
The 2026–27 campaign is scheduled to begin on the road against the Minnesota Northern Lights on October 16 and 17. The Rockers will then return to Michigan for their home opener on Saturday, October 24, welcoming the Port Huron Prowlers to Yack Arena for a rivalry matchup that will officially launch professional hockey in their new home.
With a new arena, a returning roster foundation and a familiar rivalry waiting on the schedule, the Motor City Rockers enter the season with plenty to look forward to. After a year away, the organization is ready to bring the energy back to the ice, build new traditions in Wyandotte and give Downriver a team to rally around once again.