The Captain...

I know I've talked about Steve Yzerman in the past on this Blog, but Tuesday night, January 2, 2007, was a very special night in Hockeytown (Detroit, MI). On this evening, the #19 was raised to the rafters, never to be worn again by a Detroit Red Wing.

Yzerman's number was hoisted alongside those of legends like Gordie Howe (#9), Ted Lindsay (#7), Sid Abel (#12), Alex Delvecchio (#10) and Terry Sawchuk (#1). It was an amazing night. Gordie, Ted and Alex were on hand for the ceremony as were many Wings from the past and present.

Hockey has meant so much to me over the years because some of my best memories as a kid were when Dad took me to a hockey game or when we sat and watched the game together.

My dad took me to my first game when I was only 4 years old at the old Olympia. I still remember the smell of the ice, the stale spilled beers and that "old" smell, you know like an antique store or your grandma's house. I got a souvenir minature hockey stick, which one day had the autograph of Ted Lindsay taped to it. Dad told me to hold his hand as we walked through the crowded, noisy arena, and just like any son would, I held on as tight as I could. The sound in that place was so deafening that I plugged my ears so it wouldn't hurt.

Dad took us to games on and off throughout all our years growing up and we always had a great time. We made moo-ing sounds as we walked as a herd through the tunnels on the way to Joe Louis Arena. We even caught a puck one time and I had beer spilled all over me when the Wings scored one night. Matthew and I went to one of the Wings longest playoff games ever agains the Mighty Ducks (now just the Ducks), a triple overtime thriller that started their march to the 1st Stanley Cup in 42 years.

My brother, Matthew, and I used to play hockey in the basement all the time. He was the "full-time" goalie. I was all five guys on the team and did the play-by-play and color commentary. Somehow whenever I got ready to take the game winning shot on Matthew I yelled out, "Steve Yzerman carries in across the blue line... he shoots... HE SCORES!!!" If I didn't score Stevie got another chance at some point. When I was Matthew's best man at his wedding he gave me his very own Yzerman O-P-chee Rookie Card to add to my collection. I begged him for years for that thing... it meant the world to me; it still does.

The Red Wings were really horrible back in the 70's and early 80's, they were known as the "Dead Wings," so when the Illitch's (of Little Caesars fame) bought the team they needed someone to build around. Steve Yzerman was that guy. He started playing in 1983 (I was 11 years old) and stayed with the team his entire career (I was 34 when he retired); quite unheard of in most of professional sports. 23 Years as a Red Wing and 20 as the Captain of the team. No one else has ever been captain as long.

He had many devistating injuries throughout his career that few have ever come back from, but some how his perserverance and determination kept him going. He won 3 Stanley Cups while in Detroit and each one was a joy to watch.

Cheryl and I sat and watched as Steve Yzerman was honored for his contributions not only on the ice, but for all the things he did and still does behind the scenes for the sick and less fortunate. Everyone talked about his quiet leadership. The way he walked the walk without talking too much talk. When he said something, it really mattered.

Stevie said, as his chin began to shake and tears welled up in his eyes, that when we saw that jersey hanging from the rafters we should, "pat ourselves on the back," because we were a part of who he had become and what he had accomplished. He really meant it. At one point he even said that he didn't think he really did anything special or different than any other of his teammates and the entire crowd shouted, "NO," with a few boos thrown in... they wanted him to know that what he did was special.

Cheryl sat here with me and soaked it all in... I loved that. She is the best earthly thing that has ever happened to me, so sharing a moment like this that brought back so many memories was that much sweeter with her beside me.

If you never had a chance to watch Stevie play, stop by and ask me to pop in my Red Wings DVD's and we'll see a couple of his greatest moments. Even if you aren't interested, indulge me.

Thanks a lot Steve.