MLive.com article
January 2, 2007
by Ansar Khan
Hall of Famers, record-setters and Stanley Cup champions are among the host of great players who’ve donned the Detroit Red Wings jersey the past 81 years. Only a select few earned the privilege of having their number retired and raised to the rafters.
“We aren’t like a lot of teams that just retire sweaters as a PR gimmick or to sell tickets,” Red Wings senior vice president Jimmy Devellano said. “You have to be a very, very special player for that to happen.”
Steve Yzerman was that type of player. A Detroit sports icon who revived a once-proud franchise and was the longest-serving captain in NHL history, Yzerman is referred to by legions of fans as 19. Tonight, that number will be retired and hoisted to the rafters at Joe Louis Arena in what promises to be a special ceremony before the Red Wings play the Anaheim Ducks. The festivities begin at 6:30.
“Aside from the Hall of Fame, this is the next-greatest honor you can get,” Wings defenseman Chris Chelios said. “I know he doesn’t like the limelight or all these personal accolades, but I think he’s got to be very proud of what’s going to happen. I’m nervous for him and at the same time proud of him. What better guy to receive this? It’s going to be a great evening.”
Associated Press article
January 2, 2007
Steve Yzerman’s jersey was hoisted to the rafters and the Detroit Red Wings pulled into a first-place tie with Nashville in the Central Division.
It was a good night in Hockeytown.
Henrik Zetterberg scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and Detroit held on for a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night after Yzerman’s No. 19 jersey was retired.
“It certainly helped the festivities that we were able to get out of here with a win,” Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. “We started off sluggish because we were sitting around for more than an hour, but then we played well.
“I’m sure Steve was proud.”
After a ceremony that lasted nearly 1 1/2 hours, Tomas Holmstrom kept the sold-out crowd happy with a power-play goal 1 minute into the second period. Ryan Getzlaf made it 1-all a couple of minutes later while the Ducks had a two-man advantage.
Windsor Star article
January 2, 2007
by Bob Duff
On the brink of his big day, friends, family and former teammates on hand to fete him, a capacity Joe Louis Arena crowd awaiting to embrace him with their warmth, Steve Yzerman spotted a couple of reporters who’d covered him since the early years of his Detroit Red Wings career and stopped to chat.
About the Rose Bowl.
It was so typical Yzeman.
An engaging conversationalist when he wants to be, Yzerman can speak to virtually any topic with some sense of authority.
Except himself.
Calgary Herald article
January 2, 2006
by Jean LeFebvre
The quiet teen from Nepean, Ont., hardly looked like someone with nearly 700 National Hockey League goals in his future.
“Steve was obviously very skilled,” recalled Calgary Hitmen boss Kelly Kisio, “a very good hockey player, but in practice, when he used to take a shot, it looked like he could hardly get it to the net. It was amazing.”
Like Steve Yzerman, Kisio was a Detroit Red Wings rookie in 1983-84, although the latter was six years older. If the Wings — including Ron Duguay, Danny Gare and Reed Larson — were underwhelmed by the kid’s warm-up deliveries, things changed when Yzerman started playing for keeps.
Calgary Herald article
January 2, 2007
by Jean LeFebvre
Link to Article
The quiet teen from Nepean, Ont., hardly looked like someone with nearly 700 National Hockey League goals in his future.
“Steve was obviously very skilled,” recalled Calgary Hitmen boss Kelly Kisio, “a very good hockey player, but in practice, when he used to take a shot, it looked like he could hardly get it to the net. It was amazing.”
Like Steve Yzerman, Kisio was a Detroit Red Wings rookie in 1983-84, although the latter was six years older. If the Wings — including Ron Duguay, Danny Gare and Reed Larson — were underwhelmed by the kid’s warm-up deliveries, things changed when Yzerman started playing for keeps.
