Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm honored Steve Yzerman by calling today “Steve Yzerman Day.”

The state did not honour Yzerman on Jan. 2 because it was the national day of mourning for former President Gerald Ford, who was raised in Michigan.

Granholm honoured Yzerman ”on behalf of young people everywhere who could never come to Joe Louis Arena and to those watching on TV for being an unbelievable role model,” during a brief presentation before Detroit played the Chicago Blackhawks.

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On Jan. 2, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick dubbed the day ”Steve Yzerman Day” and presented Yzerman with a key to the city. Kilpatrick also said the intersection of Third and Atwater Streets, which meet at Joe Louis Arena, will be changed to ”Yzerman Drive.”