On November 1st, Steve Yzerman will make an appearance at the Grand Rapids Griffins game, which starts at 6pm. The Griffins are the Detroit Red Wings’ AHL affiliate.

Steve Yzerman will be on the ice during the first intermission to kick off the Fifth Third Bank Stick Drive for the Griffins Youth Foundation.

Want to buy tickets to the game? Visit this website.

USA Today columnist Kevin Allen believes that one of the many reasons why the Detroit Red Wings can’t sellout is linked to the retirement of No. 19.

The Captain retired: Other than Gordie Howe, no other Red Wing in team history has been as popular as Steve Yzerman. He was the face of the team for two decades, and fans felt his absence dramatically last season. Some realized they had come to see the Yzerman-led Red Wings. Nick Lidstrom is a Hall of Fame-bound player, but the Lidstrom-led Red Wings don’t have the same esprit de corps. Clearly some of Yzerman’s fans have left the building.

Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock sees some of Yzerman’s style in Henrik Zetteberg’s play. Zetterberg currently leads the league in offensive points with 17.

In many ways, Babcock feels Zetterberg’s overall game is patterned after Steve Yzerman’s.

And although Yzerman was a prolific scorer early in his career, it wasn’t until he dialed down his offense and took on a more defensive role that the Wings transformed into a championship team.

Zetterberg’s talents on defense make the Wings stronger.

Of Zetterberg, Babcock said: “He’s one of the best two-way forwards in the game, bar none.”