Only months after announcing his retirement, the Detroit Red Wings had a SPECIAL CEREMONY to retire Steve Yzerman’s jersey number. Number 19. They raised it to the rafters last night before beating the Anaheim Ducks, 2-1.
Yzerman has become the best representation of what the Red Wings organization has done over the last 20 years. He WAS the franchise. Though he humbly said that the great players that surrounded him on the ice is the reason his number was retired.
To me, growing up and watching the Red Wings struggle to compete, then start edging their way up the standings, Yzerman was always the basis of our hope. He was the one that the organization was building around. He was the leader. And in 1997 it all came to fruition. Then again in 1998, and 2002.
He wore number 19 because he idolized New York Islanders’ great Bryan Trottier as a kid. Soon kids around the Detroit area were wearing number 19 because of Stevie-Y. Now number 19 hangs with some of the other greats that have played the game, not only just in a Red Wings’ uniform.
And for those that are interested, the Red Wings have unofficially retired two other numbers. Number 6 for Larry Aurie, and number 16 for Vladimir Konstantinov.
HERE is what internet friend and fellow Red Wings’ fan Sarah had posted about the evening.
HERE is an article from the Detroit Free Press web site, written by Helene St. James.
And HERE is the video of the event thanks to the Detroit Free Press web site.
Also, thank you to my parents for taping the ceremony for me, since I was unable to watch it here in PA.
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