OT: Stevie Y to Play in Red Wings Winter Classic Alumni Game
via DRW's official twitter:
BREAKING: Steve Yzerman WILL play in the 2013 #AlumniShowdown! Limited tickets available here- http://t.co/NaN75qd5cn pic.twitter.com/9yEnCOpEv9
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 10, 2013
I think I'm more excited about this than I am about the actual game.
December 10th, 2013 at 7:14 PM ^
Cool. Seemed like most people thaught he wasn't going to play. I'm not at all surprised though. But im cool like that.
December 10th, 2013 at 7:27 PM ^
Oh man will it be sweet to see the Captain back on the ice with his #19 Wings jersey on again. I will probably get the chills... what a beauty!
Skip to 3:09 (It is better with Bob Cole)
December 10th, 2013 at 8:12 PM ^
Love the broadcast stylings of Bob Cole. The Keith Jackson of hockey, if you will. Especially love the way he pronounces "Detroit." Will never forget his call on McCarty's slick goal in '97:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx3hZ26BRmU
("Two nothing Detroiiiit" at about 0:47. LOVE it.)
December 11th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
Bob Cole is my absolute favorite announcer. I'm sure others who grew up watching HNIC would agree.
"Detroi-it"
December 10th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^
As a reminder, other people that said they would be there include Brendan Shanahan, Chris Chelios, Kris Draper, Igor Larionov, Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov. For anyone that grew up a Red Wings fan, this could be a great thing to see, I believe. Great to see that he is taking some time from being the builder of Canada's OIympic team and his duties in Tampa Bay to reunite with former teammates.
December 11th, 2013 at 9:17 AM ^
December 10th, 2013 at 7:45 PM ^
I hope all the former captains get to wear a C on the sweater.
December 10th, 2013 at 7:50 PM ^
I am getting verklempt...
December 10th, 2013 at 8:05 PM ^
This is really going to be awesome. I've felt like he's tried to distance himself from the Wings since taking the Tampa job (not that he shouldn't when he's an NHL GM), glad he's going to be on the ice. More awesome will be if he someday returns to Detroit's front office when Kenny Holland retires. If that isn't too crazy-far in the future - I was surprised to find Holland isn't quite ten years older than Yzerman. I didn't realize just how young Holland was when he took over as Wings GM.
December 10th, 2013 at 8:14 PM ^
I just have to take the opportunity to post the story of Datsyuk's weekend.
December 10th, 2013 at 8:47 PM ^
That's a quality Steelhead. Pavel Datsyuk is making a run for the lead role in Dos Equis commercials.
December 10th, 2013 at 8:43 PM ^
Oh my captain my captain.
December 10th, 2013 at 9:47 PM ^
December 11th, 2013 at 9:54 AM ^
What's weird is that you felt the need to share that information.
December 10th, 2013 at 10:55 PM ^
His many accomplishments are too long to list, but my favorite was probably his performance in the 2002 playoffs. He carried the entire team through the first two rounds. On one leg. He could barely move.
It was incredible. Still chilling.
December 10th, 2013 at 11:02 PM ^
(for what he did athletically) that I got to witness play. In addition to all of the on-ice accolades, I can't name an athlete that's actually easier to root for. He's just the epitome of class, sportsmanship and is a genuinely good guy judging by the few times I've seen him in person and obviously by reputation.
December 10th, 2013 at 11:56 PM ^
If you were growing up in the mid 90s in Michigan, #19 was your idol.
Double OT against the Blues? Ya he stole it from Gretzky.
December 11th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
Stevie Y was your idol even if you grew up before the 90s. Drafted in '83, he lifted Detroit out of the Dead Wings era.
December 11th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
The other Pronger related memory for me is the slapshot he took to the chest from Marty Lapointe.
December 10th, 2013 at 11:08 PM ^
I live out in BC - and even the Vancouver media did a huge segment praising Stevie Y. No one could believe what he was able to do on that one leg; his effort was superhuman. Coming back from that 2-0 deficit to a very hot team was a thril to watch (and watching Canuck fans wilt). The best part about it was you would never guess it from his demeanor. He never made himself a spectacle, no self-aggrandizement ever, just old school leadership and honor.
December 11th, 2013 at 12:31 PM ^
That playoff run, and his performance in it, was one for the ages. I too tell my kids about the greatness of Stevie Y. He should have won the Conn Smythe that year (nothing against Lidstrom).
December 10th, 2013 at 11:25 PM ^
Going to be epic. The Captain is back.
December 11th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^
You look familiar.
December 11th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^
You also and I don't know why.
December 11th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
Does anyone know what the plans are for the two games on 12/31?
I know they are playing games at 1 and 3:30, but do we know which players will be playing in which game?
Thanks in advance.
December 11th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^
The 1 pm game will have the older generation of players, the second game will have the younger players.
December 11th, 2013 at 12:29 PM ^
I wear #19 on my over the hill beer league hockey team because of Stevie Y. And, I know I'm not alone. It is so cool pulling on that 19 jersey and emulating the greatest captain in NHL history (IMHO).
And, both my girls wear #19 on their respective sports teams because of Stevie Y too. I teach them about his leadership and work ethic all the time. They were too young to watch him play live, but they know his greatness through my stories.
Welcome back Steve, even if its just for one game. Detroit loves you.
December 11th, 2013 at 5:08 PM ^
Will these alumni games be televised? NHL network, maybe?
December 11th, 2013 at 5:47 PM ^
FSD will. I'd imagine NHL Net will, too, but so far can't find verification.
Edit: it appears NHL Net's listings on NHL.com only go out two weeks.