Giving Thanks...

A legend will be honoured tonight in Motown. Tonight, Steve Yzerman's #19 gets lifted to the rafters he helped shape.

It was 24 years ago, just after ownership of the Red Wings changed hands to the Illitch family, that a staple in the lives of Detroit residents and fans of the Wings would change forever. With the 4th overall selection in the 1983 entry draft, the Wings solidified their future and selected none other than Steve Yzerman.

Stevie Y has adorned numerous accolades from writers, his peers and everyone who watches the sport and has a passion for puck. From the beginning of his career he showed that he was a little different than everyone else, standing alone in a sport marveled at by team success.

In his first training camp it was thought that the talented young centre would be assigned back to his junior club, the Peterborough Petes, this however, would not be the case. Yzerman would go on to stay with the big club and post a very successful rookie campaign, notching 39 goals and 87 points and just falling short of being honoured as the leagues top freshman.

Stevie would go on to receive numerous other awards along the way; Lester B. Pearson in '89 - League MVP as named by the players, Conn Smythe in '98, Selke in '00, Masterton in '03, and Lester Patrick in '06. These are to go along with his three Stanley Cup rings and 10 All-Star appearances.

Above all these awards and individual praise, was the fact that Stevie Wonder became the youngest captain in Wings history at the tender age of 21. He went on to hold that title for the next 20 years of his life. The 'C' was, and still is, synonymous with the name Yzerman. When you're thinking about captains, the definition given to those who newly acquire the title should be a highlight reel and interview with Stevie himself.

He has built what we know is true and right about the game. What a captain is, both to his teammates, coaches and fans. The highest form of regard comes in the presence of your peers, well, ALL of Yzerman's peers, ALL of his coaches/managers/GMs, and ALL of the fans that have ever come into contact with the man, not only respects him, but holds him to the highest of regard. This is not said about many people. Acutally, I could probably count the number of people who have gained this much respect during my lifetime and not hit double digits. Yes, he is quite the man.

Most of these awards though, pale in comparison to whom and what people will truly remember about Stevie Y. It was his diligence, hard work, honour, pride, and passion that made him who we honour tonight. Steve represented something in us all. He has a sort of connect that makes him the guy you want to call a friend, a brother, a father, a husband...a Captain.

Steve helped resurrect a once dormant and docile franchise; restoring pride to a place we would soon call Hockeytown. The thing that set Yzerman apart from his peers was the adamant respect conveyed by everyone who refers to him.

It will either be "Class act" from a Flames fan, "True professional, who did things right" from a Rangers fan, or "I wish we had a Steve Yzerman on our team…" from a Leafs fan, that truly displays what he has meant for both the game of hockey and the Detroit Red Wings.

Although Stevie was a very quiet and somewhat secretive personality in a time where athletes are held to a higher regard because of their latest rendezvous’ around the talk show circuit, or because of the juicy gossip surrounding whose bed they’re sleeping in, or what night club they were spotted at, Yzerman avoided all of these clichés. It could be attributed to a very well rounded up bringing in Nepean, ON. It could be that he likes to be able to go home and keep work separated from his family and daily life. Whatever the reason, Steve was not a person to keep the outside world at arms length because of spite or anything ill-natured.

During Steve's time spent in the league he touched many lives, some a little more closely than others. In a recent ESPN.com article on Yzerman, Eric Adelson chronicles the relationship between Steve and a young boy diagnosed with lymphoma. The boy resided in Denver (not the most favorable of places Wings fans want to be, especially during the mid-90s). Through his ability to connect with someone on a personal level, respecting them as who they are and take the time out of his day to brighten theirs, this made him special. To do so away from the bright lights of the TV crews and reporters, well, this is again another testament to the person he really is.

Steve worked very hard at his craft and wouldn't accept anything less from the people around him. He has helped restore hockey in a city that gave birth to the sport, he also did the same for his country, helping Canada to its first Olympic gold medal in over 50 years. Another tribute and testament to the person Yzerman is, was the honour passed on from the Great One himself. After personally stepping aside and passing the torch to the new generation, Yzerman's #19 was officially retired by Hockey Canada.

This will be an emotional day in Hockeytown. Many tears will stream down the faces of fans, players, and colleagues. The tears however, will not be out of sorrow or pity; they are out of honour and pride. When I watch the greatest captain of sports history enshrined tonight at the Joe, I will be happy to say that I was lucky enough to have Steve Yzerman a part of my life.





- JW