Steve Yzerman Week! An Introduction
Gordon | Nov 05, 2009 | Comments 3
There are very few things that have been a part of my life since I was able to create memories. We all have those things that we’ve known since birth. One of those things for me is Stevie Yzerman, and the Detroit Red Wings. For as long as I can remember, Steve Yzerman has been my favorite athlete. I’ve loved our Captain since I was in preschool, and now I’m in my senior year of college. In that time, I’ve grown to know family members, lived in different homes around Michigan, developed a great many friendships with multiple sets of friends, gone on vacations, found and cultivated new interests, and literally/figuratively grown up. All the while, Steve Yzerman has been a member of the Red Wings in some way.
As Steve himself said in an interview, induction into the Hockey Hall Of Fame is the last thing he can do as a player. After this week, the final chapter can be written on the playing career of Steve Yzerman. Considering that this career has gone on since before I was born, and considering how much of a presence Steve Yzerman has been in my life, there’s going to be a ton of Steve Yzerman coverage over the next eight days.
This post is my official start to Steve Yzerman Week. Coverage for this is where I’ve been over the last week or so, and there will be a lot of stories, pictures, videos, and overall content during this time. There will be articles covering each stage of Yzerman’s career, with an accompanying post of pictures. There will be a countdown of Steve Yzerman’s most memorable moments in his career. There will be additional articles on certain miscellaneous parts of Steve’s career, such as his awards and his time spent playing on Team Canada.
Most importantly, there will be wall-to-wall coverage of the three big nights of the week: the Wings/Leafs HOF Game, Steve’s official induction on Monday, and Steve Yzerman Night in Detroit on Thursday.
Deep down, I want to revisit all of the happy times that Steve Yzerman has brought to me over the years. I want to help Red Wings fans relive these memories, and help explain to others what our Captain means to us. So, come back here regularly over the next week or so, as I pay what I hope is a fitting tribute to the Captain.
Filed Under: Detroit Red Wings • Featured
Stellar idea man. It could almost have been Steve Yzerman month. Yzerman is my favorite non-Oiler player of all time. Since I live and die with the Oilers that says a lot.
Whenever he played in Edmonton I’d wear my Yzerman jersey underneath my Oiler jersey. I was also there in 2006 when he skated off the ice for the last time. As great as it was that the Oil had won that night it was pretty sad to see him skate off knowing he was never coming back. I didn’t watch the hand shakes or the celebrations, I just watched him trying to burn that moment into my memory and remembering just how great he had been.
I will always remember the ’88-’89 season when Gretzky, Lemieux and Yzerman were the final nominees for the Hart Trophy and how close the vote was predicted to be. I still remember The Hockey News putting their three pictures on the cover under the title “The Hart Foundation” and knowing that these were three of the greatest players having one of their greatest seasons all in the same year.
Yzerman earned my respect when he put everything on the line to help Canada win the 2002 Olympic gold, missing a large chunk of the regular season because of the physical beating he took for his country. Pure grit.
good shit gordie