Sunday, May 11, 2008
NHL.com | Detroitredwings.com | NHLFA.com | ESPN.com | TSN.ca
Home       Schedule/Results       News       Roster       Gameday       In the Crease       Links       Downloads       Contact       RSS
Yzerman Retires After 23 Seasons
John Mullin7/05/2006
DETROIT, MI (RWN) - Fans across Detroit knew that this day would come, but had hoped it would not come so soon. Yet, on July 3rd, the entire world knew why Red Wing captain Steve Yzerman had called a one o'clock press conference.

Opening his press conference, one may have suspected, or hoped, that the news was positive. Yzerman smiled to the crowd, thanking the people for making the effort to come down to Detroit during the holiday weekend and, for one brief moment, Detroit grew anxious on the notion that he might stay.

But he didn't stay. Instead, Yzerman sat at his chair, trying to get the words that he wanted to say out, but they couldn't come. Finally, in one breat, he said his piece.

"I'm retiring. I'm hanging up the skates."

From there, the conference was more of a collection of "thank-yous" and memory sharing, and we all sat back, trying not to cry along with the captain as we remembered our favorite memories from his career.

That goal against Saint Louis in 1996.

The first Stanley Cup in 1997, or the one in 1998 or 2000.

While many will remember these moments in his career, the on-ice achievements only count for so much. The hockey career of Steve Yzerman can be best described with one word - classy. Yzerman's passion for the game and the professionalism he brought to the table day in and day out make him a special player. You never heard about Yzerman and off-ice problems. Stevie never beat his wife. Stevie never drove drunk. Stevie was a model player that any current hockey player should not only model a career after, but also an off-ice life.

Steve Yzerman leaves the Red Wings with three Stanley Cups, two Olympic medals, a Selke Trophy, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and a punched Hall of Fame ticket. His spirit and dedication to the game, however, will stay with the Red Wings for time to come.

And when they finally raise the number 19 to the rafters at Joe Louis Arena, you can be sure that anyone who plays under it will remember what Yzerman meant to this team.