Steve Yzerman: Heart of a Champion

When I woke up this morning to learn that a press conference had been called for a major announcement, my heart sank. I knew captain Steve Yzerman would retire at some point, but at the end of each season I hoped he would give it one more year. On July 3, 2006, Yzerman decided it was time for him to finally hang up his skates. He’ll probably spend the first half of the year enjoying time spent with his wife Lisa and his daughters. But then, I won’t be surprised if he rejoins the organization with a position in management to help mold a team to a Stanley Cup championship.

His legacy will live on in the city of Detroit and with the Detroit Red Wings organization and its fans. I’ve already made a post dedicated to Yzerman’s long and wonderful career and some great comments about the athlete so I will use this one to comment on my favorite No. 19 moments and how he’s impacted my life.

Cancer survivors look to cyclist Lance Armstrong for inspiration. As someone who has spent years struggling with chronic knee pain, Steve Yzerman has become my daily source of inspiration. While I certainly never had a city, a team, and millions of fans waiting for my return from knee surgery, I’ve experienced the agony of rehabilitation and the frustration of a bothersome knee. The grimaces made by his face are prevalent in every person suffering from chronic pain. Yzerman’s courage and perseverance helped me do the same while recovering from any of my seven knee operations.

Whenever I am struggling to make it up the stairs, I think of Yzerman when, in 2002, he had an incredibly hard time climbing the steps of the airplane. I always thought that if Yzerman could be in that much pain and still lead the team in playoff points, then I can make it through the day, through my therapy, and live a relatively normal life. I just hate that Yzerman’s knee is the number one reason for hanging up his skates.

When I hear the name Steve Yzerman, I think of words like courage, respect, honor, discipline, dedication, leader, champion, passion, perseverance, humility, and athlete. The name Steve Yzerman is the definition of a champion. I’ve never heard a single hockey player speak of No. 19 in a negative way and I know that my fellow hockey bloggers hold a deep respect for the man they call “The Captain,” even if they personally hate the Wings. Not only is No. 19 a fantastic hockey player, who has overcome so many physical obstacles, he is a devoted family man always placing his first priority with his wife and daughters. He made sure that his personal life remained, well, personal.

Yzerman was a terrific captain who led by example whether it was by his play on the ice or how he acted away from the rink. He is a humble and selfless athlete who played with his team’s best interest at heart. When he was asked to develop into a stronger two-way player instead of mainly the offensive go-to guy, Yzerman did it and became one of the best. In his press conference, he told the media that “I feel like a little boy trying to please his parents when I step on the ice.” Yzerman wanted to make the city of Detroit and all of the Wings fans proud to be a member of Hockeytown. He helped owner Mike Ilitch change the team from “Dead Wings” to a sporting dynasty of the modern era.

I can’t begin to imagine the Detroit Red Wings without No. 19. Yzerman became captain right before I was born so I really don’t know hockey without Stevie Y. Each time Yzerman held that shiny silver Stanley Cup over his head, you couldn’t help but smile seeing one of the greatest hockey players celebrate his team’s hard work. I have fond memories of each victory, but I found it most rewarding to see Yzerman lift the Cup for his third and final time after he defeated his opponents with one leg.

While I certainly wish Yzerman had played for one more year, I’m happy that my last memories of No. 19 were seeing him skate in Joe Louis Arena for Game #2 of the first round of the 2006 playoffs. I’m pleased that he left with the fans wanting more. Yzerman was one of the best players for Detroit in the post season and I’m glad I can say that he left before the fans asked him too. I am excited to see how Yzerman shapes the organization in the future and look forward to seeing him celebrate more Stanley Cup victories down the road.

Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for three glorious seasons resulting in a parade downtown. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your passion for the game. Thank you for being the ultimate sports role model. Thank you for always giving 100%. Thank you for making the city of Detroit proud. Thank you for giving Wings fans a player to cheer in, to believe in, and best of all to dream with. You will always be my favorite athlete and my inspiration. Thank you.

Tomorrow... I will collect various reactions from the media, players, and fans regarding "The Decision." Look for this collection to appear sometime tomorrow.