Steve Yzerman

My hero is Steve Yzerman. He played center for the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL for 23 years. He was their captain from the age of 21 right up until his retirement at the age of 41. He was the longest serving captain in the History of the NHL. He won the Stanley Cup 3 times, in 1997, 1998, and 2002. In the 1998 playoffs he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Playoff MVP. He is a 9-time NHL all-star and in 1984 finished second in the league in rookie of the year voting. He won the Lester B. Pearson Award in 1989, the Selke Trophy in 2000 and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2003. Yzerman also won the Canada Cup in 1984 and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2002 as a part of the Canadian Men’s Ice Hockey Team. He finished his career with 692 goals and 1755 points placing him 8th in all-time goals and 6th in all-time points.

Steve Yzerman was born May 9th, 1965, in Cranbrook British Columbia. Yzerman grew up in Nepean, Ontario where he played junior Hockey for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. He now lives in Detroit and is Currently the Vice President of the Detroit Red Wings Organization.

Steve Yzerman is my hero because he played the same position I did when I was younger and he was one of the most skilled players to play that position. He was also the greatest leader the NHL has ever seen as he was named Captain of his team at the very young age of 21 and was captain up until his retirement at the age of 41. For these reasons he was my favourite hockey players and one of my idols. He is also a class act on the ice, showing great sportsmanship. In 1998 I will never forget that after the Red Wings Won the Cup, before he hoisted the Stanley Cup, he passed it on to Vladimir Konstantinov who was a Red Wings player who had been severely injured in a car accident 6 days after the Red Wings Stanley Cup Victory the previous year. He also showed his passion for the game as he had knee surgery at the age of 37 and fought hard to be able to come back and play. He won the award for perseverance that year and went on to play 3 more seasons in the NHL.