Red Wings pay tribute to Mike Ilitch

The Detroit Red Wings and their fans paid tribute to their deceased owner Mike Ilitch before Wednesday’s game against the St. Louis Blues. 

The death of Detroit Red Wings majority owner Mike Ilitch is one that hit the NHL hard. He was perhaps most famous for his involvement with Little Caesar’s but was also well known for making hockey relevant again in Detroit. Ilitch took over the Red Wings during a relatively dark time in their franchise’s history. He revived them and was a huge reason for their record playoff streak.

Playing in their first game since Ilitch’s death, the Red Wings and their fans paid tribute to one of the most important people in Detroit sports history.

It’s touching so many fans left something on the board. This shows how important Ilitch was to the city of Detroit. Before the game, the team honored him with a video tribute as well as a moment of silence.

Ilitch was also the majority owner of the Detroit Tigers. Though he never led them to a World Series title, he did help make them a very competitive team during his tenure. Under Ilitch’s tutelage, the Red Wings won four Stanley Cups (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008). He was instrumental in funding and building the new Red Wings arena, which opens to start the 2017-18 NHL season.

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Across the league, many teams paid tribute to him as well. This proves his importance not just to the city of Detroit, but the entire NHL. Ilitch was a man who loved his employees and who was loved by those around him. At the end of the day, that’s how a man is judged.