Friday, January 30, 2009

Honorary Captains Named

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League in association with the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club announced today that former Detroit Red Wings captain and current team Vice-President Steve Yzerman, with former Windsor Spitfires and New York Rangers star Adam Graves, will serve as honourary captains for the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic.

The two will be present at ice level for the pre-game ceremonies on Wednesday February 4, 2009 at the WFCU Centre beginning at 7:00pm. Yzerman will be representing the Eastern Conference All-Stars, with Graves aligning with the home team Western Conference.

“The Windsor Spitfires are extremely proud to welcome Steve Yzerman and Adam Graves as honourary captains for the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic” said Spitfires Vice-President and General Manager Warren Rychel. “Both gentlemen are very well known and respected throughout the Windsor community and it will be exciting for our organization and for our fans to see them on the ice for the ceremonies of this event” added Rychel.

Steve Yzerman played two seasons in the OHL with the Peterborough Petes from 1981-1983 before being drafted in the first round, fourth overall to the Detroit Red Wings in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Yzerman played in 1,514 games over 22 seasons in the NHL with the Red Wings where he won three Stanley Cups. He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the Playoffs in 1998. He ranks sixth on the NHL all-time points list with 1,755 career points including 692 goals (eighth all-time) and 1,063 assists (seventh all-time). Yzerman is the longest serving captain in NHL history wearing the “C” for the Red Wings for 20 seasons beginning in 1986-87 as a 21-year-old. On January 2, 2007, the Red Wings retired Yzerman’s number 19 to the rafters at Joe Louis Arena. Yzerman is currently the Vice-President of the Red Wings Hockey Club and General Manager of Team Canada’s 2010 Olympic Men’s Hockey Team.

“I am very pleased to be participating in the OHL All-Star Classic and am excited for the opportunity to be an honourary captain for this event” said Detroit Red Wings Vice-President Steve Yzerman. “This is a great game for the players and they should all be extremely proud of their achievements so far this season and I look forward to sharing the night with them” added Yzerman.

Adam Graves is an OHL alumni having played three seasons with the Windsor Spitfires from 1985-1988 and was a member of the Spitfires team that won an OHL Championship in 1987-88. He was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft in the first round, 22nd overall. Graves, known as a power forward with goal scoring ability, played 15 seasons in the NHL beginning his career with the Red Wings before playing two years in Edmonton where he won his first Stanley Cup in 1990 with the Oilers. He played 10 seasons with the New York Rangers which included his best season in 1993-94 where his 52 goals and 27 assists for 79 points helped the Rangers win a Stanley Cup Championship. That year he was a second team NHL All-Star and was the recipient of the King Clancy Trophy for his charitable work. Graves retired in 2004 after two seasons in San Jose with the Sharks. His number nine jersey has been retired by the Spitfires and will also be retired by the Rangers on Tuesday February 3, 2009.

“Windsor is a great hockey town and has always treated me really well and I look forward to coming back for the All-Star Game festivities” said former Windsor Spitfires star Adam Graves. “I have so many great memories of the old Windsor Arena but it will be exciting to see the new rink, especially hosting such a great event” commented Graves.

The 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic features a skills competition and alumni game on Tuesday February 3, 2009 beginning at 7:00pm with the game taking place on Wednesday February 4, 2009 also at 7:00pm at the WFCU Centre in Windsor. The game will be broadcast live on Rogers Sportsnet Ontario and can also be seen online through INSINC or heard on the FAN 590 at www.fan590.com.

For more information about the event including the complete rosters for both the Eastern and Western Conference All-Stars please visit the event website www.ohlallstarclassic.com. Tickets are still available by calling the WFCU Centre Box Office at 519-974-7979 or 1-866-969-WFCU.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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