Delvecchio’s mentor played in the first game at the Old Red Barn on Grand River and Delvecchio’s statue sparkles at the state-of-the-art arena on Woodward. He had ties to the earliest days of Detroit’s franchise, when it was owned by a grain and shipping magnate, and he relished its rebirth as Hockeytown, when it was owned by a pizza baron.

Even before he retired, Alex Delvecchio started receiving awards. They continued for more than four decades before the Detroit Red Wings great died.

Playing with stars Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, he helped lead Detroit to three Stanley Cup titles, later serving as the Red Wings’ coach and GM.