Red Wings jerseys are about to get another dose of tributes.
Red Wings to wear jersey patch honoring late owner Mike Ilitch
A touching tribute to “Mr. I.”
Following the passing of longtime owner Mike Ilitch last week, Detroit will wear special patches on their sleeves honoring his memory for at least the rest of the season.
The Wings revealed the “Mr. I” patches via Twitter on Wednesday morning.
“Mr. I” was the common nickname given to Ilitch by all of his players, past and present. Ilitch bought the Red Wings in 1982 and turned them into the NHL’s gold standard of playoff success almost overnight.
The Red Wings have worn a “9” patch all season to honor the late Gordie Howe, who passed away this summer. Howe won the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP six times during his long tenure with the Red Wings that earned him the nickname “Mr. Hockey.”
It’s fitting that Mr. Hockey and Mr. I will share the same space on Wings jerseys now.
