Tributes have been pouring in from Detroit and beyond for Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, who died Friday at age 87.
Ilitch had owned the Red Wings since 1982 and the Tigers since 1992. He had built his fortune as founder, with wife Marian, of Little Caesars Pizza, which has become one of the biggest pizza chains in the world. His purchase and restoration of the crumbling Fox Theatre in the late 1980s was the catalyst for significant redevelopment of downtown Detroit.
When news of Ilitch's passing broke Friday night, social media instantly lit up with posts and tweets from public figures and fans wanting to pay tribute, including those who played for him in Detroit. Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman, currently the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, was among them.
"Going back to the age of 18 when I arrived in Detroit, the guidance, generosity, concern and love Mr. Ilitch had always shown me and my family are things I will forever be grateful for," said Yzerman in a statement on the Lightning's official website. "I was extremely fortunate to have played my entire career for a man who's love of hockey and burning desire to win were the catalysts which drove the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup Championships after his purchasing the team in 1982."
Ilitch bought the Wings for the bargain-basement price of $8 million, and the drafting of Yzerman the following year was believed to be the centrepiece of the team's renaissance throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, who coached the Wings to two straight Stanley Cup Finals and won the Cup in 2008, also praised Ilitch.
"He made you want to be a better man," Babcock said via NHL.com. "He was committed to doing things right and what he touched in business turned to gold. But he had that presence about him that he made you want to be better."
Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, who also played for the Wings, put out a statement of his own via Twitter.
https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/830285369056825345
Ilitch built the Tigers into a team that went from a laughingstock to a perennial American League contender, with two pennants and four straight AL Central Division titles. He also demonstrated a willingness to go after high-priced free agents via new contracts or trades, like Miguel Cabrera and Hall-of-Famer Ivan Rodriguez.
Tigers ace pitcher Justin Verlander was among current Tigers saddened by Ilitch's death.
https://twitter.com/JustinVerlander/status/830210467666808832
A tribute to Ilitch took place Friday night at Joe Louis Arena before a college hockey game between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Ilitch's picture was placed on the giant centre ice scoreboard and a moment of silence was held. The Red Wings are moving out of "The Joe" at the end of this season and into the new Little Caesars Arena next season with the NBA's Detroit Pistons.
A private funeral will be held for Ilitch but a public memorial service will be planned at a later date.