DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings will wear a commemorative patch on their jerseys during the 2016-17 regular season in honor of “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe, who died in June at the age of 88.
Read back: Hockey legend Gordie Howe dies at age 88
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The Red Wings will wear the commemorative “9” patch above the logo on the front of the jersey on the left side of the chest for all home and road games this season, starting with the season opener on Thursday, Oct. 13 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. The Red Wings will wear a white “9” patch on the red home jerseys and a red “9” patch on the white road jerseys.
"Our team wanted to honor ‘Mr. Hockey,’ due to his incredible impact on the game of hockey, the Red Wings organization and the city of Detroit,” said Tom Wilson, President and CEO of Olympia Entertainment. “Wearing the ‘9’ jersey patch will be one of many ways our team will celebrate and look back on the life and career of Gordie during the upcoming season."
The Red Wings have also painted a red “9” in the ice behind both nets at Joe Louis Arena, measuring 4x4 feet, to honor Gordie throughout the preseason and the “Farewell Season at The Joe.”
An in-game tribute to “Mr. Hockey” will also be held during the Red Wings Home Opener on Monday, Oct. 17 against the Ottawa Senators. All fans in attendance for the Home Opener will receive a Gordie Howe poster.
Additionally, the Red Wings will host a Gordie Howe Replica Statue Night, presented by DMC, on Friday, Nov. 4 against the Winnipeg Jets. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a six-inch replica of the statue that greets fans at the Gordie Howe Entrance of The Joe.
Planning is also underway to appropriately honor Gordie and other Red Wings legends for the 2017-18 season and beyond at Little Caesars Arena.