Steve Yzerman is a "great captain" who does the impossible!

Steve Yzerman is a heroic sportsman, a talented hockey player, an intelligent and responsive person. The captain of the Red Wings became a key player in the three Stanley Cup championships and was the "core" of the Detroit hockey dynasty for 20 years.

His name was placed on the honor board in the Hall of Fame of the NHL. Ten times he won the title of "NHL All-Star". The winner of "Conn Smythe" in 1998. In his career, he scored 692 goals. After his retirement, he was appointed general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning Club in 2010. In 2015, Steve won the title of "General Manager of the Year" for winning his team in the Stanley Cup final.

Steve Yzerman: Biography

He was born in Cranbrook (British Columbia, Canada) on May 9, 1965. In hockey began playing with seven years. His father served the Canadian government faithfully. My mother worked as a simple nanny-nurse, but did not forget about the upbringing of her five children. In 1974, Steve Yizerman (his family moved to Nipen, Ontario) became a member of the local ice hockey team "Nipen Raiders". Coach, Elwood Johnson, called him - "a great player", thanks to which they won nine direct tournaments and the championship of "Pyevia Ontario".

At the age of sixteen, Steve joined the Peterborough Pitts team in Ontario. In 1981-1982, he scored 21 goals and made 43 assists. In the following season, he doubled the number of goals to 42. After two years of playing in the junior league, he joined the Red Wings team in 1983.

Young sensation

In October 1983, Steve Yzerman began playing in the NHL. In the match against "Winniereg Jets" scored a goal and made several assists. Over the season, he scored 87 points, more than any other rookie. Therefore, he easily won the title of "Rookie of the Year" and took second place on the "Calder Trophy". Dazzling game Steve helped the "Red Wings" go into the playoffs for the first time in the last 6 years.

In 1984-1985, Eiserman played in all 80 games and scored 80 points. He again led his team into the playoffs, where he scored 2 goals for three games. In the 1985-1986 season, he was injured - a fracture of the collarbone. Nevertheless, he manages to score a decent number of points. Without his participation, the Red Wings could not reach the playoffs.

Brilliant career

In 1986, in recognition of Steve's leadership qualities, he was appointed captain of the Red Wings team (when he was only 21 years old). In the 1986-1987 season he plays at full strength, scoring 31 goals and making 59 assists. The knee injury received on March 1, 1988, reduced his participation in the 1987-1988 season.

In 1988-1989, Steve Yzerman scored 65 points. He leads his team into the tournament "Paul Play" and in the playoffs. For his impressive performance, he is awarded the "Pearson's Leicester Award" as the NHL's chief performer.

Brilliant results, he showed in the next season, scoring 62 goals. Hockey fans voted for him in the annual poll as a "player of the year." In 1993-1994, Yzerman again gets injured and misses 26 games. But, in total, he manages to score 82 points. In late February 1994, he wins the title of "Player of the Week", scoring 10 goals in four games. By the end of the season, "Red Wings" win the title of "Central Division of the NHL".

In 1994-1995, Steve helped the team win the championship by Clarence Campbell Bowl. In January 1996, Aizerman scored his 500th goal. In the playoffs, he scored 20 points in eighteen games.

Stanley Cup Champion

One of the most important hockey periods for Steve was the 1996-1997 season. Together with his team, he wins the Stanley Cup, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers. In 1998, after defeating the Washington Capitals, he again became the champion of the Stanley Cup, and also won the Conn Smythe Trophy award.

In 1998-1999 "Red Wings" again won the title of "Central Division of the NHL". Yizerman helps the team to go to the 2nd round of the playoffs. In late November 1999, he scored his 600th goal.

The 2001-2002 season was also noteworthy for Steve. He wins the third Stanley Cup (10 in the history of the "Red Wings"). For many years, the athlete's knees have been hit, and therefore, speaking for Canada in the Winter Olympics in 2002, he again gets serious injuries. Taking part in regular seasons and in the playoffs, Steve Yzerman (pictured above) was forced to endure severe pain. His uncontrollable character and the will to win admired even rivals.

Retirement

On August 2, 2002, he undergoes a complicated operation, after which doctors did not believe that he could even walk. But Steve surprised them by returning to the ice at the end of February 2003, showing off superbly in violent training and serious games.

In July 2006 (after 20 years in the NHL), Steve Yzerman announced his resignation. Soon he took office as vice president of the Red Wings. Three years later, his team won the Stanley Cup. Throughout 2007-2008, Steve served as Canada's general manager at the World Championships.

In 2010, he became the head of the Canadian hockey men's team at the Winter Olympics. His team wins a gold medal. In May 2010, he was appointed general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning team. In 2015, he receives the NHL "Manager of the Year" award for having won the Stanley Cup.