Red Wings all-star Alex Delvecchio remembered for 'legendary' NHL accomplishments

CBC News

· Posted: Jul 03, 2025 6:55 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 3

Three Stanley Cups, 3 Lady Byngs, and a spot successful the Hockey Hall of Fame: Fort William's Alex Delvecchio is being remembered for his on-ice skill, and off-ice kindness.

Delvecchio died connected Tuesday astatine his location successful Rochester, Mich. He was 93.

He's known for a lengthy stint with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. He played for the squad from 1951 to 1973 (part of the "Production Line" with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay). Following that, helium was the team's manager and wide manager.

Delvecchio won 3 Stanley Cups with the Wings. He besides won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy 3 times for his sportsmanship, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame successful 1977. A statue of Delvecchio stands connected the concourse astatine Little Caesars Arena successful Detroit.

"Of each of the players we've sent to the National Hockey League, and we person sent implicit 125, helium by acold has the astir unthinkable grounds of a success," said Diane Imrie, enforcement manager of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. "His achievements were legendary."

Delvecchio played implicit 2 decades with the Red Wings. And helium set a long-standing grounds for the fig of goals scored by a rookie, with 15. Six of those, Imrie said, were crippled winners, and he ended his rookie play with his archetypal Stanley Cup championship.

Imrie noted that Delvecchio went connected to beryllium named captain — a rubric helium kept for 12 seasons — and helium played successful 13 NHL All-Star games.

Delvecchio was scouted and brought down to the Wings grooming camp, wherever helium was spotted by wide manager Jack Adams.

"Adams was besides calved present successful Fort William," she said. "He saw thing successful Alex."

Adams, Imrie said, sent Delvecchio to play for the Oshawa Generals, and Delvecchio was called up to the NHL, making his debut against the Montreal Canadiens astatine the extremity of the 1951 season, signing a declaration successful a edifice lobby conscionable earlier hitting the ice.

"From determination helium went connected to that large career," she said. "He was conscionable an unthinkable player."

Thunder Bay welcomed its hockey leader location connected June 14, 1970, with Alex Delvecchio Day.

"They had this immense celebration," Imrie said. "They had a breakfast, they had a parade."

"When your hometown gives you a parade, you cognize you're somebody."

Delvecchio's passing prompted respective tributes from the hockey world.

"The National Hockey League mourns the passing of this existent fable of the crippled and extends its sincere condolences to his household and galore friends and fans each implicit the hockey world," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said successful a statement, calling Delvecchio "an elegant skater, deft playmaker and beloved teammate."

And the Red Wings enactment itself is "deeply saddened" by Delvecchio's passing,  Governor and CEO Chris Ilitch said successful a connection posted connected the team's website.

"Alex embodied what it means to beryllium a Red Wing: loyalty, humility, and excellence connected and disconnected the ice," the connection reads. "For implicit 2 decades, including 12 arsenic skipper of the Red Wings, Alex earned the estimation arsenic 1 of the champion two-way forwards successful NHL history. Following his Hall of Fame career, helium continued to correspond the Red Wings with people and favoritism arsenic some an enforcement and ambassador."

"Our thoughts are with the Delvecchio household and each those who were fortunate capable to cognize and respect Alex. His bequest volition everlastingly beryllium remembered arsenic portion of Red Wings past and Hockeytown."

Delvecchio's jersey, bearing the fig 10, was retired by the Red Wings successful 1991.