Mike Ilitch, the longtime owner of both the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers died late last week at the age of 87. Ilitch had owned the Red Wings since 1982 and the Tigers since 1992.
Today the Detroit Red Wings, already wearing a patch dedicated to the memory of Gordie Howe, announced they would be adding a second memorial patch now in honour of Mike Ilitch. The patch, to be worn on the shoulder, will feature Ilitch’s nickname “Mr. I” inside a rectangle. The Red Wings will keep the separate Gordie Howe patch on the front of the jersey and the NHL100 patch on the right sleeve.
#RedWings to wear commemorative patch in honor of Mike Ilitch. pic.twitter.com/cbRgzs1DJh
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 15, 2017
As Clark Rasmussen of DetroitHockey.Net noted, that’s two boxy tributes on the Red Wings uniform
All the text-in-a-box patches. https://t.co/4tnDP12iuE — DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey96) February 15, 2017
The Red Wings also added a “Mr. I” on-ice logo facing the Red Wings bench (meaning it faces away from the TV camera, upside down tribute!):
Tribute to Mike Ilitch on Joe Louis Arena ice, in front of home bench. pic.twitter.com/F3KY6hPmMm
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) February 15, 2017
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