i’m a little late for this, so the rest of this post should probably seem like bullshit. but in any case… congratulations, old friend. two days ago, my hero, my idol, my inspiration for 18 years… steve yzerman was inducted into the nhl hall of fame. back in the days of middle school and high school where i didn’t have much of an identity, more kids knew me as “that kid who loves steve yzerman.” i was yzerman for halloween in the sixth grade. hundreds of his hockey cards. three jerseys. bobbleheads. i was introduced to hockey by learning about him, his awesome name, and his team’s awesome jersey when i was 5 years old. and thus began my obsession with hockey. anyone who’s a hockey fan (all… seven soul banger readers) knows of his tenacity as a player, and how he turned the red wings into a shoddy wasteland of crap into an absolute mammoth of a team.

so, congratulations, steve yzerman. (and you too brian leetch.)