The Dallas Stars will retire the jersey of former North Star great Mike Modano during a pre-game ceremony Saturday night prior to their game with the Minnesota Wild.
The announcement of the special night was made last June.
The Associated Press reports 53 former teammates, family and friends have been invited to appear on the “green carpet” during the ceremony.
Modano began his career in Minnesota playing for the North Stars. He was selected by the North Stars as the first overall pick in the 1988 NHL Draft.
As a result several former North Stars have been invited to appear, according to the Dallas Morning News.
- Neil Broten
- Shawn Chambers
- Shane Churla
- Stewart Gavin
- Derian Hatcher
- Craig Ludwig
- Richar Matvichuk
- Basil McRae
- Ron Wilson
Former North Stars owner, Norm Green, who moved the team to Dallas in 1993 has also been invited. So has Minnesotan and former NHL star Jamie Langenbrunner, who was Modano’s teammate in Dallas.
“To walk out there, I think it’s going to be really tough,” said Modano to the Associated Press. “And then walking over to the jersey and watching that get lifted up – I think those two moments are going to be really tough and having family and friends really close on the ice with you. It’s going to be a real up and down night.”
Modano is the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history. He finished his career with 561 goals, 813 assists and 1,374 points. He helped to lead the franchise to a Stanley Cup championship in 1999.
