On Wednesday, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame announced the 2012 induction class, which included Eddie Olczyk, New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello and Detroit native Mike Modano.
Upon hearing the news, Modano quickly gave credit to Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch for his development as a youth ice hockey player in the Little Casears Amateur Hockey Program as the reason why he had the success he did at the professional level.
"Obviously, huge hockey development going on there with Little Caesars and Compuware," Modano said today of his youth. "Being able to know the Ilitches at an early age in my life, and what they meant to us and Little Caesars, the opportunity to travel and play in a lot of cities ... we had tons of access because of the Ilitches."
Modano finished his career with the Red Wings during the 2010-11 season after playing 20 years with the Dallas Stars organization.