By Jeff D'Andrea

Modano to visit PA for first time in two decades

Jul 16, 2013 | 12:06 PM

It could be a year for remember for Mike Modano.

He will be eligible for the first time for induction into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014 and is having his jersey retired by the Dallas Stars, the franchise he spent 20 years with (including when they were the Minnesota North Stars).

But before all that, Modano will visit the place his hockey career started—here in Prince Albert. Modano will be in town Nov. 1 to watch his old junior team, the Prince Albert Raiders, take on the Regina Pats. He’ll stick around a day later to be a guest speaker at the Kinsmen 900 CKBI Sportsmen Dinner.

In a video interview posted on raiderhockey.com Modano said his time in PA was the most memorable he’s ever had.

He still feels that way.

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“It’s always going to be a high level of importance for me just because of what that town and the people there meant to me in my career at such an early age,” said Modano from Dallas, Texas in a phone interview. “Boy, just the experiences I was able to go through and the opportunities given to me to go up there to play hockey.
“I will never be truly thankful enough for what they gave me up there.”

Mike Modano hasn’t been to Prince Albert since the early 1990’s as he came up for a friend’s wedding.

Not only will Modano returning to Prince Albert, but will bring professional golfer Allison Micheletti with whom he’s recently engaged with.

“It’s been a long time,” said Modano from Dallas, Texas in a phone interview. “I’m looking forward to it, I can’t wait.

“I’ll be married at that time so I’ll bring my wife and let her see the area where it all started for me.”

Back in 1986, then-Raiders head coach Rick Wilson invited Modano to join the team. He moved all the way from Livonia, Michigan some 2,627 km’s away.

In time here between 1986-1989, Modano put up 294 points, sixth best in franchise history despite playing in only 176 games, 87th in Raiders history.

Big year coming up

Modano’s trip to Prince Albert will kick off a year full of celebrations and rewards.

In March, Modano will have his jersey retired by the Dallas Stars, the franchise he played with for 20 years (including time with the Minnesota North Stars).

He will also be eligible for the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame this year as well and will be anxiously awaiting an announcement there.

“It’s been an exciting time for me, one thing after another have come along,” said Modano. “Certain experiences and great accolades and rewards have come.

“The PA experience is going to be one of them, then you get right into the sweater retirement in March and then you’re seeing what happens with the NHL Hall of Fame.

It’s a big year, a lot going on. I’ll try to enjoy it the best I can.”

Kinsmen 900 CKBI Sportsmen Dinner

On Nov. 2, fans will have a chance to meet and greet Mike Modano, as well as ask him questions in a Q & A type setting.

Contact the Kinsmen for more ticketing information.

No jersey retirement

Although the Dallas Stars are retiring his jersey this season, the Raiders have decided they are not going to, at least for this year.

When asked about how he felt about that, Modano just laughed and shrugged it off.

“We’ll save that for another trip up there,” said a good-natured Modano.

For my column on the issue, click here.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea