Later today, Mike Modano will be signing a ceremonial contract for $999,999 with the Dallas Stars and then he will retire. It’s fitting, I think, that when he hangs up his skates, it’s “with” the team he played with for all but the final 40 games of his NHL career. History, I hope, won’t remember those 40 games with the winged wheel on his chest. Instead, it should remember his black sweater billowing behind him as he galloped through the neutral zone, while an arena held its breath expecting something incredible and, more often than not, getting what they wanted.
In light of Mike’s retirement, I thought I’d share my 9 favorite images of Dallas’ favorite (adopted) son & the stories behind them.
9. Reset
My love for this image is less about the image and more about the place the image showed up. I’d had this idea during the 09-10 season to do a stop-motion piece for the team, but we weren’t quite sure where or how it would be used. As the season approached the Olympic break, they decided it might be cool to create something to use as a season seat holder renewal piece. What came from that was this film, entitled Reset. The image above wasn’t originally shot for Reset, but had the perfect contemplative mood and gave the entire story another level of dimension. Without it, I think Reset would have been far less meaningful.
8. Husband
It’s hard to imagine athletes as fully human, sometimes, especially the one’s who are the best of the best. And Mike Modano certainly fits into that category – he’s the single greatest Dallas Star as well as the greatest US born hockey player of all time. But he’s so much more than that and this image, more than any other in my archive, shows that multi-dimensionality. He loves his wife; he’s human after all – and that makes what he accomplished on the ice all the more incredible.
7. Linemates
Mike Modano & Jere Lehtinen played the better part of 14 seasons on the same line. Mike’s grace and speed, matched with Jere’s work ethic produced mesmerizing results. I love this image because there’s such story tied up in those skates and the character of the player seems reflected in them.
6. The Stanley Cup
What needs to be said? These three guys rewrote history for the Dallas Stars franchise. Brett Hull with the goal to bring home the Cup, Jere with the assist, and all three of them on the ice that fateful night in Buffalo. Watch the film, if Hull hadn’t gotten to that puck, Modano would have and in this photograph, just before the ceremony to honor Hull’s induction into the Hall of Fame, they’re laughing about that very thing.
5. A Sort of Homecoming
I jumped off the plane first and ran about halfway down the steps. I didn’t know what would happen. When Modano stepped off the plane he just looked off before walking past me. I don’t know what was running through his head right then, but I can’t help but wonder if he was contemplating the first of many “lasts” he’d be going through as a Dallas Star.
4. Pre Game
This is the last time Modano pulled on a Stars sweater just before the third period in Minnesota. I love the lack of ceremony, as if no one seemed to notice this really special thing that was happening but me. That’s the thing about ritual, I guess; they can get to the place where they’re mechanical, no more than muscle memory. I don’t know, maybe the lack of ceremony was everyone’s subconscious way of expressing their hope that this wouldn’t be the last time or, maybe, I’m reading a whole lot into a guy getting dressed to go to work.
3. Opening Night
Opening night of the 2009-2010 season, and even then, we were all wondering, would this be Mike Modano’s last opening night. As he watched the video on the scoreboard over center ice, it’s like he was experiencing opening night for the first time, not the twentieth.
2. The Ovation
If you were there, you know why this image is so special. For more than two minutes during a break in play in the third period of the final home game of the season, 18,000 fans rose to their feet to say thanks to the guy who brought hockey to North Texas. But it wasn’t just the fans who saluted him – his teammates, trainers, coaches and even the guys on the other bench, all stood to say thanks to Mike. And he stayed in his seat, face in his hands, overcome with emotion.
1. The Speech
I was standing outside the locker room just after that final home game when Stretch opened the door and pulled me inside the room. I’d been in there a handful of times, but never during team time; it was like getting called into the holy of holies. After a few minutes, the room got quiet & all eyes turned to Modano. I don’t think he wanted to, but he started to give a speech about not taking “what they do” for granted. He only managed a couple of sentences before he could say no more and we all sat in reverent silence as, again, Modano placed his head in his hands, then stood up and left the room.
Comments
I love #2. It holds a special place in my heart because I was one of the lucky 18000 who was there that night. Emma and I made a special sign that night for the game. I wanted something that wouldn’t be on every other sign in the building. I thought and thought and finally decided on “say it ain’t so Mo.”. I outlined the letters and Emma colored them in. We held the sign up to the glass during warmup and Moke seemed to notice it but Sid t really want to make eye contact with us. He was emotional already. The moment of the ovation is one of my favorite sports moments I’ve ever witnessed in person. The scoreboard saying thanks to Mike. The crowd rising to its feet to cheer the face of Dallas Stars hockey. All of the boys on both benches tapping their sticks on the boards. And there was Mike sitting on the bench overcome by it all. I’ve never seen such an outpouring of emotion by a crowd. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. I caught Bryan wiping a tear from his cheek and saw Austin use his sweater for a tissue. I will always remember that game as Mike Modano’s final game. I only saw one of the forty after it. Will miss seeing him gathering speed as he crossed the blue line–picking the
up and putting them down. Can’t wait to see the jersey raised to the rafters at the AAC. Soon to follow #26. Thanks for sharing Trey. Inspiring work as usual.
I was there for #2 also, and boy was it special. Thanks, Mike, for all the great years. God is good.
I too was one of the lucky 18,000 to be at that game on April 8, 2010. I’ll never forget it either. The entire section that I was sitting in stood the second his thank you message to fans began playing and there was no stopping the tears. I still to this day have no idea what he actually said because the cheering of 18,000 in the AAC drowned out the video. As bittersweet as that moment is, it will always be at the top of my “Favorite Moments In Sports” list. I miss seeing him fly down the ice with that jersey of his flapping in the breeze behind him. Mo will forever be credited for making me fall in love with hockey and the Dallas Stars.
Thank you for sharing your work Trey. As always, it’s inspiring and incredible what you do.
#1 Is my favorite. It shows a man. It shows us someone worthy of admiration, who is dedicated, has a heart and isn’t afraid to show it. It takes courage to allow people to be a part of your life and it is hard to leave that part of yourself behind even if by moving forward, you are moving in the right direction. I watched “Mo” play many games and was always impressed by how he presented himself off of the ice as well as on. Thanks for sharing.
I can really do nothing but echo the thoughts of the posters before me. I was also lucky enough to be there THAT night. In my mind, it was a very fitting way for us, as fans, to say thank you to a man that brought the love of hockey to so many of us here in Dallas. Thank you for sharing you wonderful work with us!!
I love you Mo.
All of them are great. But #1 The Speech is my favorite. A private moment with the team after the last home game. Everyone showing their respect and Mo chocking up. But what I really love is Jere’s and Otter’s kids being a part of it. Like a family. And looking at Jere’s expression … it was his last time in that room too.
These are great! I was there for his last night and took pictures of my own – I have one of his last goal with the puck going into the net and the same for Jere. What a night that was! Thank you for sharing again.
Oh man where to start… Well first, these shots are works of art. Thank you so much for sharing them with us. I spent a lot of time in that arena during the 09-10 season. I got to see Mike and Jere’s last game in Dallas, which was something else. I miss those gold laces on the ice and that number 9 putting pucks in the net. I was there for the ovation and have since watched videos of it many times over, but never got to see it from the unique angle presented in #2. It got me all choked up again sitting in my office at work lol. Again, thank you for sharing. You’ve made my day.
These are incredible shots, Trey. Thank you for sharing. Very moving images, and you captured everything remarkably.