Sports
Alex Delvecchio
1931–2025 · ice hockey player, coach and general manager
One of only three players to spend 1,500-plus games with a single NHL franchise, a three-time Stanley Cup winner who later coached and ran the Red Wings' front office.
- Born
Fort William, Ontario- Died
Rochester, Michigan
aged 93- Birth name
- Alexander Peter Delvecchio
- Also known as
- Fats
- Detroit years
- 1951–1977, 2025
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Alex "Fats" Delvecchio made his NHL debut with the Red Wings on March 25, 1951, and never played for another team across 1,549 games and twenty-two seasons. Playing alongside Gordie Howe for most of his career, he was never Detroit's leading scorer in a season because of Howe's presence, yet he still ranked second in franchise history in nearly every offensive category at his retirement, and won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 1952, 1954 and 1955. He won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship three times. On retiring as a player in 1973 he immediately became the Red Wings' head coach, adding the general manager's job in 1974 and holding both roles until 1977. The team retired his No. 10 in 1991 and unveiled a statue of him in 2008, later relocated to Little Caesars Arena's Legends Plaza. He died at his home in Rochester, Michigan, in July 2025, the last surviving member of Detroit's early-1950s championship teams.
Highlights
- Entire 22-season NHL career with the Red Wings (1951–1973)
- Won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 1952, 1954 and 1955
- Three-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship
- Red Wings head coach (1973–1977) and general manager (1974–1977)
- No. 10 retired in 1991; statue at Little Caesars Arena's Legends Plaza
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 1951–1973
Olympia Stadium
Demolished · 1927–1979
His home rink for his entire playing career and all three Stanley Cup wins; demolished in 1987.
Memorial · 2008–
Little Caesars Arena
His bronze statue, unveiled in 2008 at Joe Louis Arena, was relocated to the new arena's Legends Plaza in 2017.