Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 to Be Retired at Detroit Red Wings’ Centennial Celebration

The Detroit Red Wings will retire Sergei Fedorov's No. 91 jersey on Jan. 12 before a game against Carolina at Little Caesars Arena. The ceremony marks the ninth number the franchise has officially retired in its 100-year history.

Fedorov learned about the honor during a phone call from owner Chris Ilitch in mid-August. "We talked about stuff for three or four minutes and I had no idea what he was going to end up with," said Fedorov, according to MLive. "Eventually he broke the news and (I) stopped breathing."

The 55-year-old spent 13 seasons with the organization from 1990-91 to 2002-03, helping win three Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998, and 2002. His contributions changed how people viewed Russian talent in North America.

Fedorov won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP in 1994. He became the first Russian player to win that award. He also earned the Selke Trophy twice as the league's top defensive forward, showing his two-way abilities on ice. The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted him in 2015.

Detroit selected Fedorov in the fourth round, 74th overall, in the 1989 NHL draft. His arrival in North America involved a secret operation during the 1990 Goodwill Games in Portland, Oregon. Team officials arranged his defection from the Soviet Union.

"I got lucky to play with the greatest players in the game, coaches, staff," Fedorov said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "I cannot thank enough ownership that gave me a chance to send a plane to Portland, Oregon, to get me."

Nicklas Lidström, who sat alongside Fedorov during media sessions on Nov. 7, called the honor well-deserved. "Sergei had a tremendous career," said Lidström per The Detroit News. "When I came to the Wings, he came in a year before I came and Sergei was already a star when I joined the team."

Fedorov played 1,248 NHL games over his career. After leaving Detroit, he spent time with Anaheim, Columbus and Washington before returning to Russia in 2009 for the KHL.

The announcement came during the Hockeytown Centennial FanFest, a four-day event at MotorCity Casino Hotel that ran from Nov.6-9. More than 50 former players attended. The event featured autograph sessions, a pop-up museum, and watch parties.

"As soon as I landed, a lot of thoughts came, a lot of memories came, and it's still overwhelming," Fedorov said during the festivities. The weekend also included "100 Years of Hockeytown: A Night at the Fox Theatre" on Nov. 8, hosted by broadcasters Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond.

His number will join Terry Sawchuk (1), Red Kelly (4), Lidström (5), Ted Lindsay (7), Gordie Howe (9), Alex Delvecchio (10), Sid Abel (12) and Steve Yzerman (19) in the rafters. The ceremony takes place before the home game against the Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena.