Alex Delvecchio, a Hockey Hall of Famer and Detroit Red Wings legend, has died at the age of 93. Delvecchio passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, surrounded by his family. The Red Wings organization announced his death, sharing a statement from the Delvecchio family.
Born on December 4, 1931, in Fort William, Ontario, Delvecchio spent his entire NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, spanning from 1951 to 1973. He was a key member of the Red Wings' dynasty in the 1950s, helping them win three Stanley Cups in 1952, 1954, and 1955. Delvecchio was the last surviving member of those Stanley Cup-winning teams.
Delvecchio was a focal point of the Red Wings' "Production Line," playing alongside Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. He amassed 1,281 points in 1,549 games. At the time of his retirement, he ranked second in NHL history in games played, assists, and points. Delvecchio is still high on the Red Wings' all-time list, ranking third in games played (1,550), third in goals (456), fourth in assists (825), and third in points (1,281). Before Nicklas Lidstrom surpassed him, Delvecchio held the record for the most games played for a single team in NHL history.
Known for his sportsmanship, Delvecchio won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times. He also played in 13 All-Star Games, a feat surpassed by only six players in NHL history. For twelve seasons, he served as the team's captain, a mark surpassed only by Steve Yzerman. In 2017, Delvecchio was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.
After retiring as a player in 1973, Delvecchio transitioned to coaching and management. He served two stints as Detroit's head coach and one as general manager until 1977. Delvecchio was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977. In 1991, the Red Wings retired his number 10. A statue of Delvecchio was unveiled in 2008.
The Delvecchio family expressed their gratitude to the fans in their statement: "For decades, your love and support meant everything to Alex and to all of us... We are deeply grateful and thankful to everyone." They also highlighted his character: "Alex was more than a hockey icon, he was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, cherished friend, and respected teammate to so many... While the world knew him as an incredible hockey player with numerous accomplishments on the ice, we knew him as someone whose humility, strength, competitiveness, kindness and heart were even greater than his professional achievements."
