MLive’s Ansar Khan penned a profile of new Wings defenseman Jon Merrill this morning, and it’s just refreshing to hear a player discuss the excitement he feels about “coming home”:
Jon Merrill could barely contain his enthusiasm Friday after becoming a Detroit Red Wing, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
“It’s an honor to play for the Red Wings,” Merrill said. “I was such a die-hard Wings fan as kid, played for Little Caesars as a youth hockey player, going down to Joe Louis Arena for practices and things like that.
“As a 13-year-old, I was one of the flag bearers in the playoffs coming into the tunnel and skating around with the flag. Tons of memories in a Red Wings jersey as a kid going to games. It’s just extremely exciting for me and my family.”
…
Merrill’s memories of Michigan are endless, he said.
“As a kid, as a pro hockey player even, I always told myself if the opportunity to play for the Red Wings ever came up, I would jump at it,” Merrill said. “To see them call right away today, it was an honor, and it was a real easy decision for me.”
