The Detroit News’s Mark Falkner profiled Red Wings statistician Greg Innis, who’s been on the job for 50 years now…
“Greg has more passion for the Detroit Red Wings than anybody I’ve ever met in the game of hockey,” Holland said. “You’re talking to someone who is loaded with information and he’s incredibly respectful to the people in the game. There’s nothing in it for Greg Innis. He’s there to serve, whether you’re with our team or the other team. His unassuming nature has been a key to his longevity.”
Born in 1950 in Detroit, Innis went to his first Red Wings game during the Christmas holidays in 1956 against the Chicago Blackhawks at Olympia Stadium. From 1969 until 2003, he attended every Detroit home game, first as a season-ticket holder, then as a writer for the team’s game program and now in his current role as team statistician, which includes managing a game-night staff in the press box.
He said he’s missed only eight games in five decades at Olympia, Joe Louis Arena and Little Caesars Arena while keeping track of the stats of Red Wings stars like Yzerman, Henrik Zetterberg and Dylan Larkin.
“Greg’s knowledge of hockey is second to none,” said Bill Jamieson, who was named the NHL’s public relations director of the year seven times in 14 years with the Red Wings, from 1982-96. “He has one of the biggest hockey libraries with media guides, publications and books, anything you need to know. He takes care of the media all the time, doing stats for the visiting broadcasters and helping out the scouts.
“In fact, I dubbed him a long time ago, Mr. Hockey. Gordie Howe would come up to the press box and give us a sharp elbow in the back. I would joke with Greg. I would say, ‘You’re Mr. Hockey too.'”
Continued (paywall); it’s really sweet story.
Innis also appeared on the latest “OctoPulse” podcast with Ted Kulfan:
