Marian Ilitch Honored by NHL as Most Impactful Woman Owner in the League

Detroit Red Wings Owner Marian Ilitch's love of hockey began more than 75 years ago.

Today, the sports and business pioneer is synonymous with the success of the Red Wings organization and the growth of the sport across the state of Michigan through her support of amateur hockey.

On the recent occasion of a celebration of her lifetime achievements in the game of hockey and in her community, the National Hockey League proclaimed Marian the "Most Impactful Woman Owner in the League."

"When I was 15, I fell in love with hockey," said Marian, who attended as many Red Wings games as she could in her teens. She didn't know it then, but her admiration of the sport would lead her and her future husband to establish one of the most successful youth hockey non-profit programs, providing generations of kids the opportunity to play, and eventually she'd become an owner of her beloved Red Wings.

Marian was born in Dearborn, Mich., to Macedonian immigrants. Hard work and determination were cornerstones of her upbringing, attributes that formed an entrepreneurial mindset that she'd carry with her for the rest of her life.

Marian married Mike Ilitch in 1955, and the couple used their savings to open their own business in 1959 - a pizza shop they called Little Caesars Pizza Treat in Garden City, Mich. Thanks to their solid partnership and Marian's business acumen, the small business eventually became Little Caesars, which today is the third largest chain in the world.

Following the success of Little Caesars, Mike and Marian were eager to continue to invest in the city of Detroit. When it was announced that their hometown Red Wings were up for sale, Marian and Mike were in disbelief. They jumped at the opportunity.

"I was a Red Wings fan, before I even met Mike," Marian said. "I watched the Stanley Cups, Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Marty Pavelich. When we heard it was available, we had a hard time believing it was true."

When the Ilitches acquired the Original Six franchise on June 22, 1982, Detroit had not won the Stanley Cup since 1955 and failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs 14 times in the previous 16 seasons.

Marian believed that the team could be great again. "I realized having seen them in the playoffs that maybe one day that could return," she said.

The love of hockey was passed on to Mike and Marian's children. Chris Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Companies, and Red Wings governor, president and CEO, recalls the moment when his parents shared with the family that they were buying the team. "I was playing hockey in high school at the time, so you can only imagine how excited I was. We were all an age where we fully knew what they were telling us and how exciting it was that this hockey-crazy family would now be involved with the ownership of the Detroit Red Wings."

Under the ownership of the Ilitch family, the next era of Red Wings hockey began.

Molded by an extensive leadership and business background, Marian was a very hands-on owner. She moved into the center of the Red Wings offices. Among the tasks she immediately faced was getting more fans to home games at Joe Louis Arena. In the 1981-82 season, the Red Wings averaged just 12,496 fans per game, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Marian quickly recruited all seven of children to help pull in greater attendance. "I had them come in, take a seat in the boiler room and get on the phones and start selling tickets," she explained. "I said, 'This is what it's all about.'" In just five years, the Red Wings led the entire NHL in attendance.

It became Marian and Mike's mission to restore the once-proud franchise, and she didn't shy away from engaging with fans who had been frustrated with the team's previous lack of success.

"I remember in the early years, she'd sit right in the stands with the fans, talking and joking with them," said current Red Wings senior vice president & alternate governor Jim Devellano.

The Red Wings' turnaround started when forward Steve Yzerman, who was selected fourth overall by Detroit at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, became the first-ever pick under the Ilitch family's ownership.

"I particularly enjoy listening to her talk about her youth when she attended the Red Wings games with Mr. Ilitch," said Yzerman, who, following the 2018-19 season, was named executive vice president and general manager of the Red Wings by Chris Ilitch. "That's when you really get an appreciation for how deep their ties to the Red Wings are."

Marian was one of the guiding architects who helped establish the winning culture in Detroit that led to an unprecedented 25 consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs from 1990-2016.

Under the Ilitch ownership, the Red Wings have won 16 divisional championships, six Presidents' Trophies, six Clarence Campbell Bowls and four Stanley Cups. The club has won a combined 1,755 regular-season and playoff games, ranking third in the NHL over that span. And since 1995-96, Detroit has won a league-best 1,273 games, with 1,128 regular-season wins and 145 playoff victories.

Marian was the fourth woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup. Today, there are just 18 women recognized with a Stanley Cup inscription. Marian's name appears for those four championships, along with her daughters.

In addition to Marian's business drive, she also brought a familial atmosphere to the Red Wings organization that resonated with players.

"You want to win for them," said former Red Wings forward Brendan Shanahan. "They're the ones that are making the ultimate sacrifices. They're the ones that created this whole thing. When you play for them, you really do feel like you're playing for a family."

Beyond professional hockey, as a mother to children who played youth hockey, Marian recognized the positive impact that playing the sport can have in young people's lives, on and off the ice. She wanted to support amateur hockey, so she and Mike established the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club in 1968. It is now among the nation's most elite amateur youth sports programs featuring Boys and Girls teams, winning 103 state championships and 23 national titles, and sending numerous players into the professional ranks.

Following the successful creation of the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, one decade later she helped rapidly expand access to youth hockey by founding the non-profit Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League in 1978. For nearly half a century, this league has grown to feature hundreds of teams and approximately 15,000 student athletes across the country.

Always entrepreneurs at heart, Marian and Mike expanded their interests over the years beyond food and sports to include entertainment, gaming and other industries. Today, under the leadership of their son Chris, the Ilitch Companies have grown to represent 12 businesses under common private ownership that employ thousands of people in the Detroit area and around the world.

"My parents were incredible stewards of the Red Wings franchise, and their entrepreneurial spirit laid the foundation for our organizations' growth," said Chris Ilitch. "I'm proud to continue their legacy and positively impact future generations."