DETROIT - Nicklas Lidstrom was the last person to speak at his Detroit Red Wings jersey-retirement ceremony. Grayson Allen Jersey . He might have spoken the least while perhaps saying the most, fittingly for a player who was subtly spectacular on the ice. Lidstrom was honoured Thursday night before Detroit hosted the Colorado Avalanche. A red banner — with his last name and number in white — was raised to the rafters. "Its not like winning a trophy for a successful season or playoff; its not winning an individual trophy," he said on a puck-shaped podium. "This is something different. This is all about being a Detroit Red Wing." The storied franchise previously retired six jerseys: Gordie Howes No. 9, Steve Yzermans No. 19, Ted Lindsays No. 7, Terry Sawchuks No. 1, Alex Delvecchios No. 10 and Sid Abels No. 12. But Lidstrom is the first defenceman to have his jersey retired by the Red Wings. Detroit drafted the Swede in the third round and between 1991 and 2012 he played in the most games (1,564) by someone who was on only one NHL team. "For the first couple of years, he didnt seem that great, but then you began to appreciate him," Delvecchio said. Lidstrom, with sound positioning and a strong shot, helped the Red Wings win four of their 11 Stanley Cups between 1997 and 2008. He won seven Norris Trophies as the NHLs best defenceman and trailed only Bobby Orrs record total of eight. "As much as we didnt like him when we were playing against each other, I had tons of respect for him," Colorado coach and former NHL goaltending great Patrick Roy said. Lidstrom became the first European-born captain to win a Stanley Cup in 2008, six years after being the first from Europe to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the leagues post-season MVP. With his signature slap shot, he scored the gold-medal winning goal for Sweden against Finland at the 2006 Olympics. In a video tribute shown during a first-period timeout, Yzerman said Lidstrom was one of the games all-time greats. "You made our jobs so much easier," Yzerman said. Lidstrom retired after the 2011-12 season — his 20th with the Red Wings. He refused to settle for being merely a good defenceman in the league and turned down a chance to make about $6 million with a third straight one-year contract. "No regrets, but that doesnt mean I dont miss it," he said. "I miss playing, but I never had any urge to get back to being on the ice and playing in a game." With his wife and their four hockey-playing boys, he is living back home in Sweden and enjoying a simple life. "Whats been so relaxing about it is that I get weekends off," Lidstrom said. "I never had any weekends off that I can remember since I was a teenager." When Lidstrom was 21 and going into his first NHL season, he was asked what number he wanted to wear if he made the team. Not knowing much about the Red Wings other than Yzerman being their captain, Lidstrom asked for No. 9 — a number that had been retired for nearly 20 years to honour Howe. "Kid, that just aint going to happen," Lidstrom recalled being told. Lidstrom was later given a winged-wheel jersey with another single digit. "No. 5 was handed to me," he said with a grin. Memphis Grizzlies Gear . They showered him with "MVP! MVP!" chants. In many ways, it seemed like hed never been gone. Memphis Grizzlies Shirts . Numbers Game looks into the Wild getting Matt Moulson from Buffalo. The Wild Get: LW Matt Moulson and LW Cody McCormick. https://www.cheapgrizzlies.com/954p-yuta-watanabe-jersey-grizzlies.html . Hicham Khalouas late goal improved Almerias chances of avoiding relegation in a match dominated by contentious calls, including three penalties. One day after Barcelonas 4-3 win at Real Madrid featured three penalties, referees again dominated a wide-open game that saw Almeria ultimately move out of the relegation zone and one point ahead of Getafe which took its place.SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - CJ Davock hit a two-run, two-out single in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Cumberland, Rhode Island, an 8-7 victory over Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday night in an elimination game in the Little League World Series. Nashville scored five runs off reliever Davock in the top of the inning. With two out, Robert Hassell III hit a two-run homer to give Nashville a 6-5 lead, and Sam Slaughter added his second home run of the game. In the bottom of the inning, Mason Matos had a one-out single to cut it to one. Nick Croteau grounded out, with the runners advancing to second and third, and Davock followed with his walk-off line drive to centre. "I did tell C.J. that when I took him off the mound that good things would happen in the bottom half," Cumberland manager David Belisle said. "I was very proud of him. ... "We play until the last out," Belisle said. "We want to have the last word. On days like this, its a little different, but Ive got the boys that do it." Also Saturday, Lynnwood, Washington, beat Rapid City, South Dakota, 7-5. In International play, Australia beat the Czech Republic 10-1, and Venezuela routed Canada 10-0 in five innings. On Sunday, the eight teams who opened the tournament with victories will be in action. In U.S. play, Chicago will face Las Vegas, and Philadelphiaa will meet Pearland, Texas. Memphis Grizzlies Pro Shop. In the International division, Seoul will play Humacao, Puerto Rico, and Tokyo will face Guadalupe, Mexico. On Monday, Cumberland will face the Chicago-Pearland loser, and Lynnwood will meet the Las Vegas-Philadelphia loser. In consolation games, Rapid City will face Brno, Czech Republic, on Monday, and Nashville will play Vancouver, British Columbia, on Tuesday. "Our boys never gave up," Nashville manager Chris Mercado said. "We knew thats what they could do. It was really fun. That was a good game." LYNNWOOD 7, RAPID CITY 5 Colton Walsh hit a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to give Lynnwood the lead and the Washington club held on to beat the South Dakota team. Walsh homered off reliever Daniel Vigoren to give Lynnwood a 6-5 lead. VENEZUELA 10, CANADA 0, 5 INNINGS Ronny Medina hit a grand slam in the fifth inning, putting an early end to Venezuelas victory over Canada. Cesar Leonardo Vivas drove in three runs for the winners from Maracaibo, Venezuela. Jose Luis Atencio allowed two hits in 4 2-3 innings and struck out six. AUSTRALIA 10, CZECH REBUBLIC 1 Callum Schipp struck out 11 in Australias victory over the Czech Republic. Schipp allowed three hits in 5 1-3 innings for the team from Perth. Javier Pelkonen homered and went 3 for 3 with three RBIs. ' ' '