Michigan native and former Detroit Red Wings player Mike Modano recently visited one of his biggest fans, and it was all the more special as it was one of the oldest living residents in Minnesota.

Modano, who began his NHL career playing for the Minnesota North Stars and is currently an executive for the Minnesota Wild hockey team, visited Dorothy Heckmann, who is a 108-year-old hockey super fan whose favorite player is Mike Modano.

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He visited her in her home in Oakdale, Minnesota, with an autographed Minnesota Wild Madonna jersey and spent some time talking hockey with her.

It was a special moment for not only her, but for Modano as well, as he commented in a video shared by FOX 9:

 

I am so thrilled and having to meet Dorothy I mean she is, she’s an amazing woman. I am. I’m just so lucky.

She couldn’t hold back her excitement for the moment either:

This made my year, and the next year, and the next year.

Mike Modano spent one year with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2010-2011 season, and could have ended his career in Detroit playing his 1500th game, except former Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock made him a healthy scratch, which was highly contested by fans.

He played his final season for his hometown team, and it was a special addition to the hockey club. Modano historically wore the #9 sweater, but since that number was immortalized by Gordie Howe and retired, he wore #90.

Mike grew up in Livonia, Michigan.

Every Sweater Number in Detroit Red Wings History Worn Just Once (Or Not At All)

For whatever reason, these numbers have either been worn just once or never at all in the nearly 100-year history of Detroit Red Wings hockey, according to Hockey Reference.

(Hockey Reference suggests that No. 6 was only worn by Cummy Burton, which is incorrect as Larry Aurie wore the number first and the number is pseudo-retired. Such inaccuracies are difficult to narrow down, so where they can be corrected they will be.)

Gallery Credit: Jacob Harrison

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