entire career in southeast Michigan. He won a peewee
state title in Detroit. He played for the U.S. National
Development Team Program, then based in nearby
Ann Arbor, as a teenager. He stayed in Ann Arbor after
graduating from the program to play for the University
of Michigan. And after a season for the Wolverines, he
surprised many by making the Red Wings at just 19. He’s
traveled all over the world as a member of Team USA.
But the farthest from home he’s ever been based was
Grand Rapids, Mich., where he played six playoff games
for the Wings’ AHL affiliate after being drafted.
Now, as if by fate, he’s back home inDetroit, hoping to get some local kids out
of doing their homework very soon.
LUCKY NUMBERS
Larkin impressed his coaches every step
of the way with his speed and leadership
ability. Leading up to the 2014 NHL draft,
experts projected the Michigan commit
to go somewhere in the second half of
the first round, around pick 20. The
Red Wings had the 15th selection. Sitting
in the crowd at the Wells Fargo Center
in Philadelphia, Larkin turned to his
parents as Detroit was on the clock, and
asked them, Wouldn’t this be so cool?
“Sure enough, when [Red Wings GM]Ken Holland started to announce it, I had
a great feeling,” Larkin says. “It’s one of those
moments that’s a blur; you’re so excited. Time went by so
fast. When I talk to kids that are going to the draft, I tell
them, ‘Enjoy it and soak it all in. Take a second to look
around.’ I didn’t do that. I just buried my head and tried
not to trip going up the stairs.”
One of Larkin’s biggest challenges adjusting to the RedWings was picking a number. One of the NHL’s oldest
and most successful franchises, Detroit has retired eight
numbers, with a few more unofficially retired and no
longer issued. Larkin’s first number growing up was 99—
retired throughout hockey in honor of Wayne Gretzky.
Then he wore 19, as his older brother, Colin, idolized
Canucks center Markus Näslund, and Dylan idolized
Colin. The No. 19 is retired by Detroit for its former
captain—and Larkin’s current boss—Steve Yzerman. Its
inverse, 91, belonged to Yzerman’s legendary teammate
Sergei Fedorov. He lost his second and third choices—
Historical
hometowners
JERMAINE KEARSE Seattle
Before making the most famous
catch in Seahawks history during
Super Bowl XLIX, Kearse grew up
40 miles from Seattle on Fort Lewis.
He is currently an assistant coach
for the Washington Huskies football
team, for whom he had 29 receiving
TDs as a player.DON DRYSDALE AND
SANDY KOUFAX
Brooklyn and Los Angeles
Despite growing up on
opposite ends of the
country, Don Drysdale
and Sandy Koufax were
both hometown heroes
for the Dodgers. In the
1 956 and ’57 seasons,Brooklyn. And before ’58, the franchise
moved to Drysdale’s native Los Angeles.MAURICE RICHARD Montreal
In the first seven NHL drafts ( 1963 –69),
there existed a rule that gave the Habs
dibs on French Canadian players. They
rarely used it to much effect, though.
Their legendary success owes more to
local legends like “Rocket” Richard, who
had worked his way up the Habs’ farm
system after signing as a teen.COURTESY OF THE L ARKIN FAMILY ( L A RKIN);
AL TIELEMANS (KEARSE);
NEIL LEIFER (DODGERS);
HY PESKIN (RICHARD)Local players used to be more
common,.. here are some of
the best ever.Larkin may be
young, but he’s been
wearing the red-and-
white for longer than
any teammate.3 8 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS