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Jimmy Howard pays tribute to Dave Strader on Hockey Fights Cancer mask

josh cooper
Jimmy Howard pays tribute to Dave Strader on his mask.
Jimmy Howard pays tribute to Dave Strader on his mask. (NHL/Twitter)

On his special Hockey Fights Cancer mask, Detroit Red Wings goaltender wanted to pay tribute to former team broadcaster Dave Strader.

So Howard decided to have a painted picture of Strader, who is currently fighting bile duct cancer, on the head gear.

Strader saw this and tweeted out that he was “so humbled by this recognition.”

“I was honored to be asked by the Red Wings to come up with some ideas for the design on their goalie masks for Hockey Fights Cancer Night. It was an unexpected honor to see my image included on the mask worn by Jimmy Howard,” Strader said in a message sent to Puck Daddy. “I’ve been truly inspired by the response around the NHL to my fight against cancer. I will fight even harder everyday.”

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Before the game, the Boston Bruins, the Wing’s Saturday night opponent, interviewed Howard about the mask.

“In one way or another it’s all affected us in some way and it’s something small but it can generate a lot, so it’s an honor to be able to do this tonight,” Howard said.

On Strader Howard added, “We wish him all the best.“

At their Hockey Fights Cancer night the Stars honored Strader by having his son Trevor sing the national anthem and drop the ceremonial first puck. Strader sent a video thanking the Dallas organization and their fans. The Stars will wear a sticker their helmets for Strader for the entire season.

Strader joined the Dallas organization in the summer of 2015. Last summer he announced he had cancer and was taking a leave from the team to fight the disease.

The 61-year-old Strader is one of the most respected broadcasters in the NHL. He spent 11 years as the television play-by-play voice of the Detroit Red Wings from 1985 to 1996. From 1996 through 2004, Strader was a play-by-play announcer for ESPN/ABC.

Strader was also the play-by-play announcer for the Phoenix Coyotes for four seasons and the Florida Panthers for two seasons. During that time he also called several nationally televised NHL games.

Before joining the Stars organization he was a play-by-play broadcaster for NBC Sports.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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