One of the big regrets during my decade of covering the Western Hockey League was missing the chance to see Mike Modano play in the Tri-Cities Coliseum.

He was viewed as of those "can't-miss" players in the WHL during the 1988-89 season, which was the first for Tri-City Americans.

Sometimes, the pundits do get it right. Modano, age 41, retired Friday as the top scoring American-born player in National Hockey League history, a Stanley Cup winner and a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

In 1986, the native of Livonia, Mich., was playing in nearby Detroit for the high-profile Little Caesar program when the Prince Albert Raiders recruited and signed him. That was after Modano reportedly told the New Westminster Bruins — who would become the Tri-City Americans — he wasn't interested in playing for Ron Dixon's club.

For Modano to play major junior hockey in Western Canada was significant for the WHL. It was only six years after the Miracle on Ice, and junior hockey in the U.S. and American-born players were seen as inferior. Some doubted Modano's talents, desire and his willingness to accept coaching.

The Raiders would have the last laugh. Modano went on to become the first pick overall in the 1988 NHL Draft, going to the Minnesota North Stars. He was returned to the WHL for one final season — a campaign which saw him pot 39 goals through the first 41 games.

Unfortunately, he suffered a fractured wrist during the WHL All-Star Game — the result of a hit by Tri-City defenseman Steve Jaques. That game in Brandon, Manitoba, marked the end of Modano's days in the WHL and brought Jaques some added notoriety. Sadly, the Raiders’ trip to the Western Conference and Kennewick that season came after the All-Star break.

A few months later, Modano's North Stars played host to NHL Draft, and Tri-City star Stu Barnes was taken No. 4 overall by the Winnipeg Jets.

A decade later, Modano helped the Stars win the Stanley Cup with Dallas, which came at the expense of the Buffalo Sabres and Barnes. Four seasons after that, Barnes became a teammate of Modano and then an assistant coach in Dallas.

The only time Modano didn’t spend in a Stars sweater was last season when he chose to return to his home state and play for the Red Wings. On Friday, though, he retired as a Star.