You probably have never seen his face, but you certainly have seen his photos. Detroit Free Press sports photographer Julian Gonzalez has been standing on the sidelines, sitting on basketball courts, hanging out in dugouts and wedged between the players’ benches at Red Wings games for 25 years all so that he can bring Free Press readers the best and most impactful sports photography from their hometown teams.
During Sunday's Red Wing game against the Florida Panthers, the Wings put together a special tribute to Julian -- a recognition of 25 years of covering the team. He's spent countless games crouched on a milk crate, sandwiched between rows to shoot through a small hole in the glass or perched on a ladder along the concourse shooting over the top of fans' heads to capture the magic of the Russian Five, Chris Osgood pummeling Colorado Avalanche's Patrick Roy, and Steve Yzerman hoisting his first Stanley Cup over his head.