An era in Detroit sports broadcasting is coming to a close. After an incredible 40-year run, Paul Woods will call his final game as the radio analyst for the Detroit Red Wings in Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Florida Panthers.

Woods, 71, announced his retirement back in February, capping off a lifetime in hockey that began on the ice. Before his voice became synonymous with Wings radio, Woods laced up his skates for the team, playing 501 games over seven seasons. His transition to the booth in 1987 was almost accidental—a one-year experiment that turned into a four-decade passion.

"I was just going to do it for one year and then it turned out to be 40," Woods reflected. "This has been a dream. I love the game of hockey."

His career behind the microphone is the longest for any radio analyst in Detroit sports history. He started alongside the legendary Bruce Martyn before forming a iconic partnership with Ken Kal in 1995, a duo that has narrated the highs and lows for generations of fans.

When asked what he'll miss most, Woods pointed to the sheer love of the game and the legendary players he's witnessed. From calling four thrilling Stanley Cup championships to the daily camaraderie around the rink, the memories are countless. "Just so many great memories," he said. "I'm very satisfied with how everything turned out."

For a kid who once wore his Wings sweater everywhere for two years, this journey from fan to player to beloved broadcaster is the stuff of hockey dreams. As he signs off, the Red Wings community salutes a true franchise icon whose voice has been the soundtrack of winter for forty years.