Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe died Friday at the age of 88, CBS News reports. No cause of death was immediately available.
Advertisement
Howe is considered one of the consensus greatest hockey players of all time.
Howe played more than 1,700 games in the National Hockey League and scored more than 800 goals, according to WDIV.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.
Just for good measure, Howe returned to the ice in 1997 for one game with the Detroit Vipers of the IHL, making him the only player to play professionally in six decades. Howe retired for a second time after the season at the age of 52. He was 88 years old.
After Colleen, his wife of nearly 56 years, died in 2009, he fell into a deep depression.
Howe, also known as “Mr. Hockey”, revolutionized the sport during his over career that spanned six decades.
Since then, Wayne Gretzky has passed him in goals, assists and points. His son Marty also confirmed the news to CNN. Howe made his NHL debut in 1946 for the Detroit Red Wings and led the league in scoring each year from 1950 to 1954. As much as we adored what Howe gave the game, Howe loved what the game gave to him: us.
In total, Howe played in well over 2,100 career regular season games, scored 975 goals and amassed over 2,300 career points.
Advertisement
The all-time leaders in Gordie Howe Hat Tricks, according to the Society of International Hockey Research, are Brendan Shanahan (17), Rick Tocchet (15) and Brian Sutter (12).
