Howe, who died Friday at the age of 88, was a physical force as well as an offensive superstar.
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Nicknamed as “Mr. Hockey”, Howe is considered one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time and an ironman in many respects both on and off the ice.
Howe, who finished his career with the Harford Whalers at age 52, is the NHL’s all-time leader in games played (1,767) and ranks second in goals (801), third in points (1,850) and ninth in assists (1,049).
Mr. Hockey was a giant of the game and no list of the NHL’s greatest players has him anywhere but near the top alongside players like Bobby Orr, Maurice Richard, Mario Lemieux, Guy Lafleur, Bobby Hull and Gretzky. As I sat next to my father, who had delighted in the grand days of The Production Line and suffered through the 1970s “Dead Wings” era, I heard the stories about Gordie Howe and the things he had done with the NHL’s Red Wings at old Olympia Arena.
Howe was 6-foot and 205 pounds during his career, bigger than most players.
Youve got to love what youre doing, Howe once said.
He got to play alongside his sons, Mark and Marty, in the World Hockey Association for six seasons where he totaled 30 goals four times and reached 100 points at least twice.
Details for Gordie Howe’s funeral have been finalized.
Nine-time Stanley Cup winning coach Scotty Bowman: “If you were ever going to make a mold for a hockey player with five strengths – offense, defense, durability, toughness and versatility – you wouldn’t look past Gordie Howe”.
The Howe family will be greeting the public and the iconic hockey legend will lie in state inside the arena bowl where the friends, family and fans of Gordie Howe will be allowed to pay their respects. As a 12-year-old growing up in Winnipeg, his dad – who was also a sportswriter – arranged for him to caddie for Howe one day. I’ve met presidents and movie stars and shook Muhammad Ali’s hand, but the couple times I was in the vicinity of Howe, I didn’t have the courage to introduce myself.
“Gordie’s humility and kindness left a permanent impression on me”, said Tampa Bay Lightning GM and former Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman.
In a record 1,767 National Hockey League games, Howe scored 801 goals, assisted on 1,049 others and accumulated 1,685 penalty minutes.
It’s tough to explain what Howe means to Red Wings fans.
“Three plays later, Gilles went to check Gordie again and Gordie saw him coming and gave Gilles an elbow that broke his jaw”, Parent said.
The funeral and visitation for the renowned hockey player will take place in Detroit. In recent years the family said Howe’s health had improved greatly following stem cell treatment he received in Tijuana, Mexico.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said all hockey fans will grieve the loss of “the incomparable”, Gordie Howe.
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“As a human being, he was incredible”, Holland added. His wife, Colleen, died in 2009, and his younger brother Vic passed away in 2015.
