Hockey legend Gordie Howe dies

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One of the greatest hockey players of all time, Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey, died Friday morning. Howe was known for his tenacious play on the ice and being an absolute gentleman off it.

Gordie Howe was born in Floral Saskatchewan in 1928. He joined the Detroit Red Wings in 1946, when he was 18 years old and that began a hockey career that spanned 5 decades.

Gordie Howe knew all about longevity. He played a whopping 2421 games in 32 seasons in the NHL and WHA racking up an unbelievable 2589 points in the regular season and playoffs. Mr. Hockey was an All Star 21 times and won 4 Stanley Cups. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in June of 1972.

Gordie Howe sits second behind only Wayne Gretzky in goals scored in the NHL with 801. Today Wayne Gretzky tweeted:

“Unfortunately we lost the greatest hockey player ever today, but more importantly the nicest man I have ever met. Sending our thoughts and prayers to the Howe family and to the millions of hockey fans who like me loved Gordie Howe. RIP Mr. Hockey.”

Wayne’s father Walter, had this to say:

“We will miss Gordie Howe greatly, he was a special friend to our family. Wayne is what he is today because of Gordie Howe. He met him as a child and idolized him. He wore 9 because of Gordie throughout his junior career, because he wanted to be like Gordie Howe.”

A player on the Soo Greyhounds was already wearing 9 so Gretzky put two 9’s on his jersey because he liked Howe that much.

Gordie Howe was 88.