Gordie Howe
“Twenty-five years in Detroit, a line with his sons, eighty games at fifty-two.”
Signed by Detroit and reaching the NHL in 1946, Howe blossomed into a complete power forward by the early 1950s. He led the league in scoring and powered the Red Wings to multiple Stanley Cups, earning the nickname 'Mr. Hockey.' He became a star in 1950-51, when he won his first Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer.
Prairie Beginnings
Born in Floral, Saskatchewan during the Depression, Howe grew up playing hockey on frozen ponds. He reached the Detroit Red Wings in 1946 and developed into the most complete forward of his era.
Mr. Hockey
Howe combined scoring, toughness and ambidextrous skill to win four Stanley Cups and six MVP awards with Detroit. His durability and dominance earned him the enduring nickname 'Mr. Hockey,' and he set the NHL career goals record.
The Ageless Wonder
Howe retired in 1971 but returned to play professionally with his sons in the WHA, then competed in the NHL again until age 52. His record 26 NHL seasons and 1,767 games stood as a testament to his unmatched longevity.
Career Timeline
- 1928Born in Floral, Saskatchewan.
- 1946Detroit. The quarter century begins.
- 1973Houston. A line with Mark and Marty.
- 1980Hartford. Eighty games as an old man.
- 2016Dies in Toledo at eighty-eight.
Biggest Hits
- A 'Gordie Howe hat trick' means scoring a goal, recording an assist, and getting into a fight all in the same game.
- Howe played pro hockey into his 50s and skated alongside his sons Mark and Marty with the Houston Aeros and Hartford Whalers.
Portrait: Ralston-Purina Company · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons