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Gordie Howe, one of the greatest hockey players of all time and an iconic figure in the sport, has died. He was 88. No cause of death was immediately available. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, three sons and daughter.
The hockey world mourns the loss of one of its greatest ambassadors. Howe was born in a farmhouse March 21, 1928, in Floral, Saskatchewan. He was one of nine siblings and went on to play in the NHL, making his debut for the Detroit Red Wings as an 18-year-old right wing in 1945. He scored a goal in his first game in the league and went on to break a host of records during the course of a pro career that spanned more than 50 years.
Read on for more about his life and career:
1. Howe Nearly Died From Complications Following a Stroke in 2014
Mark Howe tells @THNKenCampbell that Gordie Howe, “definitely headed in wrong direction,” has taken turn for worse. http://t.co/TKKClET4PD
Howe’s life was in danger in 2014 following severe complications from a stroke suffered October 26, 2014, while visiting his daughter in Lubbock, Texas, Howe’s health declined in mid-November of that year. On November 16, his son Mark issued the following statement to the Canadian Press:
“His health has taken a turn for the worse this past week to 10 days and we are doing what we can to help his situation the best that we can. But he is not doing well at all is the bottom line.”
Immediately following his stroke, Howe’s family rushed to Texas to be with him in case he didn’t pull out of it. “I feel like this is his final lap around the rink,” Murray Howe, one Howe’s three sons, told the Detroit Free Press at the time. “I’m guessing that he’s not going to recover … but then again, he’s about as strong as they get. If anybody can do it he can.”
Howe, who suffered from dementia and had a series of smaller strokes prior to the last one in October. His wife of almost 56 years, Colleen, died in 2009 from Pick’s disease, which is also a form of dementia. Together, they had four children: Marty, Mark, Murray and Cathy.
2. Gordie Howe Was Also Known as ‘Mr. Hockey’
Howe’s jersey No. 9 was an iconic number in the sport. He was known as Mr. Hockey because of his incredible talent and as good as he was scoring goals and racking up assists, he was equally as dangerous with his fists.
A member of Detroit’s famed “Production Line” with Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay, the trio dominated the NHL during the 1940s and 50s. Howe led the Wings to four Stanley Cup titles.
For his career, Howe scored 801 goals, 1,049 assists and 1,850 points in an NHL-record 1,767 games played. He is third in NHL history in total points and holds the NHL record for the most number of games played for a single team (1,687, Detroit), shares the record for most NHL seasons (22) with Chris Chelios, and is the oldest player to ever dress in an NHL game (52).
Howe appeared in a record 23 All Star Games, is the Detroit franchise leader in points, goals and games, and won the Art Ross Trophy (points leader) and Hart Trophy (most valuable player) six times each.
3. He Underwent Stem Cell Treatment in Tijuana in 2015
After suffering multiple strokes and signs of dementia, Howe agreed to undergo stem cell treatment in 2015. He was near death as his health was rapidly deteriorating and flew to Tijuana for the treatment. According to New York Magazine, he could not remember the names of his children.
The strokes had left him unable to walk, but after his first treatment he regained his ability to walk within eight hours. Stemedica paid $30,000 for the treatments.
The family released a statement about the treatments:
On December 8, Mr. Hockey underwent a two-day, non-surgical treatment at Novastem’s medical facility. The treatment included neural stem cells injected into the spinal canal on Day 1 and mesenchymal stem cells by intravenous infusion on Day 2. His response was truly miraculous. At the end of Day 1 he was walking with minimal effort for the first time since his stroke. By Day 2 he was conversing comfortably with family and staff at the clinic.
On the third day, he walked to his seat on the plane under his own power. By Day 5 he was walking unaided and taking part in helping out with daily household chores. When tested, his ability to name items has gone from less than 25 percent before the procedure to 85 percent today,” the Howes said in the statement.
4. Howe’s Hockey Career Spanned 6 Decades
Quebec Nordiques enforcer Curt Brackenbury was tough — but he was no match for 50-year Gordie Howe. http://t.co/dYnEdp2Kzh
In 1997, Howe made hockey history one last time when, at the age of 69, he became the oldest player to play in a professional game. He was signed by the Detroit Vipers and skated a single shift to set the record.
Prior to playing for the Vipers, Howe set the mark as the oldest player to dress in an NHL game when, as a 52-year-old, he played in every game for the Hartford Whalers during the 1979-80 season. Howe was named to his 23rd All Star Game that season, which was held in Detroit. An 18-year-old Wayne Gretzky also played in that game. The Joe Louis Arena fans serenaded Howe with two memorable standing ovations at the start of that game that are a part of hockey lore.
At 45, Howe joined the World Hockey Association and played six seasons with the Houston Aeros and the New England Whalers. During this time, he got to play with his two sons, Mark and Marty, who were half his age. Mark, a left wing, was second on the Whalers in scoring during the 1977-78 season behind only his dad, who finished with 96 points.
5. He Only Scored 2 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
One of the strongest and toughest players to ever play the game, Howe is commonly associated with the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick,” a term that has come to signify when a player scores a goal, an assist, and engages in a fight in a single game.
Ironically, Howe only recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick twice in his long playing career. According to NHL.com, Howe recorded his first on Oct. 11, 1953 when he fought Toronto’s Fernie Flaman, assisted on a Red Kelly goal, and also scored. His second came on March 21, 1954, against the Maple Leafs when Howe scored the opening goal, assisted on two Ted Lindsay goals and fought Ted Kennedy.
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).