Gordie Howe died this morning at the age of 88. The much-loved Canadian hero, was known as “Mr. Hockey”.
His family released a statement saying he passed away “peacefully… with his family by his side.”
Revered as the best player in the history of the game Gordie Howe was considered an ironman in many respects both on and off the ice.
Born in Floral, Saskatchewan, the family, with nine children soon moved and he grew up in Saskatoon. Howe spent most of his career with the National Hockey League’s, Detroit Red Wings. He played an incredible 33 seasons over six decades following his debut in 1945.
A humble and gracious man, off the ice, he is credited with setting the standard for the stars that followed him such as Biobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and now Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews,
“we lost the greatest hockey player ever today”
“Unfortunately we lost the greatest hockey player ever today, but more importantly the nicest man I have ever met.” Wayne Gretzky tweeted earller.
In recent years Howe’s health had deteriorated as he suffered and fought back from a series of strokes.
His sister in Saskatoon, Helen Cummine, told the CBC that Dr. Murray Howe, the hockey great’s youngest of four children was with his father when he passed away at the Ohio radiologist’s home this morning.
“I guess he didn’t want to fight anymore, but what a fight he had,” Cummine said.
We’ll have more on Gordie Howe’s life and legacy next week.
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