Ice hockey world mourns the passing of ‘Mr Hockey’

Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe has passed away at the age of 88. The Howe family received the Wayne Gretzky Award from the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000 for their efforts in advancing the sport.

Though I am only 19 years old, and only started to fall in love with the sport of hockey at the age of nine, the the first name I really knew, and the biggest one I can remember is Gordie Howe.

I was very disappointed when Colleen Howe – Gordie’s wife – phoned our house the next day and said the people Gordie was going to visit we’re picking him up.

Gretzky tweeted that he was sending “thoughts and prayers to the Howe family and to the millions of hockey fans who like me loved Gordie Howe”. Alongside Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay, whose jersey numbers hang near his iconic No. 9 in the Joe Louis Arena rafters, Howe made up one of the most well-known and dominant trios in hockey history, “The Production Line”.

“Howe became universally respected for his tough play and durability in a career that spanned decades, setting records that stood for years, and some that likely will never be broken”.

Altogether – regular season and playoffs – he scored 2,589 career points and was a six-time victor of the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer and a six-time victor of the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player. These eight Gordie Howe quotes illustrate his casual, carefree, and positive outlook on hockey, legends, kids, and life. We remember Mr. Hockey, the perseverance, the determination, the years of hockey, the toughness.

“Not too may things choke me up”, Howe said at the time, per ESPN. No one played the game harder or better. “If I’m physically fit, it could sway me to play another year, but I was never in more pain than I was last year”. He ranked among the National Hockey League leaders in penalty minutes three times, spending 100-plus minutes in the penalty box during those seasons.

From 1973 to 1979 Howe played in the WHA for Houston and New England, racking up 508 points (174g-334a) in 419 games and two championships before returning the National Hockey League with the Hartford Whalers for his final National Hockey League season in 1979-80.

That was the real Howe – a humble, personable, respectful man – despite the fact he was known as a rugged player with a flying elbow.

U.S. Rep. Sander Levin of Royal Oak said Howe was a hero to him and his brother, former Sen.

“He’s an exceptional man. He played hockey until he was 52 years old and was a professional athlete at the highest level”, Douglas said, noting that Howe took him under his wing and taught him not only “the ways of being a professional athlete” but also life lessons that he continues to use.

“RIP Mr Hockey from the AIHL and the Australian hockey community”.

“As a human being, he was incredible”, Holland added. Playing with his sons, though, was what Howe said he was most proud of from his career.