Gordie Howe, one of the most prolific players in National Hockey League and Detroit Red Wings history, died this morning at the age of 88.
The Red Wings confirmed Howe's death this morning.
“Today is a sad day for the Detroit Red Wings and the entire hockey world as together we mourn the loss of one of the greatest hockey players of all-time,” said Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch said in a statement released by the organization. “The Red Wings organization and the National Hockey League would not be what they are today without Gordie Howe. There is no nickname more fitting for him than “Mr. Hockey.” He embodied on and off the ice what it meant to be both a Red Wing and a Detroiter. He was tough, skilled, and consistently earned success at the highest level. His achievements are numerous and his accomplishments immeasurable. It is truly a blessing to have had him both in our organization and our city for so many years. He will be deeply missed.”
IN PICTURES: Gordie Howe dies at age 88
Howe suffered from dementia, underwent surgery for spinal stenosis over the summer, and suffered a stroke at the end of October of 2014. However, an experimental stem-cell procedure performed in December of 2014 in Mexico, allowed Howe to made a recovery.
Howe had been living in Sylvania for the past year with his son Murray Howe, who is the head of radiology at ProMedica Toledo Hospital.
In March, the Red Wings honored Howe for his 88th birthday, but the Hockey Hall of Famer clearly had been affected by the changes in his health.
Known by many as "Mr. Hockey," Howe played 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings from 1946 to 1971 and played for the Houston Aeros and the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association from 1973 to 1979. Howe finished his final season in 1980 at the age of 51 with the Hartford Whalers in the organization’s first season in the NHL.
Howe won four Stanley Cup championships, six Hart Trophies as the NHL’s most valuable player and six Art Ross Trophies as the NHL’s leading scorer.
Howe finished his career as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer with 1,850 points - a record broken by Wayne Gretzky in 1989, nine years after Howe retired as a member of the Hartford Whalers.
“Gordie Howe was an incredible ambassador for the game of hockey,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said in a statement. “He was as fierce and competitive as they come but away from the rink he was truly engaging and personable and always enjoyed his interaction with the fans. Gordie set the standard for this franchise during the Original Six era, winning four Stanley Cups, capturing numerous awards and setting an abundance of league records. We will miss Mr. Hockey, who was the greatest Red Wing of all time. Our deepest sympathies go out to Mark, Marty, Murray, Cathy and the rest of the Howe family during this difficult time.”
Howe is survived by four children and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Colleen, who died in 2009 at the age of 76, six years after she was diagnosed with Pick’s disease, a form of dementia similar to Alzheimer’s disease.
Contact Rachel Lenzi at: rlenzi@theblade.com, 419-724-6510, or on Twitter @RLenziBlade.
First Published June 10, 2016, 1:40 p.m.
