Howe, 69, Plays in His 6th Decade

The hair was white, the legs were slow. Still, there was no mistaking Mr. Hockey as Gordie Howe made a little history Friday night.

Howe skated the first shift with the Detroit Vipers in their International Hockey League opener, becoming the only professional in his sport to compete in six decades.

The 69-year-old Hall of Fame player, wearing his familiar No. 9, smiled broadly as a capacity crowd of 20,182 stood and cheered his entrance at The Palace.

“I’ve got to give credit to the trainer,” Howe said after his historic shift. “When I got here today, my arthritis was acting up, my knees really hurt. But when he got through with me, my knees felt fine.”

During a break in the action, a video message of congratulations from Wayne Gretzky was played on the scoreboard.

Howe last wore a minor league sweater in the spring of 1946. That autumn, he began a 25-year career with the Detroit Red Wings. After a brief retirement, he joined the Houston Aeros of the now-defunct World Hockey Assn., playing with sons Mark and Marty. He finished his career back in the NHL, in 1980 at 52.