Gordie Howe remembered: ‘He was everything you could imagine’

Hockey lost a legend Friday when Gordie Howe passed away at 88.

He played 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings before retiring in 1971, but Howe wasn’t done playing hockey. Two years later, he joined the upstart World Hockey Assn. and played on the same line with his sons Marty and Mark with the Houston Aeros.

After six seasons in the WHA, Howe spent one more in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers before retiring again in 1980. He was a 52-year-old grandfather at that point.

“A remarkable athlete whose mastery of our sport was reflected by the longevity of his career and by his nickname, ‘Mr. Hockey,’ Gordie’s commitment to winning was matched only by his commitment to his teammates, to his friends, to the Red Wings, to the city of Detroit and – above all – to his family,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Friday.

“His devotion to Colleen through her illness and the fact that he extended his playing days into a fifth decade so he could play with his sons are only two examples of that true priority in his life.”

Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch said: “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. 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.’”

Wayne Gretzky eventually passed Howe for the NHL record for most goals scored – finishing his career with 894 to Howe’s 801. Gretzky and Mark Messier also passed Howe for most career points –  Gretzky scored 2,857, Messier had 1,887 and Howe had 1,850.

But Gretzky said Friday no one could compare to the player he grew up idolizing.

“For me, he’s the greatest hockey player who ever played,” Gretzky said on the “Dan Patrick Show.”  “Sometimes when you meet your idol, it can be a little bit disappointing. You build them up so much in your mind. I built Gordie Howe up so much in my mind. My dad says, “How was it meeting Mr. Howe?’ It was the greatest day of my life. He was nicer than I could have ever imagined.”

Gretzky added: “He was everything you could imagine. I tell people this all the time. The two greatest players were Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr. Howe was strong, he was fast and he loved to play hockey. His love and life was hockey. I think he taught me that.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Toronto Mayor John Tory were among those paying tribute to the native of the western Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

And, of course, the hockey community mouned the loss of one of its greatest members.