Howe, Gordie (Gordon Howe), 1928–2016, Canadian hockey player. One of the great forwards in the game's history, “Mr. Hockey” was renowned for both his offensive and defensive play as well as for his durability and toughness. He played with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League from 1946 to 1971; six times he led the league in scoring, and six times he won Most Valuable Player honors. He then retired, but in 1973, with his sons Mark and Marty, he joined the new World Hockey Association (WHA). He played with the WHA's Houston Aeros and then (1977) the New England Whalers, ending his career—32 seasons in all—with the Hartford Whalers of the NHL in 1980. He was the WHA's Most Valuable Player in 1974. Howe's NHL records include most seasons (26) and games (1,767); his career records for goals (801) and assists (1,049) were later broken by Wayne Gretzky.
See his autobiography (2014).
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