Gordie Howe

Also known as "Mr. Hockey," Gordie Howe is a retired Hall of Fame hockey player. Gordie Howe is a legend in the NHL. He remains the only player to play in six different decades, playing one game in 1997 at nearly 70 years of age. Known for his toughness and tenacity, Howe was a member of four Stanley Cup winning Red Wings teams. He led the league in points six different times and won six NHL MVP awards. Howe began his professional career by joining the Omaha Knights in the United States Hockey League in 1945. He joined the Detroit Red Wings in 1946.

One of Howe’s many remarkable seasons came during the 1953 – 1954 season, where he led the league in points with 81, earning him the Art Ross Trophy. During that season, he scored 33 goals with 48 assists in 70 games. Howe, along with Red Wings captain Ted Lindsay, powered the team through the regular season and playoffs. He was named to the All-Star first team after that season.

In what still remains a U.S. hockey record, Howe returned to the ice for a single game in 1997, nearly 70 years old, to play in his sixth decade of professional hockey.

In 1972, Howe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The same year, his #9 Jersey was retired by the Detroit Red Wings.

On March 6, 2009, Howe's wife of 56 years, Colleen, passed away at the age of 76.NHL.com: Colleen Howe Passes Away at 76

Unlike a normal NHL hat trick, which consists of scoring three goals in one game, Gordie Howe had a personal hat trick which consisted of:

• Score a goal
• Get an assist
• Get into a fight

Under coach Jack Adams, Howe joined Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay on "The Production Line," leading the team to four Stanley Cup Championships over a six year period, starting in 1949.

Howe continued with the Red Wings for a total of 25 consecutive seasons, earning numerous awards. He earned the Art Ross Memorial Trophy six times, finishing the season with the most points and the Hart Memorial Trophy, for the league MVP six times as well. In 1967, he was given the Lester Patrick Trophy, for his outstanding service to U.S. hockey. Following the 1970-1971 season, Howe announced his retirement from the league.

Following his retirement, Howe continued with the Red Wings in a management position off-ice. In 1973, he was offered a contract in the now defunct World Hockey Association, with the Houston Aeros. He played in the WHA for the following six seasons, before returning to the NHL for one last season in 1979-1980 with the then Hartford Whalers. After the season, Howe again retired from professional hockey.