Mr. Hockey

(Photo courtesy of allposters.com)

On Thursday, the Detroit Red Wings will host the Calgary Flames to start their first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. For many years, Gordie Howe was Detroit's marquee player. He also shares a birthday with Max. (March 31st).

Mr. Hockey is arguably the most complete player in NHL history. He retired from the Hartford Whalers in 1980 at the age of 52. In 1997, at the of age 69 , Howe skated for one shift with the Detroit Vipers of the IHL. That appearance made him the only athlete to have played in six decades of professional sports.

In 1975, Max's Uncle Alan and I watched Howe and his Houston Aeros do battle with the Calgary Cowboys. He played alongside his sons, Mark and Marty Howe. Gordie Howe was one of the three stars. An amazing athlete.

That game was played at the old Stampede Corral, home of the 1954 Western Hockey League champion Calgary Stampeders. They defeated the Vancouver Canucks in a hard fought series to capture the Patrick Cup.