“Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe died Friday morning, June 10, the Detroit Red Wings confirmed. He was 88.
Howe holds the record for most National Hockey League games played at 1,767. He played in the NHL for 26 years — 25 with the Red Wings and one with the Hartford Whalers — and still holds the record for most seasons played. He was a 23-time NHL All-Star and retired at 52, making him the oldest person to ever play in the NHL.
He still holds 15 records, but set many more during his career that were eventually broken by other hockey legends like Wayne Gretzky.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972, a year after he retired. He and his family, including sons Mark and Marty and wife Colleen, were inducted into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010.
In addition to being a skilled hockey player, Howe was also known for being very competitive. He spent 1,685 minutes in the penalty box during his career.
Howe was well-known off the ice and spent much of his retirement at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
He suffered a stroke in 2014, but recovered after undergoing stem-cell treatment, New York Magazine reported. His family called the recovery “miraculous.”
Howe was at his son’s home in Toledo, Ohio, when he died, TMZ reported.
Thoughts and prayers to the Howe family as Gordie Howe passes away at the age of 88. #9RIP pic.twitter.com/i9KRzXRgwV
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 10, 2016