Gordie Howe In Remembrance… Sadness and Celebration.

Tears flooded out of my eyes just months ago on March 28th watching and hearing 20k+ singing happy birthday to this legend at the Joe. What a moment…even Mickey Redmond choking up.

Considering Gordie was near death in Oct. of 2014 after a severe stroke, then the miracle of an experimental stem cell treatment and Gordie’s will himself to fight back. That he did and all of us sighed a gigantic relief. So getting that one last chance to see him was more than special.

When I was 10 or 11 years old I got a chance to meet and get Gordie Howe’s autograph. All I can remember is how I stood there in awe hardly knowing what to say other than asking can I please have your autograph, this great big man was wonderful with a gentle smile happily giving it to me. I left elated and never forgot that moment so while the crowd sang it was that flashback that went through my mind.

On Saturday nights in our house when very young when all we had was 4 channels on a black and white TV, it was Hockey Night in Canada. I can remember that theme from 3 or 4 yrs. old, Hockey became my favorite sport and it was number 9 who ruled.

I loved it and the old-time hockey when the gloves came flying off and the benches cleared. It was part of the game…then.

So when the news announced a few days ago that Mr. Hockey was gone my heart sank and again I cried but this time much harder. Then I sat and reflected all those games I watched from a kid, all the times I yelled when he scored…and when he dropped those gloves LOL. I don’t believe I ever saw him lose a fight.

But it was with the stick that made this man an icon of the game.

Gordie laid down the foundation for the sport and what would become Detroit Hockeytown.

Mr. Hockey has left the arena but he’ll never be gone.

Detroit Red Wing Fans and all of hockey mourns the loss of the best that ever played the game.

Meeting of two NHL legends: Detroit Red Wings young star Gordie Howe (left) chats with his famous Montreal Canadiens rival Jean Beliveau prior to a 1950s all-star game at the Montreal Forum.

Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings star forward, is surrounded by teammates as he kneels at boards after scoring his 544th goal and tieing the National Hockey League all-time record on Oct. 27, 1963 in Detroit.