Gordie Howe, ‘Mr. Hockey,’ dead at 88

Gordon "Gordie" Howe, professional hockey's Iron Man, passed away Friday. He was 88.

Howe was one of the most durable athletes in history, with a career that spanned six decades and 32 professional seasons. His competitiveness and commitment earned him the nickname "Mr. Hockey." At the time of his passing, the Hall of Famer held the records for most games (1,767) and seasons played (26) in the National Hockey League. Howe also set career milestones for goals, assists and points — all of which were broken by the hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

One of 11 children, Howe was born in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan on March 31, 1928. He showed a natural gift on the ice from an early age, playing on five teams at once during his childhood. He developed a dexterity that allowed him to shoot a puck with either hand.

Howe attended his first National Hockey League camp at the age of 15 and signed a contract with the Detroit Red Wings two years later in 1945. His career with the Red Wings spanned 25 years, during which he won four Stanley Cup trophies and six Hart Trophies for league MVP.

Howe retired from the NHL in 1971, but then returned to professional sports two years later to play with his two sons, Marty and Mark, in the the upstart World Hockey Association. The three Howes ultimately moved onto the WHA's New England Whalers, which was ultimately absorbed by the NHL. The senior Howe retired for good in 1980, at the ripe age of 52.

Neurological disorders featured heavily in the later stages of Howe's life. For many years, Howe cared for his wife, Colleen, who suffered from Pick's disease, a rare form of progressive dementia. She passed away in 2009 at the age of 76.

Gordie Howe was diagnosed with dementia three years later. He had two disabling strokes in 2014, but he seemed to recover after receiving a stem cell transplant last summer.