To millions of fans around the globe, #9 is revered as "Mr. Hockey®". He is considered by many to be the greatest hockey player of all-time, the most durable athlete of all time, an amazing, ambidextrous craftsman who enthralled 3 generations of fans with his unbelievable skills and longevity and baffled writers who struggled with new ways to describe his phenomenal talents. In attempting to assess Gordie's astounding abilities, he has been called Power, Mr. Everything, Mr.Hockey®, Mr. All-Star, The Most, The Great Gordie, Mr. Elbows, The King of Hockey, The Legend, The Man and simply Number 9. In many ways, Gordie Howe® helped propel hockey to the level of popularity it enjoys today. He has been hockey's #1 ambassador for nearly a half century and no player in history has given more to the sport than he. Amazingly, during his career with the Detroit Red Wings, and after games were over at Olympia, Gordie would stay for hours to sign autographs for the throngs of fans who were thrilled to meet the game's number one star. He has always been the most accessible of superstars and hundreds of thousands of fans have cherished memories of their encounter with the humble icon. As tough as he was on the ice, Gordie was soft-spoken and exceptionally kind off of the ice. It has been estimated that no athlete ever has spent more time or signed more autographs for children, adults and fans alike at the thousands of charity events, goodwill dinners and special appearances than #9. Joe Falls, legendary Detroit News sports writer says, "Gordie is by far the nicest athlete I have ever met." No wonder he is the most beloved athlete in Michigan history and one of the most beloved in all of sports."

Gordie's life story reads like the script of an incredible Hollywood movie. Arising from humble beginnings, he overcame poverty, nutritional deficiencies, paralyzing shyness, and other obstacles to embark on a career that is one of the most amazing in the world, in or outside of athletics.

He entered the National Hockey League in 1946 at the age of 18 in the era of six teams and the top 120 players in the world. He scored a goal in his first game. He would ultimately go on to score 1,070 more goals while appearing for the Detroit Red Wings, Houston Aeros, New England Whalers, and Hartford Whalers. In 1963 he would establish the all time goals mark and retain that record continuously for 36 years! At the time Gordie broke Maurice Richard's all-time goal mark of 545 goals, 291 of the goals he scored in his record-breaking bid were on Hall of Fame goalies in an era of supremely low scoring. After finally retiring in 1980, Gordie had established the all-time mark for goals (1,071), assists (1518), points, (2,589) games played (2,421), All Star appearances (29) most MVP's (7), most scoring titles (6) most seasons (32). Astonishingly, Gordie was in the top five in scoring for twenty consecutive years in the NHL. Even more remarkable, statistically Gordie had his best years when he was 41 and 48 years old! He literally established records upon records and set the record for the most records by any athlete ever in any sport. He was known as the ultimate hockey machine. He was the game's most complete player because he did more things better than anybody and that means skating, shooting, fighting, intimidating, scoring goals and engineering them better and longer than anyone in history. He endured crippling injuries during his career amassing 500 stitches in his face alone. As a Detroit Red Wing, Gordie would help lead the team to 4 Stanley Cup Championships, and he would play hockey with the greatest trio ever, "The Production Line" composed of Hall of Famers Ted Lindsay and Sid Abel. The Wings of the 1950s are considered one of sport's greatest dynasties as they compiled a string of 7 consecutive league championships in a row that not even the fabled New York Yankees could match.

In 1973-74,at age 45, and after an incredible string of events engineered by Gordie's wife and visionary business partner, Colleen Howe, Mrs. Hockey™. Gordie jettisoned from retirement to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing with not just one son but two, Mark and Marty, with the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association. This marked the first time in the history of team sports a father played with a son let alone two sons in a major sport. Unbelievably, "Hockey's Ageless Wonder", along with his two sons would lead their team to the championship. And they would do it again the following year. Remarkably, Gordie earned MVP honors (another record). The trophy soon became known as the Gordie Howe® MVP trophy and Mark earned rookie of year honors. The Howes in Houston helped to popularize hockey in the South and add another chapter in the story of the greatest family in hockey history. Gordie, Mark and Marty would play for six years together before Gordie retired in 1980. In his final season, Gordie fulfilled another dream by playing on the same line with his sons in an NHL game. At the age of 52, and playing in all 80 of the team's games, he was Hartford's leading scorer for most of the season!

Mr. Hockey®, has always been a devout family man. Time and time again he has commented and reflected on the role that Colleen, a dynamic visionary has had in his life and in hockey. A woman ahead of her time, Colleen was the first woman manager ever in hockey. She is the founder of the Detroit Junior Red Wings, the first junior team in the U.S. She discovered a loophole in the WHA ruling on underage draft picks that opened the door for her sons and other young stars like Wayne Gretzky and Mike Gartner to enter pro hockey at an earlier age. She is the president of Power Play International, Inc. and president and publisher of Power Play Publications, Inc. Her most recent book, as co-author and publisher, "and... Howe!" their family's historic autobiography has become the best selling hockey hardcover autobiography ever and the best selling self-published sports biography ever. Colleen and Gordie have traveled North America to reach thousands of fans with "and...HOWE!" They have helped raise close to $1,000,000 for various charities and non-profit organizations! She has always guided the fan friendly business end of the family for nearly 50 years. Truly, no woman in hockey history has had a greater impact on the sport than United States Hockey Hall of Famer Mrs. Hockey™. The Howes also have 2 other children, Cathy, a horse aficionado in Montana, and youngest son, Murray, a successful radiologist in Toledo, Ohio. In addition, the Howes have nine wonderful grandchildren ranging in age from 4 years to 22.

Although Gordie is not one for self-praise or accolades, many others have chosen to honor him many times. He was awarded the Order of Canada, the country's highest civil honor. He received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Regina. He is the first to garner the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the U.S. He is a member of 11 different Hall of Fames. He has been lauded along with Colleen for numerous awards for their charitable endeavors for nearly 50 years. He along with Mrs. Hockey® have been tremendous influences off the ice impacting positively on untold numbers of people.

Mr. Hockey®, is a true icon and truly a living legend. While so many of our sports heroes have disappointed us, Gordie stands out as one who has not. In his remarkable life, he has combined unprecedented athletic excellence with human excellence. Although, he was the games greatest player who dominated 3 different eras, post World War II, the golden era, and the expansion era he has been a tremendous force off the ice. Wayne Gretzky, has said, "he wanted to eat, sleep, look like and play hockey like Gordie Howe®." Scotty Bowman, the most successful coach in history has commented," I pick Gordie as my #1 all-time player. He played the longest. He was the toughest player of his era. He was the best offensive player and defensively he was used in all situations. He could play center, right wing, defense. He could shoot right and he could shoot left. If you could make a mold for a hockey player it would be him. I never thought there was another player close to him." Hockey Hall of Famer Bill Gadsby describes Gordie as simply, "the greatest athlete off all time in any sport."

Today, Mr. and Mrs. Hockey® are extremely active. Frequently, they appear at corporate functions, charity events, television commercials and autograph appearances. Remarkably, in 1997 Gordie served as an inspiration for the world when he donned the jersey of The Detroit Vipers and became the first player ever to play hockey in six decades! In all of sports, there is no Mr. Football, Mr. Baseball, etc. but in his sport their is a "Mr. Hockey®". He has been a hero to thousands and an icon to millions, and a great human being to those who have witnessed his kindness, humility, and approachability. He is part Paul Bunyan and part Babe Ruth. To many, he is one of the top 10 athletes of all time and the greatest hockey player who ever lived!.