Gordie Howe, Hall of Fame hockey player, who played 1,767 games in the NHL, the most by any player and who played his last game in 1980 at the age of 52 has been granted his dying wish. Howe died in June of this year. His final wish was that his wife’s ashes and his ashes would be interred at Howe’s statue in Saskatoon, Canada. This week it happened. Although Wayne Gretzky has broken many of Howe’s records, it’s safe to say that Gordie Howe is the most recognizable hockey player in the NHL. And the most loved.
But today, Howe and his family return to the Bridge City for a special interment ceremony emceed by longtime Hockey Night in Canadacommentator Bob Cole.
Among Howe’s family members is one of his grandsons, Corey Howe, who — thanks to his grandfather — now lives in Saskatoon.
Howe said his grandfather invited him for the sports dinner in February, and that’s where he met his now girlfriend.
“We came for this dinner and I met this girl who was serving there and we hit it off so I’ve been visiting Saskatoon back and forth and we started dating and I ended up here in April so now I’m living here,” he said, adding the sports dinner was his first time in Saskatoon, and he was pleasantly surprised to see what kind of city it is.
“I imagined Saskatoon as barren ice land and just covered in snow. I would hear stories from my grandpa skating to school and always cold. I imagined it was always winter here,” he said. “Now I absolutely love Saskatoon, the people and the city here is just incredible and it’s so special to be here and hear the stories of how my grandpa grew up.”
Steve Hogle, president of the Saskatoon Blades junior hockey team, told CBC Radio’s Saskatoon Morning the idea for today’s ceremony blossomed quickly following the death of the hockey legend.
“When he passed away everybody paused and reflected on the unbelievable man. He reached super stardom in a sport we all loved and never forgot where he was from or who he was about, so it really resonated with all of us,” Hogle said.
Shortly after Howe’s death, Hogle said he reached out to the Howe family and ended up speaking with Howe’s son Marty about a last wish his father had.
“Marty Howe casually mentioned it was his dad’s last wishes to have his ashes and Colleen’s ashes placed at the statue at SaskTel Centre. When he mentioned that we kicked it into high gear and found a way to make it happen.”