RIP Gordie Howe - the greatest of them all

Poor Len Canayen here, with a very brief tribute to Mr. Hockey, the Pride of Floral, Saskatchewan, Gordie Howe, who passed away on Friday following a courageous eight-year battle against the inevitable results of a debilitating stroke. He was 88.

From 1946 to 1980, he played twenty-six seasons in the National Hockey League and six seasons in the World Hockey Association. His first 25 seasons were spent with the Detroit Red Wings, with whom he won the Stanley Cup four times. He won six Hart Trophies as the league's most valuable player, and six Art Ross Trophies as the leading scorer.

Nicknamed "Mr. Hockey", Gordie Howe is considered by almost everyone -- including die-hard Montréal fans like me -- the most complete player to ever lace on the skates, and one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time.

Requiescat in pace.