Before Wayne Gretzky came along, there was Gordie Howe.
Howe was big, strong and could do it all on the ice as a right wing who was feared as much for his toughness as he was for his scoring ability. All the way, he was loved by generations of hockey fans for his sweet side.
Howe was so great in his day and so beloved by fans that everyone came to know him by a nickname that was befitting, Mr. Hockey.
Friday is another sad day in the world of sports. A week after the passing of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, hockey has lost one of all-time greats with Howe dying on Friday at age 88.