Mr. Hockey is the big Eight Oh!

It's one of the most celebrated birthday's for the NHL today, as Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe celebrates his 80th birthday Monday.

Howe who still captures the attention of NHL fans into his retirement years, has been a legendary fixture in NHL circles through the decades.
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From his remarkable early days with the Wings, to playing with his sons in Houston and Hartford first in the WHA and then the NHL, spanning the decades with a farewell appearance with the Detroit Vipers of the old IHL, Howe has been synonymous with hockey and class.

Sunday the Wings celebrated the momentous occasion with a small gathering at Joe Louis Arena, presenting him with his original number (17 for trivia players) and revisiting his original signing gift of a leather jacket. In a nod to our modern times, Mr. Hockey also was presented with a 48 inch Hi Def television set, a far cry from the medium that made him famous in the fifties and sixties.

While today's young guns make their assaults on the record books, we celebrate the years of the finest all around player that the NHL has ever seen.

Detroit Free Press-- Red Wings honor Mr. Hockey before 80th birthday
Detroit News-- Red Wings celebrate Gordie Howe's 80th birthday
CBC Sports--Mr. Hockey gets a new jacket, 62 years later
National Post-- Red Wings give Howe team jacket for 80th birthday
Hartford Courant-- The Day the Howes came to town
Hartford Courant-- Gordie Howe: Mr. Hockey turns 80
Calgary Herald-- Still the NHL's best ever at age 80? That's Howe
London Free Press-- Mr Hockey at 80
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Photo from CBC Website