The windchill of -29C and the fresh snow blanketing Saskatoon was a far cry from the sunshine of Los Angeles to which Wayne Gretzky has grown accustomed.
“Why couldn’t Mr. Hockey have been born in Mexico?” Gretzky said Friday with a laugh.
As bitter as winter on the prairies can feel – especially when wearing a hoodie and leather jacket like Gretzky did when his private plane landed Thursday – it certainly wasn’t going to stop him and other hockey legends from making it to Saskatoon for what is expected to be the final public appearance for Bridge City hero, NHL icon and the man considered by many to be the greatest hockey player of all-time, Gordie Howe.
The Saskatoon native and Hockey Hall of Famer has returned to the city as a special guest at the annual Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Dinner. Among those scheduled to be in attendance alongside him on Friday night include Gretzky, Brett Hull, Bobby Hull, Dennis Hull, along with sons Marty and Mark Howe. Gretzky will serve as keynote speaker.
Under any circumstances, a return by Howe to Saskatoon is a big deal. But considering his diminishing health, “for him to even be here is incredible,” said son Mark Howe during a press conference Friday morning before the sports celebrity dinner.
Gordie Howe has battled dementia for several years. In addition, he suffered a stroke in the fall that left him gravely ill. Following stem cell treatment in Mexico, however, he continues to recover from the stroke and gain strength thought to be lost.
After undergoing the stem cell treatment, said Marty on Friday, his father went from not being able to stand to walking within nine hours.
As is the case with anyone battling dementia, there are good days and bad days. Gordie was moving a “a little slower” Friday morning after his plane from Texas was delayed for nine hours and didn’t arrive until around 10 p.m. on Thursday. The family hopes Friday night will be a great celebration.
“This is his home and always will be his home,” said Mark.
The trip to Saskatoon was decades in the making for Mark Howe.
“I haven’t been here since Gordie Howe Day in the ’60s. If they’d given him more honours, I would have been here more often,” he joked.
Gretzky on Friday said Howe has always been one of his idols and helped pave the way for him and others to enjoy success in the sport.
Howe holds NHL records for most games played and seasons played.
The Hall of Famer played on four Stanley Cup championship teams in Detroit during a 25-year stint that began in 1946.
Brett Hull says when he played in Detroit, he often chatted with Howe about hockey, sports and life in the dressing room before games, conversations that he’ll treasure.
“I don’t think there’s any question that if it wasn’t for Gordie, and if it wasn’t for Bobby Hull jumping to the WHA in 1972 that I might not be standing here today,” Gretzky said. “So they definitely laid a path for guys like Wayne Gretzky to become professional athletes.”
