DETROIT (AP) — Thousands of people waited in line at Joe Louis Arena to play their final respects to hockey great Gordie Howe. The Red Wings home arena hosted the public visitation for the former Detroit star, who died Friday at age 88.
Among those who served as pallbearers were Wayne Gretzky, NHL coaching great Scotty Bowman and Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline.
Howe’s retired No. 9 jersey was lowered to just above his casket at Joe Louis Arena and the Stanley Cup banners he helped the Red Wings win in the early 1950s were lowered off to each side. Video monitors below the banners showed a streaming gallery of pictures, including some from the early part of his career in the 1940s, toward the end of it when he played professional hockey with his sons, and after he hung up his skates.
Steve Yzerman, who spent his entire Hall of Fame playing career in Detroit says the biggest thing he took from Howe was his humility.
The Detroit Red Wings will be streaming the funeral of Gordie Howe live starting at 11:00am at this link.
