Hockey great Gordie Howe passed away today, at the age of 88.

He spent almost three and a half decades in professional hockey, the bulk of that time with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, from 1947 to 1971.

Howe came out of retirement in 1973, to play with his sons Mark and Marty as part of the WHA's Houston Aeros.

The Howes moved to New England Whalers, where they played until the WHA was absorbed by the NHL in 1979.

Howe played one more season in the NHL for Hartford Whalers before retiring for good.