Ashes of Gordie, Colleen Howe placed beneath Saskatoon statue

Flags flew at half mast and flowers adorned makeshift memorials. The funeral for Gordie Howe may have been held in Detroit, but in Saskatoon where Howe grew up, the city also paid tribute to their brightest star.

Saskatoon’s greatest hockey hero now lays to rest in the city he grew up in.

Family and friends of Gordie Howe gathered outside SaskTel Centre on Sunday for a ceremony where the ashes of Howe and his wife Colleen were interred beneath his statue.

The city declared Sunday “Thank You Mr. Hockey” day.

Howe was born in Floral, Saskatchewan, but grew up in Saskatoon

Following the ceremony, the Howe family toured Saskatoon, visiting the newly-named Gordie Howe Bridge as well as the home where Howe once lived.

Howe died June 10th at the age of 88.

Howe spent 26 seasons in the National Hockey League and six in the World Hockey Association. He is still No. 2 on the NHL’s all-time goals list behind Wayne Gretzky.

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