The Whalers' admission to the NHL brought Gordie Howe back to the League at age 51. He and Mark Howe were regulars with the Whalers from the start of the 1979-80 season. But Marty, a defenseman, was bothered by injuries and spent most of the season with Springfield of the American Hockey League.
That's what made the night of March 12, 1980, so special.
Three nights after coach Don Blackburn sent out all three Howes for a shift against the Boston Bruins, he put them out as the starting forward line in Gordie's final game in Detroit. Gordie, normally a right wing, shifted to center and played between Marty at left wing and Mark at right wing.
"Marty and I were both defensemen at the time. It meant an awful lot to dad," Mark Howe said years later about the first, and only, father-and-son NHL line.
"The funny part was that Marty was starting on left wing, and the coach told Marty that as soon as the puck dropped to put it in [the offensive zone]. I want you to change. Dad went up to Marty after and said 'Forget that. You're playing the whole shift with me. Marty and I actually played the whole shift on the line with dad."
Gordie Howe had an assist on Dave Keon's first-period goal in a game that ended as a 4-4 tie. He played all 80 games for the Whalers that season, finishing with 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists). He retired for good after the season.
