Howe, Mark S.
Hockey
b. May 28, 1955, Detroit, MI
As a six-year-old, Howe often skated in practice sessions with the Detroit Wings, the team that his famous father Gordie Howe starred for. At sixteen, he played for the U. S. team that won a silver medal in the 1972 Winter Olympics.
In 1973, Howe joined the Houston Aeros of the new World Hockey Association with his brother Marty, and father Gordie came out of retirement to play with his sons. A left wing, Mark scored 79 points on 38 goals and 41 assists and was named rookie of the year.
Howe had 76 points in 1974-75 and was the top scorer in the WHA playoffs with 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points, leading Houston to the championship. After two more seasons with Houston, the franchise folded and all three Howes went to the New England Whalers. Mark had his best offensive season in 1978-79, scoring 42 goals and adding 65 assists for 107 points.
The team became known as the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80, after moving into the NHL. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Howe was moved to defense that year but remained a scoring threat because of his fine wrist shot, puck-handling skill, and skating speed, scoring 80 points on 24 goals and 56 assists.
Hartford traded Howe to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1982. He suffered the first of a series of back injuries in January of 1990 and eventually underwent surgery for a herniated disc. From 1989-90 through 1991/92, he played in only 101 games and he signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent in July of 1992. He retired after playing just 18 games during the 1994-95 season.