Bruins, Hockey World Pay Tribute To Gordie Howe

By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) -- Every sport has its immortals, but few athletes embodied their particular sport as completely as Gordie Howe did. No one before or since the Detroit Red Wings legend has represented hockey's inhuman toughness and resolve, and you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone involved in the sport who didn't grow up idolizing "Mr. Hockey" - or, at least, pass his legend down to younger generations.

As expected for the loss of Howe, who passed away Friday morning at the age of 88, heartfelt tributes poured in across the web from hockey luminaries and many who followed his career. The Bruins organization paid its respects on Twitter, along with teams across the NHL:

Although the Colorado Avalanche's Howe tweet appears minimal, it carries massive weight. The two teams have been intense (and bloody) rivals for decades now. This is how much respect Howe commands across the sport.

Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer and widely considered the greatest hockey player ever, offered his condolences for whom he believes is the true "Great One."

While Bruins legend Bobby Orr has yet to speak publicly on his own behalf about Mr. Howe, he's already made his opinion clear: Howe was the best to ever lace up the skates.

Completing perhaps the easiest "Mount Rushmore" in sports along with Howe, Gretzky and Orr is Penguins legend Mario Lemieux, who also paid his respects.

Here's a further sampling of the many athletes, personalities, and institutions across the sport of hockey who paid tribute to Mr. Howe on social media Friday.

It's rare to see a sports figure receive such a massive outpouring of love and admiration, but Howe was certainly in that rarified air. He was as big an ambassador to hockey as anyone was in their own sport.

Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.

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