Clipped this from the Friday, Sept 5th, Kansas City Star:
 
     BLADES TO BE OPPONENT IN HOWE'S RETURN
 
        The Blades sound honored to help roll out the red carpet for Gordie
     Howe's quest to make history, but don't expect them to roll over.
        Howe, one of hockey's greatest players, said Thursday that he'll
     return to play one game.  It just happens to be the International
     Hockey League season opener Oct 3 against the Blades in Detroit.
        The Detroit Vipers, the defending Turner Cup Champions, signed Howe
     at age 69, giving him the opportunity to play pro hockey in six
     decades.
        Howe is expected to see only one shift, but the Blades don't plan
     to make that one shift a cakewalk for him.  If Howe gets in the way of
     tough-man winger Dean Ewen, you can bet Ewen won't be stepping aside.
        "If he chooses to put the skates on, whatever happens happens,"
     Ewen said.  "He's just another guy wearing a Viper uniform when he's
     out there.  He shouldn't play.  He's a legend, but more than anything
     he's damaging himself.  I can't fathom what he's thinking."
        Howe said his return will be brief, but it has hockey-crazy Detroit
     abuzz.  The home of two hockey champs - the Detroit Red Wings won the
     Stanley Cup - is Howe country.  He played there during 1946-71, and
     apparently they're still fond of him.
        Bruce Trout, box-office director at The Palace of Auburn Hills,
     where the Vipers play, said he received more than 500 calls Thursday
     about tickets for the opener. Tickets go on sale today (Friday).
        "This is not a comeback," Howe said in a news conference at The
     Palace. "I want to make it clear this is only for one shift.  This
     isn't going to be the Gordie Howe of old.  All I want is one shift to
     realize a dream."
        Howe's career began in 1944, and in 1946 he began a 25-season run
     with the Detroit Red Wings.  He helped the Red Wings win four Stanley
     Cup championships.  He finished his career in 1980 with the Hartford
     Whalers.
        Howe had planned a return last year with Syracuse, NY, of the
     American Hockey League, but the idea was scrapped when the team began
     a late-season playoff bid.
        Blades coach Paul MacLean isn't convinced Howe will even play, but
     he is certain Howe is one of the best ever.
        "He's hockey.  He's there with Maurice Richard, Bobby Orr, Wayne
     Gretzky and Bobby Hull," MacLean said.  "But it's such a long time
     before the game....It may not even happen.  I'd rather reserve comment
     on it until we get closer to the game."
 
     ...THE GORDIE HOWE FILE...
     >Age:  69 (March 31, 1928)
     >Brithplace:  Floral, Sask
     >Residence: Traverse City, Mich
     >NHL Totals:  1767 regular-season games
                    801 goals, 1049 assists, 1850 points
                   1685 penalty minutes
     >Career Highlights: Member of 4 Stanley Cup champions
                           1949-50, '51-52, '53-54, and '54-55
                         12-time first-team NHL All-star
                         6-time winner of Ross Trophy for most points
                         6-time leading scorer in the playoffs
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     Know this isn't college hockey, but thought I'd post it anyway.
     Awful lot of Mich fans out there... :-)    I personally think it
     isn't right for him to do this "glory-seeking" move, but hey...if
     he can still skate...let him have at it!
 
     Mike Welvaert, UND '90
     GO SIOUX...MAKE IT 2!!
 
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