Late Ice Hockey Legend Gordie Howe and His Wife, Colleen Janet Howe, First Met in a Bowling Alley When He Was Just 17!

Hockey Gordie Howe and his wife of five decades, Colleen, met in a Detroit-based bowling alley. After two years of dating, they married on April 15, 1953.

Gordie Howe, often called “Mr. Hockey,” is one of history’s greatest ice hockey players.

The sportsman’s illustrious career spanned from 1946 to 1980, during which he played 26 seasons in the NHL. He even played six long seasons in the WHA.

Reports suggest that Gordie and Colleen first crossed paths in the early 1950s. In particular, the couple met at the Lucky Strike Lanes bowling alley.

They met in the bowling alley in Detroit during the 1951-52 NHL season when the Ice Hockey legend was just 17.

Back then, he was already playing for the Detroit Red Wings, while Colleen was just a girl in high school.

Their connection was almost immediate, leading to a courtship that lasted about two years before they married on April 15, 1953.

The pair had a tight-knit family life together, raising four children. They welcomed Mark Howe in 1955, Marty in 1954, Murray in 1969, and Cathy Howe in 1965.

Colleen Howe Grew Up With Her Mother and Step-Father Following Her Biological Parents’ Divorce!

Colleen Janet Joffa Howe, aka Colleen Howe, was born in Sandusky, Michigan, on February 17, 1933. Her mother, alongside her aunt and uncle, raised her following her dad’s absence.

She was the only child of her parents, whose marriage ended in divorce when she was young.

Following this separation, Colleen was raised primarily by her mother. Eventually, her mother remarried, which introduced new family dynamics to her.

The almost difficult upbringing era officially ended after she got a new father. However, details about her other family aren’t available.

Colleen, the only child of her biological parents, had moved to Detroit with her mother and stepfather during high school.

Speaking of Colleen’s profession, she was a sports manager, author, and civic leader.

As a sports manager, Colleen Howe founded Power Play International and Power Play Publications, which helped manage her husband’s and their son’s business interests.

Colleen’s role as an agent was notable when she successfully negotiated Gordie’s return from retirement in 1973.

This allowed Howe to play alongside their sons on the Houston Aeros, leading to the unification of the family on the field.

Colleen’s efforts earned her recognition as a pioneer among hockey wives, leading to her being inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010.

Likewise, Colleen was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

In addition, she was a pioneer in youth hockey development. Colleen was one of the founders of the Detroit Junior Red Wings, the first Junior A hockey team in the US.

During the first three years, she served as general manager and later worked in management for youth development.

Not to mention, she was the one who pitched the idea of constructing Michigan’s first indoor ice hockey rink, named Gordie Howe Hockeyland.

Colleen Janet Joffa’s civic engagement included running for Congress in 1981. She established initiatives supporting communities and even authored books to share experiences in hockey.

She received several accolades for her efforts, including the Wayne Gretzky International Award in 2000.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Gordie Howe was an ambidextrous player, meaning he could shoot with his left and right hands. 
• His 25-year-long journey with the Detroit Red Wings is the most notable portion of his career. He won four Stanley Cup Championships and six Hart Trophies during this time.
• The term “Gordie Howe hat trick” refers to achieving a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game.
• In the 1950 playoffs, he fractured his skull and broke his cheekbone and nose after a check went wrong.