SNAPSHOTS of the journey from teenager in Saskatchewan to rising star in Detroit.
(1) Thirteen-year-old Gordie with the 1941--42 King George Athletic Club bantam team of Saskatoon. He's in the back row, to the right of Frances Hodges, who maintained the outdoor rink at which he played.
(2) Howe gradually accrued ice time with the Wings, then broke out in the 1949 playoffs with 11 points in 11 games.
(3) Howe (top row, second from right) played in the NHL's 1948 All-Star Game. Guess what? He had a second-period fight with Toronto's Gus Mortson.