It was 49 years ago today that Gordie Howe scored his last goal with the Detroit Red Wings.

After 25 years with the club, Howe’s goal came in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. For Howe, however, it marked the final year of his first stint in the NHL.

Howe was forced to retire after that 1971 due to a chronic wrist problem. Offered a job as the first head coach of the New York Islanders, Howe declined the role and instead took a job in the Red Wings front office.

The role wasn’t what Howe anticipated, and was offered a contract to play for the World Hockey Association’s Houston Aeros where his son’s Mark and Marty just signed. Gordie underwent wrist surgery and returned to hockey at 45-years-old to play with the Aeros.

Back-to-back championships later, Howe stayed with the Houston club until 1979-80 when the WHA folded. One last year of hockey came for Howe in 1979-80 where as a 51-year-old, Howe scored 41 points in 80 games becoming the oldest person to ever play in the NHL.

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