The Howes: Houston Hockey Bonds

The city and hockey community of Houston, Texas, remains near and dear to the Howe family. In 1973, the iconic Gordie Howe came out of a short retirement to join sons Marty and Mark with the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association. The trio spent four seasons in Houston, winning the Avco Cup championship in 1973-74 and 1974-75.

Future Hockey Hall of Famer Mark, who was just 18 years old (too young for the NHL Draft) at the time he came to the Aeros, went to become the WHA’s all-time leading playoff scorer. At age 25, he switched from being a 40-goal scoring left winger to being a defenseman. Later, as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, Mark became a three-time finalist for the Norris Trophy. Meanwhile, older brother Marty played with Gordie and Mark on the New England/Hartford Whalers in the WHA and NHL after their time together with the Aeros.

Houston ties remain strong

Today, it’s been 52 years since the Howes first arrived in Houston. Family matriarch and business manager Colleen passed away in 2009. Gordie, “Mr. Hockey”, died in 2016. Nevertheless, the Howe legacy lives on in the Houston metropolitan area.

‘”Hockey is a ‘secondary’ sport in Texas, but the people who are exposed to the game love it and most stay with it,” Mark Howe said.

“The enthusiasm of the hockey community in Houston is contagious. The hockey fans and players here love the game.The best part is that we get to give something back to the game here, on and off the ice. We also get to visit some family members.”

Marty Howe’s wife, Mary, is a Houston native. They live in Connecticut but Mary still has family in the Houston area. Additionally, Mark met his ex-wife Ginger, the mother of his three children, while playing in Houston.

The Howe Foundation impact

The Howes, through their leadership of the Howe Foundation, continue to give back to the communities in the United States and Canada that shaped their own lives in and away from the game. The Foundation addresses both on-ice and academic (the “Mr. Hockey” and “Mrs. Hockey” scholarship funds) needs. In honoring the legacies of Gordie and Colleen, Mark said there are two main focuses.

• Hockey access as a building block: The Howe Foundation devotes resources to help kids participate in hockey and strive for success in school and life. Their goals are very similar to Ed Snider Youth Hockey and Education in the greater Philadelphia area. Playing hockey is a tool for success away from the game, not the destination itself for the vast majority of the population. As a hockey parent, Gordie believed the game should be fun and reinforce the values of teamwork and commitment.
• Women’s involvement in the business of sports: In honor of Colleen’s legacy, the Foundation empowers women to advance in the sports industry through education, direct experience and opportunities to develop leadership skills.

“We set a goal of a $2 million investment in supporting these goals through the Howe Foundation. So far we’ve donated about $524,000. We have a lot more we can, and want, to give,” Mark said.

Hockey Day in Houston: 2025, 2026 and Beyond

First launched in February 2024, Hockey Day in Houston has become both an annual event and a year-round commitment. The Howe Foundation shows its support both financially and in terms of Mark and Marty attending the 2025 event. They plan to return for the 2026 edition on March 21.

“We offered a matching donation up to $25,000 for Hockey Day in Houston. We did it as a kind of incentive for their fundraising goals. To be honest, we wondered if that was a little too ambitious. But not only did they hit the $25K fundraising goal, which we gladly matched, they exceeded it by about $5,500. The hardest part is getting started, and they are off to a great start. The event will grow in 2026 and I’m sure it will just keep getting bigger. That’s exciting to see,” Mark Howe said.

Hockey Day in Houston showcases the sport and local hockey organizations. The dedication of its participants, sponsors, the Howe Foundation and other donors have built the foundation of what promises to become a long-lasting tradition.

The 2025 Hockey Day, held at Saint Arnold Bewing Company in Houston (2000 Lyons Avenue), made big impression on all attendes including the Howes.

“We had a great time,” Mark said. “Doing it again next year was a pretty easy decision.”

See old friends, make new ones

Mark Howe said that the biggest satisfaction he and Marty get from Hockey Day in Houston is seeing how much the sport means to the tight-knit — and growing — hockey community in the area. Moreover, the difference between traditional and non-traditional hockey markets is that people in typical hockey hotbeds don’t have to seek out the game. Involvement is easy. The game finds you.

In non-traditional markets, the process works in reverse. The passion is similar. However, before the game captures someone’s heart and mind, he or she must find the sport first.

One of the first things people discover: hockey friendships often last a lifetime. The Howes are no exception.

“Marty and I look forward to getting together with people like the Grahames or Jack Stanfield. There’s only so much time we all get to do that. Alumni groups, like the Flyers Alumni Association, do a really good job of keeping that bond alive with the fans and the players. There’s now a Houston Hockey Hall of Fame (since 2023). I think that’s a good thing, too,” Mark said.

“My Aeros days were a long time ago. However, it was an important time in my life and my family’s life. But it wasn’t just me and my family. It was people like Jack and Ron. Houston became a second home, and the hockey community means a lot to them. They were also part of Hockey Day in Houston this year.”

Longtime Houston resident Stanfield played for Aeroes and later became a coach and broadcaster. Meanwhile, Ron Grahame’s wife, Charlotte, became an executive with the Colorado Avalanche. Her name is engraved on the Stanley Cup trophy. Back in 1975, WHA/NHL goltender Ron was a workhorse in net for the Avco Cup champion Aeros.

Mark’s fondest memory of Houston is how welcoming the community was to his entire family. A half century later, much has changed in society. One thing, however, has not: the hospitality and kindness of the local residents. That’s especially true within the hockey community.

“We met a lot of nice people through Hockey Day in Houston. They’re excited that people get to see what they’re all about and they make sure you have a good time,” Mark said.

Hockey community celebrates past, looks to future

Mark is a member of multiple Halls of Fame — the “big” Hockey Hall in Toronto, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, and the Flyers Hall of Fame, among others. The Flyers also retired his No. 2 jersey. Additionally, Gordie, Colleen, Mark and Marty are inductees in the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame. Honoring the local legacy and roots of the game are important in building toward the future of the game.

Houston has never had an NHL franchise. It’s the largest U.S. market that does not have a team. However, it seems quite possible that the next NHL expansion will include a Houston franchise.

Meanwhile, the Houston hockey community takes pride in pointing out that it’s the only city that’s been home to professional league chapionships in three different leagues. The original Aeros won the Avco Cup in the WHA. The International Hockey League version of the Aeroes won the Turner Cup in 1999. Most recently, the American Hockey League edition of the Aeros won the Calder Cup in 2003.