Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings legend and one of the all-time greats in NHL history, suffered a stroke while at his Texas home on Sunday, according to a report from Gregg Krupa of The Detroit News.
Howe, 86, known by many as "Mr. Hockey," has apparently lost some function of one side of his body and is having a difficult time speaking. He is currently resting at his daughter's home in Lubbock.
"Basically, sometime in the early morning on Sunday he suffered a pretty bad stroke," said Dr. Murray Howe, Gordie's son, Krupa reported.
"The right side of his body is very, very weak. He's unable to stand without help. He's able to speak, but [it's] very, very difficult to speak.
"He knows who he is. He knows the people around him. But it is very difficult for him to get up and walk around. So he is pretty much confined to his bed right now. So we're just trying to keep him comfortable, and that's our goal."
Howe earned the nickname "Mr. Hockey" and his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame for playing 25 seasons (1946-71) with the Red Wings, winning four Stanley Cups, six Hart Trophies (MVP) and six Art Ross Trophies (leading scorer).
His son, Mark, is also in the Hall of Fame.
This is not the first physical ailment to befall the one-time hockey titan - he had spinal surgery over the summer.
"Since that time, which is maybe eight weeks or so, ago, maybe 10, he's been doing great. He's been walking at least a mile a day, and he was essentially pain free and doing well, up until this past Sunday, Murray Howe said.
Howe scored 801 goals in the NHL and 174 in the WHA, where he played for a time with Mark and another son, Marty.
Howe was known for his brutal, violent playing style. He was large for the era in which he played and would often bully opponents. He became the namesake for the sport's toughest feat - a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" - which involves a player scoring a goal, recording an assist and getting in a fight all in a single game.
"For any fans who are concerned about him, they should know that he's very comfortable and he's surrounded by family," Murray Howe said. "And that is our goal, to make sure he is as happy and comfortable as can be, until the end."
In celebration of Howe's illustrious life and career, give this a click.