Planned US-Canada bridge to be named after Gordie Howe

A planned $2.1 billion bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, will be named after hockey great Gordie Howe. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement Thursday in Windsor. The 87-year-old Howe, known as “Mr. Hockey,” was born in Floral, Saskatchewan, and led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup championships. Snyder said it was an easy, mutual decision. The bridge is expected to be operational in 2020. Harper said Howe was a proud Canadian who built goodwill between the countries, and he hoped the bridge would “continue this proud legacy.” Howe, who is undergoing treatment after suffering a serious stroke, played in 1,767 career NHL regular-season games. – Associated Press