The Athletic’s Eric Duhatschek conducted a lengthy Q and A with former WHL forward Rich Preston, and Preston has some stories to share about playing with the Howe family as a member of the Houston Aeros:
In his biography, Mark Howe wrote how in 1973, he and Marty had been living with their parents but were “fighting too much over stupid stuff” so he moved in with you to an apartment complex where he eventually met his wife, Ginger. What were your memories of living with Mark and playing with the Howe family?
Gordie was such a gentleman off the ice, and so tough on the ice. We became really close. Mark and I lived together my second year, his third. Until then, they’d been living with their parents, who had a big house, with a swimming pool in the backyard — so the players used to go over there to swim. Gordie had a deal with Chrysler back then and knew a guy who helped me get a Dodge Van — an old hippie van — and they had a boat, so whenever you’d get an off day, you’d hitch the boat to the van and go down to the gulf and fish. That was Marty’s nickname — Fish because he loved to fish.
So, Mark also mentioned in his book, that he played on a line with you and his dad for a time. I see three natural wingers there. Who ended up playing in the middle?
Gordie did! And he loved it. Here’s a bit of trivia for you. There’s one person who played pro hockey who took Gordie Howe’s position (right wing) away from him. Mark played on the left side, I played on the right side and Gordie moved from right wing to center. And he loved it. He could go anywhere – and stick somebody and do whatever he wanted to. I think it was Terry Ruskowski who said: ‘That’s not a bad line, but it needs a nickname. They came up with, ‘Howe, Howe and Who!’ I was Who.
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