Editing Gordie Howe (section)

===World Hockey Association===
One year later, Howe was offered a contract to play with the [[Houston Aeros (WHA)|Houston Aeros]] of the newly formed [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA), which had also signed his sons [[Mark Howe|Mark]] and [[Marty Howe|Marty]] to contracts for $5 million for four years, although Gordie's contract called for just one year. Dissatisfied with not having any meaningful influence in the Red Wings' office, he underwent wrist surgery to make a return to hockey possible, and he led his new team to consecutive [[Avco World Trophy|league championships]] in 1974 and 1975; he had stated at the time that winning the former with his children playing alongside him "probably" meant more to him than his Stanley Cup wins with Detroit.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://newspaperarchive.com/delphos-herald-may-20-1974-p-5/ | title=Delphos Herald Newspaper Archives, May 20, 1974, p. 5 | date=May 20, 1974 }}</ref>  In 1974, at age 46, Howe won the Gary L. Davidson Trophy, awarded to the WHA's [[Most Valuable Player]] (the trophy was renamed the [[Gordie Howe Trophy]] the following year). He pondered retiring after both the end of the Avco Cup Final of [[1974 WHA playoffs|1974]] and [[1975 WHA playoffs|1975]] for a front office job but ultimately kept playing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://newspaperarchive.com/southern-illinoisan-may-13-1975-p-22/ | title=Southern Illinoisan Archives, May 13, 1975, p. 22 | date=May 13, 1975 }}</ref> Howe played with the Aeros until [[1976–77 WHA season|1977]], when he and his sons joined the [[New England Whalers]].<ref name="hof"/> After Marty's cheekbone was broken by [[Robbie Ftorek]], in the next game Howe used his stick to cross-check Ftorek in the face. Writer Michael Farber recounted "Mark told Gordie, 'Dad, he's [Robbie] my friend, he's an old teammate on Team Canada, he has been a mentor to me,' But none of that mattered. Robbie had mussed up a Howe. Gordie Howe grew up on the prairie. He believed in prairie justice."<ref name="sportsworld.nbcsports.com"/>