Mr. Hockey's family likes idea of naming international bridge after Gordie Howe

TORONTO - The son of hockey great Gordie Howe is all in favour of naming a proposed bridge linking Windsor, Ont., and Detroit after his father.

Marty Howe says it would be a nice honour to have the bridge named after his dad—since his father himself is a bridge between the two countries.

Howe was born in Canada and crossed over at Windsor to join the Detroit Red Wings.

The president of the Ontario Trucking Association floated Howe's name at hearings in Michigan last summer.

But the idea has picked up speed since Michigan's governor suggested the bridge needed a name change from its current moniker, the Detroit River International Crossing.

Association spokesman Doug Switzer says they could think of no better ambassador for joint Canadian-U.S. co-operation than Gordie Howe.

But New Democrat MP Brian Masse (MAH'-see) wants a contest held where kids get to choose the name of the bridge, and he's written Transport Minister Chuck Strahl about it.